HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14458, 26 February 1909, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board, held yesterday, was attended by Messrs W. Barclay (chairman), W. Cioiv, U. B. Bullock, C. W. Hat 1 ray, E. G. Allen, J. T. Mackcrras, W. Belcher, D. A, Do Mails, W. Wilkinson, T. Hess, E. F. Diiihte, ami J. Loudon. FINANCIAL. . The bank book, laid on liie table, showed a credit balance of £(>286 18s 10.1. CORHESI'ONDEXCE. The Secretary oE the Wellington Harbour Board wrote exiling attention to the fact that a comparison of section 37 of ' The Harbours Act, 1878," with scction 29 of "The Harbours Act, 1903," .showed that the words " electoral roll" had boon substituted for " valuation roll," the eli'eet of which was to entitle p-.-r.ons having n household and a residential qualification to claim to be put on the roll anil to vote, whereas under the act of 13'iO only the pavers of rates could vote.—The Chairman aid (lie matter did not alloc! (lie board very nmcli. It nad always raied oil the wider franchise ol the municipal roll.— Referred to the chairman and the secretory to make inquiries. The Secretary of the Grcymouth Harbour Board wroto stating that the loard at its meeting in January had under consideration the question of the :iui-pa\mcnt by tlio State coal mines of royalty and special rate on coal, and he was directed to lay before the Ota.yo Board a ttatement ol the facts and of the amount considered to be due to the Grey mouth Boord. lie a-sked for the co-operation of the Ola a r o Buard in having the law carried out, which provided for payment by the Sl-ute mines as in the c;lso of privately-owne-l mine.;. The amount due to ti;e board to date was over £24,000.—Mr Allen moved that lhe letter bo received.—Air Belchdr moved, as an amendment—" Thai the Iward could not see its way clear to support the Grcymouth l'-oard."—'lhe moiiun was carried.

The Union Steam Ship Company wroto advising that Meosis Hutchison and Co. hail applied for the company'.; work in measuring timber at a lower rate than tlut now paid, but as the present measurers were giving every satisfaction it was adverse to' ma king any change.--Referred to the Works Committee to lvpnit. The Dunedin l''rr,it and Produce Brokers' Association brought under tlio board's notice the fact tliat .about Ihis time last year Messrs Shiel and Co., on behalf of the association, made application for a. reduction in the charge ol 4s per ton at present made on imported fruit, and the board promised to give consideration when the estimate were being considered this year. They hoped tho Iraurd would not overlook its promise, ind drew, attention to the fact that as many shipments of fruit wero taken right out of the ship's slings and no use made of the ehed room or wharf spaoo Uioy were entitled to a reduction of 2s ; 6d per ton.-Referred to the F malice Comiuillee for a r-jport. S. C. Smith wrote drawing attention to the action of the National Insuiance Company in deducting ilii 3s from the companies participating in the division of the board's accidc-nt insurance business— Referred to lhe .I'inancc Committee to report.—An amendment by Mr Belcher, to the effect that the charge made by the National Insurance Company, was never intended, was lost.

G. Morgan wrote acknowledging receipt of £50, l.eing a grant from the board in consideration of his reclaiming between 17.000 and 18,000 yards of land at Frederick street, and expressing his disappointment at t.he Mimil amount, lie admitted lie had no legal claim on the byard. but would like the board to again consider the matter.—The letter was referred to the Reserves Committee for further consideration. THE DREDGING OF SEWAGE, A deputation from the Finance Committee of the City Council, consisting of Crs liarr and Gilkison, waited on the board with reference to the payment by the council to Ihe board for dredging sewage discharged inta the harbour. Cr, Barr (chairman of the Finance Committee) said the Drainage Board was also interested in the matter. Things had now reached such a state that it was necessary to come to an understanding, and the Finance Committee desired onlv a reasonable agreement. Under the original agreement the council paid on an estimated deposit of 5800 cubic yards cf sewage at the rate of Ik 3d per yard. However, as two fiewers had sincu been turned into the main sewer the amount of sewage now discharged into the harbour had been greatly reduced, and as the High street sower would also be turned into the main sewer very soon, there would be a practical cessation of the discharge of sewage into the harbour. The request, that there should therefore be a reduction in the payment seemed a reasonable one.

Or Gilkison said the position, as explained by Cr Barr, showed that an adjustment of the payment by the City Council was desirable. Instead of paying on aGOO yards, the council should pay 011 about only 35 por eout. of that quantity. Mr Bullock asked if the Citv Council should not have handed over the liability for payment to the Drainage Board. Cr Gilkison said it had not, but ho was of opinion that the Draiiuigo Board was tile proper body to make the payment. The Chairman said that Under t.ho original agreement the City Council had to pay £1000 a year to the board, but the board unanimously agreed to reduce the payment lo £362 10s a year He thought tlio board had treated the council very liberally. However, the board would give the representations of the deputation full consideration.

The deputation then retired. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee recommended:— (1) Illicit tenders Ixi invited for the supply ami placing 111 position of two new boilers lov dredge "222." (2) That the questicn of a now loitse of iho hinds used for quarry purposes at Otakou be left in the hands of Iho chairman of the beard and engineer, with power to act. (3) An application from David Bacon, Broad.]!av, [or uroclion of a landing at lias Point has been considered, and is now eubmittcd for approval, subject to the conditions already laid down by the board. (!) The following tenders are recommended for acceptance, being the lowest in each ease:—Supply of ironbark piles, Kattray street wharf and etock—Fraser, and Co., £916'1(k £d; supply of hewn bark, Victoria wharf-Henry Unthrie £855 85. On tiio motion of Mr Bullock, seconded by Mr Watson, the report wan adopted. FINANCE COSIIIITTEK. HlO Finance Committee reportedln the matter of rebates 011 coal supplied lo Wal Government Departments' by llenry Gutln'ie, it is recommended that "\n view of the statement of Henry Guthrie that lie had understood rebates would be allowed, relates on such coal be allowed n» to March 31, 190 S. Accounts totalling £5622 19s Id are recommended for payment. On the motion of Mr Ross, $ccondcd by Mr Rattray, the report was adopted. RESERVES COMMITTEE." The Reserves Committee recommended: (1) Sublease Union Steam Ship Company to State Coal Department be dulv executed"(2) Sublease Union Steam Ship Company to Wcslport Coal Co. has been approved. (3) Stevenson ami Patcreon have been offered a yearly lease of section 11 or 12, e Ba.y road. (4) In the matter o[ Ml application by the Inspector of Prisons for lands for warders' cottages, corner of Ward and Hanover streets, it has been pointed out that owing to probable altera-

tiora in tho railway lino, tiro leasing of the land in question cannot ho considered but that possibly other sections in Ward street, might be suitable for their requirements. Oil tho motion of Mr Wilkinson, seconded by Mr De Mans, tho report was adopt ixl. HEVKXUK AXD EXPENDITURE. The report of the Joint Committee of Works and Finance 011 tho estimates of receipts and expenditure for 1909, was submitted by the chairman. The substance of the report has already been published. Tho Chairman said tho sum proposed to be spent on permanent works wjs somewhat larger than was intended when permission was sought from Parliament to raise £100,0C0, but there was no binding promise on the part of the board as to the amount it would expand. Tha circumstances of tho l.oard. ho thought, justified tho extra expenditure. Last year the. [ward was much liampeNxl for want of deep-sea berths. He moved:—'"That the board approve of the estimates of revenue and expenditure. Mr Do Mans seconded the motion, which was agreed to.