HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 17, 21 July 1887, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the above wag held on Tuesday. Present: Messrs Sievwright, Townley, Sunderland, Chambers, Gannon, Dickson, Matthew son, and McDonald. The Secretary said that it was neoeaary to appoint a Chairman in place of Mr Graham, the office to be held Uhtil the first luesday in the new Mr Sievwrlght was temporarily Saeed in the chair on the motion of r Chambers seconded by Mr Sunderland. IMS MIMVTES. With reference to the minute recording the striking out of Major Porters motion re stopping the works, Mr Dickson thought there was nothing id the notice relative to stopping the works. It was hot fair in Major Porter's absence, that these things should be placed on the minutes. The notice was read, the Chairman and Mr Chambers maintaining that it did give such an idea, and the minutes were approved. Mr Matthewson said certain information had been prepared as to the present state of the works, but he would like to see returns of the financial position of the Board. QOTABNMEST KOMINBES —HABBOR Bitt. The official notification of the Government nominations to the Board was read. The Auditor-General wrote as follows:— Tbs Bill proposed in Parliament to meet the case ol the Gisborne Harbor Board, having dropped owing to the dissolution, I have certified your accounts with the exception of the overdraft on the General Account, which you must find some means of covering without delay. I call your attention to the 13th section of the Act of 1886, which imposes on me the duty of proceeding against the members of the Board for penalties. I abstain from doing so on the ground that most of this draft may have occurred before the Act was passed. But as all expenditure is now overdraft, there being no money in the General Account, I shall be compeUed to do so unless steps are immediately taken to put that account in funds by rates or otherwise.— J. B. Firroi'? tup, Mr McDonald said the position was that everything must be done over again before the Bill was re-introduced. It was agreed that the Board’s solicitor be instructed to take the necessary steps in connection with the Bin. ACCIDENT FCXD. The Accident Fund Committee reported as follows :— The workmen have formed a scheme agreeing to pay sixpence a week, to be deducted out of their wages, to provide against accidents. This amount is to be paid to a treasurer appointed by the men. We recommend the adoption of the scheme, and that workmen should be engaged expressly on the footing that they shall not have any claim on the Board in respect of accidents, and shall look solely to their own fund. Mr Chambers thought it would be better to have a joint committee to represent both the Board and the men. The Chairman understood that the Board wished to keep entirely out of it. Mr Matthewson quite agreed with the report. The legal points involved were mainly to be considered. Mr Gannon said the men appeared to have gone into the matter fully, and thoroughly understood the matter. It would be best to leave it to them. Mr McDonald; You might just as well tell me to insure all my servants. Give the men plenty of work, good wages, and let them do what they like witn their earnings. Never interfere with the working men. [Mr Chambers : Hear, hear.] Mr Townley explained that the proposal had come up through several men having been injured at the works, and then asking the Board for assistance. This was voluntary on the part of the men. The Chairman said there was a certain moral responsibility. The Board wanted the men to look to this fund as e means of support in case of accident. Mr Gannon remarked that the men were a very intelligent lot, and were quite competent to manage the thing. Mr McDonald asked how it would be with new men going on, supposing they did not agree to it. The Chairman i I suppose any new man would be bound to contribute, Mr McDonald: Well, suppose they won’t be bound. The Chairman : Then they may not be engaged. Mr McDonald said it was something like the Treaty of Waitangi, by which about a hundred Maoris gathered together and gave away the whole of the country. The report was adopted. FI3ANCK COMMITTEE: ENGINEER'S BBPOBI.

The Finance Committee reported;— The meeting wm called for the purpose of Motiving the accounts of the Board to the 31st of December, 1886, which had been signed and passed by the Auditor General, and to consider a letter from him m which ha objected to the General Account being overdrawn, and stating that the same must be placed in credit forthwith. It was resolved that a reply be rent as follows: — “ The Board, while desirous to fall in with your views as far as they possibly can, do not think they would be doing their duty to the ratepayers if they conceded the point as to the application of the £4107 5s profit on loan which would mean undoubtedly the levying of a special rate to cover it, and it is quite clear the Board, under section 24 of the Gisborne Harbor Board Act, 1884, can only levy rates to make up funds necessary to Cover interest. The Board think they are bound to regard the £4107 5s as revenue falling from General Account. When the Bill becomes law then the matter might easily be arranged without unduly pressing on the ratepayers. This matter being kept open the Board will take care that the overdraft is provided for.” The following report from the Engineer was adopted:— During the past fortnight the following work has been done: —The large block on the sea end of the viaduct, coniaining about 170 tons, has been made and one somewhat smaller on the river face. The time we could not work at the viaduct was employed in block-making. AU the small block moulds have been filled, and some will be lifted and stacked to-morrow. Filling the viaduct with stone has been completed, the planking fixed, and the railway line laid down. A quantity of cement has been tested, the average break ing stress being 7151bs on the briquette. A number of men have been employed on the block moulds. They are not completed yet. I have given the contractors notice. The bridge at the creek is in hand and the piles driven. The drawings for the “ Hercules ” have arrived. Specifications have been prepared and quantities made out for the new lighterage contract,and also for the diver's boat and tender. (Continued on Fourth page.)