HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1164, 9 January 1880, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held to-day, when there were present—Mr. G. Sumpter (Chairmaft), the Hong. H. J ...Miller and R. Campbell, Messrs. Reid, Gibbs, Aitken, Gilchrist, Shrimski, and Borrie. • The minutes-of the previous meeting were read and; confirmed, and the outward correspondence.was read and approved.,., ! The report of the Standing Coiiimittee, dealing with- • several financial < matters, Was read and adopted; The Committee reported that arrangements had been made with Messrs. Anderson and Co. with reference to the payment of charges for lighterage upon the Dunkeld. ■ Mr. John Reid moved/ " That the thanks of the Board be conveyed to the members for the. district and to the members of the Legislative Council for their valuable services in carrying the Harbor Bog,rd Loan Bill through Parliament, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to these gentlemen. This was seconded by Mr. Aitken, and carried unanimously. . The Chairman mentioned that satisfactory arrangements had been made, with Messrs. Miller and Smillie to carry on the works at the port, pending the floating of the loan.

Several letters dealing with matters of detail were read.

: The Secretary mentioned that the account for ballasting the Dunkeld still remained unsettled. The vessel's agents, Messrs, J. and T. Meek, considered that too much had been charged for the ballast, and had written several letters asking for reductions in the charges, but these the Board had declined to entertain.-' He now desired to receive instructions as to what course should be taken, and suggested that the Committee might see the agents with a view to settlement.

Some discussion took place upon the matter, during which several members spoke rather strongly, and it was decided that notice should be served upon Messrs. J. and T. Meek that unless the amount was paid within 24 hours' proceedings would be taken for its recovery. Some discussion then took place upon the question of visiting and inspecting the Board's endowment, with a view to ascertaining the best mode of dealing with it when the lease falls in in 1881. It was pointed out by Mr. Shrimski and other members that it would be necessary to give the present tenant notice of the Board's intention of dealing with the endowment, and that the Waste Lands Board would probably proceed to deal with the run without consulting the Board upon the matter. It was highly desirable that the Board should have the-land inspected by one or two practical men, Competent to give opinions as to the advisableness or otherwise of sub-dividing the run and letting it as more than one station. It was also suggested that they should be accompanied by a surveyor to inark off the best boundaries, provided it was considered wise to cut up the endowment. Several names were suggested, but in each case some difficulty arose, as most of the gentlemen named were unable to give the necessary time. It was eventually decided that Messrs. Dennison and Grant, surveyors, should, be requested to report as to the best method of sub-dividing the endowment, with a view to obtaining the highest possible rental, and that Messrs. Shrimski and James Lees "should be requested to accompany Messrs. Dennison and Grant. A number of accounts were passed for payment, and the Board rose, it having been decided to hold the next meeting on Monday, 19fch January, the day of the annual meeting.