NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5435, 16 July 1879, Page 3

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Tuesday, July 15. The board met at 2.30 p.m.

Present — The Chairman (Mr J. Buchanan), liieut, - Colonel Lambert,

Messrs. Common, Vautier, Miller, Smith, Lyndon/ and Williams. TENDERS. ' ; /The secretary reported that the committee that had been appointed to open tenders for the stone embankment had Bcctepted the tender of Mr O'lCrough for the sum of £46. CORKESPdNDENCE. The following letters were read J— . From the t clerk of works, stating' that the weather had precluded the preparation of a joint report from himself and thfi pilot From the same, reporting that Mr McKay was making good progress with his contract at the eastern pier. From the harbor master, enclosing £17 received by him for pilotage licenses. From the same, reporting that the innner moorings had been lost, and that the diver would require for recovering the chain a payment of £5 for the first day and £2 per day for each succeeding day if the work Was not effected on the first day. Mr Vautier said that the moorings were a source of great expense, and he was quite sure that the small number of ships coming here from England would not pay for the expense. The best thing to do would be to do away with the moorings altogether, and so save a cost of £200 or £300 year.. . The Chairman : And leave anchor and chain where they are 1 ' Mr Vautier ':; Yes. Mr Williams would point out that the question was not as to the value or expense of the moorings, but merely whether the chain and the anchor were to be left where they were at present. There was an article or articles of value under the water which the board might use if so disposed, or might sell if they liked, and the question was whether the articles were to be recovered or to bo left where they now where. After some further discussion, Mr Miller moved, and Mr Williams seconded, that the diver be employed on the terms mentioned by the clerk of works. The board divided, the result being that the motion was negatived, Messrs Miller, "Williams, and .Lyndon Voting for it, and Messrs Smith, Vautier, and Common and Colonel Lambert voting against it. HARBOR RESERVES. The Secretary stated that he had been asked by the lessee of the Whare-o-maraenui bloGk to delay taking it over, as he had cattle on it, and he had an offer to make to the board in respect to the term between this and the Ist of October, when he would tender for the lease. He (the secretary) had therefore refrained from taking possession, and had since received a letter on the subject from the lessee, Mr Beatson. The letter was then read. It was to the effect that Mr Beatson would . take the reserve at the tipset price from the Ist of October, and for the interim term he would, instead of making any payment, plant oßiers to prevent the ground being washed away by the scour of the river. Mr Smith did not think the board could make any private arrangement in regard to the reserves. [Mr Kinross at this stage entered and took his seat.] Colonel Lambert moved that the persons in possession of the Whare-o-maraenui block and the lighthouse reserve be called upon to make an offer of payment in money for tenancy of the reserves up to September 30. The motion was seconded by Mr Kinross and carried. THE 'SPIT FERRY. A letter was read from Messrs Joseph Bell and John "Young, the sureties for the ferrymen, stating that they had made enquiries with respect to the complaints against the ferrymen, and were informed that no overcharges had been made. In the instance where a high charge had been made the vehicle that was Worried was not mentioned in the scale of charges, and the man Clark had taken advantage of the omission. THE BOARD'S EXPENDITURE. Mr Miller moved "That a committee, consisting of Colonel Lambert, Mr J. G. Kinross, and the mover, be empowered to control accounts generally of the board, aud under their sanction a monthly statement of receipts and disbursements be prepared by the secretary and submitted to the board, stating the past month's actual expenditure and estimate of the outlay required for the ensuing month." Mr Miller said he would like to have the permission of the board to alter the motion so that the members forming the the committee should be appointed by ballot. The Chairman said that the mover must be on the committee.

Mr Common seconded Mr Miller's resolution.

Colonel Lambert wished to have his name withdrawn and Mr Common's substituted.

The question was put to that effect and negatived.

Mr Kinross wished to have his name withdrawn.

The Chairman : In favor of whom 1

Mr Kinross : Whoever likes to take it. The question that Mr Kinrosa's name be withdrawn was put aud. negatived. The resolution waa then put and that also was negatived. The board then adjourned.