OAMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 959, 16 May 1879, Page 2

OAMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held to-day, when the following members were present : —Messrs. Sumpter (Chairman), Steward, Shrimslci, Hassell, Reid, Duncan, Aitken, and Menlove.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The report of the Standing Committee was read recommending that the Board should sanction the request of the Government to carry the main south line through the lagoon, provided that the necessary arrangements as to compensation, &c., be made ; that the Secretary be instructed to write to the Marine department, intimating that since the change of the harbor light from a white to a red light, numerous complaints had been made that the light is inefficient, notwithstanding that the old lights had been removed, and larger ones, with large reflectors, put in their places, and asking that, in the interest of the shipping, some arrangements should be made by the Government to restore the light to its original color. The report of the Committee was adopted. A requisition from the Harbor-master for offices at the Breakwater for himself and the Collector of dues was referred to the Standing Committee for report. The following letter was read : ' Oamaru, May 12, 1879. To the Chairman and Members of the Oamaru Harbor Board.

Gentlemen, —I beg respectfully to call your attention to the fact (as I am informed) that the Government are leasing for commercial purposes part of the reserve south of the present station, and which they acquired from the town for railway purposes only. This action on the part of the Government will if persisted in prejudice most seriously your interests and those of your tenants. Indeed, I was myself in treaty for the disposal of part of the section I lease from your Board with the very persons who have now, I am told, leased a piece of the reserve from the Government,

Perhaps you are aware that the Government tried to adopt a similar course on the reserve next to Messrs. J. T. Evans and Co.'s mill, but desisted when opposed by the Municipal Council. Trusting that your Board will take prompt action for the protection of your own and your tenants' interests, I am, &c., James Lees.

Several members commented pretty strongly upon the manifest unfairness of the proceedings towards owners of property, and to the town from which it was taken specially for railway purposes. It was finally resolved, on the motion of Mr. Steward, seconded by Mr. Aitken, "That a representation be made to the Government that a complaint has been made to the Board that frontages to Tyne-street, on part of the land taken for railway purposes between Wansbeck-street and Arun-street, has been offered for lease for commercial purposes, and that in the opinion of the Board such a proceeding is unfair to the Board and other property owners in the town, as land not required for railway purposes should revert to the

authorities from which it was taken; further, that the members for the district be asked to address the Government on the subject." The following letter from the railwaydepartment was read : Resident Engineer's Office, Christchurch, 12th May, 1579Sir, —In reply to your letter of the 17th ult., if you will call on Mr. Burnett he will show you a plan of .projected new connection between the siding on the Harbor Board block and the Breakwater line, and give all particulars.

The proportion of the work that I proposed the Board should pay for is simply that part which lies on the line belonging to the Board. 1 hare asked Mr. Burnett to estimate the cost.—l am, &c., . T. S. Henderson, (For the Resident Engineer.) Thomas Forrester, Esq., Secretary to the Harbor Board.

On the motion of Mr. Steward, seconded by Mr. Slirimski, it was decided to accede to the proposal. The Engineer wrote, stating that in order to carry out the instructions of the Board to report as to the best mode of experimenting with dynamite for the purpose of deepening the harbor, he had sent up a set of boring rods, with a view of ascertaining the nature of the bottom below the sand.

A long letter from the railway department, enclosing reports as to the necessity for certain improvements being made in the formation of the Breakwater line, and calling attention to the fact that the rolling stock was being seriously injured in working the line, was read and referred to the Standing Committee for a report. The following resolution, moved by Mr. Sumpter and seconded by Mr. Reid, was carried unanimously : —" That his Excellency having apparently been much interested in works in progress at the harbor, and in order to supply his Excellency with full particulars of the works, revenues of the Board, resources of the district, imports, exports, &c., number and character of vessels trading to this port, the Secretary be instructed to prepare a concise statement containing the above information." Accounts to the amount of L 952 7s Id were passed, and the Board rose.