NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 18, 12 June 1880, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

• The usual fortnightly meeting of the Harbor Board was held on Tuesday. Present — Messrs. King (chairman), Bewley, Carrington, Curtis, Dingle, Standish, Thompson, and Wells.

Mr. Bewley moved, " That Sir John Coode's plans be adopted, and forwarded to the Government for approval."

Mr. Thompson seconded the motion.

Mr. Wells moved the following amendment :—": — " That, before assenting to Sir J. Coode's latest design for harbor work, it is advisable that the Board should obtain full information respecting the nature of the harbor site at Moturoa chosen by Balfour and Doyne ; and that with this end in view, the Board's engineer be instructed to take out quantities and prepare an estimate of cost, and report generally on such part of Balfour and Doyne's plan (modified by the substitution of a concrete section instead of a rabble section), as would be comprised in a mole connecting Mikotahi and the Lion Rock with Moturoa, and extending one chain in an easterly direction from Moturoa."

Mr. Standish seconded the amendment, and said it was very desirable to consider the question of site carefully before commencing a work of such importance. The existence of the Town of New Plymouth depended upon a harbor, and every care should be taken that no fatal mistake was made in the choice of a site.

Mi-. Bewley in reply said if the amendment was carried, New Plymouth would never have a harbor, as* Balfour and Doyne's plan was only a fine weather harbor. He did not believe in local engineering talent, as a fatal mistake had been made at Timaru in departing from Sir J. Coode's plans. The Chairman said if the Board attempted to alter Sir J. Coode's plan the Government would not accept it, and the harbor would be stopped. The present site had been carefully considered by the most eminent marine engineers, and had been approved of. It was therefore all nonsense to talk of the site not having been carefully considered.

Mr. Carrington supported the original motion. He was confident the harbor would be lost if any delay was caused for the purpose of choosing another site. He could state an reliaWe authority that the endowments would be taken away from them if the matter was referred .back to Parliament.

On the amendment being put to the meeting, it was declared lost on the voices, and the original motion was therefore carried.

Mr. Bewley proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Rees for the able manner he had executed the commision entrusted to him by the Board. He fully endorsed the action taken by Mr. Kees, and he considered if there was anyone to blame in the matter it was Sir John Coode.

Mr. Standisli seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr. Bees replied, thanking the Board for then: favorable expression of opinion on his conduct. — Herald.