HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4629, 16 December 1876, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

The adjourned special meeting of the Har hour Board was held yesterday. PresentMessrs C. S. Reeves (in the chair). D. Eeid, J. Davie, H. M'Neil, H. Tewsley, and A. M'Kinnon. CONSTKUCTION OF THE NEW WHAHF. The following memo, from the Engineer re the tenders for the construction of the new wharf was read: — "Mr David Proudfoot's tender, amounting to L 2950, is correct. Although considerably below the estimated cost— viz., L 350 conditions liave been complied with." Mr M'Kinhon would propose a motion accepting Mr Proudfoot's tender if he thought he could get a seconder. Mr Tewsley : The tender is so low that it rather makes me open my eyes. I am afraid of litigation, or what is woroe —arbitration. I confess to a very great fear and dread of this Board getting into what other Boards have done—getting into trouble in that way. Mr M'Neil remaiked that the comparative smallnessof Mr Proudfoot's tender might be accounted for by his having a large quantity of timber on hand. Mr M'Kinnon also pointed out that Mr Proudfoot had a very large quantity of timber at present. Mr Tewsley : What I dread is that we shall have to spend LIOOO in law after saving LSOO on the contract. Mr M'Kinnon : I move the tender of Mr Proudfoot be accepted. Mr Davie : I will second that. The Chairman put the motion, which was supported by all the members present except Mr TuwsiiEY, who said : 1 won't say no. The motion was therefore carried. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S KRPOUT. The following is the report of the Finance Committee: — . . Your Committee have pleasure in submitting the following extract from a letter of the Manager of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, dated the Bth instant:—" I have now the pleasure to inform you that the bonds of your Board are quoted officially on the London Stock Exchange." Your Committee would recommend that the Secretary and Treasurer be instructed to prepare, at his earliest convenience, debentures for the balance of the loan (LI 00,000), so that they may be in readiness to be placed upon the market when any iavourable opportunity should present itself, and that i,he Finance Committee be empowered to deal with all details connected therewith, and to place on the market such balance when deemed advisable. .

Henry Tevsley, Chairman. Mr Tewsley : I beg to move the adoption of the report. I think it is very desirable that we should take advantage of the present state 01 the money market in London. Mr M'Neil seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Dayie moved—" That the Finance Oommittee he empowered to carry out the recommendation of the Finance Committee,^ to place on the market the balance o£ the loan." Mr Reid seconded the motion, which was carried. APPOINTMENT OP ARBITER FOE THE DREDGING CONTRACT. Mr M'Neil said that the Board's Engineer had been appointed the sole arbiter to decide any dispute arising in connection wito tne dredging contract By appointing their Jingineer as sole arbiter, they actually appointed one of the parties to the quarrel to decide it. With the view of getting over the difficulty, he Mr M'Neil) would move the following— "That as it has been objected that the Board's Engineer has been constituted sole arbiter in case of any dispute that may arise during the carrying out of the proposed dredging contract, it Is expedient to to substitute instead thereof, 'That the Colonial Engineer be constituted such arbiter, and it is hereby agreed accordin|lr Davie : That is Mr Blackett. Mr M'Neil : Yes. There can be no possible objection to it, I imagine. . Mr Eeid would second the motion, as ne believed it would be the means of getting more tenders for the work. There was no doubt that if any real difficulty arose, they would have to get in third parties as arbiters. H there was acy dispute fairly in regard to the difference of opinion as to the quantity of material taken out, he thought it would be best to have an outsider as arbiter. Mr M'Kinnon, who was in favour of retaining the Board's Engineer as arbiter, did not think it would make any difference if the Colonial Engineer were appointed. He dia not

think the Board should be moved by the outside public in this matter. Mr Davie pointed out that the proposed alteration was simply a matter of busineirs. _ Mr M'Neh. remarked that Messrs Hawkins ■and Co., of Lytteltbn, told him the day before yesterday that they would not send a contract under the proposed circumstances, but they would do ao if the Marine Engineer was appointed arbiter. He (Mr M'Neil) did not think thattheOolonialEngineerhadbeencalledmthere in connection witn Messrs Hawkins and Co.'s contract at Lytteltpn. As Mr Reid very forci- . bly pointed out, they would inci-easo the num |ber of tenders if they appointed an outsider as 'arbiter.1''1 '-■ ■■ < y: • ■■"' ' •-'••', :'■■','!,", : Mr M'Kinwom did not see that any difference would be made. Messrs Hawkins and Co. : were very respectable contractors, and he would be glad to see them dredging the harbour tomorrow. ' ' . • . ■ The Chairman put the motion, which was carried, Mr M'Kinnon being the only dissentient. . . « -i. The Board then resolved itself into Committee, and the reporters withdrew. TOTE OF £250 TO THE SECRETARY. On resuming, the Board reported to the Secretary that they had adopted the following resolution:—"That a sum of £250 be paid to Mr Gillies, the Secretary to the Board, for the additional services he has rendered as Treasurer for the past two years, for the special services tendered in securing the Board's present endowment, and generally for the efficient.ana zealous manner in which he has discharged the duties of his office."