HARBOUR BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13632, 29 June 1906, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD

;__*> : The ordinary meeting of (lie Otago'llnrbour• Board, was hold yesterday afternoon, Mr IT. Oourley presiding. There wore also preSent-Mcssrs A. 0. Begg. W. Barclay, K. F. Dtithio, C..W. Rattray, J. T.,Mach:m< J. Walw.n, T; Ross. D. A. De Maus, J. Rubin, and tlip Hon. T. Fergus,

OBITIIAijY. The. Chairman said it was only right and fitting, before they proceeded to the transaction of (ho regular business* Hint lie should allude in a few words lo the events of ilif> lasf few days Unit t boy were all familiar with. He referred lo the passing! under most tragic circumstances, of the. Rjght lion. II J. Soddon, Premier, and of.their esteemed colleague, the Hon. D. Piiikerton. Coneorniii'r the former, so many lengthy and admirable eulogiumshad been spoken and written (luring the past fortnight, that there whs no occasion for him nt that place and hour td enlarge on the theme. Suffice it to say that Mr Seddon was a grcilt staloshian. an Empirebuilder, the best of fathers, a model husband', a staunch friend, and a lover of his fellows and country, in whose cause ho might bo truly said td have laid down liis life. Wheti should tliey look on his like again? Tt was bis (the speaker's) privilege, to work alongside or the late Mr Piiikerton in the Legislative Council foi many years, and could certify to his sinjdene.ss of purpose, his nnrightness, and devotion to duty; while thev knew as well as ho did. how faithfully Mr Pihkortbu discharged liis trust as a member of this board. It would, of course, bo their duty lo forward letters of condolence and sympathy to the widows and. families of the; deceased', and lie moved that that be doite.

Mr Mackerras seconded tho motion* which was agreed to.

connr.swiNnr.Nrr:. Bank nassbobks were laid on the table. Credit, balance to general account, £9253 IT.- lid.

A letter was road from Ihc Acting-Minister of Railways, acknowledging receipt of communication from the board with regard to the action of the Government in resuming portion of the board's endowments. He was looking into the mailer.—Letter received.

A letter v:as read from Wm. Duncan and Ron stating that, fhov were offered some good fillins-in material, and desired to lease a. piece of unreclaimed land at the foot of Union i street.—lWovrod to ihe Reserves Commiitee to report.

The Works f'nmmillpn renoi-led:—Re (ho claim of the Now Zpnland TCxiu-css Company for the vn'ii" of a linrse drowned at Hip. fnn'jruo wharf, the committee was advised by" the boa-d's solicitors that the hoa-d was'not liable. In flip mailer of the '•ntilipjif nf Iho fVripvs' Uriinii, Hint Ike borhfu:; iip raised <o kivp additional proteclion to horse t-ran"i'\ flip pninmiitoe recotiimcndod that 111" kcrbitip,- bp r.ai-ed Sin. Tj also recommended Hint onp of tlm board's bonis bo filled with an oil purine. The p'isrineer's report (nub)i-.tied in thp 01.-.to neilv Timps TPstpribv) was also read. Mr Tlfihin. iii moviiiT Hip adonlion of the report, ponsratulolpd Iti'i board on Ihp improvement in Hip smoothes of fhp runnintr of its various lnafniiiPi'Ti '''bis was diip In Ihp <■ lent earn oxm-oi=ntl hv Hip secretary, and I])',' fart Hint a lillin. extra moiipv was sppnt when Hip ilrpik'PS Vulcan and 222 worn laid up. So far as Ihp Vulcan was concerned, the post of ronalrs was likely to lip vpi'T slight for some I imp to oniric. Thp rppovl was adonlcd without discussion. RiiPF.'uxsr.vnos. Thp Special C'oinniift nr* appninlpd lo advise thp liniird on |b> propped. Harbour boards' Superannuation Hill reported ihat in its opinion Hip board should decline to support tlm bill as propospd. 'I'lio scheme would not only ljp 100 jireat a si rain upon thp finances of Hip hoard, but also upon those of ils employees.—l'oporl adopted, .IX J!X(*l Klni: cuvniACi. Tin* Keerehirv aniHinneed Ihat Hie. arraiHromonl with Messrs Mill and C'o. for rcceivint; ami dWiveriiii; erin>o exjiiivu in Aligiisl.

Mr Wai'-nii: Has (lie arfsiijjpiiieril. wilh Mill and Co, worked out falisfutiorilyV The Chairman: Thai will have to hp discussed when we have a .special meeting. tm; :\T.\v dock. Mi 1 liattiav moved, pursuant to notice— "The lioard cannot make any further Kiiilri.bul.iiin lawiirds Ih.c duck as'siisgesicd, and, moreover, Hip hoard \vi~hw it lo bp quile clearly nndeisiood that no payment under iho contribution it has airoailv undertaken will he made until ihp hoard hi saiisficd, lhvou»li ils solicilors, Ihat Iho dock is bciiif; hilill in acitortloiico with the provisions ot Ihe I'lnipowcrinp; Acts of Parliament:." He did iiot need to sav much in addition lo tvhat he had ,'a.id at a previous meeliiifr of Ihp hoard. Oh (mat occasion Ihe view he took was different from thai, taken by.some other members of the hoard, with ve-jurd to the advisability of the lioard taking iiilo four! ihp question of dielhei- the dock was bpiiij; collslrtir-tcd in cccni'daiiw willi the Enahliiiß Act, and in nccorilaiue ti thp dimensions or'igimillv liiid before llii> hoard. The ohjebt of his prc-M'tit lilol.!ini ■~-•:>• lo male the hoard's position pcrfeciv i.i'ar. so that memhers nusht knoiv lhai. in (oiitribiilii'iji the board was doina- so lejriilli'.. He know that another hill- was (o bp brought in. but he thought thai the bu.r-il should have the matter made quite clear, so Hint Ihe hoard Woiild be beyond reproach. fl'liClhef the new bill was put Hiroti|»li or not. Mr lVgi; seconded fhfl motion pro. forina. Air Pi'i'sus saw no necessity fur |Jk; motion. Members knew what the position was as things stood, and it was iiscirss I'iiKliii'j their hands for the fillnre. Meiiibors could only say what they wore ooinir to do in their time. Another f!-v.vrniw'nf. member would join the hoard scon, and Ihey could not sav what the effect on ihp h.-.ard would be. The whole contniinlion «f ihe birird miirht, be altered, for a.ll they knew. tie should therefore move as aii aiii'-iidmenl—"That Ihe hoard emuiut n_iid»r<t!i;'d why (he appliention n' the Hod; Trust For an incrensed cmilrihulioii should bp made to it, as it never sent i"VV lellei tn the Dock Tru-t suesjp.s'ini; alffli'iiiioiia or extensions. Further, (hat Hie board cannot see its way to make any alteration in the terms of the 'untriliil';V) aliead.y agreed on." Mr Itoltiii. secohded the amendment. Mr Harelftv Oonsidereil Mr niotioii a. reflection on the chairman'and t'lisineer. ■ Mi 1 Fei'«us said n 0 fcflpc-tion was inlondwb Mr ikirclay said if Mr lint tray's motion slopped at Hi" word " siiggcslcd" fito purpose would be served. Mr. Rattray, said thai, unfortunately ihst would not jo far edbnT- for hiln. ?Jr Maekernis said that it. occurred lo him that, if the hoard originally ihe assistance asked o-> ih" as-siirance thai thn new dek was io he of crtain dimensions, and if it wore shown that ihp dockwas kelnrr constructed on -mailer dimensions, ;hu3 Kccessitiitii-:.' .' fresh appeal to

Parliament to cover the depart tiro from the original measurement?, should it hot be necessary also that the hoard he approached de iiovo lo grant the assistance retjuired and previously a rallied ltndcr a misapprehension.—(Laughter.) Mr Fergus's amendment was carried on the voices. At this singe the hoard went, into committee.