THAMES DRAINAGE BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10131, 14 May 1896, Page 6

THAMES DRAINAGE BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Thames Drainage Board was held yesterday at the office 'Mr. D. 6. MacDonnell, Insurance Buildings. Present: Mr. G. S. Kissling, Chairman, Messrs. T. Radford, R. Comer, J. Dickey, T. Kilgour, W. S. Wilson, J. MacForlane, J. F. Clarke, and F. A. White. manager's befort.

The manager, Mr. W. H. Fhiilip3, reported that everything in connection with tbe pumps and machinery had been working smoothly during the month. On the 13th ult. a breakage occurred in the steel pl&te which had been placed some time ago over the fracture in the main rod at the 400 feet plunge, and he had had it replaced with a new one. Buckets had been changed twice during the month, and the pumps are now working 4J strokes per minute. Owing to the delay of the contractors in supplying coal, the stock was completely exhausted, and he was obliged to obtain a supply from the local yards. The working expenses for the month were £250, and the consumption of coal 202 tons. The cutter Leo arrived on the morning of the Bth instant with a cargo of Ugunguru coal, bub owing to the poorness of the tides he did nob expect her to get alongside for a day or two. These vessels drew a lot of water for comparatively small cargoes. The Chairman said, in addition to the manager's report, he had to state that the pumps would _ stop on Thursday for Government inspection of the boilers. With respect to the coal supply, the Board would m that it was the resale of a suggestion made at last meeting that they should work with a smaller stock. It had been the custom to keep a stock of 100 to 200 tons on hand, but the meeting decided that it would be desirable to decrease or exhaust the stock ; and the result was that they were in danger of having to stop the pumps; and, should this easterly weather continue, the supply would be likely to be irregular, and if they kept down the stock they may be in a difficulty for wantof coal. The order bo the contractor bad gone forth in terms of Mr. Phillips' suggestion. Mr. Comer said the great cause of the delay was the low tides, and tbe fact that the cutter* drew a lot of water, and were unable to get alongside the wharf. The Chairman said it would be safer to revert to the old custom of keeping a stock on hand. Mr. Phillips had ordered , the coal for the end of the month, but finding that the supply was running short, they intervened from this office, and they sent a cargo of Hikurangi coal to fill the gap. Mr. Radford said the coal was ordered for the end of April. lb was now the 13th May, and he was still without coal. Mr. Wilson said that at the last meeting they were informed that the coal perished from exposure, and that it was desirable to run out the stock occasionally. This they consented to, but it was not intended that they Bhould run out of coal. Mr. Comer said the reason they ran shore was the low tides. Mr. Wilson asked how it was that the expenses this month were greater than usual? The Chairman explained that the expenses for pumping were nob greater, but old accounts were paid, and there was a slight increase in wages owing to the breakage referred to in the manager's report. The coal consumption was rather lese than usual.

BALANCE-SHEET. Tbo following statement for the month ending 30th April was submitted :—

Receipts.— balance as per last statement, £230 4s sd ; contributions as per last statement, £587 5s 3d; contributions tor Amil, €370 15s 2d— 0* sd; less rebate allowed, £41 6s £916 13s 8d; received on account same, £339 8s sd; New Moanatamri Gold Mining Company, coal, £9 13s lid ; Waiotahi Gold Mining Company, coal, £10 19s 4d; May Queen Gold Mhrinß Company, coal, £6 0s lid ; discounts, 9s : total, £598 16s. Expenditure.—Accounts due last statement and since paid, £329 13s 4d; accounts paid to be passer), £104 4s 3d; balance, £162 18s 5d : total, £596 16s. Liabilities.— Deposits, Cmlr and Rickit, £60: accounts due, £132 19s 9d: total, £192 19s 9d. Assets.-Cash balance, £162 18? sd; deposit in Post Office Savings Bank, £75; contributions due tf> 30th April. £577 5j 3d : Moanataiari Gold Mining Company, coal, £7 4s 4d ; Victoria Gold Mining Company, coal, £12 19s lOd ; C. Short, coal, £3 : total, £833 7s lOd.

rebate. It was agreed on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Dickey, that the usual rebate bo granted to contributors making prompt payment.