HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 8 October 1880, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held to-day, when there were present—Mr. Suinpter (Chairman), the Han. H. J. Miller, Messrs. Aitken, !Borrie, Gibbs, Reid, and Menlove. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read arid approved. The report of the Standing Committee was read and adopted. The Committee reported having arranged for a temporary supply of cement to enable the contractors to proceed with the works, pending the receipt of the regular supply; that the Committee had, without prejudice to the agreement with the railway department, agreed to provide the timber necessary for the repair of the bridges on. the Breakwater line, on the condition that the de-' partment undertook the whole of the labor and superintendence, With reference to thi last clause of the. report, a letter was read from the Commissioner for Railways agreeing to do the work without prejudice. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Westport Colliery Company calling attention to the excessive charge, at present levied at Oamaru on coal ex ship. The writer stated that the charge on coal amounted in the aggregate to 3s 9d per ton, and tha,t this acted as a prohibition to coal carried by water. He urged that a differential tariff should be formed in favor of coal from New Zealand mines. He also stated that the charge on general merchandise was only Is Id. The Secretary pointed out the writer was in error with reference to the charges mentioned. The, eharge on general merchandise was 2s per ton, and on coal 3s Bs, the additional 6d per ton alluded to by the writer of ,the letter bring a charge upon the ship for the benefit of cranes, &c., and. that this charge was also made upon vessels with general merchandise. He also mentioned* that the present tariff' had been arranged so as to n?eet the railway tariff. It would be remembered that at a previous meeting Messrs. Craig and Co. had written with reference to the charge on timber, and that the matter had been ordered to stand over until the new .railway tariff was issued. The whole question might now be taken into consideration. The Han, Mr, Miller said this was a moat important matter, and he was in jfavor of referring the question to a spfecial Committee. The coal mines of New Zealand formed one of the most important of the Colonial industries, and they should do al) they could to extend the operations of the coal companies. There was an endless supply of coal in the Colony, and he was inclined to grant a concession in favor of New Zealand coal. Hitherto a very large sum had annually been sent to Newcastle for coal, and though it might partake somewhat of the nature of protection, ho would favor such action being i taken as would tend to keep the money in the Colony. He moved, ' c That Mr. Dickson's, and Messrs, Qraig and Co.'s letters re on ooals and timber be referred to a Committee consisting of Messrs.; Reid, Aitken, GHbbs, the Chair- \ man, and the mover (Mr. Miller); the ;! Cbmmittee also to consider the bye-laws lin connection with rates, and report in [ fortnight. i Mr. Reid seconded the motion, a&el I several members having signified their concurrence with the opinions expressed by Mr. Miller, the motion was carried. The Secretary to, the Marine Department wrote intimating that the land at Cape W'a,nbro,w had. been permanently I reserved for- a lighthouse, and that it ' would be leased to the Board under 1 section 28 of the Shipping and Seamen's Aot, 1877, for 21 years, at a peppercorn rental, on the condition that the lease shall remain in force so long as the Board maintains the light to the satisfaction of the Minister for Marine, Accounts amounting to L 3056 18s 8d were parsed for payment. • The Secretary brought under the notice of the Board the question of having the water laid on to the breakwater for the supply of the shipping. Several persons 'had spoken to him on the matter. : Mr. €}ibbs said he did not think the Municipal Council would be prepared to put down the pipes to the breakwater, as the revenue received would probably not be sufficient to recoup the Council for the outlay. He thought ( the Board:, might itself lay down the pipes and pay the ordinary rats of Is 6d per 1000 gallons for the water. It 'could, by levying a small additional charge to the shipping, reQaiip itself for.the outlay. ~ • • ... Consideration of - the matter- was deferred until, next to be made in the meantime, - The B.° a rd then rose.