Harbor Board.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 186, 14 April 1896, Page 3

Harbor Board.

A special meeting of the Harbor Board was held on Wednesday. Present : Messrs Maxwell (chairman), Bluck, MtLean, Sarten, Ward, J. Bellringer, Shearer, Ralfe, and Davis. WEIGH BRIDGE. A letter was read from the Inspector of Weights and Measures, Wellington, stating that he could not do anything towards testing the Board's weigh bridge. The Chairman said that the Foreman of Works had checked the weigh bridge with the railway weigh bridge, and it had been adjusted to a certain extent. He had also written to the Government for permission to get the standard weights to test the bridge thoroughly.

BREAKWATER.

The Chairman said that the time for the contract was up, and the work was unnecessarily delayed. He had telegraphed to Mr Marchaut, asking whether any variations had been made in the contract that would in any way affect the penalties to be imposed for non-completion at the specified time. There was a total of 2300 tons of stone of the contract uncompleted and the contract time had expired. No doubt an allowance would have to be made to the contractor on account of the defective state of the weigh bridge. Although the breakwater was in a comparatively safe condition, still the Board was running a great risk at present. If the contract had been completed this risk would not now be incurred. He had asked the contractor the cause of the delay, and he said that a great deal of his time had been occupied in clearing the pit. Mr Ward said this was a very serious position of affairs. It had been apparent that affairs had been drifting ; instead of the work being pushed on, the work had been delayed. As the chairman said, there were 2300 tons of stone that should have been put over, and it was not done, although the best of the season was past.

Me Ralfe proposed that the contractor receive notice to complete the contract.

Mr Ward thought the Board should terminate the contract.

The Chairman thought the contractor was not entitled to much consideration. Mr Davis suggested that the chairmau should telegraph to the engineer and instruct him to euforce the penalty clauses or take the proper action to have the work completed at once. In answer to Mr Sarten, thb Chairman said that the contractor had failed to put over 326 tous of large stones and 1700 tons of smaller stones. habbobmasteb's bepobt. The Harbormaster reported that the sand was increasing very fast inside the wharf. The dredge had not done the usual amount of work on accdunt of bad weather. SAND PUMP. Mr Marchant wrote under date April 2:—Last week I visited Dunedin to inspect the sand pump contract. The work so far has been excellently well done, and should be wholly complected and ready for delivery on steamer for New Plymouth by about 18th April. The ways for the reception of the vessel on the beach should be got ready at once, if Mr Liudsay has not previously had them made. TENDEB9. The Chairman said that the tenders had been held over in order to deal with the crane. He had asked the tenderers to send in a price ai to the. difference in price if a large crane were used. The Board went into committee to consider the tenders. Upon resumption it was resolved, That the tender of J. F. Hooker of 2s lid for small stones and 4s lid for large stones, with 26 per cent off if large crane is used, be accepted, on condition that he agrees to commence work when the other coutract is completed. Mr R. H. Cameron's tender was: Small stones, 3s 3d ; large ditto, 4s 9d per yard. Mr Bluck moved, That Mr Marchant be instructed to give Mr Cameron six weeks' extension of time. Seconded by Mr McLean. Mr Shearer moved, That the contractor receive 30 days' extension of time to complete his contract. Mr Bellringer seconded the amendment.

The amendment was lost, and the original motion carried.—News.