AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10428, 28 April 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon. Pre* sent: Messrs. W. J. Napier (chairman), M. Niccol, A. £. Devore, T. Henderson, E. Bell, W. Gunson, J. Thome*, M. A. Clark, A. J. Entrican, C. Hesketh, and A. Glover.

Reporting Vessels.-Mr. W. S. Furby, officer in charge of the Telegraph Department, asked the Board to instruct the signal man at Mount Victoria to telephone all vessels signalled to the Bureau at Auckland for posting up for the information of the public. It was decided to comply with the request, and that the Foreman of Works confer with Mr. Furby as to the best place where the intelligence should be posted. Loss of a Horse.— A. B. Wright and Sons asked the Board for compensation for the value of a horse (£35) lost over the Queen-street Wharf. It was agreed to reply that the Board regretted the accident, but did not recognise any liability in the matter.

The Buteshire. — Messrs. Turnbull, Martin and Company, Dunedin, wrote re the account of the Board against the steamer Buteshire for harbour-master's removal fees. The writers pointed out that the steamer had put into Auckland disabled, and they thought that the payment of the fees should not be pressed for, and they did not intend to pay the amount except under compulsion. The matter was ordered to be placed in the hands of the Board's solicitors, and if there was a good cause for action, the amount should be sued for. Reports.—The recommendations of the Works and Tariff Committee were agreed to. Rifle Range.—The Chairman announced that the Finance and Legal Committee had visited the site of the proposed rifle range at the North Shore, and recommended that the request be declined, though the committee were not unanimous on the subject. His opinion was that there would be no danger if the Martini-Henry rifle were used, but there would be if the weapons were the Lee-Metford. He thought that regulations should be made so as to prevent firing at high-water. Ultimately the matter was referred back to the committee to frame conditions upon which permission would be granted. The Wharf Dispute.—After hearing the evidence of Captain John Nearing and Mr. E. W, Burgess (traffic manager), re the recent dispute on the Queen-street Wharf, the Finance and Legal Committee decided to adjourn tho matter until a special meeting on Monday evening next. Keel Blocks.—The foreman of works was instructed to have 20 new keel blocks placed in position in the Auckland Dock. ilevonport Ferry Jetty.— foreman of works reported that if the present heavy traffic on the Devonport Ferry Jetty was to be continued, the decking should be renewed. The Chairman stated that the goods traffic was now so heavy that the passenger traffic was occasionally blacked. The matter was referred to the Works and Tariff Committee to report. Tenders.— one tender was received for the work of covering in the space between sheds C and D on the Queen-street Wharf-W. J. Stevenson, £229. The estimate of the foreman of works was £189. After some discussion it was decided to accept Mr. Stevenson's tender.

BiqvoiiK.— lt was agreed to purchase a bicycle for the foreman of works, in order that he would have more time for inspecting the various works in progress.