CALLIOPE DOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11953, 30 April 1902, Page 6

CALLIOPE DOCK.

LETTER PROM THE ADMIRAL.

At yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. 3. H. Witheford took exception to "the minutes of the previous meeting, bearing on the sending of this ; secretary to London in connection with the equipment of Calliope Dock. It happened, however, that Mr. Witheford was 'a few | seconds late, and the minutes were declared adopted just as he entered the room. . His objection was that a resolution carried by the Board had not been entered on the minutes. The Chairman remarked that the minutes had been passed. Mr. Witheford said that did not make them correct, but the minutes, as submitted, were signed, and the Board parsed to the next business. The following letter was read from RearAdmiral Beaumont: —'"With reference to previous correspondence as to the completion of the workshops at the Calliope Dock, and as to the readiness of the machinery and tools for use by the artificers of His Majesty's ships, under the supervision of their own officers, under .clauses 13 and 14 of the agreement made with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, I have the honour to request, when such is the case, that I may bo formally notified by the Auckland Harbour Board that the workshops, machinery, and tools are complete, and ready for use by His Majesty's ships, and that (1) it may be stated to whom the application should be made whenever it may be desired to carry out work on the premises, and with the property of the Board; (2) from whom the ships' officers shall be authorised to take over the use of whatever is required : and 13) to whom they shall return it after proper inspection by the Board's appointed agent. •! have no doubt that the Board will agree with me that it will be more satisfactory for all concerned that these details should be arranged, and placed on record before any general use is made of the docking and repairing plant at; the Calliope Dock." The Chairman stated that the Admiral had been informed that on application to the chairman of the Board the plant would bo placed at the disposal of the officers of the warships, and that the Board's officer at the dock would deliver the tools and take charge of them again when work was completed. He added that Captain Rich, of the Ringarooma, applied for the use- of the dock, and this information was given to him. Mr. Witheford said he desired to refer to Admiral Beaumont's last letter to the Board. On that occasion the chairman moved that the Board go into committee, and there was no mention of that in the minutes. He thought it was not right. The Chairman: If Mr. Witheford had been here at the proper time ho could have corrected tho minutes. Mr. Witheford said he was in the room at half-past two. and the chairman had not signed the minutes when he made his protest. At last meeting members waited ten minutes for the chairman. : now they would not wait one minute for him (Mr. Witheford). The Chairman said he signed the minutes by direction of the Board. It did not matter whether tho minutes Wore signed or not when Mr. Witheford made his protest; they had been passed by the Board. Mr. Witheford: You do not think it right that this resolution should be loft out? The Chairman : Distinctly not. lam very sorry you were not here to call attention to it. I did not notice it. Mr. Napier moved that the reply forwarded to the Admiral be approved. Mr. Cozens seconded, and the motion was adopted. ' At a subsequent stage, Mr. Witheford complained that a motion, rejected only on tho casting vote of the chairman, was not mentioned in the minutes.