Ordinary Meeting.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6436, 20 December 1882, Page 3

Ordinary Meeting.

The ordinary meeting of the Board was then held, the same members being present.

, : CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence waß read : — •From Mr J. D. Ormond, stating that urgent private buaineaa would prevent his being present at that meeting of the Board. From the clerk of the Waipawa County Council, stating that Lieutenant-Colonel Herrick had been elected to represent the Council on the Napier Harbor Board, in the place, of. the late Lieutenant-Colonel Lambert. From the secretary to the Lyttelton Harbor Board, inviting the members of the Napier Harbor Board to a luncheon to be held at Lyttelton on the 3rd of January on the occasion of the opening of the graving dock. From the same (telegram) to the same effect. From Messrs M. R. Miller and Potts, drawing attention to the bad condition of the cattle yards at the Spit— The Secretary stated that the necessary repairs had been since effected. From the Harbor-master, reporting that he could at present bring in any of the ordinary coastine vessels at a draught of 13 feet. From Mr 0. B. Hankey, district railway manager, applying for the refund of Is 3d wharfage charge paid on his luggage by Mr C. Lambert, a Government officer travelling on publio service, having been transferred to the Napier railway from the South.-r-It was ordered that the Is 3d be refunded. engineer's report. The following report from the engineer was read : — I have the honor to report that during the past month the dredge has been working at the breastwork. Considerable delay has been Ciuaed through not . having a sufficient number of discharging punts. I would therefore suggest that the Board obtain at least another punt in order to keep the dredge more employed ; at present it is not working more than half time. The cost of a punt would be about £3z. I intend during the next month to proceed with the dredging alongside the new breastwork. The fascine work has been oompleted with the exception of the opening left for the ingresa of the punta. The repairs to the pilot's residence have been completed, and a few necessary repairs to the cattle wharf have been made. Mr GHendinning is proceeding with his breastwork contract. He is having some little difficulty with the sheeting piles, but it is expected that this will be soon overcome. It was decided that tenders be called for an additional punt as recommended by the engineer. solicitors' opinion. The secretary was about to read the joint opinion of the Board's solicitor and of Mr Carlile on the claims of Mr Kennedy and Mr Vautier for refund on wharfase paid on coals imported for the use of the Government, when Mr Wilson raised the objection that it was inexpedient to make publio opinions given by legal advisers on a matter which would probably be litigated. . Indeed, it was an unprecedented and unreasonable course to furnish the opposite Bi&JTriih ih% opinions of one's Qtra advisers. Ha suggested that, the opinion should be referred to a committee to report upon. ' Mr KinroßS moved that a committee,

consisting of Messrs Ormond, Wilson, and Wardrop, bo appointed to consider and report upon the solicitors' opinion. The motion was seconded by Mr Wilson and carried. A letter from Mr Cook, respecting Mr Vautier's refusal to pay any wharfage rates pending the settlement of his claim, Was referred to the same committee. TBNJUERS. Tenders for supplies to the Board were opened from Measrs Ruddock and Fryer, Messrs Hardy and Sidey, and Mr W. Boyd. The tender of Messrs Hardy and Sidey being the lowest on those articles most required by the Board, was accepted. FINANCE. Vouchers to the amount of £661 10s lid were passed for payment. The Secretary reported the balance at the bank was £2275 19s 4d, besides £5000 on deposit account. THE BOARD'S ENDOWMENTS. Mr Wilson's motion, of which he had given notice — " That it is expedient that steps be taken in order that the Government auditor be enabled to certify as to the value of the endowments of the Board" — was postponed until the next meeting. The Board then adjourned.