AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13701, 18 March 1908, Page 5

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD.

A meeting of the Auckland Harbour Boaw. was held yesterday afternoon, when there' were present: The Hon. E. Mitchelsoni (chairman), Messrs. H. D. Heather, C. C. Dacre, W. E. Hutchison, A. J. Entrican, W. J. Napier, J. B. Macfarlane, J. K.. Kneen, and Captain McKenzie. Mr. James Smith wrote asking the Board ■ to reconsider its decision giving him notice of termination of his* occupation of a coal bin at the Railway Wharf. The bin did not' interfere with or impede' the traffic to and' from the wharf, and he was quite willing tor ' pay the rent of £50 per annum. He asked , to be allowed to occupy the site till it was* required for traffic, It was decided to adhere to the previous decision. - M.. J. W. Sinton and 18 other residents of Hcbsonville, petitioned the Board to widen HobsonviUe Wharf to permit of wheeled traffic. The petition was referred to the Board in committee. Mr. A. Sanford, wrote asking permission to deposit small quantities of fish offal in mid-stream outside Okahu Point. When' there was a large lot it was taken to Rakino Island and ploughed in for manure, but this was too far to go with a small quantity, andthe Board's by-laws compelled him to take ; offal outside the harbour boundaries. The City Council declined to burn the offal "at' the destructor, and the arrangement's with ■ the sanitary service contractor were ' not > satisfactory during the hot weather, as the offal would thereby lave to be kept in the factory for a day. Decomposition was so rapid at tins time of the year that it was necessary now to take offal; out two and three times a day. There would be nodanger of pollution because the gulls ate all i that was thrown out and did not sink im- ■ mediately, whilst the fish and sea lice would ; soon dispose of anything going below the surface. The district health officer had agreed that no harm would result from this plan. He asked the Board to grant his request, and also to urge the City Council to have offal burned at the destructor. The Chairman remarked that a boat had been found depositing offal out in the harbour. It appeared that the City Council refused to take the offal at- the destructor, and there were no means of getting rid of it. The letter was referral to the Board in committee. • The clause in the committee's report disclaiming any liability in connection with the berthing of the s.s. "Kumaru at Queen-street Wharf, instead of the Railway Wharf, was referred back, it being stated that the agents for the vessel desired to consult whittle committee on the matter. The Chairman said that Mr. Buxton, ol the Railway Department, had inspected the Railway Wharf and reported that at pre sent there was some difficulty in working the lint's on the wharf as there were not sufficient " cross overs from one line to another, and suggested that seven capstans be ordered. The engineer reported that it was not possible to got more " cross overs" on the Railway Wharf. What Mr. Buxton meant was that with present appliances it was not economical to work the lines with two "cross overs," but he estimated that as soon as the electric cranes were installed the present position would be quite economical for working. The capstans would cost about £108 each. The question was referred to a. sub-committee with power to order the capstans by cable.