NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7824, 17 August 1887, Page 3

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

TruslUY, AuciUST 16,

The Board met at 2 p.m. Present — Messrs J. D. Orniond (chairman), J. W. Neal, G. 11. Swan, .3. H. Vautier, M. It. Miller, JR. Harding, V. Dolbel, J. M'Vay, H. C. Kobjolins, T. Tanner, and H. W illiams.

COUBKSPOXDKXni. The following correspondence was read and dealt with : —

Fiotn Messrs Kinross and Co., stating that they wished to pick up the anchois and cables of the Northumberland, and

they would like Ihe assistance of the diver to discover the locality of the article*. — It was decided that the Board would not refuse reasonable assistance,

but that the whereabouts of the anchors would have to be found oy sweeping. from the same, preferring the use of the Ilalcione for lifting the moorings m the bay at the rate of Cl 2 a day, the. Hoard to fiay for any damage to the vessel's winduss and lo replace her at her moorings.- • It was decided to leave the chairman to arrange for having the moorings lifted, the services of the s.s, Stella to be secured if possible. From Mr .1. Heatson, forwarding the names of the following gentlemen to be inserted in the lieen.se to occupy part of the foreshore at the western spit : — Messrs .1. (1. Kinross, K. W. Knowles, 11. A. Banner, 11. If. I.ridge, and .1. licatsou.--Received. l'Yoin Messrs Salisbury and Logan, in reference to the claims made against the

Boar.l by the Union Steamship Company in connection with damages to the Suva ami the Orawaite. The lelter.statcd that the case of the Of ago Harbor JSoard v. fates was not over-ruled by the case of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company against the 'I'imaru Harbor Board. In

the latter case, in hi* charge to the jury, Mr .lustice ISiclnnond .said that the uni-

]iloyment of a licensed pilot would have exonerated the. Hoard.- Xo action taken.

I'Yom Hie pilot, reporting on the accident l>.y wliicli tlio s.s. Wailii lost her propeller blades. The pilot slated thai ])rior to the accident he told Mv Kinross that (lie anchor l-iioys were, alloat, ami requested lii in to put larger buoys on the moorings so that they should not Ije lost. The pilot iilso informed Mr Kinross that the Tnion Company's agent was complaining, and Air Kinross said that the buoys "should bo attended to at once. The buoy struck by the Waihi was larger than ordinary buoys- larger than those used by tlie I'nion Company's steamers— and it. was not awash, but fairly afloat, as could be proved by persons who saw it a day 01 two before the accident happened. The captain of the Wailii knew (lie buoy was there, and had a look-out been kept he could have easily seen it and avoided it. — Tlio lioaul acknowledged no liability in the matter. From the pilot, reporting a very bad bar, with a depth of only 10 feet of water between the piers, and the channel so narrow and crooked that he could .seaieely brill" in a vessel of Mze. This condition was 'caused by the heavy southeily gales prevailing. KNCIXKKK.S ItKI'OKT. Mr . I. (Joodall presented the following ieport : — Contract No. 13.— Tlio progress of Die breakwater is still cU-lnycfl tiy continuous heavy sons, anil only four i-oncrole blocks have boon liiiil The protection of crili-work by rublilc ih being prosccuteil with visor, and the reclamation of tlio lntfoon near WnjifhorncHt reel is approaching completion, and n might Mieroforo be ndvisnlilc to consider if slops should bi> liikon to cmleiivor lo lmvo the pnvnle allotments (colored red and marked A. A. in uccotnimtiyii'S 1>)»»> "'"I iiro enclosed by the Hoard's pri.perl.v- tilled up to the proper heielit and have a definite plan fixed for t ln s cut line up of the lagoon into streets and building blocks, and arrange nitlnlio railway nulliorllics as to Die position and ni-ca of land that, limy require for railway purposes. Di-eriKing "nd Kcclnmnlion. — I lie rnoslman's dredge has been engaged deepening berths at western (|Uny, excepting the lint, few diivs, iluriiiK wliicli tune it. bus been working in lh<! Iron Pol. deepeniiiK and widening die chnmicl to emililo Ibe \\ ailu to gel up to Ibe passenger loading shed. It is hoped that this will he accomplished in a fortnight. TlU'reuliiniiilion or the mlnkc ia nearly Iliiisliiid. and tenders will b« called for tilling in near the district, sclinol. JJolnlling I imnTlaimcd ground behind the. lirenßtwork in Ibc lion Tot is proceeding, and will be HOOli completed. ('i-mi>iil-slii(l Km ension. —This work is rom-plcli-il. null Ilic building i« now receiving tlio llrsl sliipmniil of cement in Mm No. 17 <"ontract. Customs I) Shed. The Customs authorities having siuiclioiiiml the removal of llio J! shed, I beg Id recommend llmil il he placed in "><; po-jiliun niiirki'd It mi plan, and ho converted into n workshop. A proper and commodious workshop is much required, nnd the position indicaled ia exceedingly suitable, being central and convenient for all [mr)m.-cs. Roach Protection. Tlic heavy seas have slightly damaged the crib-work on llio Spit bench, the rubble in places having subsided. 1 and v few piece? of. sheeting washed avvn>,

Tlic rubble I)H9 been replaced ns fnr ns the sea will admit and the first favorablo opportunily will lie taken to effect, the other r< Xow Crane.— I heg to remind the Hocrd to iiiko into consideration the procuring of another large cmnc for breakwater purposes. Hopper Barges and Diving Boat.- As the tinioliiis now arrived for procuring hopper barges for conveying rubble to prepare the foundation of Ihe breakwater in deep water, and also a diving boat for general inspection, but especially to examine Ihe foundation work as it proceeds, I beg lo recommend I hat tenders ho called for Ihoin.

It was decided to wiite to the owners of the sections referred to in the report, asking them to fill up their properties, or if they would prefer to sell. In reference to the question of what land would be required by the railway authorities, Mr Nea.l said that the question was a most important one. The Council wished to (ix the levels at the Spit for drainage purposes. He would therefore propose that a sub-committee .should he appointed to report on the matter. — Mr Sw.ui was afraid that if the committee to discuss levels dealt with the railway question al.so there would be delay.' The Council wished to start the Spit drainage scheme at an early date. - -Mr Kobjolms said he had heard that the Government intended to take nearly the whole of the reclaimed land from the Hoard.— On the motion of the Chaiimau it was decided to. inform the Government tli.it the Hoard were preparing a plan for cutting up the reclaimed land, and would like to know what the ( iovornmont intended to do in the matter of taking laud for railway purposes. It \\w also decided that the town members of the Board should be a committee to act with the engineor in drawing up a plan. The remainder of the report was adopted. Ti;i:i:-i'LAX'iixi;. Mi* Dolbel drew the attention of the Board to the fact that Mr W. 1?. l'.lythe had planted trees on the Hoard's reserve at his own expense, but they were nearly all destroyed by goat*. He thought that the Board might vote £10 towards protecting tree* planted. Mr Swan pointed out that the question was too large to be dealt with piecemeal, and on his suggestion Mr Dolbel agreed to postpone the question till a general scheme could he laid before the Board, WKSTKKN -MOM:. Mr Swan pointed out the great necessity which existed for placing a light on the western mole, and it was decided on the voices that the engineer should be instructed to prepare a report on the question to bo Ipitl before the Board at the next meeting.

lAXmXfi KACIMTIIiN. Mr Ouuoiul drew attention to the necessity for the Board to take steps to ensure the safety and cleanliness of goods when landed on the wharf in wet weather, and also to provide a movable box for the oflieer taking delivery. On bis motion the following committee was appointed to report on the matter: — Messrs Neal, Williams, liohjohns, and Vautiei.

ACCOUNTS. Voucher.' amounting to t'lT-W 0-> 2d weie passed for payment, made up of £700 8s 3d revenue account and £003 11s Oil loan account, and the Hoard then adjourned.