PATEA HARBOUR BOARD

Patea Mail, Volume XLVI, 5 September 1923, Page 2

PATEA HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING

The .monthly meeting of the Patea Harbour Board was held ou Monday, Mr A. T. Christensen presiding. Messrs Pearce, Pacoy, Vcrry, Corrigan anu Captain Tinney (Harbourmaster) wore also present. Tho minutes of tho previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence was read as under: — The secretary of the Harbours’ Association of New Zealand wrote that the Harbours Consolidation Bill had now been passed.—Received. Messrs Hutcheson, Wilson and Co. wrote stating that they would be pleased to submit quotations for a house flag if the Board so desired.Received. Mr Petersen and Mr Jackson wrote applying for tho lease of part section 73, lately held by Mr Lionwcbcr. —The lease was transferred to Mr Petersen. ", Mr Mercer wrote that he had effect repairs to the cottage rented mm him from the Board, and asked whofjßahe was entitled to some compensation on hig vacation of the cottage. The Audit Inspector wrote stating that there was no statutory authority exempting the Lands Department from paying penalty on rates. With regard to the refund of motor hire for members travelling to Board mootings, he referred members to tho Harbours Act, which did not’ provide for payment of these expenses. The chairman said the Board would have to “go for” the Lands Department in the same manner as it did for other ratepayers. The Valuation Department wrote that copies of tho assessments in that portion of the Patea Harbour Board district in the Eltham county had been posted under separate cover. —Received. The Timaru Harbour Board wrote I offering buoys for disposal. The Harbour Board Association! wrote suggesting that the Board protest against the proposed increase in income tax on debenture interest. Mr Corrigan stated that every member in the House had been circularised on the matter. It seemed, quite wwong that companies should pay 7/4 and Harbour Boards only 2/6. Tho chairman said if the proposed increase had referred to debentures all ready issued it would be wrong. It would bo like tho “tiny scrap of paper ” once again. Mr ■Corrigan said the tax on company income was-now 5/10, and Harbour Board interest on debentures 4/-. The matter then dropped. DREDGE MASTER’S 'REPORT The dredgemaster's report was read as under:— “Since the last meeting, the dredge has been employed dredging the channel along 'the wharves and in tho channel adjacent to Pulley’s wharf; also preparing slip, for annual overhaul of dredge. The number of cubic yards lifted was 4327, whilst 23 .hours were spent snagging. During the month the boiler was blown down.and several repairs effected to machinery. As the overhaul is almost due, I w r ould like a small forge and two pairs of gum boots as soon as possible. It is my intention to have the decks tarred and sanded before going on slip.” Adopted, and tho forge and gum boots authorised to be purchased. , In reply to Mr Corrigan, tho chairman said that the , dredge would have to be kept going, as the freshes were continually bringing down silt.

HARBOURMASTER’S REPORT The Harbourmaster (Captain Tinncy) presented hig monthly report as follows: ‘ ‘ The channel over the ’bar is straight with about 14ft on the bar, a good 12ft between the walls at high water spring tide, and about 10ft 6in on the bar and Bft 6in between the walls at high water neap tides, and about 280 ft wide between the walls. I have had no chance during the last 14 days to get over the bar for sounding purposes, but will do so the first opportunity. I have examined the walls and found them just the same as last month. I sounded the river this morning and found good water all along the wharf, all but one cliff at the lower end of the grader wharf, where it was a little shallow; good water by the viaduct, but shallow down by Pulley’s wharf, where the dredge is -working. There have been seven arrivals and seven departures since my last report. Everything at the Station is in good working order. ” The report was adopted, the pilot remarking that the last three months had been tho smallest in the history of the port, from a business point of -view. BALAJTOE-SHEET The balancc-ah'cet for tho year ending March 31st, duly audited, wag read and adopted and ordered to bo printed. The chairman explained that tho matter of the- “tag” by the auditor had been adjusted. The Government, had been very inconsistent in the matter, having originally passed tho pay* ment of expenses on breakwater out of interest on War Loan debentures, and now asked that the interest bo refunded to the Loan Account out of General Account. However, the matter had now been settled. BATE It was decided that a rate of onesixth of a penny in the £ on the capital value be struck on October Ist. Tho chairman said that next year ho hoped they -would not have to strike a rate at aIL GENERAL The chairman said, with regard to the 10 per cent additional required on the original loan of £86,000 raised, ho had interviewed the Public Trustee on the matter, and he thought there would bo a possibility of the loan being obtained. Ho moved that formal application be made to the Public Trusteo for a loan of £B6OO at 6 per cent for a term of 30 years, the loan to bo In place of the existing debentures.

Seconded by Mr Corrigan and carried. Accounts were read and passed Jor payment, and the meeting adjourned.