HARBOUR BOARD

Northern Advocate, 22 April 1933, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS. ■: AGENDA REVIEWED. The monthly, meeting of the Whangarei Harbour Board was held yesterday, the chairman, Mr J. A. Finlayson, presiding over a ■ full- at- ; teiitlance of Messrs J. E. Holmes, E. L.jWhimp, H. E. Hewlett, E. W. Rickard, P. R, Gardner and L. A. Johnson. • Annual Meetings. May 2(5 was .fixed as the date of the annual meeting. Board’s Franchise. The chairman was appointed to vote 07i the board’s , behalf at the forthcoming local elections. . Ministerial Visit. The Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. ( Ransom, met representatives of the Whangarei Harbour Board at 9.15 on Saturday .morning. Matters affecting the'.reclamation of tidal lands and provision of railway sidings at ■ Kipreroa wore placed before the Minister, who also inspected the Pohe Island area. ' Development Of Tidal Lands. * Mr Jas. S. Jessep, deputy chairman of- the Unemployment Board, wrote thanking the Harbour Board for having forwarded information and plan covering the development of the Wha-

iigarei tidal lairds, and said that anything which his board could reasonably do to assist, in furthering the work would be willingly undertaken.

Mr Gardner mentioned that the Rt, Hon. <T. G. Coates would be in Dargayille. during the week-end.

The. .chairman and .-secretary were asked to wait upon Mr Coates, and discuss particularly the development of-tidal lands. Onerahi Jetty. In connection with the representations made by the people and Town Board of Onerahi, urging that extension and improvement be carried out to the jetty at Onerahi, the chairman and Mr Whimp reported having met representatives of the Town Board ami business people of Onerahi, when the .matter was discussed on the site of the proposed work. Trade returns of the Town District were considered, and it was mutually agreed to leave the matter in abeyance until such time as the Railway Department made known its decision regarding the disposal of the remaining portion of the Onerahi Wharf.

The report was adopted. Lease Of Section No. 2, Pohe Island. The Legal Committee reported having dealt with the disposal of this section of land as follows: —Six tenders had been received foit the property and the highest tenderer, Mr Thomassen, withdrew his bid. The

next highest tenderer, Mr Macken-

zie, being already in possession of the lease of an. adjoining Harbour Board property, the committee decided to not accept the offer. The position then being that, legally, the lease, if sold, could only go to the highest bidder, the committee was unable to accept any tender, and it resolved to offer the lease of the land to the

Agricultural Department for close settlement on similar terms to the leases already granted to the Crown, with the proviso that the board ■would not be put to any expense in connection with the buildings or other works on the land..

Mr Holmes said that as the board could not accept Mr Rcybnrn’s tender there was no course open but to offer, the land to the department. He moved adoption of the report. Mr Hewlett, who seconded, strongly criticised the law which forced the Harbour Board to accept the highest tender, or none at all. This placed the board in an awkward position in the event of the highest tenderer being unacceptable because he was not financial or owned other property belonging to the board. The act prevented the board from considering any other tender, however attractive if might bo, and should be. altered.

Mr Whimp expressed disappointment that consideration would not be extended to Mr Reyburn, who had a just claim against the board. However, it was apparent that legislation prevented this. i The secretary reported that the land had been accepted by the depar:ment and a tenancy arranged.

The report was adopted and the Legal and Finance Committc was instructed to inquire fully into the matter, with a view to submitting a remit to the Harbour Board’s Association. Engineer’s Report, The engineer’s report was adopted as follows: — Kioreroa Wharf Construct ion. With the exception of 440 feet of guard rail and four fenders, the whole of the wharf structure, including the stone filling approach, is now completed. A statement showing certain details and cost of the work will be submitted to yon as early as possible. Hannah Street Land.—This property has been fenced and gates provided at the end of Hannah Street and across the road at the power station. I would draw your attention to an encroachment which apparently has existed on the property for some years in the form of privately owned outhouses and gardens, etc. One. Tree Point Wharf. —This structure was given a coat of tar. Noxious Weeds, Grubbing of blackbery on the roadsides fronting harbour lands is being carried out. Draining.—The draining of Section No. 7 at Kioreroa (Armiger’s) has been completed.

House Building. —The sixth house in connection with the Small Farm Plan on harbour land is now finished.

Stop-Banking. —A start was made with the stop-bahking of the Kaituna tidal area at Kioreroa, and ISOD cubic yards of bank is already in position. The tilling used in making the embankment across the creek on this job is being obtained from the berths alongside the new wharf at Kioreroa, where dredging with the Pricstman grab ,is being carried out to a low-water depth of 25 feet.

Relief Work. —The aforementioned works were carried out principally by relief labour, and for the period of five weeks ended on 15th instant, 140 relief men were employed as under: —2l men worked 16 days, 26 for 14 days, 31 for 12 days, 36 for 1.0 days, and 35 for 8 days..