MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 April 1930, Page 2

MOTUEKA

HARBOUR BOARD MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Motueka Harbour Board was attendee] by Messrs 11. Everett (chairman), F. C. Batchelor, I'. ('. Greenwood, C. L. Harvey, 1). llaining and C. IT. Mac Kay. Accounts amounting to £223 12s 2d were passed for payment. The total bank balances were shown at credit of £1257 13s 5d (fixed deposit account £926 15s 2d : current account, after payments £330 18s 3d). The Works' Committee reported that the contract for the erection of the watorsidors' shelter shed had been completed ; but that the work had not yet been passed as approved. . A letter was received from the Harbours' Association of New Zealand, wherein it. was explained that the Patea Harbour Hoard bad raised the question (which affects all Harbour Hoards with rating powers) arising out of a ruling by Ihe Crown Law Office to the AuditorGeneral that the cost of collecting special rales can bo paid; only out of the general revenue of the I'oard. Although tho present Act allows Harbour boards to delegate the power of collecting special rales to ether local bodies and the payment- of a reasonable amount therefore out of the rate money, there seems to be a legal objection to a board reimbursing itself out cf rates collected for similar work, done by its own staff. Tho letter went on to explain that it was understood that the Auditor-General would not oppose an amendment to.remove the present legal difficulty; and to ask whether this Board would agree to the necessary representations being made to the Government.

It was resolved (Messrs Mac Kay and Haining) that this Board supports .the proposal to ask the Government to amend the Local Bodies' Loans Act 1926. in regard to the cost of collecting special rates, as outlined in the Association's letter.

A communication was received from Urn Minister of Internal Affairs, suggesting that the Board appoint a representative to attend a public inquiry, to be held on behalf of the town-planning boards at Nelson on the Bth of April. Tho primary object of this inquiry is to enable the local authorities to obtain information to assist them to arrive at a decision re action to be taken for the definition of the regional area as defined in the Town-Planning Amendment Act 1929.

On the motion of Messrs Mac Kay and Harvey, it was agreed that the chairman (Mr Everett) be appointed representative from this Board.

The Dominion Astronomer inquired, in the matter of abnormally high tides recorded at Port Motueka on the 15th and 16th February. It was stated in the letter . . . "For approximately an inch in the barometer corresponds to a foot in the tide."

In his letter of reply to the Dominion Astronomer, in which information was given, the harbourmaster stated that according to bench marks established at Port Motueka in 1916 there was no evidence of land in this locality having subsided, owing to tho earthquakes, as ordinary spring tides have overy appearance of rising to normal levels. The lion, secretary of the Obstetrical Fund solicited a donation from the Board. It was resolved (Messrs Batchelor and the chairman) to donate £lO.