Harbor Board.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 123, 6 September 1895, Page 3

Harbor Board.

The ordinary meeting of the Harbor Board was held on Tuesday. Present: Messrs E. Maxwell (chairman), F. Bluck, Davies, J. Ward, Sarten, Ralfe and MacLeau. THE LAUNCH. A letter was received from Messrs Ross and Ansenne, Auckland, asking for particulars of the Moturoa, with a view to purchasing the same. The Secretary stated that he had supplied the information. The Chairman said he thought the Board might very well dispose of some of the property that was at present lying idle. Mr Ward: But it would not be advisable to part wiih a thing that cost £IOOO for £IOO, when the expenditure of a couple of hundred would bring in £BOO or £9OO. It was finally decided to give notice to rescind the previous resolution dealing with the launch. DESIGN of breakwater. A communication was received from Mr E. M. Smith, asking if the stone contract was the same as the previous one, and if not, to state alterations. A reply was sent, and Mr Snvth then wired:—“.Government and Chief Engineer say Board cannot alter design of breakwater without permission of Governor-in-Council.” ■ \ The Chairman said he could' hardly think it possible that the Government should wish to intefere with the Board, the members of which were doing all they could to save the structure. They could of course, get an Order-in-Council, but he questioned whether it was necessary. He did not wish to be disrespectful to Mr Smith, but he did not see why a member should endeavor to hamper the Board's endeavors.

Mr Ward asked if any word had been received direct from the Government, The Chairman replied that only a telegram from Mr Smith had been received. He could understand a Government official, who did not know the particulars, acting in that way, but Mr Smith had had the matter fully explained to him. Mr Marchant, the Board’s engineer, said, seeing that the sea was altering the design of the breakwater irrespective of Orders-in-Council, it was rather absurd for the Government to object. All the Board wished to do was, instead of allowing the sea to shift matters as it liked, to move some of the blocks. Mr Ralfe thought no notice should bo taken of the communication. | |On the motion of Mr Ward, it was eventually decided to allow the telegram to lie on the table. CRAKE. The Westport Harbor Board intimated that it would sell a twenty or twenty-five ton crane for about £IOOO or £I2OO. No action taken. CONCRETE SAMPLES. A letter was received from the Public Works Department, asking the Board to send a sample of concrete, cut from some block near the outer end of the breakwater low water level, for analysis. TENDERS. The Board went into committee to consider tenders for protection work. On resuming the tender of Mr R. H. Cameron (£1796 3s 4d) was accepted subject to adjustment with the Engineer failing which Mr Dixon’s tender (£1852) will be accepted. Mr J. Hooker (£2031) and Messrs Fraser and Merely were the only other tenderers. TRANSFER OF LEASE. Mr J. Cooper applied to transfer

lease of premises at present occupied by him in Brougham Street In Mr Ambridge. The application was acceded to. PRISON LABOR. Mr Merchant stated that ho had informed Air Rikerby that the prisoners would not be required after the next week, and he had asked that an official, notification be sent him in order that he might forward it to the head of the Department. Mr Ralfe wanted to know if the prison labor could not be utilised in clearing work on the Mount Elliot reserves. The Chairman questioned whether the Board could afford the expense just now. He also doubted whether the authorities would permit the prisoners to work there. REPORTS. The Engineer’s and Harbormaster’s reports were read. Mr Marchant’s report referred to the quarrying operations, and went on to state that the working arrangements of the dredge had been re-organised. Every trip the vesssel was being loaded to a certain displacement, equivalent to 55 cubic yards of sand. Three trips a day were made when the weather is fair and when the long days set in bethought four trips could be made with overtime. Allowing 200 working days iu the year, at 164 cubic yards each, gives a rate of discharge of sand accumulation double that which Mr Skinner’s surveys show the average annual deposit under the lee of breakwater amounts, to. This is satisfactory so far. Ho also advised the Board to defer the establishment of a sludge pipe. When the dredge is fitted with suitable sand pump he could see his way to make 0 trips, which will equal 330 cubic yards of sand dredged and deposited each full working day, and overtime. From August Ist to 31st, both inclusive, the dredge had been employed 20 days on dredging work exclusively, hawing dredged and discharged 3025 cubicyards in 55 trips. The wharf, generally speaking, was in good order, but a few repairs were needed. The Chairman said the quantity of sand removed was very good, and”the works were proceeding very satisfactorily. CRANE. The Chairman stated that Mr Marchant had drawn his attention to the fact that the Napier Harbor Board were in need of a crano, and as this Board had one suitable for the purpose he instructed the Secretary to offer the crane to the Napier Board. The Chairman’s action was confirmed. LEASE AT MOTUROA. A discussion took place on the question of disposing of the lease at Moturoa. Mr Mac Lean moved, and Mr Bluck seconded—“ That Mr Hooker’s offer of £3O be accepted.” Mr Ralfe moved as an amendment —“ That the lease be transferred to Mr Hooker for £55, and that £2O be given to Mr Gilbanks as compensation for the loss of the building erected by him ou the property.” He thought by so acting the Board would be only doing justice to Mr Gilbanks. The Chairman doubled whether the Board could legally pay Mr Gilbanks that sum. The motion was finally withdrawn, and the amendment put and carried. ACCOUNTS were passed and the Board adjourned. —News,