HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Issue XVI, 3 December 1879, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the board was

held yesterday,—Captain McKenzie (chairman) presiding. Present: Messrs. Buchanan, Waddel, Eaton, Daldv, Compton, Masefield, aud J. M. Clark. The Secretary read the minutes of the preceding meeting, which were confirmed. A Difference of Interpretation.—Mr. Waddel thought the minutes as first read were not correct as regarded Captain Daldy'g resolution. —The Secretary brought in the resolution, and proved that the entry in the minute-book was an exact copy. — Mr. Waddel then said it did not express the intention of the mover, which was, that the city should pay over £000

upon the bill being passed and the lease beiog executed. To say that the board would approve the bill upon the city paying £600, was not a correct representation of what took place. The bill might not pass ; the conditions upon which the money was to be paid might not be fulfilled. They ought not to suppose the City Council would be so soft as to pay money iu that manner. It was like a bit of sharp practice.—The Chairman was surprised at the observation made by Mr. Waddel. It had come to a strange pass if a public body were to be distrusted to the exlent indicated.—Captain Daldy: I moved the resolution, aud I say there was no " sharp practice" intended, and I say more now that we will be prepared to give the lease when £000 is paid. There was never any ciuestiou about that. I regret that such an imputation should have been made. —Mr. Waddel : I only said that there was some discrepancy between the views of the mover us he expressed himself aud tho resolution. 1 had no desire to cast an imputation on any member of the board. Kiutomakt.—The Secretary read the following letter from Mr. J. Stewart, district engineer :—" The Government are about to perform, or authorise Mr. Fenton to perform, certain works for the protection of his property, near Britomart cutting, from being further damaged. I have to ask whether your board has any iuteution oE exercising any rights of ownership over tho strip of groind between the road and Mr. Feuton's boundary, either by the removal of «arth or in any other way which migkt interfere with drainage or other works that might be considered necessary. —Referred to the Works Committee. Fr&k.man's Bay Reclamation.—A. letter was received from the Town Clerk stating that the draft bill had been assented to by the joint committee, and the council had expressed their willingnees to make the reservation stipulated by the board. A. letter was also received from the Mayor, announcing his asieutand that of the corporation to the draft bill, and stating that steps wonld be taken to push the bill through Parliament as speedily as possible. —Captain Daldy : I will give notice that the £000 (refund) be payable upon the bill becoming law. Baihm-'E Mary Mildred.—A report was received from the chief harbourmaster, relating to the grounding of the Mary Mildred off Orakei Bay. A letter was received fiom the masterot the vessel.containing a schedule of expenses to which he had been put (£124) in consequence of the grounding of his vessel, she being in charge of Pilot James at the time.—The report and letter of the captain was referred to the Works and Endowment Committee. Finance.—General account, £154 16s lOd. Statement of funds : Balance in Bank, £2250 Us 3d ; cash on hand, £151 14s 5d ; total, £2432 us Sd ; by accounts ordered to bo paid as above, £154 10s lOd ; to balance, £2277 9s lOd. LioiiTiiorSE Signals.—The Chairman said that Captain Burgess complained that he had been reflected on in a paragraph in the Herald in respect to the signals from tho lighthouse. The fact was that he had always given what assistance was in his power. It was some times very difficult to make out a signal at the lighthouse, which was backed up by a dark ground, formed by the Little Barrier Island, and consequently the signal could not always be observed through the glass. Captain Burgess further stated that he had uo direct responsibility whatever in connection with the lighthouse, but he had always done what he could to be of service to the light-keepera and their families.—Captain Daldy : I can confirm the statement of the Chairman that when there is a dark mass behind an object looked at through a glass, it .is very difficult to see the object, which becomes almost invisible.—Mr. Eaton confirmed this statement from his own experience.— Mr. Waddel: The representatives of the Press will probably give publicity to what is said in the matter. —Captain Daldy : It would be better to give due publicity so that the signals from the lighthouse should be known to coasters. They are not known at present. Or, there ought to be a glass capable of discerning the signal at Tiri, from Flagstaff Hill.—Mr. J. M. Clark : Are the signal from the lighthouse provided for them by the Marine Board : for, in that case, the duty would devolve on the Marine Board of giving them due publicity, aud not on this Board. — Captain Daldy: They have some unused portion of cable at Cook Straits, and we might write to tho authorities to send it up here for the purpose of connecting Tiritiri with the land by telegraph. In that way the lighthouse could be spoken with at any time.—The Chairman said he had mentioned the Bubject because Captain Burgess felt much hurt that he should be charged with "neglect" and "cruelty," seeing that he had never omitted to visit tho lighthouse from month to month. He had given, every assistance to the keeper and his family iu sickness only about a month ago, and left a man four days with him to help him. There was no "gross or cruel neglect,,'.'but the signal had not been observed. Captain Burgess had himself devised a set of signals for the use of the lighthouse-keeper. —Several members thought that the signals should be published for the information of coasters, that the authorities should be communicated with, so as to provide greater facilities for signalling, and the secretary was instructed to take the necessary measures accordingly.

Gunpowder.—The meeting was made special for the purpose o£ making a by-law altering the authorised place for lauding gunpowder (St. George's Bay). The new by-law was carriod unanimously. This concluded the business.