TAURANGA NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18168, 14 August 1922, Page 9

TAURANGA NEWS

THE HARBOUR BOARD. [DY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAURANGA. Saturday. At a meeting of tho Tauranga Harbour Board, tho Controller and AuditorGeneral forwarded the balance-shcet of the bon.rd for the year ended December 31, 1921, certified correct subject, to tho exception that tho payment to members of a travelling allowance of Is per mile, being contrary to the provisions' of the Harbours Act, was illegal. It was decided that the Auditor-General bo informed that the board considers the present system regarding members' travelling expenses, as adopted by tho board, is more conducive to economy than the system of charging actual expenses as set. out in the Act, and that letters on the same lines bo sent, to Sir William Herries, Mr. F. F. Hockly, and tho Minister for Marine, with a request that the Act bo amended with a view to legalising the system now adopted by the board. Mr. F. S. Dyson, district engineer to the Public Works Department, wrote advising that ho proposes to commence work in connection with railway construction along the Tauranga waterfront in conformity with the powers given by section 188 of the Public Works Act. The commissioner of Crown lands, Auckland, advised that arrangements are. in hand for having Moturiki Inland proclaimed Crown land. Ho tusked for particulars as to the quantity of rock that the board will require, and the rate of royalty the board is prepared to pay. '1110 secretary reported that he had referred the matter to the board's engineers. Several members spoke against tho board paying a royalty on stone for harbour development works. It was decided to write to tho Prime Minister urging that Moturiki lidand be vested in the Harbour T\pard. The Public Works Department has had a pile-driving plant engaged for some days driving testing piles opposite the town in connection with the railway and wharf. Good progress is being made with the work of transporting metal from the Matapihi embankment for the stone facing of the railway embankment along the waterfront. A public meeting was held here last night to hear an address by Mr. J. H. Morton, inventor of the Morton dehydrator for the artificial drying of fruit, vegetables, fish, and meat. Mr. Morton explained the process in detail. The meeting appointed Messrs. R. Mann, R. King, C. C. Norris, A. J. Mirrilees, C. E. Macmillan, W> W. Jones, and I). Grant a provisional committee to make n. canvass and take further steps with a view to the establishment of a dehydrator in the district. It was decided to hold a series of meetings in fountry districts, and that the Chamber Commerce be asked to support the proposal. Mr. Grant was deputed to interview the Minister for Agriculture in Wellington with a view to furthering the project.