NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5070, 8 May 1878, Page 2

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Tuesday, May 7". The Board met at 11 a.m. Present — The Chairman (J. G. Kinross,, Esq.) Captain Newman, Messrs Kennedy,, Williams, Sutton, Robjohns, and Smithy, .;. In the absence of Mr Hoadley, the duties of secretary were discharged by Mr Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. ACCOUNTS.' The accounts for pilot boat's crew, &c, were passed for payment. SITE FOR SPIT POLICE STATION. The following report from the engineer was read : — The Inspector of Police considers the- unlet portion of the reserve on Gough Island, near the bridge (ad- • joining Day's old slip) convenient for the above purpose. The site is very central, but as it does not front a main street it is not likely to become very valuable as a business site, and the annual rental does not exceed £15. » CHARIiEB WBOBR, Engineer Harbor Board. After some discussion, during which the members generally expressed a desire that the police station and the Fire Brigade station should be in close proximity, it was decided to refer the matter back to the ens[ineer in order to ascertain whether an arrangement of the kind desirod could not be carried but. SITE FOR SPIT FIRE ENGINE SHED. The following report from the engineer was read : — Mr Wilkie, the captain of the Spit Fire Brigade, informs me that of the different sites proposed for a fire engine shed the brigade would prefer that at the ; northern end of Customs-street fronting Hardiugeroad, running back towards the sea. This site is not likely to be required for years to come for harbor pur- ; poses, and its annual rental value does uot exceed £6. Charles Weber, Engineer Harbor Board. On the motion of Mr Sutton, seconded by Mr Kennedy, it was resolved that the^ section at the head of Customs-street beji . let to the Spit Fire Brigade at a rental of one shilling a year. ' , REPORT ON SOUNDINGS. The following report from Mr Weber was read : — The return of the soundings taken by the pilot since the 2Srd ult. gives the satisfactory result of a depth of 12 feet up to the 4th instant, and since then of 11 feet 6 inches. The reduction of 6 inches during; the last three days appears to be due to poor tides and to an easterly swell. The general soundings show that the bulk of the bar continues to diminish, but this process is necessarily rather slow without assistance from the rivers, which have remained very low. The rainfall since the Inst report has been less than one half-inch, and the winds have been moderate, sjenerally from N.W. to N.E. The shingle has not followed the eastern work, and the change in the shore line is imperceptible, the mouth of the Tuki Tuki remaining closed. Cuari.es Weber, Engineer Harbor Board. HARBOR BOARD RESERVES. Mr Smith brought up the report of the committee on the sections of reserves not yet leased. Mr Kennedy remarked that he did not . believe in the system the Harbor Board had adopted of leasing the reserves upon the terms of doubling the rent after a certain period. He thought that that was probably the reason why the reserves did not let. It was ordered that the report be considered at the next meeting of the board. > PiANS OF THE PORT, ETC. The following letter from Mr Weber was read : — Napiei,May6, lß7B. Sir, — I have the honor to submit to the board the enclosed 3 plans of the port of Napier and of the part of Hawke's Ba> between Cape Kidnapper, Port Ahuriri andTongoio, showing soundings, nature of bottom, currents, and the changes in the shore line since the settlement of this district, and other data required bySir John Coode. The plans have been very neatly drawn by Mr F. Saunders, to whom I feel greatly . . indebted for the great zeal shown in this matter. On. comparing the plans in question with that published by order of the Admiralty recently, a very great difference will be noticed. In fact, the lately published Admiralty chart is, with the exception of a few minor details, merely a reprint of Captain Drury's. chart of 1855. It gives the same sailing directions, soundings, shore-lines, position of Rangatira and other shoals, &c, while since then, even independently of the harbor works, great changes have taken place. As it is manifestly to the interest of the port that more correct plans should be circulated, I beg leayato submit whether the board should not take the ljjeessary steps in that direction. From the materialanowr in hand a chart can very easily be compiled. • The board may have 400 copies lithographed at a cost of about £100, or the Admiralty may perhaps be induced, on the suggestion of the New Zealand Government, to publish a new chart in place of the obsolete one lately issued.— l have, &c, . Ciiarrks Webrr, Engineer Harbor Board, Secretary, Napier Harbor Board, SIR JOHN COODE. Mr Rhodes asked if anything was known as to the time when Sir John Coode would arrive. Mr Smith replied that he believed Sir John would arrive on Friday next. PORT AHURIRI BRIDGE. Mr Sutton asked whether any plans of the Port Ahuriri bridge had been forwarded to the board. The Chairman said that none had come to the board as yet. The board then adjourned. We are requested to draw our readers' attention to E. Price and Co.'s newadvertisement, which contains a very exhaustive and interesting description of their various departments. — [Advt.] Notice. — Buyers of Drapery and Clothing. Look out for our opening.— Leonard & Co. 668

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