New Plymouth Harbor Board.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 81, 12 April 1895, Page 2

New Plymouth Harbor Board.

(Our Own Correspondent.)

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Tuesday at 11 a.m., the following members being present: Messrs Maxwell (chairman), Bluck, Davies, McLean, Ward, Smith, Sarten, Shearer aud Ealfe. After the minutes were read and confirmed, and before any other matter was taken, Mr Ralfe asked that the ordinary busiuess of the Board be suspended in order that he might bring before the Board a matter of vital importance to the rating district generally and this Board in particular. The reason he asked was that an answer might be received before the Board rose. Permission having been given Mr Ralfe moved, That seeing the Hawera County Council has omitted to make a valuation under the new Bating Act, the opinion of the Board's solicitor be taken as to whether the Board was compelled to take the valuation under the old Act, and if not what steps should be taken to rectify the omission. Carried. RAILWAY CHARGES. ' A letter was read from the Railway Department, stating that the letter forwarded by the Board re charges on the breakwater line be considered in due course. Mr Smith said the Board would have to do something in the matter to point out the injustice of the charges, and further said that as the subject would be brought forward in the report of the Works Committee he thought it better to postpone discussion until the report was laid on the table. Agreed to. COLLECTING RATES. Replies were received from Stratford County Council and Waimate Road Board agreeing to collect for 2 per cent and 2f per cent respectively. Clifton County asked for further information, and the Borough Council declined to undertake the responsibility. The Taranaki County had not taken the matter into consideration. The Hawera County, Mr McLean stated, had not had a meeting since the letter was received from the Board.

The Chairman thought it would be better to' wait until answers were received from all .the local bodies before doing anything further in the matter. Along* and desultory conversation took place on the subject, and ultimately Mr McLean moved, seconded by the Chairman, That tenders be called for the office of secretary and collector. Mr Davies moved as an amendment, That the Finance Committee go carefully into the matter and report to the Board what they consider the office of secretary and collector is worth, and if the Board approves the report the present secretary be offered the position, and if he declines then applications be invited. Seconded by Mr Bluck. •

Mr McLean agreed to withdraw his motion in favor of the amendment, Mr Maxwell concurring. Mr Davies's motion was then put and carried.

At this stage Mr Samuel, the Board's solicitor, waited on the Board in reference to the point raised by Mr Ralfe, and gave it as his opinion that the Hawera County Council would have to make a valuation, as they would be acting illegally in collecting the rates under the old Act, and further, that a valuer would have to be appointed for the whole of the New Plymouth Harbor Board Rating District.

After Mr Samuel retired the Chairman said that the Board would have to take into consideration the appointment of a valuer for the rating district. Mr Ralfe thought that as the matter was a great surprise to the Board he thought it better to defer discussion till after lunch.

Mr Smith supported, and moved the adjournment of the Board. The Board resumed at 2 p.m. A letter was read from the manager of the Bank of New Zealand asking for fresh resolution re overdraft of £4OO, also that the chairman and secretary be authorised to sign cheques. This matter was) agreed to. A letter was read from Mr G, W. Gane asking for the names of the members of the old Board, with the amount of their travelling expenses, also the names of the members of the new Board and the amounts they have drawn.

Mr Smith moved, That the information asked for be given, as he was of opinion that Mr Gane wanted the information for his own purposes, possibly for the purpose of writing a letter to the papers showing what a clever man he was. When Mr Gane was a member of the Board he was jjrjg who was very disappointed with the scale paid and wanted an increase. This was agreed to. The question of appointing a valuer for the rating district was then considered, and it was moved by Mr Bluck, seconded by Mr Shearer, That tenders be called for the position. Carried.

The secretary was instructed to procure proper rate books. The Foreman reported that 254 cubic yards of stone had been tipped over the seaward side of the breakwater. A number of blocks had been made and other work attended to. He had to report that the end of the breakwater was showing signs of weokness, and recommended that blocks aud large stones be tipped over the weak places. harbormaster's report. The Harbourmaster reported that the dredge bad made 47 trips during the month of Starch, taking out 1880 yards of sand. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee's report was read, acd recommended that the s.s. Thomas liing be laid up. The Chair nan stated that this decision was arrived at because the present dredge was not able to cope with the increase of sand, and other and

more econoinial means would have to be taken. Mr Sarten said he thought it would b 3 advisable to keep the dredge going, a? the probability was the present berth at the wharf would be closed. The Chairman pointed out that the liabilities were great, and there was nothing to meet ••resent expenses. He, for his part, wa- n t going to have the overdraft increase-i. The breakwater was the main thing, and he was perfectly satisfied that the dredge was not keeping up to her work, and he therefore advocated the laying up of the Thomas King. He moved the adoption of the report. Seconded by Mr McLean. Mr Ward thought it would be very wrong to lay up the dredge. It was absolutely necessary that the berths should be kept open. The Chairman said it was all very well, but where was the money to come from?

Mr Ward said they could increase the overdraft.

Mr McLean objected. He wanted to know who would pay the interest. Mr Davis said he was sorry that affairs had got into such a state, but he certainly thought the dredge would have to be laid up. Mr Bluck also thought the dredging should be stopped. Mr Smith said he would like to enter his protest against the proposed action of the members, and pointed out that he could not go to Wellington with the chairman or anyone else to interview the Minister and tell him that' they could not go on with the dredging because they would not take advantage of the Act passed last session, and that they would not go more than the £4OO. What assistance could they expect if they would not help themselves ? " What I want to say," said Mr Smith, " and what,l will say, is that if an archangel came down from heaven he would not be able to induce the chairman to keep the dredge going. He had made up his mind to stop it, and st .p it lie would by outvoting us. Let the matter go to the vote, and let us have our views placed on record in the press." The Chairman then put the motion, which was lost.

Mr Shearer moved, " That the dredge continue work until other arrangements can be made." Seconded by Mr Sarten and carried. A number of accounts were passed for payment.