OAMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10762, 9 May 1911, Page 4

OAMARU HARBOR BOARD.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The newly-constituted Oamartt Harbor Board met this morning, in terms of the Harbours Act, for the purpose of electing a chairman. There were present Messrs Milligan, .Sutherland. Mayes, "White, Dovey, Williams. Mackay, M'Culloch, Gardiner, and Livingstone. Mr Sutherland was voted to the chair. Mr Livingstone said that as he had the honor to top tin?, poll for the country he had much pleasure in proposing the late Chairman for the position. Speaking to the nomination Mr Livingstone said he trusted every member of the Board would endeavor to work for the best good of the harbor. He was pleased to hear that the dredging scheme was not s:o bad, after all, as was reported, and that it was likely to do better even than was anticipated. Mr Sutherland seconded the nomination, saying that it was unquestionable that Mr Milligan had done an immense amount of work and had done it exceedingly well. Facetiously, Mr Sutherland said he was quite a believer in the rolling office business —(laughter)— it had its good points, and one was that if you had a duffer in the chair you could get rid of him at the end of a year. He was sure Mr Milligan's election would be unanimous.—(Applause.l There was no other nomination, and Mr Milligan was unanimously elected. Mr Milligan said he had to thank theBoard very heartily for the honor they had conferred upon him in re-electing him to the position. He valued the confidence they had placed in him and had shown by their unanimous vote. Ho would continue to do his very best in the interests of the harbor and district. and hoped all would justify the unmistakable vote of confidence that had been passed. Mr Milligan welcomed Mr Norman Haves and Mr H. A. Dovey, wlio had not previously occupied seats at the Board table. With' regard to Mr Hayes he (the speaker) had been iriformed that lie would make ah excellent member of the Board. His late father, with Mr Evans, had practically made the poVt of Timaru, and if Mr Hayes could contribute towards making Oamaru a successful port lie. would do very good work. Referring to Mr Dovey,- Mr Milligan said lie had* already shown his ability in connection with Qourity Council affairs, and would do his best for the district as a. member of the Board. The Chairman Said he knew the Board would pull together, harmoniously. There would be no party. —("Hear, hear"). They would meet in' connection with the/business of the Board .and would differ from each other, but he ventured to say that the business ■would be transacted' free from bitterness. .

The question of appointing a deputychairman, was discussed,, and Mr D. Sutherland was'elected. ' -- •i- Mr >Hay.es; ;sxpre§sed ithanks; fcjr. the liesirly .welcome 'Recorded .Him. ' He moniously. He was, he, said, the representative of one of the hottest corners antagonistic to the" work of theßoard:as carried on during the last few years. There was no doubt that much of that antagonism was due to a want of knowledge of the work, of which he lipped to learn a great- deal during his ni.caß.-v bersliip of the Board. The ratepayers of Hakataramea had sufficient confidence in him to elect him without lopposition, but he had given them .to understand that they must give him a free liand. He hoped to do his best for the ratepayers of Hakataramea and the district generally. Mr Hayes said' he. greatly , appreciated the kind references macle to his father."

Mr Dovey also expressed his appreciation of the ; welcome. He said' he consiclered it was not a'man's; duty to. be bound to" any," particular party section, but r t|iat'. all should r do their best for the* ; ?£b"wh'.'.'and : . diStridt..'. He was going tq L -.dp his /best in,the interests of the district and of the; harbor. He woura like to see Oainaru with a harbor as good as any other, so. that they would, hot reqiiire to send their produce to other ports for^sliipment. At the conclusion of the meeting the members visited the liarbor for the pur-; pose of making an inspection of the dredging plant and operations.