NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 92, 4 May 1903, Page 2

NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

The jtoh-fcMyj meeting, of jfihfe Nelson Harbour Board was teld on Saturday afternoon., There were present, Mr John Graham, MTH.R., (Chairman*), Messrs Webster, Frank lyn, M'Kenzie, M.H.R,, Field, Best, Hanby, Trask, M.L.C, Talbot, Finney. j The minutes: of the previous meeU ing were read and confirmed. The Boatmen's Holidays, Arising out of the minutes, the Chairman said the Board might now consider what should be done in regard to the holiday to the boatmen which the Board had consented to give when convenient after inquiry as to the custom while the men were in Government employ. In reply lio questions lhe Filot said the custom in the past had been to give the boatmen a fortnight's holiday, one week on lull pay, the other week the pay going to a substitute, who hzd .to be found. The Chairman said Mr Allport.had given information that the boatmen were claused as casual labourers. Government servants ni their class were g-iven a week's holiday, or in rare cases of distance or long service a fortnight. The rule was a week on pay, and if another week was taken a substitute bad to be found and paid by the man who went on holiday. In the case of sickness pay waa given. The matter was not one of regulation but od custom. After discussion, it was resolved that the boatmen be granted a fortnight's holiday each when the Pilot found it convenient to let them go-, full pay. to be given for one week, amd in the other week a substitute Iq be found. Finance. The Bank Bookj showed a credil balance of £4205, which, witi £5545 on deposit made the credil £9746. The Chairman stated thai the debentures offered to the public had been taken up to the amount oj £1000, and arrangements were penc ing for £10,000 to be taae* Jn e lump sum, The revenue for the month Iron harbour dues was £172 lis lld. Accounts! amounting to £49-' 2:- Gt were passed for payment. Accounts from loan fund passec for payment were : — Anderson Christchurch, cranes, £729 ; Bryan' Bros, sleepers, £271 17s Bd, includ ing £2 contractors' deposit, subjecto tally. Macgregor & Co., dredge subject to engineer's certificate progress payment, £172. Correspondence. Outward correspondence, chief!] letters to the Engineer, and repliei thereto, were read and discussed a" considerable length*. Numerous applications far employment were filed for reference. From the Marine Department, ii I reference to the Board's recommen dation in favour of acetylene light: •on the Sounds coast, stating tha \ it was not proposed at present t< alter the system of lighting tha . portion of the coast.

From the same, notifying payment of subsidy, £131 ss— Resolved j that the amount be placed on deposit when received. From the same, in reference to Mr Lukins? rent and his claim for rebate, stating that the Commis--sicner of Lands had the matter in hand and asking the Board to give the Commissioner the necessary authority to ta,ke steps' tc collect far the Board the proportion due to. it. —After discussion it was decided to ,e;ive the Commissioner authority to take certain action. The Board agreed fo accept £40 in full paypayment of its claim. From the Lighthouse Keeper, Boulder Bank, drawing attention t« the dangerous condition of the platform at the Lighthouse.— Resolved that the necessary repairs be executed. In Committee. The Engineer to the Board, Mr Leslie Reynolds, having been asked to attend, the Board went into committee to consider various letters from him. After a long discussion relating to several matters it was resolved to hold a special meeting of the Board at 1 p.m. next Wednesday. The consideration of tenders for landing stage, appointment of foreman, and consideration of applications for the post |of dredgemastex and engineer were postponed till then. In regard to the dredge contract, after the Eingineer had been consulted an extension of time for completion was granted till 31st inst. covering the period of the unavoidable delay of six or eight weeks in completion of coneract notified several weeks ago. Tho Engineer reporteu verbally that the seven-ton cranes had arrived in excellent condition,^ and showed first-class workmanship, so far as he could observe without wholly unpacking them. It was evident that a steam trial had been duly made, and he would not recom mend any unpacking for trial in Nelson, as the cost would be about£ls. The Engineer said he had arranged for chafing straps on the barges at a. cost of £9 17s. In regard to the tug Gordon, the Engineer wrote denying that he had recommended the purchase, or that she had been finally reported on as suitable. Correspondence, however, was read embodyingi the reports of inspection made at [the request of tbe Board, and the wnole matter wais discussed with the Engineer at considerable length in committee. The ßoasd rose at 6.20 p.m., having met at 2 p.m.