WELLINGTON HARBOR BOARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 30

WELLINGTON HARBOR BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday week. Present— Messrs J. Duthie (chairman), Petherick, Dransfield, E. Pearce, Wheeler, Heaton, Booth, Speedy, and Captain Rose. The Chairman stated that the debit balance on current account was L 1261 ; and accounts, progress payments, &c., amounting to L 2449, were passed. On the motion of the Chairman, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mrs Rhodes for her donation of L2OO for an hour bell for the Post-office clock. Recommendations by the Wharves and Accounts Committee with respect to foreshore licenses were agreed to. The same Committee suggested that further moorings should be provided for the hulks, which the Engineer estimated would cost from LIBO to L2OO. Agreed to. The transfer of sections on the Te Aro reclamation from Mr Whittem to Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewan was approved. The Chairman remarked that the transfer was a good one, since Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen, who were one of the largest firms in the Colony, evidently intended to erect substantial buildings here.

It was decided, on the suggestion of the Wharves and. Accounts Committee, that Mr John Morris, toll clerk, be allowed to resign, and that ho be granted leave on full pay until the 31st March. The Chairman moved that a draft letter to the Premier on the subject of the proposal by the Railway Department to lease four sections on tho Thomdon Reclamation be approved. The Harbour Board, he said, had, when its land was taken from it, been promised all the land that would not be wanted for railway purposes from the Thomdon reclamation, but every year they found tho Government putting valuable blocks into the market instead of giving them to the Board as an endowment. Although the case was closed against the Board, he thought they should make their protest against this laud being disposed of. It was a complete breach of faith, especially as the Board had not been repaid one-sixtli the value of what was taken from them, The letter which asked that the three building sites facing Waterloo-quay should be leased to the Board at a peppercorn rental for 21 years. A discussion took place as to the form of agreement to be signed by employes of the Board. On the suggestion of Mr Heaton, a clause which appeared to be rather severe was struck out, and the draft was then agreed to, Mr Heaton still opposing it. The Chairman moved that the resolution adopted by the Board at its last meeting relative to the appointment of a pilot, be rescinded. In connection with the motion a letter was read from Pilot Sims suggesting that he should be stationed at the Heads, where he could take up the big steamers and ships; and that Mr Shilling be stationed in town. The Harbourmaster reported, favourably on the proposal, and recommended that it should be tried. The Chairman remarked that the proposal would be an economical one, and Pilot Sims was deserving of great credit for bringing it forward, especially as it involved inconvenience to himself. The motion was carried, and the Chairman then moved that Pilot Sims’ plan be given a trial duriug the ensuing summer months. Carried; It was decided to make a house allowance of L4O to Pilot Shilling, who will be removed to town.