HARBOUR ADMINISTRATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20255, 15 May 1929, Page 15

HARBOUR ADMINISTRATION

FREEMAN'S BAY STREETS. THE DEVONPORT WATERFRONT. The. first ordinary meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board since the recent election ivas held yesterday, Mr. M. H. Wynyard, chairman, presiding. The engineer, Mr. D. Holderness, submitted a recommendation that the Auckland City Council be ask.ed to state its intentions with regard to laying down the streets on the Freeman's Bay reclamation in permanent paving, and that in the meantime its attention be drawn to the need for improved maintenance of the macadam surfaces.

It was explained that in 1926, when the council accepted dedication of the then partly-formed streets, the board bad paid over £BIOO in li.eu of completing the formation. The understanding then was that the streets would be concreted in due course, but the council would not give any undertaking as to time.

Mr. H. R. Mackenzie remarked that the council had delayed 12 years before taking over the streets, as it wanted to give the soft material of the reclamation time to settle. It was probably waiting for a further period before beginning the concrete paving. The recommendation was adopted. Four plans, showing the land required for the Waterfront Road, were forwarded by the Public Works Department. The matter was referred to the board in committee. the engineer to report. The harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant asked for advice in negotiations between himself and the Devonport Borough Council, which had prohibited the hauling-up of boats on its foreshore land between the North Shore Rowing Club's shed and North Head, in view of proposed improvements along that part of the waterfront. It was explained that a small rocky point, believed; to be vested in the board, was still being used bv yachtsmen for the purpose mentioned. The matter was referred to the board in committee in order that the land titles could be investigated. On the harbourmaster's recommendation it was agreed that by-law Iso. 159* regarding the towing of logs in the harbour at night, be amendea to conform with the General Harbour Regulations on the same subject. A letter was received from the general manager of the railways, Mr. H. H. Sterling, in reply to a suggestion from the board that, an aiea of mudflat east of the main railway line at St. Anneis Bridge, Westfield, be reclaimed. Jhe letter stated that the abatement of the nuisance of which the board complained was a matter for negotiation between the board and the owners of the near-by freezing works. , , . , It was reported that the cash receipts for the Wait.emata Harbour for April were £34,345, making £231,403 for the past seven months. This represented an increase of £8470 on the same period of 1927-28. The receipts for the seven months wero £11,036 in excess of the estimate for the period.