HARBOR BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 8770, 10 March 1892, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD

The ordinary meeting of the Harbor Board was held this afternoon; present Messrs H. Gourley (ohairman), J. T. Maokerras, W. Barclay, H. Guthrie, G. M. Barr, M. Joel, W. Wright, E. G. Allen, R. Charters, J. Carroll, A. Thomson, and Dr Drysdale. financial. The bank book, which was laid on the table, showed that the debit balance was L 3 514 19s 3d. the controller-general and the board. Mr J. E. Fitzgerald, Controller and Auditor-General, wrote as follows: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd inst. However jealously I am bound to guard against the funds of the loeal bodies being expended In travelling expenses whloh are quite unnecessary (and I have sometimes satisfied myself by Inquiry that the matters In qaestion might have been settled just as readily by letter as by personal interview), I am tar from saying that occasions may not arise In which personal explanations may not be necessary to enable a local authority to perform Its duties, and whloh may be covered by general provisions in the Empowering Act. I accept the assura joe given In your letter that such %as the ease, and I had the opportunity of mentioning the matter to Sir Bobert Stout, who Is, I believe, the legal adviser of the Board, and who folly confirmed that view. I have muoh pleasure, therefore, in withdrawing the suroharge in the present instance, and I authorise you to erase from my certificate the words "as also tbe travelling expenses of the ohairman and secretaty to Wellington (LlB IS* 10d)."

The letter was received. WOBKS COMMITTEE'S REP4BT,

The Works Committee's report, which was published last night, was read. The Harbor-master reported:—" I beg to report that on the 4th inst., on taking SQundjugs in Deborah Bay, I found it necessary to shift No. 1 blaok buoy to suoh a position that narrows the ohannel quite 150 ft in width. The shosl plaoes are in lumps or knolls, with deep water olose around them, and tbey extend right down to No. 2 black buoy. Although the ohannel is narrowed to that extent, it is still wider than it is a little further down, but it leaves less room {or mooring large vessels in the stream." The Chairman moved the adoption of the Works Committee's report, and Mr Cabboll seconded the motion, whioh was carried. Respecting the item in the report referring to the death of Sir John Coode, Mr Carroll moved —■ " That the Board immediately withdraw all instructions sent f{ome to Sir John Coode." Now that ihe famous engineer was dead, they would not get the information they expected, and they should not spend any more money on the matter. " Mr Wright seconded the motioni ' Mr BArr gajd by l*»t mail he received a pircular from Sir John Coode, and in it he utated that qn the Ist January he took his son into partnership with him. His son had been with him for twenty-five years. It was also stated that Mr Mathews, who had been Sir John's assistant for twenty years, was also taken into the partnership, and that the business would be carried on under the style of Coode, Son, and Mathews. The late Sir John's son was out here with him, and it could therefore be presumed he was familiar with the harbor. That being the case, he had not the slightest doubt the Board would get a recommendation from, the firm that wou,ld repeiye %s much attention as it could We received from Sir John himself. He would more as an " That the information seqt forward to Sir John Ooode's osoe be not withdrawn.'*

Mr Aj-LEif: 'fb.jjt throws a new light on it.

In answer so a question, Mr Babr re. plied that Mr Coode, Jan., was thirty or thirty-five years of age, Sixteen years ago he was a full member of the Institute.

Mr Mackkbbas supported the motion and Df Drysdale the amendment. Mr Guthbie did not think it was advisable to withdraw the information sent Home. He could see no reason for withdrawing \yhat the thought fi,t to, do ? ome months ago. Mr Thomson supported the last speaker's contention. The Chairman remarked that the Board wanted reliable information about the port, and now that Sir John Coode was dead he did not know of anyone who oould supply it npless it was Mr Q'Conor, who was fully Conversant with the harbor, and, perhaps, Mr Barr. The Board would spend L2QO in getting the information asked for, and he bad no hesitation in saying it would not be worth the paper it was written on. On a vote being taken, six members supported the amendment and six voted against it. The Chairman gave his casting vote in favdr of the motion, which be declared oarried.

Mr Babb remarked that it was customary for the chairman to give his casting vote so as to leave things as they were, He wonld enter bis protest against the chairman's aotion,

Mr AjwLEN: I also enter my protest. Mr Joel said it was unbecoming on the part of any member to protest against the ohairman's use of his prerogative. Mr Barr : Mr Joel's remarks are quite uncalled for, We all know what he is drifting at. The Chairman, in answer to a question, said he would cable Home about the matter at onoe. A JETTY AT ROTHESAY. Mr T. Ross, Mayor of West Harbor, wrote that he was requested by a number of the inhabitants of Ravensbourne and Rothesay to write to the Board for permission to ereot a jetty at Rothesay. The benefits accruing from a jetty would not only be Sreatlyfeltin the looality, but would also e of immense benefit and convenience to boating acd yachting in the harbor, and would, he was certain, be taken advantage of by the residents in bringing building materials, coals, produce, etc., direot from the wharves.

Mr Barclay spoke in support of the request contained in the letter,' which was referred to the Works Committee with power to aoi. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPOitf.

The Finance Committee's report, pub: Hehed yesterday, waa adopted without disCUSSion. PAT OF MEETING. Mr Mackerras's motion to the effeot that the Board should hold meetings monthly waa withdrawn, the majority of the members expressing themselves antagonistic to the proposed alteration. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES Mr Maokerraa's motion with reference to rescinding the resolution passed at last meeting appointing committees was carried. Mr Maokkkbas then moved, and it was parried—** That, thpre being thirteen members, eaoh committee ponslst of four members.'' Qa a ballot being taken for (be eleotion of a works committee, all ' the members beiog eligible for nomination, the voting waa as follows:—Mr Barr 11, Mr Barclay 10, Mr Allen 9, Mr Carroll 'B, Mr Thomson 6, Mr Gnthrle 3, Mr Joel 1. Mains Bftjer, Barclay, Allen, and Carroll were declared ejected, . . ■*. ■•• J.- : • ' ••>.; The following other committees were: 1 ejected;— Finance, Messrs Thomson, Joel, Wright, and Maecenas; reserves, Messrs Prysdale, Charters, and guthrie,'