HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 9

HARBOUR AFFAIRS.

REVENUE WELL MAINTAINED.

FIGURES FOR NINE MONTHS.

DUES ON MAIL STEAMERS.

The Auckland Harbour Board met yesterday, the chairman, Mr. M. H. Wynyaid, presiding. The treasurer reported that tho ordinary revenue for June amounted to £29,927, an increase of £1165, compared with June. 1923. Tho revenue for the nine months ended June 30 was £293,436, an increase of £7852. The year's revenue so far was £7861 ahead of tho estimate.

In reply to the board's representations that a harbour engineer should be appointed n member of any commission set up to consider the harbour bridgte scheme, tho Prime Minister wrote stating that the proposal would bo carefully considered by the Government. A letter was received from the Post-master-General stating that the board's representations regarding tho exemption of Vancouver mail steamers from harbour dues at Auckland would be considered before a new contract was entered into.

Porters on tho Wharves. ft was decided, on the recommendation of the boaTd-in-comrnittee, that no alteration should be made for the present in the arrangements for carriers and taxicabs on the wharves, but that porters should be licensed under conditions to lie drawn up by a special sub-committee.

On the recommendation of the harbourmaster it, was decided thai passenger launches engaged in regular ferry services should be allowed a preferential right to use the up-river wharves. The board's solicitors were directed to prepare a bylaw accordingly. The matter had been brought up by a complaint from the Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association that the masters of certain ferry launches operated their craft to the danger of other boats.

The Takapuna Borough Council applied for leave to remove 300 drayloads of shell from the sandspit running north-west into Shoal Bay from the extremity of Bayswater. The harbourmaster reported that the taking of shell in the lower part of the bay had been prohibited for a considerable time, and that if the request were granted the beaches to the north and east of the spit would probably be denuded by the tide. It was decided that the request be not granted. A request for approval of a plan to erect two garbage dumps, one at the end of the Sheerlegs Wharf and the other near the Calliope Dock, was received from the naval authorities. It was decided to approve the wharf dump only.

Birkenhead Fog Signal. The Birkenhead Borough Council hav-. ing asked for an up-to-date fog signal on the Birkenhead Wharf in place of the circular saw beaten by the Ferry Company's watchman, it was resolved to reply that as the company and its masters were quite satisfied with the present signal, which was used on about seven days in the year, the board could not see its way to install other apparatus. A number of facilities for painters employed on vessels in the Calliope Dock were asked for in a letter from the Auckland Painters' Union. In particular the union asked that a proper changing shed, fitted with wash-basins, should bo provided. the cost to bo a charge on users of the flock. It was resolved to reply that the matter was one between tho men and their employers, who were two in number, and that if the employers approached tho board the latter would be prepared to discuss proposals with them. The I'apakura Town Board wrote asking the board to consider the question of erecting a landing-place on an existing reserve on the Manukau Harbour foreshore near tho township, more particularly for the use of persons wishing to land sand and shell. The matter was referred to .the Manukau Harbour Committee.