OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16165, 29 August 1914, Page 4

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary mooting of the Otngo Harbour Board was hold last evening, and was uttended by Messrs 11. K. Moller (chairman), T. uL Kuseell, W. Belcher, J. H. Wiilkor, J Dickson. E. (J. Hazlett, J. Loudan, H. L. Tapiey, W. Wilkinson. J. H. F. 1-lamol, F. W. Pmtts, and T Sooilay. FINANCE. Tho bank balance certificate laid on the table showed tiiat there was a net debit 'balance of £12,666 15s. COUBJSHPONDENCB. Tfho Hon. W. l< , . Massey and the Hon. W. 11. Hemes wrote acknowledging the board's letters in connection with its decision f).s regards the widening of the (reorge street pier. Mr A. 11. Wallis wrote asking , to be allowed to tem|x>rarily surrender his lease of sections 45 anil 51, block LXXV.— It was stated that Mr Wallis had held the leaso of the sections for nine montihs, that he had never used them, and that the lease was issued for 12 months. He had paid the rent for nine months.—Mr Belcher moved that if the lease were relinquished Mr Wallis be called on to pay the annual rental, and tihat ho be required to make further application if he again dceiros to secure, the sections.—Mr Russell seconded the motion. —Mr Tapley asked what was the use of granting- a lease for 12 months, and at tho same time give tho lessee the option of terminating it at any time -within that period with three moniihs' notice. —In answer to a question, tho Chairman said that the lease was a special one for 12 months, but that there was no actual lease executed.—Tho Secretary read the correspondence covering the negotiations whidh led up to Mr Wallis being granted l the lease.—Mr Belcher's motion was then put and carried. The Town Cflerk Dunedin, wrote advising that the Water .Committee of the City Council had declined the board's suggestion as to a conference with respect to the provision of a motor fire pump for tihe water front.—Mr Tapley moved, as am amendment to a motion that tho letter be received — " That a deputation wait on the City Council on the matter."—The Chairman stated that the council had already declined to receive a deputation from the board. —Mr Hamel seconded the amendment.—Mr Belcher said tfaat all that was' wanted was the laying by the City Council of larger water mains at certain parts of the wharves. —Tho amendment was carried by 6 votes to 3. —Tho Chairman and Messrs Dickson, Belcher, Hanfc], Tapley, and Wilkinson were appointed the deputation to wait on the council STANDING COMMITTEE'S BEPOHT. The Standing Committee recommended that a sub-committee, consisting of the Chairman and Messrs Dickson, Walker, and Wilkinson, be empowered to act in connection with the application of the Waterside Workers' Union for an improvement in the drainage of the board's old offices, at present used by them; that the letter from the Dunedin Expansion League asking if the board was prepared to lease endowment sections on easy rentals for the encouragement of new industries be received, and the league informed that the board was unable, under existing legislation, to make any departure from the nrcsent procedure; that further consideration of the letter from the Minister of Labour (Hon. W. F. Massey) relative to permanent workers, be held ■over for three months. The committee was favourable to special legislation being secured to enable the board to lease lands on the reclamation to Government departments, and recommended that the Government be approached with respect to the necessary legislation being enacted during tho present session.—The committee's report was adopted. HABBOtTR MASTER'S EEPOBT. The Standing Committee recommended the following report from the harbour master for adoption:—"The revenue for the month of July amounted to £7176 5s 5d (1913, £9410 16s lid. Total January-July, £61,138 17s 4d; (1913, £57;400 8s Id), end the expenditure out ot revenue to £8678 16s 10d (1913, £9565 Is lid). Total JanuaryJuly, £59,778 10s sd; (1915, £59,952 14s 10d) The expenditure out of loan amounted to £3241 17s 6d (1913, £2891 lie). Total January-July, £27,264 9s 9d; (1913, £24,494 12s 3d). Daring the month of July two vessels were docked in the Otago Dock, four vessels in the Port Chalmers Dock, and one vessel was slipped. The total charges for docks, crane, slips, etc, i amounted to £256 13s 2d- The receipts, dock account for July, amounted to £618 10s 10d (1913, £527 Oβ 4d. Total JanuaryJuly, £5586 7s 2d; 1913, £4624 8s Od), and the expenditure to £961 13s Id (1913, £1050 4s 5d Total January-July, £6182 4s 7d; 1913, £6338 6s 3d), leaving a debit balance for the month of £343 2s 3d (1913, debit balance £523 4s Id), and a debit balance to date of £595 17s 5d (1913, £1713 18s 3d). General accounts totalling £7652 Os 9d, and docks accounts totalling £316 12s Id had been examined, and were recommended to the board ior payment."—Adopted. IHE ENGINEER'S STAFF. Mr Tapley moved, in accordance with notice—'"That the decision of tho board of the 18th inst., with respect to the report of the engineer (July 27, 1914), relative to hie staff, be received, and that tho report be referred to a special committee to oonfer with the engineer." In bringing forward this motion Mr Tapley stated that ho did so because he felt the board had come to its decision at the last meeting to some extent under a misapprehension. Ho believed the board was desirous of reducing bhe expenditure as, much as possible, compatible with efficiency. He would name a 8 the members of the special committee Messrs Dickson, Bekher, Loudon, Hazlett, Walker, and the mover.—Mr Platts seconded the motion, which was carried. " LAY-Otrr " OF THE HARBOUR. The Engineer submitted a report on the schedule of works now in progress, and contemplated to compete his proposed "lay out" of the harbour, including all necessary equipment and machinery. It was decided to consider the report (the main features of whioh have been published) in committee. On the motion of Mr London it was decided that consideration of the whole of the matters contained in the engineer's exhaustive statements be deferred until December, so far as fixing a definite scheme of works and finance, with the exception of authorised woPks now in progress. It was finally decided, on the motion of Mr Hamel, that a special committee, consiet.ihg of the chairman, deputy-chairman, and Messrs Loudon, Hazlett, Walker, and Hamel, be appointed to report on the en-pi- , neer's statement m re authorised works now in progress and estimates thereon to a special meeting of the board.