HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6000, 9 February 1881, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the Board was held yesterday in their office, Fort-street. Present: Captain D. H. McKenzie (chairman), Messrs. Masefield, ■ Stone, Daldy, Brown. Boylan, Aickin, Clarke (Mayor of ' Parnell), and Compton. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. An.vcal Electios".—The Secretary read the opinion of Messrs. Russell and Devore in regard to the duty of the Board in respect of general elections. They were of opinion that no duty was imposed on the Board to see ' that municipalities elected their representatives at the Board, but it would be advisable to give notices of the expiry of term of service and election. The Tam O'Siianter.—A letter was re- ' ceived from Mr. J. B. Russell to the effect that the complaint against the Tam O' Shanter had been dismissed in respect of the allegations of wilfulness, breaking, and fastening.—lt was suggested that a " deputy " to the Harbourmaster should be appointed. Finance.—General account, £114 17s 7d ; - to balance in bank, £2931 3s lid ; cash on hand, £29 17s Id: total, £2961 Is. To - balance, £2546. Works Committee. —The report of this committee recommended that the exhibits requested for the Australian Museum be granted ; that tenders be called for a boat for the Pilot Department, in terms of the specification; that application be made to the City Council for permission to supply water to vessels in dock through dock meter; that tenders be called for the requirements of the pilot sehooner; that the Chief Harbourmaster be instructed to ascertain the cost of 5 tons of iron ballast; that the Engineer be instructed to furnish estimate of cost of a travelling crane for the'graving dock.—The report was agreed to. Tenders. — Tenders were received for repairs to dredge :— C. Hawkswood, £224; Samuel McCroskrie, £152. The lowest tender was accepted. The work is to be completed within four weeks from the date of signing the contract. Asphalting "Wharf.—There was only one tender from John Morrison for this work, at 5s Gd a square yard.—The Secretary said this vras beyond the estimate.—lt was resolved . that the tender be declined. New Dock.—Mr. Masefield moved, "That . the Secretary be instructed to furnish, for the information of the Board, an approximate - estimate in detail of the probable income and expenditure of the Board for the year ending 31st December, 1881; also, to state what sum, in his opinion, can be appropriated annually to provide interest and sinking fund upon a further loan for the construction of a large dock." He believed that unless there was some such estimate the Board would not have any si>eeifie notion as to its income and expenditure, or what funds might be available for the purpose of paying off a new loan: When he obtained the information desired he proposed to refer the whole -subject to the Finance Committee. It was clear that before borrowing money it would be expected of the Board to show how they proposed to pay the money back. Voting a sum of £5000 for one year seemed to be futile. It was, at best, fragmentary and useless. It ■would be necessary also to refer the matter to the Finance Committee, because there would be the cmestioii of '■'ways and moans "to consider. At present there was a sum of between £5000 and £6000 payable on the 10th of every January.' If there was to be any further borro-nring; there would be an additional sum to pay annuallv, and the question would be how to provide that sum. There could be nothing done without full aud complete information.—Mr. Brown had no objection to the motion. He agreed with a great deal that Mr. Masefield had said. There was a general agreement that a large dock was necessary. As to the £5000, it was voted to-test-the suitability of site.-i-; Mr. Compton: did not see anything particu-. larly objectionable in Mr. Masefield's motion/ He would vote for it, -although he did not see that any fault was to be found with the r vote of £0000;— Captain Daldy said the vote of £5000 was simply a declaration vote. The whole of that money need not be expended, nor any of it, except what was actually necessary.—Mr. Masefield having made some observations in reply ths motion was agreed to. This concluded the business.