WESTPORT HARBOR BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 15308, 7 October 1913, Page 3

WESTPORT HARBOR BOARD

MR COLVIN’S EVIDENCE. In the course of his evidence before the Westport Harbor Board Commission yesterday, James Colvin, M.P., said that in regard to the Rubi Seddon, the witness said the board wanted a dredge, and were short of money. The members asked Sir Joseph Ward if he would finance it, and Sir Joseph ?aid that if the board would pay before March 31 the Railway Department would order the dredge. The engineer drew up specifications, and the board approved of them ami ordered the dredge through the Railway Department. When the Rubi Seddon came out it was found that she had some defects, and would not lift the size of stones'stipulated. The Government inspector at Home passed her on behalf of the board.

Dealing with the matter of the floating basin, the Chairman (Mr Evans, S.M.) said: You have practically exhausted your £200,000 loan, ami you have not been able to cany out the works you set out in your prospectus to do. The board were entering on on undertaking- with an underestimate. Only 250 ft of wall has been constructed out of an estimate of 1,200 ft. In answer to further questions witness said he did not think they consulted the Railway Department in regard to the railway working when they decided on the construction of the floating basin. The Chairman: You simply started the construction of the basin without making any railway connections to feed it. It maybe open to speculators to take up the land you will want for railways. The board am in the position of having started a work without having made provision for tho necessary land to work it. It is a question of policy. Tho board undertook a gigantic work without having adequate plans. In regard to the work on the waterfront on the esplanade, the Chairman asked if witness knew that £6,243 was spent on that work?—Mr Colvin: I saw that in the papers. My recollection is that I thought it was only going to he a small amount. I could not say if anv estimate was prepared. The Chairman : At Cape Foulwind you made a pleasure ground, and you used Harbor Board money. Can you justify that as a harbor work?—Mr Colvin; I suppose it was put there for the benefit of the harbor workers. That •is the only thing I know it was done for.

Ihe Chairman; On that work von have spent £2,986, so that between these two items an amount bordering on £IO,OOO has been spent by the Harbor Board on items strictly not harbor works at all. In response to the Chairman’s remarks that the scale of charges for fares on the Cape Foul wind line was not adhered to for 17 years, Mr Colvin remarked that he was astonished.

The Chairman: W r e were astonished too when a system can .be carried on in that way and the authorities know nothing about it. Everybody travelling on the line. thought it was the scale. Since the passing of the Act of 1884. £2,194,000 had been handled by the board,.and the harbor works were nob yet complete. Mr Colvin, in conclusion, said he thought most members of the board were always tn-iug to look after their trust. He believed the majority of them had only the beet interests of the board and the district, at heart. Members' of the board might have made mistakes, but they were straightforward and honest. ..The .Commiseica then adjourned for the