NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5354, 11 April 1879, Page 4

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Tuesday, April 8. The board met at 11 a.m. Present — The Chairman (John Buchanan, Esq.), Li cut. -Colonel Lambert, Messrs Ormond, Kinross, Williams, Vautier, Ilobjohns, Miller, Smith, and Stuart. The minutes of the previous 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 ascounts should be audited by Mr M'Allister. From Mr Francis Saunders, stating that he had taken over from Mr Weber .papers, plans, and effects belonging to the board, and that a schedule would be prepared 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 Provincial 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 6b 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 term of oil ice. 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 ; it could only lease them. The Chairman pointed out that power was given in the Act to the Governor to enter upon any of the lands reserved for the board. Mr O.imond: Yes, but then the Government would have to pay for it. The Chairman : Compensation would have to be given. Our only course now is to leave the Government to take action in the matter. REPORT ON SOUNDINGS. The pilot's report for four weeks was read. It stated that there was only. one channel now, with a straiglit'Tun in, and _ga.Y-G-seandi'n'gs averaging from 11 feet Gin. to 12 feet. LIGHTS AT THE PIER HEADS. Communications from Blr Weber on this subject were read, but the matter was ordered to stand over until the new engineer was appointed. V PLANS AND REPORTS FOR SIR JOIIN COODE. Mr Wilson moved that the plans and reports prepared for Sir John Coode be forwarded to him. Whatever might be the opinion of members as to what should ultimately be done, Sir John Coode having been consulted, and being in the expectation of receiving the information that had been prepared for him, ho 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, seeing that in the present large bridge contract at Kopua, the tenders had ranged from 16s to 28s 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 he had raised at the previous meeting to Mr Weber's quotations. Mr Ilobjohns objected to the report being sent to Sir John Ooode, because it was drawn up with one view, that of the strengthening and extension wf the present work, and because it would conse- . quenfcly bo damaging to the breakwater project. Colonel Lambert wished to know whether Mr Robjohns had any objections to the plans and reports being sent'to Sir John Cpode. Mr Robjohns said he did object. He wished the matter to "be deferred till the new engineer was appointed. He moved to tli at effect. Mr Stuart seconded the motion. A division was taken, with the following result: — Ayes, 4— Messrs Smith, Stuart, Robjohns, and Vantier. Noes, o—Messrs0 — Messrs Miller, Williams, Kinross, Ormond, and Colonel Lambert. . The amendment was therefore negatived, and the original motion was carried on the voices. THIS BREAKWATER. Mr Wilson resumed the adjourned debate on Mr Vau tier'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'Grogor 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. Wo doubt the result there had been very good, but he would like to show them how different they were placed here to what the position of Oamaru was. They started their harbor scheme in Oamaru with a provincial grant of £20,000. Then in tho 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 1870 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 tho 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 of Go, ooo acres, which fetched now £735 a year would fetch £3600 after 1881, that the opposition was withdrawn. Tho board could of course see how differently situated they were 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 rib authority except the resolution of a public meeting. No doubt a public meeting was a very good way of eliciling 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 wduld be allowed to bo doubled, but Mr Vautier should bear in mind that it would aO'ect the whole trade of the district, and tho fc people might not be satisfied to be so taxed and business injured. The board 1 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 was not desirable that a breakwater should bo 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 M'Gregor'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 bo some disinclination to taking Sir John Cootie's opinion on this matter, . as was shown by the attempt to postpone sending to him plans and reports that had boon prepared for him, but he (Mr Wilson) was quite sure that whatever tho 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 the matter had been dealt with by the last speaker very fully, and indeed Mr Wilson had taken up exactly tho line of argument that had presented itself to his (Mr Ormond's) mind when he first saw Mr Van tier's resolution. He might divide the resolution into two parts. — The first part that in which the board was asked to agree to raise a loan of £225,000, and the other part to adopt Mr M'Gregor's plan for a breakwater. When he saw the notice of Mr Van tier's motion, he felt that if the board acted hastily in the matter they would be acting unfairly to a very large number of settlors, who, from what lie had heard when he was recently among thorn objected to a large liability being incurred in which they would be involved. The most sensible course would be for the mover to withdraw his proposal and not have it negatived. Indeed, even if it were passed, of what uso would it be / It would bring them no nearer to their object, neither in obtaining the money nor in getting the sanction of the Government for a scheme which was really impracticale, and a liuanco that was simply ridiculous. Mr Vautier would bear in mind that before his proposal for doubling tho port dues could be put in force it wonld have to be allowed by the Government, and as it would injure a largo number of consumers and traders it would not be likely that the required sanction would be given. The inland people were much concerned in this matter, as the interest on such a loan could only be paid to a small extent out of revenue, and the remainder would be borne by the inland settlei-s whose propertj' would be liable for the payment. Tho views of the inland people in- tins" matter were very wail -given in an article in- the inland paper (tho Waipawa Mail), and with tho permission of the board ho would road some portions. [Mr Ormond then road part of an article that appeared in the Mail on Saturday last.] He did not think that Mr M'Grogor was suited'to advise on such a matter, though he was certainly a very good officer in charge of works. The best opinion should be got before entering upon such an undertaking, and if anything practical was to be done they should have plans properly drawn up, and ways and moans arranged. But he objected to rush into the thing in the way that was proposed. Every engineer had condemned Mr M'Gregor's breakwater scheme, Mr Carruthers among others. Tho harbor question was now under the consideration of the most eminent engineer extant, and they should wait for that engineer's report instead of entertaining so outrageous a proposal as that of Mr Vautier. He (Mr Ormond) was quite sure that the Legislature would never sanction it. He had drafted a resolution which would enable the board to got the opinion of a competent authority on Mr M'Gregor's plan. He would not <^o into the merits of the financial scheme, as it carried its own condemnation with it ; there was no security at all offered for the loan, and altogether it was so ridiculous that it was mere waste of time to debate it. Mr Robjolms, to show that Mr Vautier was not chargeable with rushing the matter, quoted Mr Ormond's address to the Provincial Council at tho opening of the sossion of 1873, in which Mr Ormond had advocated the construction of a breakwater, saying that if it was practicable at ' Oamaru it was practicable at .Napier, and predicting a brilliant feature for Bawke's Bay. With that prediction he (Mr Robjolms) agreed, but it would not bo with the present harbor works, and which were intended to be extended. Tho peblic, he considered, had boon very forbearing, but until they had a breakwater they would not be satisfied Colonel Lambert wished Mr Vautier could bo prevailed upon to withdraw his motion. When he introduced it he, no doubt, thought only of Napier, but the country settlers wore more largely concerned in it than the town people. What Mr Robjolms had just read was what had been said six years ago ; they were very much wiser now, Engineers had been sent down to enquire into the matter sinco that was said, and they had ascertained that there was travelling shingle. He had no objection to a breakwater ; oir the con tray, ho would like to see due con-' structed, but ho could not agree to the present proposal. As to the injury the port was suffering from the Want of a breakwater, he had seen paragraphs in tho newspaper that were far more injurious to thu port. As to tho proposal to double the port charges, they had an instance of what high charges would do in the taking off of the Rangatira on thai account. How would it be if the charges wore doubled ? Ho believed that if the people of Napier were polled there would be a large majority against it. At all events, they should bear in mind that they required works until they got a breakwater. And as to no improvement having been effected, why lighters could go in and out at times now when they could not formerly. A merchant in Wellington had pointed out to him that throe wool ships had been sent away from Napier before one had been sent from Wellington, notwithstanding that there tho ships came up to the wharf, and here they had to be lightered. They had not lost a ship here for years, and those that had been lost would not have been, if they had not been brought here to be lost. (Laughter.) Now there were not any lost. The Mayor had been well supported on the platform, and also in the -Council, in respect to this proposal, but still it was to be hoped that it would bo withdrawn. Mr Kinross did not think Colonel Lambert was justified in his remai'k about vessels being brought here to be lost. Some ten years ago there had been, no doubt, an instance of great carlessness, but not of wilfully losing a vessel. With regard to the motion before the board, he wonld remark that enhancing the port dues would come in time, but nereaseel rates could not be imposed until the completion of the breakwater, when lighterage would be saved. He should like to see a breakwater constructed, but he

thought they should have good 'data ,tO ( go upon before undertaking it, and haying, 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 Vaii tier, 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 clone away with. Replying to Mr Oritiond, Mr Vaiitier said that MrM'Grregor's work at Oam am was a credit to the colony.- It seemed, however, that only Mr Carruthers or Sir John Coodo were to Mr Ormond's mind as engineers. What had Mr Carruthers clone 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 Coode was a great engineer, but nevertheless he was liable to make mistakes, as had. been shown by what he had done in the Channel Islands. He had been sent f/>r to construct a breakwater. The works 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 Mr M'Gregor, who had not lost a block of granite in the Oamaru works, was regarded as a nobody. If Colonel Lamport were as deeply interested as he. (Mr .^autier) was in this matter, he would feel it more. As to the raising of tho money, they had examples, of what could be done in the loans raised by the Queensland 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 bo started to do the work. The board divided with the following result :— Ayes, 4— Messrs Smith, Stuart, Robjolms, and Vautier. Noes, 6— Messrs Miller, Williams, Kinross, Wilson, Ormond, and Colonel Lambert. The motion was therefore negatived. BOAD TJIKOUUH THE OUTER SWAMP. Mr Smith moved, pursuant to notice, hat the road through the Whare-o-niarauui block, to cost £801, be proceeded with. He said that if tho road were constructed tho blocks that would be opened could be let for £3000 a year. Mr Miller seconded the motion p>'° forma. Mr Kinross was sorry he could not support the motion. They had been biking 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, ho 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, Robjolms, and Vautier. Noes, 6 — Messrs Williams. Kinross, Wilson, Ormond, Colonel Lambert, and the chairman. The motion was accordingly lost. MB. JI'GBKGOII's PLANS. Mr Ormond moved, pursuant to notice, " That drawings of Mr M'Gregor's plans for harbor works at Napier Bluff, together with copies of his reports upon the same, be forwardocl to the Government, with a request that the said plans and reports be submitted to Sir John Coodo, and that eminent engineer's opinion obtained- of the proposed works ; and" further, that the Government be asked to urge Sir John Coodo 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 valublo. Mr Wilson seconded the motion. Mr Robjolms 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 Robj ohn's amendment was negatived by G to 4. The original motion was then carried without dissent. APPOINTMENT OF ENGINEER. The board went into committee to consider four applications for the office of engineer to the board, when it was decided that Mr Roohfort be appointed. The board adjourned to the 22nd inst.