MEETINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 764, 22 October 1886, Page 30

MEETINGS.

WELLINGTON HARBOR BOARD. '

The ordinary meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday week. Present—Mr E. Pearce (Chairman), Dransfield, Duthie, Booth, Chew, and Petherick.

The Chairman reported a debit bank balance of £752 14s 7d ; and on fixed deposit account £46,000, the latter being a reduction ot £IOOO compared with last month. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £767 9a 9d, and on contracts £492. The amount due on contracts undertaken was £5600 in round numbers, exclusive of the new sheds on the inner lee.

The Chairman reportel the result of the Conference with the City Council, and moved that the resolution agreed to by the Joint Committee he agreed to. This was seconded by Mr Petherick, and carried. Mr Dranßfield received permission to move, without notice, “ That the Secretary and Solicitor of the Board he instructed to draw up a drait of agreement for submission to the Couuci , embodying the resolution arrived at by the Conference, and binding the Board and City Council, on its approval and execution under the seal of both bodies, to promote and support a Bill in the noxt sessiou of Parliament to give ' force thereto ; the draft to be approved before submission to the Couucil by a committee composed of the Chairman, Messrs Duthie, Wheeler, and the mover.” This was seconded by Mr Booth and carried unanimously. The Chairman stated that the Committee appointed to fix the upset rentals of the Hunter-street reserves had made an interim report, which.- by agreement, had to be laid before this Board for consideration. The rates were—Block No. 1, £4 per foot ; No. 2, £3 ; Nos. 3,4, and 5, £1 10? ; No. 6, £3 ; No. 7, £2 ; No. 8, £1 10s ; No. 9, £2 10s ; No. 10, £2. If these prices and no greater were obtained, the result would ba a revenue of £IOOO a year, exclusive of the Queen’s bond. The report was adopted, and it was leiolved to advertise the sale of the leases in the newspapers of the principal towns in New Zealand, and in Melbourne aud Sydoey. The Town Clerk wrote, referring to the Te Aro reclamation Wellington Rowing Club site:—“ln reply to your letter of the 18th ultimo, I b"g to report that the City Council at its last meeting approved the plans of the sheds proposed to be erected hy the Wellington Rowing Club on the Te Aro foreshote. It was found that permission bad already beeu granted to the Club, and it only temained to approve the plans. By the teams of the permission the site was to be selected with the approval of the Government Surveyor. The Couucil therefore regret that under the circumstances they were unable to comply with the request of your Board, that the matter might first be laid before the the Board for consideration.” Messrs Cable and Co. wrote as follows : “ We would respectfully call your attention to the advisability of the Board constructing a crane capable of a maximum lift, say 30 tons, which would prove a valuable adjunct to the harbor appliances 'for executing steamboat repairs, particularly the lifting of large marine boilers and machinery. With the primitive appliances now at our command a steamship owner is compelled to lay up his vessel for as many days as with such a crane above mentioned the same work could be executed in the same number of hours, consequently would largely reduce tile expenses incidental to such work. We feel assured that with improved appliances of this kind the trade of the port will be largely increased. Owners would naturally send their vessels where they would meet with the least possible detenlion. We trust that you will give the above your favorable consideration.”

The Chairman said that a number of vessels trading to the port would soon require new boilers. The firm, whose letter had been read, he understood,had just constructed new boilers for the Stella, and found a difficulty in taking out the old ones and replacing them.for want of a large craue. He thought it would be well to refer the letter to the Engineer to report on it at the next meeting. Prebably he might recommend a crane on a floating punt. This wa3 agreed to. The Board then went into committee.