GREY HARBOUR BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1944, Page 3

GREY HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING

The Greymouth Harbour Board mot 1 last evening, there being present:-— Messrs J. B. Kent (chairman), I*. Wil- , Hams, J. Byall, M.L.C., W. I'.. Pung,, W. Clayton and <J. Smeaton. I The Treasury remitted genera wharfages totalling £522/10/10 and £B6O/6/10 State coal wharlage. • 1 The Mines Department advised and , the Minister of Mines has approved of a postponement of payment of rent,, due by United Brunner Coal Mines • Ltd., on a coal lease, until May 31, 1944. (Mr. S. A. A. Fry. on behalf of the Company wrote thanking the Board for agreeing to the postponem Amalgamated Wireless (Aust.) Ltdadvised that their London oil ice had agreed to pay half (£lO/1/3) ol the cost of repairs to the Echometer, and that the Echometer was in transit on return to the Board. , The Harbour Boards Employers Union forwarded its solicitor’s opinion that the five per cent, cost of living bonus is payable to employees on meal money. . , , TT . The Greymouth Watersiders Union wrote asking for a donation to their j picnic funds. —It was decided to make the usual donation of £2/2/-. The Otago Harbour Board advised that it had decided to become a member of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association and that the > Board was of the opinion that there should be two representatives oi liar- ; hour Boards on the executive, one | representing the larger Boards and ( another the smaller Boards. Ihe Board was nominating its Chairman to represent the large Boards.—The letter was received. It was pointed out that Harbour Boards had not been invited to the original conference, but that it was apparently intended that they should now be represented. Messrs Ryall and Smeaton and the Chairman spoke in favour of the Greymouth Board being a member of the Association, but it was decided to defer the question pending an invitation to join. The Mines Department advised, in reference to leases of Dobson sections 21/25 and part 55 and 56 formerly held by the Grey Valley Collieries Ltd., that it was proposed to take separate leases direct to the Crown lot each section as tenants desire to purchase the houses, the Crown to take mortggaes subject to the Board s consent to transfer. —It was decided to agree to the proposals. ' The Engineer was granted leave to attend the conference of the N.Z. Institute of Engineers to be held at Wanganui next month, if he desires to attend, Mr. Bring dissenting. 'the transfer of Lot. 2, Sect. 'L_d.p. 415, Res. 1435, Blaketown from H. C. Price to S. M. Knapp was approved. The Grey Returned Services' Association wrote asking that-a lease ol a section at Blaketown obtained by the Association be issued in the name ol the Association and arrears of rent remitted.—ll was decided that the requests be granted. A letter from the Ross Borough Council regarding the proposed South Westland railway extension was received, no comments being forthcoming. The Finance Committee’s report, as follows, was adopted:—Receipts since last meeting: Shipping dues £605 6/2, Royalties £7/7/6. Rents • £7B 0/7. Hire and Sale of Plant £23/3/-. Wharfages £1,383/3/8. Total, £2,097/0/11. The Harbour Fund has a debit balance of £3,480/17/5. Accounts amounting to £2,429/8/9 were passed for payment. In the course of his report for cember the Engineer (Mr. D. S. Kennedy) stated that the lagoon wharf railways have practically reached the end of their life due to rusting and neglect. “However, they have a definite use in the maintenance of the

Board’s plant, the tug and the dredge, and attempts are being made to keep them going with the limited materials javailable. A site is being cleared for ■stacking between the honey store ahd the No. 13 shed. This will [have access by road and rail. A start has been made on the preparation of 'gear for the concrete work on the .south breakwater. The quarry was worked for 10 days supplying second class stone to the Railways DepartL’nent, third class stone to the County 'Council and spoil was also loaded by | the steam shovel for the County j Council. First class stone was loaded i for the north mole. The total output 'of the quarry was 336 tons.