THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7303, 15 April 1885, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE HARBOUR BOARD.

HE REQUIRES 220 MEN FOR THE , NORTH HEAD FORTIFICATION WORKS. . At the meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday, at which His Worship the Mayor presided, in the absence of the Chairman (who is at present in ttelton), the Hon. Mr. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, attended :in reference to obtaining men from the contracts at present in progress in order to push on the work of fortifying the North Head.

The Chairman, after the minutes were read, said the Board would interrupt the ordinary course of business, as th» Hon. Mr. Richardson desired to address the Board. The Hon. Mr. Richardson said that he had met the Chairman on the wharf and told him his > object, and the Chairman told him he would arrange that he should address the Board. As they were aware, the Government had taken in hand the fortifications: of the North Head, and in the execution of the defence works they found that to carry them out as speedily as they wished, they could not get sufficient labour, Seeing that the Board employed a largo number of men on their contracts,: it struck him that he might safely appeal to the Board to assist the Government either by extending the time of the contracts, or in any other way they deemed fit, so that a considerable number oil men might be allowed to come to work at the North Head. They wanted 200 men for the next fortnight, beyond the number they had at present, it, order to push on the works, and make safe the ammunition and stores. If he could get that number it would be sufficient. That was all that brought him here, and he would be glad if the Board could see their way to assist the Government, and in doing so they would be assisting the city of Auckland. He should add that the Mayor had also offered to assist by allowing the men from the Corporation works to come on to the North Head works, and grant extension of time to the contractors,

Mr. Madkeohsie asked whether the Government would pay the men ? Mr. JttiGHARDMON said yes, certainly same pay as they were receiving from the contractors. In fact they could send their own overseers with the men.

The Mayor said.he had seen Mr. Lanig&D, the contractor for the Calliope Dock, and spoken to him on the subject. Mr. Lanigan said it wan a serious matter, from a contractor's point of view, to lose the present fine weather. He (the Mayor) put it to him that it was absolutely necessary men must be had for these works, and he said he would be willing to assist by letting a considerable number of his men go, but not all, as he did not wish to stop the works altogether. He thought the subjeot deserved the consideration of the Board. If they did not help themselveii they must expect the position of blame. All they had to do was to pass a resolution that Mr. Lanigan and Mr. Maguire be requested to allow as many of their men as possible to go on to these works, and that the time penalty for any delay so closed would not be inflicted, also that they would be fairly dealt with for the losb of this fine weather. Of course, they all knew that any length of wet weather would not be of equal value to a contractor as a fortnight's hue weather. He moved that the contractors be communicated, with as to what number of men they oould send to the defence works, and informed that this Board would give every concession of time allowance for delay to the works now in progress, consequent on the men being off the works. ,

Captain McKenzie said he should like to add to. the resolution that the Board wish them to send as many men as possible. . Mr. Clark said he understood that was expressed in the resolution, and he thought the contractors would be perfectly satisfied with it. He seconded the resolution.

Mr. Goldib said they should make a strong appeal to Mr. Lanigan, as hie men were mostly living at the North Shore, and would be put to less inconvenience. If the men were taken from Mr. Laniean and Mr. McGuire less loss would be entaiied than in taking men from the city contracts, for the matter of a month or so in their works made very little difference.

' . The Mayor said that these two contractors had the pick of the men. They paid well, and had the best men. Mr. Clark . thought any inconvenience which the citizens might suffer from having muddy streets would be very little in comparison witfch having a hostile cruiser sail in, and they not prepared. i Mr. Mackechnie thought tbj> resolution was vague in regard to theexteDstettof time, and thought it should be more definite. The motion was then put and carried, and the Secretary was instructed to request Messrs. Lnnigan and Maguiro to send as many men as possible to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works: The Chairman inforrhed Mr. Richardson that they would take every step possible to assist and report progress. Mr. Richardson thanked tho Board, and had only to add that every man who applied on the works, up to 200 or 220. would be employed. He thanked the Board and withdrew. THE RUMOURED TELEGRAM TO LORD LOFTOS.

A rumour prevailed .in town yesterday that a telegram had been received stating that Lord Loftus, Governor of New South .Wales, had been notified by cable that war bad actually been declared. There was no foundation for the rumour. Previous to his departure for Waikato at two o'clock the Premier received a telegram from the Governor in which His Excellency stated that he had had no communication such as the cablegram in yesterday s paper reported to have been received by Lord Loftus, and that be did not think that such a communication would be sent to one Governor only. THE HINEMOA. v : Tho Government steamer Hincmoa will arrive here on Thursday from Wellington with Major Cautley, Lieutenant Douglas, and Mr. Smyth, the torpedo engineer. It is believed that she will bring up the torpedo boat, which arrived some time ago from England, and : a quantity of explosive materials for title construction of harbour defences. Immediately on the arrival of Major Caultley the work of mounting the guns on the North Head will be commenced. ARTILLERY CORPS AT DEVONPORT. It has been proposed within the last few days to " get up an Artillery Company at Devonport, and it will be seen that a meeting is to bo held at the Masonic Hall this evening to consider matters in connection with the proposal. ..,,.- ,'.w- ,. • GATLING GUNS. A correspondent, *'Patria Cara," writes : —Sir,— it not be desirable to have Gatling or Nordenfeldt guns in our battery ? They would do far.more execution than those we nave, should necessity arise.

DEFENCE ITEMS FROM WELLINGTON. IBY TBLBUBAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. .-.;■...••' HEAVY GUN DRILL. His Excellency the Governor was closeted with the Colonial Treasurer for some time

to-day. The Governor in the afternoon rode down to 'tho Constabulary Drill-shed at Mount Cook, and inspected the men at heavy gun drill. Officers as well as men are being drilled.. Major Goring, Captains Coleman and Gudgeon, take their places.with the rank and file. Fifty-five out of the eighty-five in the barracks are constantly employed in moving the heavy guns. The others are engaged in other auxiliary operations. This drift is very severe. The drills occupy seven and a-balf hours of. each day. The first drill practice commences at half-past

six in the morning and ends at eight o'clock i the second commences', at nine o'clock and continues till half-past twelve o'clock ; the third commences at two o'clock in the after-, noon, and lasts"till' four o'clock the fourth is from five o'clock until six o'clock in the evening. There are four drill instructors engaged.'. '*' ' " „.:''' ''"* r ■/;•""' '''i >'""'*• " "."• " H.M.S. ESPIEGLE. , '-'■"'■ .<i'>^ Sir Julius Vogel received a telegram last night that a man-of-war had been seen in Cook's Strait by some of the vessels on the coaat. The telegram, purported to come from Otaki. It was thought, the war-ship was H.M.S. Espiegle, which was . expected tip have left Sydney under sealed ' orders. Several vessels have come into Wellington from the straits, but give no account of any vessel having been sighted. r ";; * ,]' j' WELLINGTON ; DEFENCE WORKS. ' ...: r ',, Major Cautley, Captain Douglas, Major Eccles, and Mr. Smyth.(torpedo instructor) visited the. several defence, works to-day. They were taken round by the Hinemoa. .-; ■■»*"'- AUCKLAND DEFENCE WORKS. The Hinemoa leaves here for the Manukau to-night. She takes up Major Cautley, Captain Douglas, and Mr. Smyth, who go to Auckland' in connection 1 with the defence works of your port. If the -weather permits she will take up the Auckland torpedo boat. It is intended to send the torpedo boat overland by railway from Onehunga to Auckland. The Hinemoa will bring to Wellington on her return another detachment of men to be drilled. ' •?;/:;•' '«■ .-'■' ' MILITIA COMMISSIONS/ ; \ ','/" / Although the old commissions have been revoked, I understand the Defence Minister intends to grant new commissions to, those officers who have the necessary .physical qualifications, and that will undertake to attend all drills and parades regularly that may be considered necessary by. the officer commanding each district. The " Defence Minister will also consider the claims of officers having special qualifications through actual service, either; in the colony or elsewhere, in connection' with the Imperial forces. ... ~ ft-,. .-),'..,, ... TORPEDO CORPS. . -', I understand that the torpedo corps for each of the chief ports of the colony will be told off in a few days, and that they, will be despatched to the. places where they are to serve without delay. . , -, " . MISCELLANEOUS. V Christohurch, Tuesday.—Steps are being taken to establish a reserve corps in ttelton on the same basis as that formed' in Christchurch. Major Slater called a meeting to-night to organise -a mounted corps here. Arms were distributed to t members of the Canterbury Reserve Corpa yesterday. The following * officers have been elected :— Colonel, the Hon. Colonel Brett;- major, R. D. Toswill, formerly captain of the 99th Regiment; captain, R. J>.>3B, ; lieutenants, C. C. Bowen, G. H. Harper. At a meeting of the corps in the afternoon, the Hon. J. Ballanoo expressed the strong approval of the Government of the movement. He said he hoped the people in all parts of the colony who were not liable to servo in the volunteers or militia would follow the example set them by Christchurch. The new Scottish volunteer corps has now reached its fall strength of 63 members. Donedin, Tuesday.— Mr. W. Prince, the Union Company's electrician, has been appointed by the Government to carry oat the torpedo arrangements at Port Chalmers.