WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD

New Zealand Mail, 5 March 1902, Page 47

WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD

Tho monthly meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board on the 25th ultimo. Present Messrs H. Beauchamp (chairman), W. Cable, N. Reid, D. J. Nathan, R. Mothes, Myer Caselberg, W. T. Wood, G. Fisher, M.H.R., and T. M. Wilford. M.H.R. Leave of absence was granted to the Hon. F. H. Fraser, M.L.C. PETONE WHARF.

After the reading of the minutes, Mr Wilford referred to the contract which had been let for the removal of the Petone wharf, and asked whether the work might not be deferred until a deputation of Petone ratepayers could wait upon the Board, and give reasons why the wharf should be allowed to remain.

The secretary (Mr Ferguson), in reply to a question, said the Board was paying to have the wharf removed. The Chairman said that when the lease of the wharf to the Gear Meat Preserving Company expired, the wharf was put up to public tender, but no satisfactory bid for it was obtained. Finally, the Petone Borough Council, on payment of a peppercorn rental, became possessed of the wharf. At the end of the four years the question of putting the wharf in order arose, as the structure was reported to he in a high I * dangerous condition. The Board could not see its way to incur the necessary outlay, and could not come to any arrangement with the Council. Tenders were called by the Board for the purchase of the wharf, but not a single tender was received. ' The Board then decided in committee to call for tenders for the removal of the wharf, and a contract for that work had now been let. The secretary said that m November the wharf was advertised to be sold by public auction, without result. The Board wrote to the Petone Borough Council, who replied that they would not have anything more to do with the wharf. Mr Wilford said that he understood that an estimate had been made that

the wharf could be repaired for £25. He would, if members were agreeable, move that the work of demolishing the wharf he discontinued. Tho secretary said that the contractor for the removal of the wharf W< tvt geb and the old material. Mr Mothes said that when the question came before the Petone Borough Council some of the Councillors were away. The Council’s engineer had reported that at a cost of £25 the wharf C £ Ub ! ro P s!r °d, so that it would stand for two years. What would the Harbour Board gain by having the wharf removed? The secretary, at the request of the chairman, made a statement as to the condition of the wharf.- He maintained that the structure was dangerous to life and limb, and said it would cost a great many hundred pounds to put it in safe order for passengers. Mr Wilford: Why is it being removed? secretary said it was dangerous. No cart had gone over it since last March. Since the Glasgow Wharf had been opened, the Gear Company had not used the Petone Wharf. The company had, he believed, sold the hulk Jubilee, which used to be berthed at tlio Petone Wharf. A few excursions left the Petone Wharf during the year, and it was used as a promenade and for fishing from. Mr Reid said that as a director of the Gear Company he had examined the wharf eight years ago, and found much of it m a rotten condition. It would ho considered, take at least .£SOO or £6OO to put it in a safe condition now. Mr Cable said lie presumed that the Petone Borough Council, like the Seatoun Road Board, had the privilege of putting up a wharf. Other members said the Board might be held liable if an accident occurred through the defective condition of the £ T rf ' *F he question was also raised of how flie contractor for the removal pf the structure was to be indemnified if his contract was s'.n nended or cancelled. ‘ As an objection was raised, Mr Wilford’s motion was not put. The chairman reported that the tender of Mr John Me williams for contract No. 114 for the removal of the wharf at Petone for the sum of £290, being the lowest, and in order, had been accepted, with Messrs Maurice O’Connor and David Andrews as sureties, and the agreement anti bond duly executed He moved that the seal of the Board be affixed to the agreement of contract. The motion was carried, Messrs Wilford and Mothes dissenting. Mr Wilford said he would give notice of a motion on the subject. WHARVES AND ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. The Wharves and Accounts ( .mmittee’s report, which contained the following recommendations, was adopted: —To place a sum of £2OOO on fixed deposit with the National Bank for two years, upon the conditions customary for J he Board’s deposits. To call for tenders for the animal contracts for supplies and services and for hoop steel • and studs, to close on Thursday, the 27th March. On the next revision of the by-laws to provide special charges for the examination of fruit for the purposes of the Agricultural and Customs Departments, to be a minimum of threepence per case, and for cases over three feet a charge of one penny per foot. On the next revision of the bylaws to provide for one transfer or one stop order on wool and hemp free of charge, and for a charge for booking on each subsequent transaction of twopence per bale. To affix the seal of the Board to foreshore license for oyster bed at Balena Bay to Mr F. B. Farmar, the plans having met with the approval of the Governor-iu-Council. To make a charge in all future cases of foreshore licenses of 10s 6d towards the cost of preparing the licenses. To issue a foreshore license for boat-skids at Petone to Mr C. R. Ralph at 10s 6d per annum upon the plans receiving the approval of the Marine Department. To issue a foreshore license for a boathouse in Evans Bay to Mr Frederick Foothead at 10s 6d per annum upon the plans receiving the approval of the Marine Department. That a petition having been received from seventythree residents in the Oriental Bay and Roseneath districts seeking that foreshore licenses may be issued for the I erection of boathouses on the beach at Oriental Bay, the Board approve of the plans laid on the table for the erection of boathouses in the boat harbour, and send a reply to the petitioners stating that as the City Council have legislative authority for the widening of the roadway of Clyde - quay and Oriental Bay, the Board have provided a scheme for concentrating the boathouses in the boat harbour'and below the level of tho street fence, and seeking an expression of opinion from the petitioners upon the scheme. That the request of the Seatoun Road Board be acceded to in regard to regulations for the conduct of traffic at the Seatoun, Karaka Bay and i Miramar Wharves. That by-laws bo drawn up by the Board’s solicitor at the I expense of the Road Board. That when the by-laws come into force the Board appoint suitable individuals nominated by the Road Board as wharfingers to enforce them. j

GENERAL." / The chairman reported that the tender of Air Charles F. Pulley for contract No. 104 for concrete walls at the boat harbour for the sum of £14,095 4s, beiug the lowest, and in order, had been accepted, with Messrs E. C. E. Alills and John Anderson as sureties, and the agreement and boiid duly executed. He moved that the seal of the Board be affixed to the agreement of contract.—Carried.

abo reported by the chairman that Alessrs D. Burke and T. T. Farquharson had been nominated as special constables, and duly sworn in; and that the accounts for flie year 1901 had been audited by the Audit Inspector, and are in the hands of the Controller and Auditor-General for signature. The bank pass-books showed-the following balances:—Current account credit balance, £19,174 7s sd; imprest wages account, credit balance, £225; on fixed deposit, £33,000. Payments were passed as follows: Accounts and wages, £1i,372 7s; ries for February, £503 19s 3d; progress and final on contracts, £1247 Is 9d: total, £13,123 Bs.