HARBOUR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 466, 26 October 1877, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The regular fortnightly meeting of the Board was held to-uay at the Harbour Chambers. There were present: —Messrs. Sumpter (in the chair), Stewart, Headland, Lemon, and Meek. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The following telegram from the Hon. H. J. Miller was read :—"Mr. Shrimski's Bill provides for the constitution of the Board as follows :• —Two members to be appointed by the Governor, the Collector of Customs a member ex officio, one to be elected by the County Council, one elected by the Papakaio Road Board, one b}"- the Waiareka Road Board, and one by the Kakauui, two to be elected by the rate-payers of Oamaru. The present Board is to hold office till January 1, 187S, and the elections to take place December 15, under the Local Elections Act, 1876. The' nominated members to hold office for three years, and the elected members to hold office for one year." After some discussion the following resolutions were carried on the motion of Mr. Headland seconded by Mr. Steward : " That this Board is of opinion that before any Bill is passed affecting so important an institution as the Oamaru Harbour Board, which has been so successful in carrying out the duties entrusted to it, the constituency should have an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the provisions of the Bill; and seeing that the whole question of Harbour Boards will in all Drobabili y be dealt with next session, the Board is of opinion that the question should not be opened up at the present time. Notwithstanding the above expressed opinion, should the Bill be proceeded with, the Board considers that it requires amendment in the following par- J

ticulats :— V. In the clause denning the constitution of the Board, the words Papakaio i Road Bbard should read Waitaki Koad Board, there being no Papakaio Board. 2. It is undesirable that the whole of the elective members of the Board should go out of office at the same time, and the Board suggests the following amendments, namely that such elective mem hers should he elected for two years, but that at the expiraiion of the first year of office three of their number, being one-half the total number of elective members, should retire by ballot, and thereafter three to retire each year in the order of seniority. This would give a continuity of experience in the management of the Board's affairs, and would be following the precedent of Municipal elections in Otago. 3. That Kakamii having a port of its own and a Harb6ur Board of its own, it is not necessary that it should be represented in the Board, and the Board suggests that instead of the Kakamii member one should be given to the shipping interest or an additional member for the town. 4. The Board further considers that to fix the first election so early as December next would be almost impracticable and decidedly inexpedient, and the Board therefore suggests that the first election be in December, 187 S. a. Ihe Board also desires the introduction of a clause vesting the land endowment described in the Oamaru Harbour Board Act, 1576, absolutely in the Board, with power to lease the same for periods not' exceeding twentyone years. "That the above resolutions be telegraphed to the members for the district in ihe General Assembly, the Hon. H. J. Miller and the Hon. B. Campbell. Further, that in forwarding the above, the regret of the Board be expressed that the member introducing the Bill had not fully consulted it on the subject, in order that the abo\ r e and similar suggestions might have been earlier made ; and also that Mr. yhiimski be requested to forward copies of the Bill without delay, the Board having only received as yet a prerli of its contents from the Hon. Mr. Miller, and it being possible that on receipt of the full te«t the tfoard may have further suggestions to make." Accounts to the amount of L 2459 4s. lOd. were passed fcr payment. The Board then adjourned.