OPUNAKE HARBOUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 17 April 1926, Page 6

OPUNAKE HARBOUR.

t MEETING OF THE BOARD. BREEZY INTERLUDE ECHOED. • The monthly meeting of the Opunake Harbour Board was held yesterday. There were present Messrs T. P. Hughson (chairman), C. H. Hurst, C. G. Trotter, H. Young, «L Pettigrew, T. H. H. Sinclair, and A. H. Moore. The meeting opened with an echo of the incident which occurred at the March meeting when Mr. Moore signified his disapproval of the election of the acting chaiman by leaving the meeting. Mr. Moore called the chairman’s attention to what he termed an insulting remark which the acting chairman at the previous- monthly meeting (AH’. Trotter) had made to Mr. Moore as he left the room. He considered Mr. Trotter’s conduct was a “swelled headed procedure.” The chairman replied that the people considered Mr. Moore’s action in leaving the room had been a wrong one. Mr. Moore: Other ratepayers consider I acted rightly. Mr. Moore made a further complaint that on the day prior to the meeting in question he had seen a letter written to the Harbour Board’s Association’s legal adviser which, he contended, had not been authorised by the board. He would like to know why the letter had not been placed before the Feburary meeting arid on whose authoritv it had been sent. The chairman replied, that the letter which requested an opinion concerning the raising of an additional ten per cent, on the loan had been drafted by Mr. Trotter and himself. Mr. Trotter: The chairman had every right to procure the opinion. He can’t- be expected to rely on your advice.

Mr Mo»re: You . are not going to dominate me. Suffering from .swelled head. Mr Trotter: I do. not try to dominate anyone. I give support within reason to the chairman, as every member should do. The chairman pointed out that the egal question had been raised by Mr Moore, who appeared to be well up in ouch matters. The matter was .a very important one, and the reouest for a reliable opinion had been fully justified. As a- result of the letter the board’s position bad been made clear. On the motion of Air Hunst, seconded bv Mr Sinclair, the action of the chairman and Mr Trotter in having the letter forwarded was confirmed. EMPLOYEES’ WAGES.

v The application received at the previous meeting from 15 of the employees on the works requesting an. adjustment of the wages system was. discussed. The letter suggested that the pie,sent hourly rate be continued, provided that a minimum of 48 hou*s weekly was guaranteed, failing which it was proposed that the rate be increased to men engaged in stone haulage and dumping, as conditions often prevented more than six or seven hours’ work daily. Mr Moore suggested that piecework be. arranged. A round-table discussion ensued a,s to the possibility of arranging payment according to truckloads of stone fipp- d, weight of stone or measurements, bat it was considered that the contract system weald not prove satisfactory. During further discussion, the opinion was given that under the present system good average wages were being earned, and it was decided to reply stating that tb e application could not b? entertained.

WORK OF THE MONTH. ' The Works Committee (Messrs Hughson, Trotter and Pettigrew) reported that the foreman had been instructed to put additional stone into the facing of the portion of the bench where erosion had taken place. The work of further excavation >at this point, and the necessity for shifting, the. tram rails had considerably delayed progress in the extension of the male. The suuuT hauler had been .moved to the top of the incline. As one of the heavy skids was cracked through in the centre, the committee (recommended it be replaced, with a new skid before the hauler was removed' to the point. The supervisors (Messrs Hughsoit and Trotter) reported that since the February meeting 451 loads of stone had been placed in the mole—3l9 from the large aud 132 from the small crane. The work had been considerably bumpered by the stoppage in the line caused by erosion of the cliff. As instructed by Mr. Vickerman, the staging had been extended for two bays, the piles being ‘driven from 12 to 17 feet. This work had been satisfactorily completed by Mr. Wasley. The derrick and hauler had been removed’ from the staging preparatory to shifting the hauler to the point to haul stone from the shore end and connect with the large hauler. The skid of the small hauler having been broken, it would be necessary to have it replaced before shifting further. The Sullivan compressor had been established in a central position and was operating .satisfactorily, two drills being used where required. The. large hauler had broken-down temporarily. The blacksmith had effected the required repairs. The consulting engineers (Messrs Vickerman and Lancaster) reported that from February 1 to March 19 406 truck loads of stone- had been placed in the mole at an aggregate cost of £B7l 16s 2d. or 43s per truck load. The reports were adopted. PLANT. Mr. Young said he had been informed by the foreman that the small hauler was likely to break up at any time, and the foreman recommended that a heavier winch be procured. Doubt- as to the suitability of tlio small hauler to cope with the work was expressed by Mr. Pettigrew and the chairman. Later in the meeting the foreman '-.in charge of machinery, Mr. T. Bowman, attended and intimated that - the small hauler was not suitable for the present work. The matter was referred to the works committee, with authority to act. GENERAL. Notification of the reappointment of Mr. C. A. Trotter to the board for a term of three years as from April 28 was received from the Minister of Marine. A letter from, the- Harbour Boards’ Association advised that at the recent conference one of the most important matters discusesd was the need of a fresh survey of the coast line of New Zealand, and a resolution had been passed urging the Government to arrange with the Admiralty to carry out a complete survey where necessary. It was proposed, continued the letter, that a strong deputation should wait on the Government to press the matter, and in order that the fullest information would' be available, boards were requested 1 to supply instances of any particular defects in existing coastal charts. —The letter was received.