Oamaru Harbor Board.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 6594, 29 June 1896, Page 4

Oamaru Harbor Board.

The annual meeting of the Harbor Board was held to-day, when there were present—Messrs J. S. Holmes (Chairman), Rose, Meek, Williams, Aitken, Dennison, Milne, and M'Pherson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and outward correspondence approved. A quantity of correspondence was read from the bondholders' receiver dealing with details of finance which were referred to the Finance Committee. The Chairman reported that the committee appointed to deal with the dred<*e_ recommended that the drag system be abandoned, and that Mr Roberts was pre paring another scheme which he thought was more simple and effective. His plans were not ready yet. and it would be as well to call the Board together again when these plans were ready. The report was adopted. The Standing Committee reported recommending that applications be called for the position of harbormaster. Mr Aitken moved that the salary offered be L2SQ. Mr Rose seconded this. Mr Dennison moved that it be L 270, the same as at present, remarking that if the Board could afford to give Captain Sewell L 270 it could also afford to give his successor the same. Mr Williams seconded Mr Dennison's amendment. Mr Aitken's motion was carried, and the Committee's recommendation was adopted. The Committee reported recommending that the survey of the reclaimed land be left alone for the present. Mr Milne proposed as an amendment, seconded by Mr Dennison, that a survey be made of Mr Smith's section, so that he may get a lease as promised by the Board. After discussion Mr Milne's motion was carried on the casting vote of the Chairman. Plans were laid on the table for the drainage of Harbor street. The question of cost came up and Mr Dennison said thai; unless the Corporation contributed towards the cost he would oppose the scheme. He thought no rates should be paid to the borough. Mr Milne said it was wrong of the borough not to contribute, seeing that it had received thousands of pounds as rates from the tenants and yet wculd not spend a sixpence on the street because it was not of the requisite width. The plan was adopted and ordered to be sent to the receiver for his sanction to the work being carried out. Messrs Dennison. Darling, and Aitken were appointed to sign the rate book. The accounts, amounting to L 264 2s 9d, were passed for payment. It was resolved to advertise in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and in Oamaru for applications for harbormaster, to be in by the next meeting on 27th July. At the request of the Lyttelton Harbor Board it was resolved to ask Mr Duncan, M. H. R-, to assist in obtaining the Government's consent to the Board's bylaws relating to license of tugs. The Board then adjourned.