HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 219, 8 November 1888, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the above was he’d on Tuesday night. Present: The Chairman and Messrs Gannon. Chambers, Townley, Dickson, Clark, and Matthews on. A letter was received from Mr Sperry in reply to a communication from the Board with regard to the rates on native lands, and stating that the demand would have to be gazetted and the statutory three months’ notice have to expire before payment can be made. Payment would therefore not be received until the early part of February next.

Mr Chambers drew attention to the interest due on loan to Borough Council not having been paid till it was a few days overdue. The Council should be called upon to make up the difference—though small in amount the principle involved was a great one. The Secretary said the amount would have been paid on the due date, only the Council were in doubts as to whom the money should be paid to. Mr Townley said in regard to the principle Mr Chambers was quite correct, but this was an exceptional case. Mr Chambers said the money should have been paid to an account. However the difference in amount was very small. The matter was allowed to drop. engineer’s report. The Engineer reported as follows :— All the cement has been discharged and stowed. This finishes the contract with Messrs Johnston and Co., cf Wellington, which was for 2000 tons. The battens on the back planking of viaduct have been put on and the work completed. It has a beneficial effect on the river by keeping sand from coming through between the planking. As directed at last meeting we are painting the two large machines. The locomotive is undergoing repairs in order to be ready for work at short notice. It is now twelve months since it was overhauled. If convenient to the Board I would like to he absent for a few days—say up to the 14th inst, for the purpose of going up the coast. With regard to the application for a few days’ leave Mr Dickson said he understood the Engineer’s engagement ceased on the stoppage of the works. Mr Chambers moved, and Mr Townley seconded, that the Engineer be granted leave. Mr Matthewson said if the Board passed a resolution granting Mr Thomson leave it was tantamount to admitting he was an employee of the Board.

Mr Chambers : He is an employee. Mr Matthewson thought the Board had decided he was not. If they carried the motion they would be acting inconsistently. The Chairman did not see how that could affect the question, or compr mice the Board any more than reading the Engineer’s report. It would be better for Mr Matthewson to move that the report be not accepted. Mr Matthewson said it was for the Board to do that. The Board had decided that the agreement should be read in a certain way. Mr Chambers said Mr Matthewson spoke as if be was not a- member of the Board. Why did he not move in whatever direction he desired ?

Mr Matthewson said he went by the opinion of a majority of the Board in that respect. He had previously asked for information with regard to the Engineer’s appointment and the Board had decided the matter against his opinion, Mr Chambers: You should move accordingly—don’t talk ; act. The motion was then put and carried without dissent. harbormaster’s report. The Harbormaster made a general report, in which he stated that the late high spring tides had brought down a large snag which he had to get removed.

Mr Townley commented on the large bill for keeping the lamps lighted, and asked if the Board’s nightwatchman could not attend to that. The Engineer thought he might do so. Mr Matthewson said he had seen the lights burning all day on several occasions. Mr Townley said that was a matter affecting the Gas Company and not the Board, but he certainly thought the nightwatchman should attend to the lights. Mr Chambers considered that the cost of the gas was also too much, and that either the Gas Company should be interviewed and asked to come to some better arrangement or the Board should use kerosene, which he believed could be procured for one-half the present cost of lighting. He moved that Mr Townley and himself be appointed a Committee to enquire into the relative quality and utility of gas and kerosene. The course proposed was resolved upon. Mr Townley said that he had been asked by Mr Shelton and others for certain information that had been asked for through a newspaper. Mr Matthewson had no objection to the Engineer answering any questions put him by the Board, but he should not take any notice of newspaper correspondence. Mr Gannon thought Mr Shelton, of all men, should be well informed on the matters on which he now sought information. Mr Chambers was of the same opinion. The Engineer stated that all the information asked for had previously been given. Mr Clark said he had not yet seen a statement showing bow much the concrete wall at present had cost. Mr Townley said in the small diagrams to be put before the ratepayers they might give the desired information.

After a long discussion, it was proposed by the Chairman “That the Board, desiring to give the fullest information to ratepayers, would direct their attention to the statement published in the Gisborne Standard newspaper on the 9th o' October, 1888, and to the diagram issued by the Chairman.” * Mr Matthewson would not consent to the statement issued being recognised as coming from the Board. He would second the motion. » Mr Gannon proposed, and Mr Chambers seconded, that the words “ by the Board ” be substituted for “ by the Chairman.” Only the mover and seconder voted for the amendment, and the motion was therefore carried.

Mr Clark directed the attention of the Board to the possibility of having the Tauwhareparae Block opened up as a special district. He himself was very sceptical about the value of the block, but if it was worth what some members of the Board believed it, the matter would be well worth considering. He explained that the Board might take the initiative and get the County Council to declare the block a special district. They could then borrow a certain amount on it to make roads, and pay the interest by striking a rate. If the block was worth what some said it was, this would be a profitable speculation. He had not been over the land on Tauwhareparae, but from what he had seen of the continguous lands, he believed Tauwhareparae would only be worth about 2s 6d an acre. But practical men on the Board differed from him. Mr Chambers had been over the block, and considered there were only about 10,000 acres which were not worth 10s. He said a road through the block would bring Mr J. N. Williams’ about 25 miles nearer to Gisborne, where the distance was now 50 miles.

Mr Townley thought the matter was well worth considering, and it was decided that it should be brought up at the next ordinary meeting. Mr Chambers said that when he had been in Napier he had been astonished to learn the opinion that existed in the district with regard to our harbor works, The impression was that we were practically insolvent, and had to stop the works because the interest could not be paid. He thought some steps should be taken to make the truth known, such as the publishing in all the leading papers in the colony, of a statement of the true state of affairs, and the unjust position in which the district had been placed. Mr Clark thought it would be a good idea to advertise Tauwhareparae at the same time. Mr Townley said the position of the Board would be I moti remrkable one if thsy

carried out all the regulatione under which they were.piaced. If they refunded the money to Government and we it on paying sinking fund for money not b’ing expended, at the end of the term they would have £242,071, nearly a fourth more than was required. A statement such as proposed by Mr Chambers would have a good effect, because the dutrict must have some relief, as the imposition of this unjustifiable burden was simply ruinous. After the poll had been decided they should have a statement prepared. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Townley, to hold a special meeting on Thursday evening, the night after the poll.

PAYMENTS. The following payments were passed : — Weighbridge keeper .. £1 0 0 Gas Company .. .. 23 12 2 Pilot Department .. 0 14 0 Ormond Hall .. 1 1 0 Johnston <£ Co. ..2,111 7 6 Wharfinger .. 67 0 10 D. McLeod ,. .. 35 9 0 Wages Account.. .. 52 19 9 £2298 4 3