HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4898, 25 June 1887, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The adjourned fortnightly meeting was hold last night, there being present — The Chairman, and Messrs Sievwright, Townloy, Dickson, Matthewson, G-innon, and Sunderland.

Letters re the Government's nominees to the Board (whose term of oflict 1 had nearly expired), and to the AuditorGeneral in referonce to the transferring of accounts, were read, no replies having yet been received. A letter was received from Johnston and Co., Wellington, notifying that the first shipment of cement per Blair Drutnmond had been made, and asking when the balance was to be shipped — Referred to Engineer. Messrs McEwan and Co. wrote acknowledging receipt of sums on their account, a balance remaining in tlv.nr fav<T of £1337. TAUWHAREPARAE BLOCK. Tho report on this block (with plans) prepared by Messrs O'Ryan and Dufaur, was presented. The report gave a minute description of the block and its resources and value. Mr Chambers expressed himself highly pleased with the way the report had been got up. Mr O'Ryan should be written to and complimented on the work. On the proposition of Mr Sunderland, the report waa adopte I and a resolution of thanks to be conveyed to the compilers. Mr Chambers said it had taken thirty days to <»o over the block. Mr Matthewson considered that Mr Chambers' practical experience entitled him to the thanks of the Board. The Chairman and Secretary were empowered to arrange for the printing of the report. ENGINE RE'S REPOUT. The weather has been most unfavorable for our work, and we had to suspand traffic on the railway several times on account of the heavy rains bringing down quantities of liquid mud onto the line at Pipiwhariki cutI tiug. The firit lar^e concrete block, containing about 150 tons of material, has been finished, aud the casing was removed a week ago. The heavy sea and rain preveuted further work. We have, however, the casing fixed for another block, and hope to fill it to-morrow. The concrete cost about £1 per yard. We commenced making a stone drain behind the old wharf to intercept the surface water from the street, and have also gravelled part of the space between the wharf and street. In connection with Major Porter's notice of motion, all the accounts for the last 18 months have been examined and the books made up to the 2 1st May. A balance sheet has been prepared showing the exact expenditure out of loan in this department, with the cost of the various works aud p?ant. Also a liat of the various items of plant with their cost, and a return showing in detail the cost of freight charges, lighterage, and erection of the plant that came in the Aikshaw. Estimates are also added comparing the work done with the original estimates, which show that, so far as I can judge, the preliminaiy work will be done for somewhat more than £2,003 under the original estimate. These returns should have been in at last meeting, but I found it impossible to get the heavy work involved in them finished in time.

Accompanying the Engineer's report was a balance-sheet showing the total cask expenditure in his department to be from the commencement of the work to the 21st May last £30,474 14s 4*d.

harbormaster's report : accident in-

SUKANCE.

The Harbormaster gave a general report. The freshes had shoaled the bar by one foot six. There was plenty of water at the wharves except close alongside at the lower berth.

As to the insuring against accidents, the Committee appointed to go into the nutter reported that the terms offered by the agent of the Company were — Sixpence a week to insure £1 a week on total disablement and ninepence for £1 10s. The Committee recommended that the terms bo accepted and insurance made compulsory on those omployeea who do not already belong to friendly societies.

Mr Gannon thought they might go a little farther and make no exceptions. He did not think the men would object to so small a sum.

Mr Dickson said it would not be right to compel those who had already made provision for contingencies to subscribe to a fund to benefit a lot of young fellows shiftin-' about from place to place. Mr Chambers objected to the Board being connected with any measure of the kind. It was an interference with the liberty of their employees, and he did not believe in " grand-motherly " legislation.

Mr Gannon concurred with the report, only he thought it might be necessary to make it compulsory to secure these terms — at least every inducement should be held out to the men to insure. There was nothing "grand-motherly" about it — he considered it a very wise provision. Mr Townley pointed out that members of friendly societies paid 'whether they were ab work or not. This was considered a very hazardous work, and the Board was right in trying to protect the men.

After further discussion the motion was put, Mr Chambers being the only dis setiiietit.

CONSULTING ENGINEERS,

Mr Dick-son, according to notice,moved the rescinding of a resolution of the Board of the 12th October with reference to the breakwater achemes, as a preliminary to independent engineering advice. The speakor looked upon the question as one of moat vital importance to the district. He did not think the present plans would give sufficient depth of water to float ocean-going vessels, and he believed the present works would also spoil the river. The Harbormaster's report showed how the river had barred up, and yet they had been led to believe by the Engineer that as the works progreased the current would scour out the channel. The blocking up would continue until there were freshes to scour it out. Tho works should have been constructed more to the eastward. Instead of having a port there would soon be no way in or cut of the rivers and there would be no means of getting stock out of the place. With the money yet unspent they might at least form the neucleus of a good harbor

Mr Mafcthewson seconded, because he did not believe the present works would give a harbor. Everyone knew his views on the subject. On a point of order raised by Mr Sievwright, that the former resolution having been given effect to could not be rescinded, the Chairman considered it better to receive the motion as being a prelude to another motion.

Mr Townley said whatever good there might be in the motion it had been brought forward too late— the thing had gone too far. He himself had strongly held out in this direction before the plans wero first sent down, but he stood alone in the mattor, and ho believed that the mover and seconder of the motion had done more to get the present plans adopted than other members of the Board. He (Mr Townley) had eren tried to get pri/ate subscriptions towards having the advice asked for, but now he saw no better way than to continue the works in the best possible way. He believed at the time the course they were taking was a mistake, but there was nothing to be gained by changing the site now. Mr Chambers highly commended Mr Townley for his honorable opposition, and fully a«ree>l with him now. Hb compared this obstruction with the tactics of another section of the Board, who put up "men of straw" to bring actions against the members.

A little further acrimonious discussion between Messrs Chambera and Matthew-

son elicited an emphatic donial from the latter, and also Mr Dickson, of any connection with tho Baldwin affair !

Mr Dickson said tho Board was making <is big a mistake as was made in Auckland with regard to Daldy's dock, and this district could not rectify it in time to come.

After the Chairman had spoken against tho motion and a good deal of the old ground having been gone over, it was pat and supported by only the mover and seconder.