WAIRAU HARBOR BOARD

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 56, 7 March 1911, Page 5

WAIRAU HARBOR BOARD

The Wairau Harbor Board met last night, the members in attendance being:—Messrs L. Griffiths (chairman) C. A. Eckford,. G. Houlds* worth, W. H. Macey, G. S. Eckford, j. J. Corry, and Captain Eckford.

THE HARBORS ACT. The Marino Department wrote forwarding a copy of the Harbors Amendment Act, 1910.—Received.

•FORESHORE RIGHTS. Tho Marine Department advised the Board that it had no jurisdiction over the Omaka River, owing to the foreshore and land below low-water mark not being vested in it.

LAND TITLES. 11l reply to a letter received from the Board on February 26th, regarding the title of the,lands vested in the Board under the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal . and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1910, the Marine Department advised the Board to produce its copy of the Act to the District Land Registrar at Blenheim and-request him to issue a certificate of title in favor of the Board. If he demurred, an application to the Under-Secretary, Department of Lands, Wellington, woirid ensure the issuing or a warrant under the hand of the Governor, authorising the issue of a title. Any inquiries' relative to the leasing of the land; should be made at the Land Office, Blenheim. The Secretary said he;had made inquiries at the Lands Office, and had ascertained that the MarlborougiAcclimatisation Society had a year-to-year \ lease of th? land vested in the Board. The lagoon was used as a sanctuary for wild game, and the other portion was sub-let to the fishermen -■ for £7 a year. The Society paid the peppercorn rental of Is per year. The lease expired on March 31st, and it was a matter for the ■Board to say what was to be done in the future. Run No 20 was let to Mr S. M. Neville for a period of years extending to 1929 at £30 a year, payable in advance in halfyearly instalments of £15. Mr Nevillp had 18 years to run. Mr Gorry said he did not think they should interfere with the fishermain 'at tlw- Bar.,-but, that his lease should be v allowed to cOTitinue. He moved a resolution to this effect.

Capt. Eckford seconded the motion, and it was carried.

In regard to the Acclimatisation Society's Sanctuary, the Chairman thought the Society's lease might continue during th© pleasure of the Board. ;

Mr Corry said that was the only way it could be done, because the new Board might go in for various works and would take the sanctuary.

The Chairman moved, • arid; Mr Macey seconded, that the Acclimatisation. Society 'be granted the rise of the lag6on as a wild game sanctuary, during the pleasure of the Board, at a peppercorn rental of Is ]:ier yen r. ' ,v. ■ , It was decided to inform Mr ille that in future he must pay his rent to the Board. A REPORT. , The Chairman reported that Mr Macey and himself, as deputed by the Board, had waited upon the Lower Wairau River Board at its last meeting in connection with trees and obstructions which had fallen into the Opawa River. They had explained the position, but the members of the River Board did not appear to be very clear on the point in regard to ownership, and no decision was1 come to. They decided to obtain a report from their inspector dealing with this subject, and they asked that the deputation wait upon them a their next meeting. The Chairman also stated that the question of £oreshore rights had been brought up, and he had explained that these rights in no way interfered with the banks* as the River Board had been under the impression they would. The Harbor Board would not think of charging the people for j pulling their stuff over the bank. He*, thought it just possible that the River Board might be induced to \vaive or withdraw their objection to the foreshore being vested .in the Harbor Board, The foreshore comprised only the land between low and high-water mark. Mr Corry moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman and Mr Macey for having waited upon the River Board ; and also that they be asked to wait I upon the River Board at its next meeting, in connection with the same matter.

Mr Houldsworth seconded the motion, which was carried^

NAVIGATION OBSTRUCTIONS. In connection with the question which arose at the last meeting of the Board relative to the owners of Jand from which obstructions had fallen in the river, the Marine- Departriient wrote stating that Clause (a) of subsections (1) and (2) of section 209 of the Harbors Act, 1908, appeared to most the case.

Mr C. A. Eckford said that Mr Batty had r^t lomoved the willows which had fallen from his property into the river, and he thought the Board should do so at once.

The Chairman said the Board was not bound to remove anything in the river. Mr Batty was responsible for the obstructions in question.

Mr C. A. Eckford said he thought it was the Board's duty to remove anything which was a menace to shipping. Mr Houldsworth said these willows had been complained of for months, and he did not think that they should go on month after month without getting any farther, forward. Mr C. A. Eckford moved that the trees be removed, tenders to be call-

cd' for the work, and that Mr Batty be sued for the cost -of removal. Mr .Corry suggested that the matter be held over pending the conference between the Board's representatives and the. River Boards. Mr C. A. Eckford said that there were banks forming behind these trees all the time, "and he asked if the Board oculd make Mr Batty pay for their removal as well. He thought the Board had waited too

long. Mr Corry said he would liko to seeMr Eckford withdraw his motion.

Mr Houldsworth said it would bo wise.

Mr Eckford: "No." The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Captain Eckford said that thesetrees were forming a dam, and if they ,vere not removed they would impede the water and do a. great deal of harm if ah "old man" flood cam© along. Mr Corry said that now they had got this expert opinion the hands of the sub-committee'would be considerably strengthened when they went to the River Board 1 PILOT'S REPORT. The Pilot reported that there had been 27 arrivals and 25 departures of vessels during the month. The Bar had been in good order all the past month with th© exception of the last few days, w] ?'i it had been reduced, by six inchto. The rivers, ore the same as when he l-n<?i> reported upon them> He ap; .;1 for an expenditure of £/l upon h:,i boat. The report was adopted, THAT PILE. The question of re-instating the pile at the Blenheim Rowing Club's, sheds Was brought up, but no decision was come to, the members being of the opinion that it would be^ advisable to defer the matter for a month. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £17 Is Id were passed 'for payment, and the meeting terminated.