HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3310, 17 December 1897, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD.

The members of the Harbour Board met yesterday. Present—Messrs F. H. Fraser (chairman), W. Booth, F. Bradey, T. J. W. Gale. J. Jack, J. H. Heaton, H, Beauchamp and Captain Rose, The Chairman reported that the secretary, in forwarding to the Marins Department the resolution of the Hoard agreeing to the payment of the sum of .£BOO towards the erection .of a second order light on Somes’ Island, had raised the question as to whether the Board had legal authority to so contribute, and the Government had therefore introduced a Bill to legalise the expenditure. Mr Fraser also reported that the draft lease rc Petonc wharf had been modified, and that the lease of the wharf had been purchased by the Petone Council at an annual I’ontal of ids. The Wharves and Accounts Committee recommended, among other matters, that on.the next revision of the by-laws the difference in the methods of imposing port charges on foreign and intercolonial and on coastal vessels be abolished, and that the charge be made uniformly 2d per ton on arrival, not exceeding 6d in the calendar half-year. That the Board approve the transfer of foreshore license No. 6 from Chas. Mo Keegan toll. Lawlorfor a boatshed at Clyde quay, aud for that purpose the original license be cancelled and a new one be issued' for the balance -of the original term. Also, that it approve of the proposed amendment by the Marine Department in the general harbbur regulations relating to gangways of vessels lying at a, wharf. Further, that the Board withdraw the permission to the Wellington Shipwrights' Society to use a portion of the “F ” store for tools, the space being ■ now required for the Board’s own purposes. And that the seal be affixed to a direction to the Commissioners of Sinking Funds to invest .£4OOO in Karori borough debentures upon receipt of an approval signed by a majority of the members of the Sinking Funds Investment Committee.— Adopted. The bank books showed a credit balance to current account of .£4282 19s 3d; there was also a credit of £IOO on the imprest wages account, and £24,000 was shown to be on fixed deposit. The following payments were passed : Accounts and wages, £SBBB Os lOd• progress on contracts, £65 5s ; salaries for December, £434 19s 9d : total, £6388 5s 7(1. A deputation, consisting of Messrs R. C. Kirk, S. Lancaster and W. A. Fitzherhert, representing a conference of the county and borough councils of the Wellington district, waited upon the Board relative to the Wellington Harbour Bill recommending an alteration in the constitution of the Board. Mr Kirk acted as spokesman, and stated that the Conference had agreed upon representation on the following basis -Wellington, city, three members (including the Mayor) ; payers of dues, one member; the Government, three members ; aud Ilorowhenua, Wairarapa and Hutt and adjoining boroughs, two members each. He asked the Board to reconsider the Bill, with a view to giving effect to the wishes of the deputation. (Iu committee subsequently the Board decided that as the time had now passed for the introduction of the Bill, consideration would be given the matter when it was next being dealt with.) Mr Davies’ salary was increased to £l2O per annum. ,