HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10137, 25 August 1904, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The Board considercdl the letla- of the Karaka Sawmills Company. The Chairman said the Karaka Com- : pany intended to develop the timber : trade of the East- Coast, bring the logs : m scows to Gisborne, and to use the slip \ for bringing the scows up tliere and un- - ship the logs, which could then be taken : along the line to the miU. Mr Sievwright said the- proposal was a large one. Would the Board get any quid pro quo for letting the slip. Captain Tucker said the slip could not be used when vessels were being over- ' liauled. Mr Sievwright said every encouragement should be given to the company. Captain Tucker said the company really . asked very little. They only wauted to bring their scows up on the slip inlet and unload their timber. The Board ought to facilitate as much as possible any local industry, and particularly one which would bring grist to their own mill and was calculated to benefit the commerce of the place. The request should! be granted with what restrictions were thought desirable. He had been over the ground with the Chairman, and understood what was required. The company, after getting the consent .of the Board would theu get the permission of the Railway Department to take the logs over the line. Mr Matthewson said at low water the scows would be lying over the slip. Mr Sievwright said it was necessary to protect the slip from injuiy. He proposed that the harbormaster and overseer make a report on the matter. Captain Tucker seconded, provided the report be presented witlun a week to a meeting, as the company wanted to know soon whether they could take further steps. This was agreed to, and the motion passed. The Board then considered Messrs Nelson Bros.' letter. Mr Sievwright said the Chairman would have to move for a further loan to jfet two more dredges to clear out the river. Th* Chairman said the river was shallow now from the works to Mr Hepburn's. He d!id not know wliat the Board could do to give relief, tliere was so much to do. Mr Hepburn said the dam had caused tlie damage. Captain Tucker : That dam occurred a good many years before there was a chaugc. Mr Hepburn : Not very long.. Captain Tucker said there was a- great scour, which had caused the trouble. Every assistance should be given to Nelson Bros., and he suggested that as Nelson Bros, had powerful sand pumps m Hawke's Bay they might bring one un here. Mr Sievwright : The question is who will pay. Captain Tucker: It is as much our duty to keep tliat tidal river open up there as down here. Mr Sievwright *. It's a big job. Captam Tucker: It's a. big job down her. Where are you going to draw; a line? These people luive been running a. large industry for years, and are they not t<> be" existed? Tho Chairman: They are beyond the Board's property. Captain Tucker: Not beyond the Board's dues, though. Another tiling is tliat every yard of silt you take out up there will save you down here. Ido ttluiik we should meet them lialf way. The Chairman : What can we do? Captain Tucker suggested that Nelson Bros.' be written to and informed that the Board were desirous of assisting them, but they liad no plant, and hearing Nelson Bros.' had suitable plant, tlie Board wished to know 'wHiat they were prepared to do m the matter. If a sand pump were sent up, the Board would do all they could to assist m what was required. The Board decided to act on Captain Tucker's suggestion. OTHER BUSINESS. Captain Tucker, Gisborne delegate to the Harbor Boards' Conference, reported on the work done. He stated the papers before the Conference showed tliat Gisborne's trade was increasing rapidly m importance, and more so tlian any otJier port of similar size m the colony. On the conclusion of Captain Tucker's report, a vote of thanks was accorded him for his attendance at the Conference. The harbormaster's and overseer's reports were read. * Discussion took place on the charge for vessels using the slip. Mr Whinray said it seemed as if the fact was lost sight of tliat the plant had cost- £3000, and there should! be some return. — It was decided! to charge. £5 5s for the time the Tuna had been on the slip. The diredgeinaster's report was read, and* payments passed. '

ceiA'ed from last year's contractor pointing out that the supplies Avere of such a nature that the term should be longer than a year, and requesting an extension. — The Board decided to call for tenders as usual, but the term to lie two years. Notice of motion was given by Captain Tucker that the harbormaster's salary bo raised from £210 to £250, and further leave of absence was granted to members Cooper and Clark.