HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 610, 21 May 1891, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of the Board wag held on Tue-day evening. Present : The Chairman (Mr Townley), and Messrs DeLautour, Joyce, Bright, Shelton, Sievwright, Chrisp, and Arthur. THE RIVES. A report from Captain Thomson (Harbormaster) wag read, recommending that fascines (estimated cost £5O) be fixed to prevent the further accumulation of sand in the river. A plan was presented showing the proposed work, which was to repair the damage caused by the training wall fascines undermining, and a’so to extend fascines along the line- of work—Captain Chrisp said it was nothing new fur the sandbank to have travelled in that way.—The Chairman said the work proposed was on the same line as that of Mr O’Connor, but was a cheaper work. The expenditure was not much, if any service would be given by it—the p’an provided lor a line of fascines to straighten the current.—Mr Shelton said there was no doubt that the training wall had improved the river. The fascines had now got undermined and conducted the tide into the sandbank.—Mr Bright said it seemed to him that everything they did only made matters worse.—Mr Joyce said there was no doubt there had been’trouble ever since the stockyard was there, and it should be done away with.—Captain Chrisp said they must bear i-j mind that Mr O’Connor provided for protective works on the outside.—The Chairman said a great deal of the trouble was from the inside of the river, the washing away of the bank.—Mr DcLautour said the sand had been raised artificially, and though it might have a tempoiary effect would only i-.crease the evil, unless there was protective work on the outside.—Mr Shelton said the fascines would give protection.—ln reply to Captain Chrisp the Chairman said the main trouble was through the sand washing away from the back of the fascines, and if something were not done a channel would be cut through.—The Chairman said the worst part of the river was at the outer beacon, and the Harbormaster believed the fixing up of the fascines would remedy it.— I Mr Sievwright thought there was no use doing anything unless it was a substantial work that would not be washed away.—Mr Joyce feared that a dredge would ultimately be required.—Mr Arthur favored the work ; being done, believing that it fell in with the ideas of Messrs O’Connor and Thomson (Engineers).—ln reply to Mr Arthur the Chairman said he thought they had power to use the money for the purpose. He did not think they should hesitate doing the work if it was of benefit. —Mr Bright considered that the training wall itself was responsible for the trouble. He was satisfied that the cheapest way in the end would be to blow up some of the concrete work.—After further discussion Mr Sievwright proposed, and Mr Arthur seconded, that the work proposed by the Harbormaster be done.—Mr Bright said the sand had only to bank up 2ft 6in when the trouble would occur again.—Mr Da Lautour said his experience was that when they were in a great mess, the least they did the betJer, and the worst argument was that “something must be done.” It was like Mrs Partington’s broom.” He thought with Mr Bright that the time was arriving when they would have to seriously consider whether there should not be a fissure made in the concrete work. It was said’the work proposed was only a little thing, but these little things led on to bigger things, and once they began experimenting with amateur engineering there was no knowing what it would lead to. He understood that they had practically nothing to spend for the next six months.— Mr Arthur did not believe in amateur engineering, but if one’s house was on fire it was a case of something must be done.—Capt. Chrisp eaid it was evident that the work had not served the purpose that Mr Thomson (E giceer) hoped for.—The Chairman said Mr Thomson had recommended the wall to go higher up the river, from the stockyard — the work had been cut off on account of the expense. —Captain Chrisp said if there was any ecour it would wash away the whole fabric constructed on the papa rock.—ln reply to Mr Bright, Mr Shelton said the scour was causing the defections in the fascines. —Mr Sievwright contended that the mover and seconder had all the authorities in their favor.—ln rep’y to Mr Joyce, Mr Shelton said the experience of the past twelve months was that the wall had kept the river open. He would favor the expenditure of the £5O unless it was thought Government assistance might be got towards the carrying out of Mr O’Connor’s scheme.—Mr Blight said he would not favor spending fifty cents on such a flimsy work. It had been said that the present trouble in regard to the fascines was caused by the small boys playing pn them.—Mr Shelton proposed an amendment that the meeting be adjourned until 12.30 next day, so that members could go and see the thing for themselves. He thought some members had not a fair conception of the position of things.—Mr Joyce seconded the amendment.—Mr Bright said the amendment insinuated that members had not attended to the matter. He would not vote for money being spent on such a thing.—Mr Shelton said he would have voted against the work bad he not gone down and seen the thing that morning.—The amendment was carried by one vote.

It was decided to authorise a few planks being put up to keep the stones falling from inside the wall. THE BABBOB. Mr DeLautour said it was now their opportunity to seek to get the Government to carry Ont the recommendations ot the late Engineer. He did not think they would be justified in sitting there it they did not make some effort in that direetion. [The Chairman: Well, Can yon suggest anything?] He thought a committee should be appointed to take up the matter—he did not know of a more favorable time' to represent the claims of the district. He proposed, in effect, that the Chairman, Mr Arthur and the mover be appointed a committee to take action to try and secure some assistance from the Goverment.—Mr Joyce seconded the motion. He would be glad to see the Government take over everything, and relieve the district from its burden.-— After some discussion, Mr Arthur taking an apathetic attitude, the motion was carried.—Mr Joyce thought that if jt was decided that the Government were liable for the deficiency by the late Clerk’s defalcations their position would be strength, encd.—Mr Bright thought it would cut the other way.—ln regard to the plans Mr Shelton said he thought it a mistake to lay bo much stress upon the way they had been treated; the Board in existence at the time had gone into the matter with their eyes open, and they must now try to do the best they could in the matter.—Mr DeLautour said it was a gross thing for the plans to have originally been approved of by Mr Blackett. The Board had relied upon the Government engineer as a check upon thc-ir own engineer. What security could a local body have if they could not rely upon the Government Engineer f He thought the point farmed a strong argument to be used in favor of getting assistance.—Captain Chrisp said the plan had even been chosen as against an alternative plan. PINANCIA.L MATTIES. In reply to Mr Bright the Chairman said that in present circumstances their ability to meet the interest due in September depended npon the energetic collecting of the rates In regard to the excuses sent in concerning many demands, the Committee had yet to consider them.—A discussion took place concerning the presence of Mr gmitb, the Government Auditor, and jyhetber the Board would he justified in hearing the cost of assistance. Mr DeLautour thought they should try and get some certificate as to the actual deficit, go that it could if necessary be used as evidence. As Mr Smith was iu the other room he was invited iu. He explained that he had come on instructions from bis .Department, to make a thorough investigation of the Harbor gnd Borough accounts. He had a free hand in regard to matters, but he did not know what view the AuditorG'neral would take of the matter. He presumed that if ths Department was shown to be at fault the expense would not be put upon the Board, but if it wae decided to charge (as mowed by law}, he supposedjft

would be in accordance with the time taken. He wished to get away as soon sc possible, and in any case he supposed the Board wished the work done as expeditiously as possible. He intended to prepare a balance sheet for the whole time the work had been under the Department, and a copy of it would be left with the Board. He would be happy to give any information to members during the investigation, and would be glad of any help they could give. As it was his work would be considerably lightened by the excellent way in which the gentlemen authorised by the Board had done their work.—Messrs DeLautour, Joyce, and Arthur considered it would be better to provide clerical assistance, believing that it would come cheaper in the end. Messrs Bright, Shelton, and Arthur spoke strongly against it. Mr Arthur thought even the Government would not have the cheek to ask them to pay for auditing the accounts again. Messrs Bright and Shelton said it could only be an investigation of the Department’s own work, and by providing clerical assistance they would ba fixing responsibility for the work on the Board. Mr Bright thought if they had eventually to pay they should do it with the worst grace possible. It was also pointed out that Mr Smith could not complete the work until there was something definite iu regard to all the demands sent out. By four to three the Board declined to offer to supply clerical assistance. The Chairman stated that the officers of the Board were too fully engaged to be able to give assistance. YESTERDAYS MEBTISO. Members of the Board went down yesterday to inspect the encroachments and sandspit, and the adjourned meeting took place at 12.30. There was a general change in the opinion of members, the belief being that the proposed fascine work would not be substantial enough to be of much benefit, An amendment proposed by Mr Bright was carried, deferring the work until after it had been ascertained whether any good would result from the appointment of the committee to communicate with Government.