NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5352, 9 April 1879, Page 2

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Tuesday, April 8. The board met at 11 a.m. Present — The Chairman (John Buchanan, Esq.), Lieut. -Colonel Lambert, Messrs Ormond, Kinross, Williams, Vautier, Robjohns, Miller, Smith, and Stuart. The minutes of the previsus meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The following letters were read : — From the Marine Department, stating that the Act precluded the board's request being complied with as to the period up? to which the board's accounts should be audited by Mr M'AJJister,

-Mr trancia Saunders, stating that he had/ taken over from Mr Weber papers, plans, and effects belonging to the board, ancUthat a schedule would be. prer pared in a few days. "* From Mr Weber, stating that the. report and plan of Mr M'Gregor in respect to the breakwater had been found among the;l?rovincial Council papers. ■:■' ■> ' From Mr' Cook, wharfinger, stating that 80,000 feet of timber landed from the Southern Cross, had been occupying the Western Quay for some time, and asking for authority to deal with that and similar obstructions in the future. The secretary was directed to request the board's solicitor to draft regulations respecting timber and other goods landed on the wharf. ' . From Mr Weber, stating that he had had a number of copies of his last report printed and had sent them to the board. From the same accompanying accounts due by the board to the end of his terra of office. ••. • From the board's solicitor ,_ stating, with respect to the site for a police station at Port Ahuriri, that the board had no power to part with reserves j it could only lease thenl.- . . The Ohaiririari pointed out that power was given in the. Act to" the Governor 'to enter upon any of the lands reserved for the board. Mr Oamond: Yes, but then the Government would have to pay for it. . . The Chairman ; Compensation would have to be given. ; Our only course now i 3 to leave the -Government to take action in the matter. ' BBPOBT ON SOUNDINGS. ; j . The pilot's report for four weeks was read. It stated that there was only oiie channel now, with a straight run in, and gave soundings averaging from 11 feet 6in. to 12 feet. ■ j LIGHTS AT THE PIER HEAIDS. •j ' Communications from Mr Weber on this subject were read, but the matter was ordered to stand over until the new . engineer was appointed. ; PLANS AND REPORTS ! FOR SIR JOHN * COODE. ■ ■'■','-. Mr Wilson moved that the plans and' reports prepared for Sir John Ooode jbe forwarded to him. Whatever might be the opinion of members as to what should ultimately be done, Sir John Coode having been consulted, arid. being in the expectation of receiving the information that had been prepared for him, he was | entitled to have it sent to him. Mr Ormond seconded the motion. The Secretary stated that in connection with this matter there was a letter from Mr Weber respecting .the price ;of timber. ■ The letter was 'read. It gave the sources whence Mr Weber had obtained his information as to the various; prices; of timber, information which he had reason to believe to be correct};, but he was prepared to meet with great, difference of opinion on the subject^seeingithat in the present large bridge contract at Kopua the tenders had .ranged from ,16s t0 : 283 per 100 feet. "If," added Mr Weber, ••• such a range exists in the quotations of indigenous, timber, I am not astonished; to have mine for imported kinds questioned." , . „ '■,■■ Mr Vantier explained the objections :ne had raised at the previous meeting to Mr Weber's quotations. . i Mr Robjohns objected to .the,^report being sent to Sir John Coode,. because it was drawn up with one view, that of the' strengthening and extension ©f the present work, and because it would consequently be damaging to the breakwater project. •. . ;• Colonel Lambert * wished to knpw whether Mr Robjohns had any objections to the plans and reports being Wnt to Sir John Coode. . Mr Robjohns said he did object. He wished t^e matter , to .be deferred till the new engineer was appointed. He moved to that effect. . : Mr Stuart seconded the motion, i A division was taken, with, the follow : ing result -. — Ayesj 4— Messrs Smith, Stuart, Robjohns, and Vautier. Noes, 6— Messrs Miller, Williams, Kinross, Ormond, and Colonel Lambert. : The amendment was therefore negatived, and the original motion was carried on the voices. ' ; . THE BREAKWATER. Mr Wilson resumed the adjourned debate on Mr Vautier's resolution for raising a loan of £225,000, part to- be applied to extinguishing the present loan, and part to be expended in the construction of a breakwater at Port Ahuriri Bluff. He said that the remarks of the previous speakers assumed that a breakwater could be made, when in fact the matter was exceedingly doubtful. It was true that there had been, a report from Mr M'Gregor on the subject, but it was more as to a scheme which might be carried out, than as to what, was actually practicable. Reference had ■ been made to Oamaru. No doubt' the result there had been very good, but he would like to show them how different they were placed -liere to vrtiat the position oi Oamaru was. They started their harbor scheme in Oamaru with a provincial grant of '£26,000. Then in the following year they had an additional sum of £24,000 under the North Otago . Public Works Loan Act, so they had a, start of £44,000.. la 1876 they obtained an endowment of 65,000 acres of land, and in> 1878 they asked for power to raise a loan ;of £100,000, They showed then that their, income was about £13^000 a year, and their expenditure about £11,000, but that did not include interest and sinking fund on the new loan, which would make the. expenditure about £17,000 a year. That deficiency of £4000 was made the ground of opposition to the loan in both Houses, and it was only when it was shown that the endowment 0f' 65,000 acres, which fetched now £735 a year would fetch £3600 after 1881, that the opposition was, withdrawn. The board could of course see how differently situated they iwere here, and yet they wanted to throw, £70,000 into the sea, and rush blindfold into a scheme they knew nothing about, and for ; which they had no authority except the resolution of a public meeting. No doubt a public meeting was a very good way of eliciting opinion on some political question, but it was not so in a matter of finance. There was a speech made on one side, received with much applause, and the other side not listened to at all. An opinion elicited in that way could have no weight at all. Then as to the means for repaying the loan. Mr Vautier assumed as a matter of course that the wharf dues would be allowed to be doubled, but Mr Vautier should bear in mind that it would affect the whole trade of the district, and that people might not be satisfied to be so taxed and business injured. The board might double the rates, but they would have to be sanctioned before ,,they could, be imposed. Then, besides, he had very much doubt whether the money could be raised at all. He would not say that it i was not desirable that a. breakwater should be constructed. . Indeed he endorsed the desirability as an abstract question, but he could not as at present brought forward agree with the proposal. As to Mr McGregor's report,, he did not put much reliance upon it. It was drawn up rather as indicating the sort of harbor Mr M'Gregor would like than as showing what could . be accomplished. There seemed to be some disinclination to taking Sir John Coode's opinion on this matter, as was shown by the attempt to postpone sending to him plans and reports that had been prepared for him, but he (Mr Wilson) was quite sure that whatever the board might be inclined to do, great attention would be paid by the Government to the opinion of that eminent engineer. For himself he wonld oppose any steps being taken until Sir John Coode's report was received. Mr Ormond would only say a few words, as tJUe wattw had been dealt with by the

last speaker verjr fully, arid indeed M f Wilson had taken up exactly the line of argument that had presented; itself to his (Mr Ormond's) mind wheii he first saw : Mr Vautier's resolution. He mightdivide the resolution into two parts.— The v first part that in which the 5 board y& asked to agree to raise a loan of £225 000 andtheotherpartto,^ ; plan for a breakwater. - %hen L *?££ theboard acted hastily in th'e matter they would be acting unfairly, to a very X • • nura J er ° f **«*», who, from what he had heard when he was- recenfJ II them objected, to 3 large™ Mn^Kg mcurred in which they would be invoS The most sensible course would be to the mover to withdraw his proposal anS not have it negatived. Indeed, even^W were passed, of what use would it be 1 U would bnng-thenr no nearer to the* object; neither^ obtaining the 'money nor m getting the sanction of the Govern- , ment.for a scheme which was .really impracticale, anda finance that was simply ridiculaua, Mr Vautier would 'bear in mind that before his proposal for donblimr theport dues could be put in fdr<k it would have to be allowed by the Government, and as it would injure -a lame number of consumers and traders ifr ?■" would.not be likely that the required sanction would be given. The inland ; people were much concerned in ? this I matter, as the interest on such a loan could / | only be paid toa::»maU extent out of ■ revenue,, and the remainder would b» borne by the inland • settlers whose%o'perfcy would be .liable for the payment The. views of the inland peop&Wthii matter were very well, given in 'an''articl& in the inland paper (the WaipawaMail), and with the permission of the board h& would read some portions. 1 ' [MfOrmond : * he £ re^ P 7 art tf an article that appeared Mail on Saturday last r %> did not think that Mr M'Gregor wai' S uifed la advise on such a, matter, though he was certainly a very good officer in -charge of works. The best opinion should bl'gok before'entering upon such an undertaking! andif anything practical was to belone they; should .^ave plan^ properl|dS up, and ways and means ,arrariged.;;.But he objected to rush iritp fte thing ik the way that, was proposed. EveryfngWer had condemned Mr M'&regoVs brSwater; scheme,, Mr. Oarruthers CanUg others.. The, harbor question was^now under the consideration of - the most ? eminent engineer eX tant ; .and they shpuldi wait for that engineer's' report instead of that, of Mr Vautier. He (Mr tonwrndV was quite sure that the Legislature would 0 :" never sanction jt. - He"- had- drafted a resolution which would enable the board- ■ •to- get .the opinion of a competent authority on Mr M'GregorVplan. -fle"' would not go into the merite of the financial scheme, as it carried 1 its'dwn condemn ''"'- ----nation with it j there was no; security at all offered for the loan, and . altogether ■> it was so ridiculous that it was We waste of time to debate it." / ' " v .• • - Mr Robjohns, to show that Mr Vautier ~ was not chargeable- iwith/ (rushing •£ the matter, quoted .Mr, Orrn^d's : address to the Provincial OounoU^t/ithe- 'opening of ;: the session of 1873,~in which' : Mr - Ornforid ; had, advocated : the .construction of a. ; saying thatilfit: was practi- , cable at Qamaru; ; itt;was r practicable at Napier^ ;and j predicting • brilliant < feature for Hawke's Bpy? With that prediction he (Mr Robjdhns) agreed, -'but ' it. would not be? with the present harbor - works, and which" j?ere intended to be extended. The peblic, he considered, had: ; been very forbearing, but until' they had ■ a breakwater they 1 would not be satisfied ■•' '"* Colonel Lambert: wished Mr Vautier i could be prevailed upon to withdraw his " motion. When he introduced it he,* no •■■= doubt, thought only of Napier, but; the ' country settlers were more largely concerned in it than the town people. ' What Mr Eobjohns had just read was whatiad been said six years ago ; they were very much wiser now. Engineers had been sent down to enquire into the niatter sinee 1 that was said, and they had ascertained that there was trayellirif shingk. He had no objection tp^Jbi^jrpterj on the contray, he would like^sge one con- - structed, but he couldtoo^a^ree; to the present proposal.*;: - *Astsf> the injury the port was suffering frbm : the want of a • breakwater, he 'had- seen paragraphs in the newspaper that were far more' in- - jurious to the port. As to the proposal ■■ - : to double the port charges, they had ah instance of what high charges would dp in the taking off of the .Rangatira on tjiat account. How would it be if the charges were doubled? He believed that' if the people of Napier were polled there iwould be a large majority against it. : At all •'' events, they should bear . in mind thafe they required works until they -Vgot a breakwater. And as to no improvement having been effected, why lighters could go in and out at times now when the# could not formerly. A merchant in Wellington had pointed out to him that three wool ships had been sent away from Napier before one had been sent/rom Wellington, notwithstanding that/there, the ships came up to the and here they had to - bef lightered.. They had not .100%, ship here for years,, and thbse>;t that > had been lost would not have :been,jtf., they had not been brought, here to be lost. (Laughter.) Now there were, not r any lost. The Mayor had beeii.well supported oh the platform, and c also in the Council, in respect to this proposal, but still it: was to.be hoped that it.wbuldb'e withdrawn. Mr Kinross did not think Colonel Lambert was j ustified in hisKremark abo ut vessels being brought here to' be, lost. , Some ten years ago there had been, no doubt, an instance of great carlessriess, but not of wilfully losing a vessel. With regard to the motion before, the board, he would remark that . enhari^g the \port dues would come in time, b"ut. .ncreased rates could not be imposed until ;^he completion of the breakwater, when lighterage would be saved. ; He should like to v see a breakwater constructed, hat he thought they should have good da^fto go upon before undertaking it, and having { by the kindness of the Government an opportunity of obtaining the advice of the best engineer procurable, it would be absurd to proceed without it merely because the construction of the breakwater " had been agreed upon at a public meeting. Mr Vautier, replying to* Mr Wilson about the rates, said that in reality there would be a .saving to those who paid the charges because of the lighterage "being :' done away with. . Replying to Mr Ormond, • • Mr Vautier said that Mr M'Gregor's work „-; at Oamaru was a credit to the colony.' It seemed, however, that only Mr Oarruthers or Sir John Coode were to Mr Orraond's * mind as engineers. What had Mr Oarruthers done for us ,? Why, by the report of soundings that had just been read, they ; had gained a foot of water for £70,000. He would admit that Sir John Ooode was a great engineer, but nevertheless he was liable to make , mistakes, as had been " shown by what Jie had done in the Channel Islands. He had beense^t for to construct a breakwater. The went on for years at a cost of some £300,000, and one night a northerly' gale blew the whole thing down. This was the man they made out to be so great, while MrM'Gregor, who had not lost a block of granite in the Oamaru works, < was 'regarded as a nobody. If .Colonel Lam- - bert were as deeply interested as (Mr ;"> Vautier) was in this matter,;, he. would ■? feel it more. As to the ral ing of the 'i money, they had examples of Idiat could be done in the loans raised by tne Queenslaud and South Australian Governments. " He could only say that if the scheme was : not sanctioned by the board, before six months a Joint Stock Company would be V.i started to do the work. : / ,} The board divided with the following ..f result :— Ayes, 4— Messrs Smith, Stuart/ Robjohns, and Vautier. Noes, 6— Messrs . 45 Miller, ' Williams, Kinross, Wilson, -it Ormond, and Colonel Lambert, J»

The motion was therefore negatived. KOAD THKOUGH THE OUTER SWAMP. Mr Smith moved, pursuant to notice, that the road through the Whare-o-maranui block, to cost £801, be proceeded with. He said that if the road were constructed the blocks that would be opened could be let for £3000 a year. Mr Miller seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Kinross was sorry he could not support the motion. They had been taking measures for reclaiming the swamp by natural means in time of floods,, and he was afraid that if they made a road and divided the swamp into blocks they would hinder what was being effected. Besides, he considered the board should husband its recourses ; they had not so much that they could afford, to throw any away. The board divided with the following result :— Ayes, s— Messrs Smith, Miller, Stuart, Robjohns, and Vautier. Noes, 6— Messrs Williams. Kinross, Wilson, Ormond, Colonel Lambert, and the chairman. ■ The motion was accordingly lost. MR. M'GEKGOIt'S PLANS. Mr Ormond moved, pursuant to notice, "That drawings of /Mr McGregor's plans for harbor works at Napier Bluff, together with copies, of his reports upon the same,' be forwarded to the Government, with a request that the said plans and reports' be submitted 1 to Sir John Coode, and that eminent engineer's opinion obtained of the proposed works ; - and further, that . the Government be asked to urge Sir John Coode to report on as early a date as possible what works he recommends for providing a suitable harbor for the port of Napier. ' ' His reason for moving the resolution was that it might be that Sir John ' Coode would not refer at all to Mr M'Gregor's plan for a breakwater unless the matter were brought, before him, and if his opinion were favorable it would go a great way in getting the work done. At any rate, the opinion would be valuble. Mr Wilson seconded the motion. Mrßobjohns moved the following addition to the motion — " And that arrangements be forthwith made for securing the services of Mr M'Gregor, to visit Napier without delay for the purpose of inspecting the Napier Bluff harbor or breakwater, and also for the purpose of perusing or altering (if necessary) the said plans, reports, &c, previous to their being sent to the Government." Mr Stuart seconded the addition. The board divided, when Mr Robjohn's amendment was negatived by 6 to 4. The original motion was then carried without dissent. APPOINTMENT OF ENGINEER. v i .. The board went into committee to collider four applications for the office of engineer to the board, when it was decided that Mr Rochfort be appointed. The board adjourned to the 22nd inst.