AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13450, 29 May 1907, Page 5

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

THE fortnightly meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon, there being present: Hon E. Mitcbelson (chairman), Messrs. W. E. Hutchison, JAB. Macfarlane, J. K. Kneen, J. 11. Bradney, A. Keyes, C. C Dacre, H. D. Heather, Q. , W. Basley, and Captain McKenzic.

Admiralty House: Mrs. Scherff wrote, stating that she did not consider the remission of £10 a month off the rent of Admiralty House a fair reduction in connection with the damage done to the premises by the fire in November last. , She thought that the rent for the period should be reduced by £20 a month, but would agree, without prejudice, to a remission of . £10. Tne chairman said that the £10 remission hau been agreed to. by Mrs. fcjenern. ami.he moved that tne previous decision be adhered to. Trie motion was carried.

Lucas' Creek: Mr. C. A. Cawkwell wrote taggestmg that whilst tne Board's workmen were engaged in the erection of the proposed jetty at .Lucas' Creek, they mignt also be instructed to blow up a couple ol ledges of rock in the airway. The application was referred to the Board in committee, the harbourmaster to report. The Time Ball: Captain McKellar, of the s.s. Kaikoura, wrote pointing- out that the Board's time ball was not in working order. He stated that to ships making Auckland their first and final port of call, it was a great convenience to be able to rate their chronometers, and in almost every up-to-date port Greenwich mean time was obtainable by such means. Mr. E. £. Kettle, navigating officer of the same vessel, al3o wrote to a similar effect. The letters were referred to the Board in committee. Dredger 121: Replying to Mr. Kneen, the engineer said there was no truth in the statement that the Dredger 121 had nearly foundered in the dock on the water being put hi after the recent repairs had been carried out; neither was it true that the dredger had previously been passed as fit for sea. The water was put into the dock in the usual way. in order to test the vessel. There were some defective rivets, which were being replaced at the contractor's expense. ■ Tenders for Debentures The sab-com-mittee appointed to deal with the tenders for the issue of £100,000 worth of the Board's debentures reported that it had decided to grant the whole issue to the A.M.P. Society. The sab-committee's action was approved. Board's New Buildings: Mr. Wiseman (architect) forwarded sketch plans of the Board's buildings to be erected at the head of the new ferry-tee in Quay-street. He suggested that the buildings should be constructed of stone. The plans were referred to the Board in committee, the engineer to report. - Committee Recommendations: The Board in committee recommended that the letter from the Auckland Gas Company, regarding land in Custom-street West, be deferred, and that a committee, consisting of Messrs. Keyes, Macfarlane, Entrican, Basley, Napier, and the chairman, be appointed to report as to the valuation of the land; that Mr. J. C. Lander be informed that the s Board recognised no liability in regard to the accident referred to by him: that the engineer's suggestions as to an increase of pay for employees of Dredger No. 121 be adopted, and' that the holidays for the employees of the same vessel be one week per year; that the matter of a steam tug be referred to a sub-committee consisting of Captain McKenzie, Messrs. Hutchison, Kneen. Bradney, and the chairman; that the engineer's recommendation as to Messrs. J. Wilson and Co's application to occupy land on the west side of Hobson-street reclamation be agreed to. subject to six months' notice if Buch land is required for harbour works, the rental to be at the rate of £150 a-year. Mr. Keyes moved to refer the last clause back to the committee, but the proposition was not seconded. The report was then adopted. Proposed Assistant-Traffic Manager: Mr. Dacre had given notice to move. '.'That the Board in committee consider the necessity of providing '. an assistant-traffic manager." As Mr. Dacre had left the meeting, before , the motion was reached, it .'lapsed. '