AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9808, 1 May 1895, Page 6

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon. There wore present :— Messrs. M. Niccol (chairman), W. J. Napier, J. J. Craig, A. E. Devore, E. Bell, and G. S. Kissling. Sand.Mr. Oliver Mays, as secretary to the Waitemata County Council, wrote requesting that the Board permit the Council to remove a few loadu of sand for the use of the Council's footpaths. The request was granted subject to the approval of the harbourmaster. Refund. —Mr. T. Henderson applied for the refund of £1 Is, representing the entrance fee for docking the Upolu, as owing to the late arrival of the steamer she could nob bo docked. The refund was granted. Leases.—Mr. C. Hesketh, lessee of allotmetit 6, Breakwater Road, wrote asking that the building he had erected on tho allotment at a cost of £84 bo allowed to remain, and that a clause be put in the lease so thab the buyer may take the building over ab a valuation. Mr. Hesketh had received notice to quit. The question was referred to the Finance and Legal Committee. Mrs. E. Mann wrote offering to lease an allotment in Customs-street West for three months, at a rental of £10. The offer was accepted. Thanks.—The secretary of the Tariff Commission wrote conveying tho hearty thanks of the Commission to the Board for tho use of the Harbour Board Buildings. Extension of Time.—An application was received from Mr. R. B. Martin for an extension of time for eight weeks for the work at the Quay-street Jetty, owing to the delay in obtaining totara piles. It was decided to take the application into consideration upon the conclusion of the contract time. This, Mr. Niccol said, was the usual course.

Works and Tariff Committee. — The report of the Works and Tariff Committee as already published was adopted with the the exception that clause 3, re providing of floating stages for the ferry company's wharves, was altered to read as follows :— " That improved facilities for shipping and discharging cargo ab ferry wharves are urgently required, and thab tho Board be recommended to provide same as soon as funds are available. That the Devonport Ferry Company be informed to tho above effect, bub that the Board is nob disposed to entertain the company's alternative application for a monopoly of the ferry wharves for 21 years." Finance and Legal Committee. —Some discussion took place as to the recommendation thab in future permits to berth steamers be nob granted to masters of vessels not engaged in coasting, intercolonial, or island trades. Mr. Kissling objected to a tax being placed on foreigngoing ships. The Union Company's ships should be treated in the same way. He was opposed to rofusing the permits. If any damage should bo done, the vessels were owned by substantial people who would be liable. Besides, it would get the port a bad name. Mr. Bell and Mr. Devore agreed with Mr. Kissling. Mr. Napier said ho would like the Union steamers and all others to be treated in the same way. Mr. Niccol said that a distinction should be drawn between the foreigngoing steamers and others, ho harm would be done to the reputation of the port. Tho clause wan rejected. The clause dealing with the Freeman's Bay reclamation was discussed. Mr. Devore moved thab the matter be referred back to the Finance and Legal Committee. There was, he said, a very small attendance ab the committee who-i the recommendation was carried, and the issues involved were very great. The motion was carried. The remaining clauses of the report were adopted. Tendeks.—The following tenders were received for the Board's auction business : —G. W. Binney and Sons, J per cent, (on the amount of cash received); J. E. Baker, one-millionth per cent. ; R. Carr, 5 per cent. The tender of Messrs. Binney was accepted. Revenue.—Mr. Niccol drew attention to the fact that the returns for the last quarter showed an increase in rovenue in almost every item as compared with tho corresponding quarter of last year. This, Mr. Niccol stated, was most hopeful, and satisfactory.