HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14808, 11 October 1911, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARD.

MANUKAU CONTROL BILL. CANAL CLAUSES THROWN OUT SEPARATE BILL SUGGESTED. The Auckland Harbour Board met yesterday. Present: The chairman (Mr. J. H. Gunson) and Messrs. W. E. Hutchison, J. E. Taylor, J. H. Bradney, E. W. Alison, 11. H. Adams, J. S. Bond, and H. D. Heather. A telegram was read from Mr. C. H. Poole, M.P., stating that the Manukau Harbour Control Bill had been reported from the committee stage with clauses 10, 11, 12, and 13 struck out, and that the committee considered that the Board should promote a separate Bill if it desired to proceed with the construction of the Waikato-Manukau canal. The Chairman moved that the telegram be received. Mr. Taylor held that the Board should not allow the Bill to pass unless it was given power to acquire land to construct the canal between the two harbours. He thought they should know the reason why the power desired was struck out. Evidently some autocratic power was at work. He moved as an amendment that the BiU be referred to the Board in committee. Mr. W. E. Hutchison thought the Bill should bo allowed to go through. The Chairman explained that under the Bill as it now stood power was given to the Board to obtain information and carry out surveys regarding the proposed canal. The only power that was taken away was that to acquire land. If the amendment was carried it meant that the Bill would have to be dropped for the present session, as if the matter was delayed there would not be sufficient time for the House to deal with it. By adopting the motion the Bill in its amended form could be proceeded with. Mr. Taylor withdrew his amendment, and the motion was carried.

FUMIGATION OF VESSELS. HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S SUGGESTION. The district health officer, Dr. Makgill, wrote asking the Board . to undertake tho, fumigation of vessels in port, for which the Depart, ment would supply the apparatus. The Department desired to .know whether the Board would be' prepared to supply the necessary staff, say two men, procure horses for the transport of apparatus and provide housing accommodation if the Department guaranteed the expenses of administration. The letter was referred to the Board in committee. . OTHER MATTERS. . COMPETITION IN SHIPPING. The Auckland Coastal Masters' Association wrote taking exception to the hiring out of the Board's barge " Kauri" for the conveyance of machinery to Bayswater, on the ground that it entered into competition with local shipping. The Board's engineer (Mr. W. H. Hamer), in reply to a question, stated that it would suit his department better if none of the Board's plant were hired out in this way. The members of the Board generally objected to entering into competition with private enterprise. The matter was ultimately referred to the Board in committee. '-.'■ '■-"■■

The local agents for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company wrote suggesting that as the new powder ground was not to be used until after the end of the present year, vessels carrying explosives should be notified when passing Tiri Tiri where they ' were to discharge in the meantime.Referred to the Board in committee.

" Messrs. Russell and Campbell, the Board's solicitors, advised that the Board could not with safety enter into an agreement with the Birkenhead Borough Council as proposed regarding the leasing of a certain portion of the Birkenhead reclamation.—Referred to the rJoard in committee. .

The Board's architect, Mr. A. Wiseman, asked for instructions regarding the erection of a time-ball, as proposed, on the new ferry buildings.- matter was left in the hands of the engineer and the architect.

A letter was received from the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association asking the Board's support in advocating that the proposed new Mangere bridge be constructed with a swing span, thus allowing small vessels to get to the upper reaches of the harbour.—The matter was referred to the Board in committee.

On the motion of the chairman it was decided to grant the whole of the Board's employees a holiday on Labour Day on full pay. •