Harbor Board.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 143, 15 November 1895, Page 3

Harbor Board.

Th? ordinary meeting of the Harbor Board was held on Tuesday. Present: Messrs E. Maxwell (chairman), F. Davies, Kalfe, Smith, Sarten and Shearer. A SAND PUMP. Mr E. Marchant, consulting engineer to the Board, wrote with reference to having the dredge, Thomas King, fitted up with a sand pump, to cope with the sand difficulty. He sent particulars and specifications for the project. Mr Smith wanted to know if Mr Marchant had given an approximate estimate of the cost of the proposal. The Chairman replied that the Engineer had given the probable cost in his original report presented to the Board. Mr Smith said he was of opinion that if the engineer did not intend to lengthen the dredge it would have been better and cheaper to purchase the pump mentioned by the Union Company at Dunedin and fix it on the dredge, Mr Shearer : The Union Company may contract for the work. The Chairman said he thought it was too large. Mr Shearer moved, and Mr Ralfe seconded —" That the Board approve of Mr Marchant's suggestions, and tenders be called."—Carried. AN ACCOUNT. Mr Skinner wrote, giving an explanation of the charge made by him (£8 8s) for valuation in the Clifton County. The Chairman said he thought the charge was rather high. It was decided to pass the account. THE WHARFING. The Resident Engineer drew attention to the unsafe condition of the planking under the siding of the wharf. - The Chairman . I am sorry to say that the wharf has seen its best days and sooner or later a large expenditure will have to take place—whether on account of the railway Department or on acoount of the Board I cannot say. The whole wharf, in fact will soon want re-planking, notwithstanding the Government Engineer's report. The Railway Department wish the Board to go to this expenditure of doing the work, and yet will not make any reduction in the charges. Mr Smith suggested that a letter be sent to the Department, drawing attention to the expenditure the Board proposed to undertake in regard to the sand pump, and pointing out that as the Department were constantly using the wharf and derived a good deal of revenue therefrom it should give the Board some assistance. He moved in that direction, and the resolution was carried. THE BREAKWATER DESIGN. A communication was received from the Marine Department pointing out the necessity of getting the consent of the Governor-in-Council to any alteration in the design of the breakwater. The Chairman said they would remember the communications that had been received in connection with this matter. He had seen Mr Samuel and had asked him to be present that day. Mr Samuel said he presumed the consent of the Governor-in-Council had been obtained to run the rubble mole out. Mr Samuel here went into the question, and stated that he was of opinion that the alterations proposed were not, if the Engineer's report was correct, alterations within the meaning of the Act. It was the duty of the Board to take prompt action and protect the structure from the danger that threatened. _ Mr Smith said he did not wish to dispute the opinion of Mr Samuel, but he considered that the Engineer, in removing the blocks as he was doing would affect the safety of the breakwater. The original plans provided the structure shall be a certain height, depth and width, and if the blocks mentioned were taken away and thrown over it must necessarily, he contended, be an alteration. Mr Samuel pointed out the grounds on which he based his opinion, according to the report given by the engineer. The object of the Act was to prevent impediments to navigation, and it was quite certain it did not include an alteration of the description under notice, and the Board was justified in proceeding with the work to obviate the loss that, as pointed out by the engineer, would result if it were not undertaken. Mr Smith said no member of the Board would interfere with the work if it were to protect the breakwater ; but he had the opinion of the Government engineer—the chief engineer in the colony—that it would be a fatal mistake to remove the blocks from the one sound portion of the breakwater. Aa a member of the Board and a representative of Government, he would urge that the plaus be submitted to the Government for confirmation. Mr Samuel said he would suggest that as Mr Marchant was passing through Wellington, he should, as a matter of courtesy, call upon the En-gineer-in-Chief and explain the position. It was finally decided that the matter should stand over till the next meeting, and the Engineer, when on his way to New Plymouth, should call, as a matter of courtesy, to see Mr Hale, Engineer-in-Chief. LAND REVENUE. The Treasury notified that £3030, quarter's land revenue had been placed to the Board's credit. HARBOR RATE. The resolution levying 5-8 d rate for the ensuing year was" formally carried, In reply to Mr Smith, the Secretary said the next coupon would be due in London on Ist May. Mr Smith said it had been suggested that an effort should be made to get the bondholders to give a rebate of one per cent to go towards improving the harbor.

Mr Shearer : There no danger of tbat, I think.

Mr Smith ; Well, I don't know. It was only the other clay they were willing to go 2i per cent to get the Government to guarantee. The Chairman said he was very pleased that they had been able to reduce the rate. Mr Smith : The old Board had always looked forward to being able to make a reduction. He added that one of the cardinal poiuts of the Government platform next year would be the conversion of all the loans. COMMITTEE MEETINGS. Mr Davies moved the motion standing in his name, " That the committees —finance and works—be called together at the discretion cf the chairman and secretary." He stated that the Board had appointed au engineer, who had charge of the works, and by the adoption of the suggestion a saving of £6O a year would be effected. There was nothing to prevent any member of the Board going down to the works any day. Mr Sarten said the engineer was not always present. It was stated that men played when the engineer went away. Mr Smith : Then any man who does that is a scoundrel. • - Mr Balfe : And should be sacked. Mr Davies : Do vou mean to say they do that ? Mr Sarten said it was done when driving the piles at Waitara. Mr Shearer : Oh! but we are not talking about Waitara. Mr Ralfe supported the motion, which he seconded. Mr Smith strongly opposed it. He had not any confidence in the engineer, and if he could have his way he would give him notice in the same way as a certain employe was dealt with. The engineer came to the Board and stated he was going to do certain things, but he found out that if he attempted to carry those out they would have been a failure. The Board was not in a position to pay a man £4OO a year, and he should not have been appointed. Mr Davies : Didn't you move his appointment, Mr Smith ? Mr Smith: Well, I didn't know anything about him then. If I had known as much as I know now I wouldn't have supported him. Mr Smith moved an amendment, " That Mr Davies' motion be deferred for one month." He said it had frequently happened that Mr Ward and himself had to take upon themselves to do certain work, as the chairman lived so far away.—lt was lost, only two voting for—Messrs Smith and Sarten. The original motion was carried.

The Chairman : Now that the matter has been settled, I would like to say a few remarks on what Mr Smith has said. He stated that he and Mr Ward had been frequently called upon to do certain thing?. Well, all I cm say is that I would be very much obliged if members would leave my duties alone. lam sorry to say in the past a considerable amount of trouble has been caused by certain members of the Board interfering with works—especially since we let the contract. Mr Smith : You can't be referring to me as I haven't been down there. The Chairman : I am not mentioning names One piece of interference was in connection with the man who met with an accident, and then again the foreman was toid not to do certain works, in direct opposition to the instructions given by the engineer. Mr Smith : I think it would be fairer, Mr Chairman, if you made your remarks when the man—the mem ber of the Board—is present. The Chairman : I beg your pardon, I intended to bring this forward at this meeting, and did not know that Mr Ward would be absent. Mr Smith : It would be more manly to wait until he is present. Mr Shearer: It is not the Chairman's fault that Mr Ward is not present. The subject then dropped. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Smith said he would give notice of motion—" That the employee (named) be re-appointed to his former position as soon as he has recovered from his accident, unless the Engineer or the foreman give sufficient reasons for his dismissal." The Chairman said he would ask the reporters not to publish the motion uutil it was brought on for consideration. Mr Smith : I hope they will publish it. If they don't, then I'll put it in as an advertisement. The Chairman : It would not be fair to the man Mr Smith : You distinctly stated that the man had been dismissed, and that a younger man takes his place. The Chairman : I must ask the Press not to report the matter. The question was discussed in committee out of consideration for the man. I don't think it fair that it should be published ; he was not dismissed. Mr Smith : I asked you the question whether, when he has recovered, he will be taken on, and you said "No." Tbe Chairman : I said I believed not. It was out of consideration for the man that I asked the reporters not to take any note of it. Mr Smith: Then I hope they will. After some further discussion, the matter dropped. REPORTS. Tbe reports of the Foreman and Harbormaster were read, accounts were passed and the Board adjourned. —News.