Taranaki Harbor Board.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 4, 17 July 1894, Page 3

Taranaki Harbor Board.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Harbor Board was held on Wednesday. Present: Messrs R. Cock J. B. Conuett, W. Bewley, D. Teed, L. Sarten, and E. Maxwell. SEPABATE RIDINGS. The Chairman stated that with regard to Mr Sarten's motion re dividing the harbor rating district into separate ridings, the committee would recommend that the matter be allowed to stanS over for a month. He had seen Mr Samuel, the Board's solicitor, aud that'gentleman had informed him that to get a local Bill passed to carry the proposal into effect would cost from £SO to £IOO, but if there wa3 a general Bill dealing with harbor matters to be brought down this session representation might be made to have a provision inserted. Mr Samuel waited on the Board, and went thoroughly into the matter with the members. Mr Sarten said when he brought the proposal forward he had no idea that K would run the board to such an exper.se. If the object could be attained by getting a provision inserted in a general Bill he thought that the board should take action in the mat-

ter. He moved—" That in the opinion of this board it is desirable that power should be given to the various- harbor boards to divide the rating districts into ridings from time to time for the purpose of causing membeis to be elected for such ridings." „ , Seconded by Mr Maxwell, and carried, LEASE OF BEACH. With reference to the application made at the last meeting of the Board by an Auckland firm for a lease of the beach, the Chairman said he had inspected the lease lately held by Mr Oldfield, and agreed with the Board's solicitor that it was satisfactory, and that there was no need to have a fiesh one drawn up. It had been deckled to send a copy to the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland, and inform the applicants that it could be seen there. OVER-VALUED. A letter was received from the Lands Department stating that certain sections in the harbor rating district had been over-valued, and that the figures supplied to the Board were incorrect. The Chairman stated that the secretary had based the rates on the figures supplied. The amounts paid had been remitted to London, and he would like the solicitor's opinion as to whether the Board could refund the amounts overpaid, and if so what fund it could be taken from. Mr Samuel said that unless objection was lodged within the time specified by the Act it was too late to do so now. The rate book had been advertised as open for inspection, and the time in which objection could be taken had elapsed. The Chairman : Then it would not be legal to refund the amount to those ratepayers ? Mr Samuel: No. The Chairman asked Mr Samuel to draft a letter to the Board on the question. This was agreed upon, and it was decided that it be an instruction to the secretary not to press for full payment of rates in respect of the sections mentioned in the letter from the Lands Department. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster reported that the Thomas King had made 27 trips during the past mouth, taking 1080 yards of sand. foreman's report. The ' foreman reported that 423 cubic yards of stone had been tipped over the weather side of the breakwater. The gale on the 17th, 18th, and 19th did not do any damage to the breakwater, but filled up the permanent way to the quarry with drift sand. committee's report. The Works Committee recommended that the action of the Chairman with reference to repairs to the dredge be confirmed; that a new bucket for the dredge be procured from England; and that the foreman be instructed to strengthen the cattle wharf. The repairs to the dredge will probably cost £l2. Tl '-. board's finances. The Chairman stated that the Board had £334 18s 4d in the bank, with rents to come iu to the amount of £47, the principal portion of which was due by the Ivonsand Syndicate. When the accounts were paid it would leave a balance of £l9 lis Bd. The Government were also indebted to the Board for £192. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Ward, also to Mr Smith during the sitting of Parliament.—News.