TARANAKI HARBOR BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 169, 7 November 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

TARANAKI HARBOR BOARD.

At the Harbor Board meeting on "Wednesday, the following business of interest to our readers was transacted :—: — The Acting-Secretary, Mr. Bauchope, who had resigned his office, b^ut had been requested to continue to act until affairs in connection with the Board was more settled, was reappointed. The tenders of candidates iorkh& o&de wetenoh considered, the Board being of opinion that a better secretary was not likely to be obtained. On the motion of Mr. Kelly, it was agreed to consider any claim from men who were accidentally injured on the works on its merits. The overseer was empowered to send for medical assistance in case it were required. Mr. Torke drew attention to the fact that the promised decrease in the pay-sheet, and reduction in the number of men, had not yet taken place. The pay-sheet had averaged lower in June last than at present. He asked the chairman (Mr. King) whether the latter could explain the matter. — The Chairman pointed out; that works were going on, such as the quarry, the building of the sea-wall, &c, which rendered a reduction of the staff difficult. Mr. Yorke said he desired again to draw attention to the large amount of ' overtime made by many of the men. He found that some of the strikers ard blacksmiths made from 14 to 15 days of eight hours in the fortnight. One or two of the gangers claimed for 127 hours. He was not in a position to say whether the money was earned or not, but' he knew the system was open to* grave abuse. Messrs. Dingle and O'Laughlin agreed that even in connection with tidal work such hours were excessive. j Mr, Torke desired some explanation. Two months ago the superintendent of the. works' proposed to make two gangs when the days were longer, but that had not been done. If, as was stated, the men had to work in the water, speaking from his own experience, he. . believed that six hours would be long enough for^hem; ' : The Chairman undertook to make enquiries into the matter. He was

sorry that Mr. Rhind was not present to explain the time-sheet. Mr. McLaughlin thought the facts pointed out indicated that the work should be let by contract without further delay. He desired to bring on a resolution tabled, but held over, by ' him to that effect. Mr. Kelly admitted that reorganisation was required, and agreed that public opinion was strongly in favor of letting the continuance of the breakwater by contract. He would move that the Board go into committee to consider the advisability of re-organising the staff. The resolution was agreed to. The committee reported that the chairman was authorised to make arrangements for engaging a resident engineer, and also a consulting engineer, subject to the approval of the Board. Mr. Torke tabled a notice of motion that meetings for the despatch of ordinary business he only held once a month ; accounts to be passed fortnightly, as heretofore.