OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7539, 16 April 1886, Page 3

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Harbour Board, held yesterday afternoon, was attended by Messrs Wales (chairman), Barnes, Ross, A. Thomson, J. B. Thomson, Law, Mackerras, D. Reid, Hislop, Adams, Gourley, and General Fulton.

THE NEW BYE-LAWS.

It was agreed to send the following circular to importers:—

Otago Harbour Board Office, Dunedin, April 15. Sir, —1 am instructed by. the Otago Harbour Board to forward you a copy of their bye-laws, which come into force on the Ist of ..May prox., and it has been resolved that a new departure take place from that date in thesysemof keeping the collector of dues'accounts, and in consequ-uce ot the late decisions in the Resident Magistrate's Court in the cases of Board v. Elder and Board v. Mills—viz., that due 3 are only recoverable Irom the owner or agent for the owner of goods before delivery is given to any subpurcuaser or consignee, your special attention is respectfully called to the following bye-laws, and to the necessity that exists, so that the revenue of the Board be protected, that these bye-laws bstrictly enlorced. Arrangements to facilitate the working of the bye-laws in connection with any special cases that ulay be submitted for consideration will be made by the Board. The bye-laws above re-

ferred to are Sos. 174 to 18-1 inclusive. The attention of importers of coal is called specially to 183.—1 have, &c.

J. L. Gillies, Secretary. WORKS COMMITTEE. 'i.'he following report from the Works Committee was considered:—

Applications for Inspectorship.—Kesolveil to submit .the names of Messrs Barnes. Cutteii, Fairley, Fraser. and Mason to the'BoaiM for the appointment of inspector of Works for the Jioard.

lie Timaru Lighthouse Appointment.—On the recommendation of the harbourmaster it was resolved to call lor tenders for lighting the Lower Harbour, instead of for a lightship keeper, and that Captain M'Farlane prepare a suitable specification.

The question of inspectorship was discussed in Committee, and the following resolution, proposed by Mr Ross and seconded by Mr Hislop, was adopted :—" That Mr Mason, be appointed inspector, and that the sailing-master take charge of the dredging, in addition to his other duties, for a term of three mouths."

On resuming in open Board, Mr J. B. Thomson moved the substitution of Mr Fairley for Mr Mason.

This was seconded by Mr Mackekhas, bu the amendment on being put was lost.

Blr MackerhAs said his opinion was that a mistake had been made by the Board. A comparatively young man was required to take the active superintendence of the works of the Board. Though he had no prospect of carrying his amendment, he would move that Mr Outten's name be inserted in nlace.'of that'of Mr Maaon. Mr Cutten was a young man of energy and ability, and was capable of doing his work .to the satisfaction of the Board.

Mr Thomson-said that a great mistake was being made by the Board in the appointment of Mr Mason.

Mr Baknes was of like opinion, and added that so far as machinery went, Mr Mason might be a good man, but outside that he was of no use.

' Mr Ross thought that Mr Mason's appointment to the dredge would r effect a saving of £200 a year in the Board's expenditure. •

On a vote being taken, Messrs Mackerras, J. B. Thomson, Fulton, Barnes, and Gourley voted for the amendment; and Messrs Ross, A. Thomson, Law, Reid; and Hislop against it. The Chairman gave his casting-vote against the amendment. Mr Adams did not vote.

The resolution, as reported from Committee, was then adopted, and Mr Mason's appointment confirmed.

TONGUE WHAItF

The Chairman brought before the Board the question of a tongue wharf in the steamers' basin. The broad question was simply this, Was it desirable that the tongue wharf should be erected. He moved—"That it is desirable that 11 tongue wharf be constructed in the steamers' basin."

■ Mr."Adams' was of opinion that there was already too much wharf accommodation at Dunetiin. It was only on special occasions— about twice a year—that the shipping was double-banked Why the Board were going to an expense of £11,000 or £12,000 while the accommodation now available was ample was a mystery to him. Mr Law also thought there was plenty of accommodation, and opposed the proposed

work.

Mr Reid defended the proposed construction, which was an essential part of the harbour improvement. The whole of the Union Company's trade would be conducted from that wharf when made. The Union Company had repeatedly written to the Board complaining of the want of accommodation—both wharves and shed room.

Mr A.Thomson did not object to the expenditure on a tongue wharf, as the Dunedin members seemed to think such desirable; but he was of opinion that if the wharf were constructed on the place indicated on the plan it would be a blunder. He suggested that the tongue wharf be constructed ;>t lhe outer end of the steamer basin, in place of the head as proposed ; and moved- as an amendment to the Chairman's motion the addition of the following words:—"At the outer end of Jetty street Wharf." The amendment was seconded by Mr Bahnks and lost. The resolution as proposed by the Chairman was then put and carrierl. Mr Reid moved—"That the engineer be requested to prepare plans and specifications to bo submitted to the Board.—Carried.

—If the military force of all Europe was drawn up in hue, the distance from right to left would b« 6000 miles, as tliu force would consist of 9,000,000 soldiers. The reviewing officer would require an express train for several days to go from one end of the Hue to the other.