NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6778, 9 February 1884, Page 3

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board vt&B held yesterday afternoon for the purpose of considering Mr Goodall's breakwater plan and report.

Present— Mr J. D. Ormond (chairman), His Worship the Mayor, Mr W. O. Smith, M.H.E., Messrs J. H. Vautier, P.Dolbel, J. W. Heal; A. Wardrop, and J. A. Smith. The Chairman 'said that the meeting was called in accordance with the decision of the Board, that as soon as Mr Goodall's report and plan were received the members should be called together. The report was rather long and would take some time to read, but he had prepared a brief digest, which would perhaps give members some idea of it. Mr Goodall's scheme comprised a breakwater of 2470 feet in length, of which 1000 feet would be in water of a depth of 31 to 34 feet. The scheme provided also for an extension of the breakwater by about 500 feet, if found necessary for shelter against northeast sea; An opening would be left of 1350 feet from the breakwater to the Auckland Rock, or of 750 feet if the breakwater were extended the 500 feet mentioned. With regard to accommodation for shipping, the scheme provided for three tiers of piers for vessels to lay at and a railway from the Spit to the breakwater. Sheet piling would be erected from the present works to Sea Point to provide againt the Spit being threatened by the denuding of shingle. The estimated cost was £197,165. He (the chairman) would advise that the Board should get the report printed as soon as possible, and in that way it would be in the hands of members and of the public. There was the following letter from Mr Goodall covering the report : — Enclosed please find report on a breakwater from the Bluff at Napier. I tried hard to get it completed by the time I sent the plans by tlie Manapouri last Thursday, but I failed in doiDg so. Should your Board desire to have the report printed and the plans lithographed I shall be happy to see that they are properly done without charge, excepting for travelling expenEes to Lyttelton, as 1 cannot get the lithographing done here, in which, case please send back the duplicate copy in tracing cloth. Should you wish to have the report printed only I can get it done here, and there will be no charge except for the printing. If you were to telegraph I could get that done at once, as I have the impress copy. Tt is desirable for me to look after the printing, bo that the proofs may be properly corrected. The plans will be reduced in size to suit the report. I feared at one time that my estimate would exceed £200,000, but am pleased to find that it comes within that amount. The cost at per foot run is rery much less than Timaru, on account of feeing able to uee so much nibble which is actually on the ground. You will observe I have used it largely for foundations and wave breakers. — It would be seen that Mr Goodall proposed to get the report printed in Timaru, but he (the chairman) thought it would be better to have it printed in Napier, as then it would be more speedily in the hands of members. Of course no steps could be taken at the present meeting, but he had prepared some resolutions which would raise the whole question at the next ordinary meeting on the 19th inst., and he would now read them. They were as follows : — " This Board approves the design of Mr Goodall for a breakwater and harbor at Napier, and, subject to obtaining the requisite sanction of Parliament to the undertaking, desires to secure Mr Goodall's services to carry out the work." " That a select committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs W. O. Smith, Neal, Vautier, J. N. Williams, his Worship the Mayor of Napier, and the mover, to consider and report on the following subjects :— (1.) The steps to be taken to secure the passing of a bill at the next session of the General Assembly to authorise the construction of a breakwater and for the provision of the necessary funds for the purpose ; (2) to prepare for the approval of the Board the data for drafting a bill to provide for the construction of a breakwater and harbor for Napier, and for borrowing £200,000 for the purpose ; (3) to prepare for the approval of the Board a scheme of rating for raising the yearly interest on the loan, or such proportion of such interest as may be required yearly in aid of revenue from harbor rates, such scheme to include a division into rating districts o£ such areas of the provincial district of Hawke's Bay as may be determined on, the rate for the several districts to be proportioned to the benefits to be derived from the harbor works." Those resolutions, so far as he was able to judge, embraced all the points the Board would have to deal with. The first resolution proposed that the Board should approve Mr Goodall'B plan, and the next proposed the appointment of a committee for taking all the steps needed for carrying out the scheme, such aa preparing a bill to iutroduce into Parliament, devising a scheme of rating, &c. In proposing the members of whom the committee should consist he had been careful that they should represent the various districts, as the committee would have to enquire into the probable revenue and prepare a schemo of rating. That would be a piece of work for which local knowledge would be required, and it was for that reason that he thought it important the members should be fairly representative. The bill would have to be framed so as to give power to apportion the rating according to the benefits derived from the works. Napier, for instance, would have to contribute the largest share, and the immediately adjoining district would come next, and so on, excluding any district that did not derive any benefit at all. However, it was premature to discuss the resolutions now. He would give notice to move -them at the next meeting. With regard to Mr Goodall's letter, there was an account attached to it for £190, consisting of 100 guineas, the amount agreed upon for making plans, estimate, and report, and £85 for travelling and other expenses, a moderate charge, he (the chairman) thought. If the Board would sanction the payment of the amount the secretary could remit it at once. With regard to printing the report, it would scarcely be necessary to send it down to Timaru ; and as to lithographing the plans, a letter had been just received from the Herald offering to issue the plan as a supplement and supply the Board with 300 copies for £7. Mr W. C. Smith thought it would be advisable to have the plan and report published with both newspapers. After some conversational discussion it was decided that some arrangement should be made in accordance with Mr W. O. Smith's suggestion. On the motion of the chairman the payment of £190 to Mr Goodall was authorised. The Mayor asked whether Mr Goodall's plana would have to be approved by the Government engineer ? The Chairman : Yes ; ultimately they will. Mr Smith said that one matter had been lost sight of, and that was obtaining the opinion of the Governor, which the Board at a previous meeting had decided should be done. He would give notice to move " That Mr Goodall's plans and report for a breakwater at Napier be adopted by the Board, providing the sanction of Parliament be obtained, and that Mr Goodall be aßked to wait on his Excellency the Governor with same, and that a letter be given him from the Board asking His Excellency to advise thereon." The Board then adjourned.