TARANAKI HARBOR BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1560, 25 February 1887, Page 2

TARANAKI HARBOR BOARD.

The first meeting of the new board was held on Wednesday, all being piesent. Mr. T. King was re-elected chairman.

A CATTLE PUNT

Mr. Yorke said that the people of the Plains bad been enquiring a 9 to the best place for shipping away their cattle, and tbe result of the enquiries was that if a cattle punt was procured at tbe breakwater for the purpose of shipping the cattle, most of the Hawera settlers would send their cattle via the breakwater to Sydney, as they could invariably find a better market in Sydney than in Auckland. Mr. Lysaght had ascertained that tbe cattle carried in trucks did not find a ready market, as they received more injury in tbe trucks than on the sea voyage. If tbe Harbor Board could see its way to procure a cattle punt, he believed one could be bought iv Onehunga for about £600. Rather than send their cattle by rail to the breakwater they would ship their stock from Waitara. He did not think there would be any difficulty in using the punt, even in rough weather, as the punt could go out to the steamer lying some distance away from the wharf. The settlers of tbe Plains would be called upon to pay a rate, and they would do so more cheerfully if tbe board endeavored to meet their wants in tbe manner be had indicated.

The chairman eaid that the contractor for the wharves bad stated to him that in Gisb.a-ne cattle were shipped by means of a puut, and iv had worked well. Mr. Bayly said that the Sydney market was certainly the best market for Taranaki stock, and be would support any action necessary to induce the Hawcra people to ship their cattle from (.be breakwater.

Mr. Yorku moved, and Mr. March ant seconded, " That a committee consisting of Messrs Bayly, Oonnett, and the chairman be appointed to ascertain the cost of providing one or two cattle punts for shipping cattle from the cattle yards on to "steamer trading with Sydney or other ou side ports. The committee to consider aud report whether such punts would be of benefit and service to this port or not."

FINANCE,

Mr. Merchant -wished to know the financial position of the board in respect to the construction of the work, aud also how soon a rate would be required. The Chairman said there was no doubt that whatever was loft after the works were finished would have to go to the payment of interest. TLe board would have to take measures for striking a rate at once, in order to meet the coupons iv November next. When the board has finished the work of construction, it was estimated there would be a surplus of about £4000, and that would be jequired iv part to meet the interest in November, in addition to the rale.

Mr. Mafchant — Are we to have nothing left for incidental expenses, repairs, or dredging ? Surely something. will be required to be done to the machinery any dredging the harbor after tbe work has been stopped. The Chairman — We will have to pay tbe interest as long - as we have any money. We cannot keep anything back.

Mr. Connett — No ; we must pay tbe coupons, or the debenture holders will take the breakwater out of our hands.

Mr. Bayly would like to know precisely how the matter stood, and how far it would be safe to carry on tbe work witb the money in hand. The engineer said tbat about £1200 would be required for wages and £500 for cement to carry out the breakwater witb the blocks on band 150 ft.

The Chairman thought, if the.engiueer's estimate was correct, there would probably be a balance of £4700. Tais sum added to £5000 for rates for the year, and £4000 for land revenue, etc., would be sufficient to meet the other half- yearly coupons, or in other words the board could see their way clear for 18 months to come. It would be necessary, of course, to strike a rate for the full amount of Is in tbe £.

Mr. Bayly said be thought it would be desirable to construct a parapet on tbe breakwater, according to Sir J. Coode's plan, which would keep the beavy seas from breaking over and carrying tbe sand with them.

The Chairman said that be had been talking with Mr. Arthur, on, the subject, and be suggested that a " bull's nose "• parapet should be built in situ, instead of with blocks, which would be much cheaper.

Mr. Stevenson : Will the revenue of the board pay the working expenses ? Chairman : I cannot say ; that is a matter we must go into afterwards. We must live from hand to mouth, no doubt. The land revenue has been so cat up with the leasing system that it has thrown out all our calculations.

Mr. Bayly said that probably next year there would be an increase in the land revenue, as a large block of land near Waitara would be soon placed in the market, aud would be readily bought up.

After some farther discussion, a resolution was passed to tbe effect that action be taken to strike a rate as soon as possible — Abridged from News.