THE HARBOR PROBLEM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16348, 4 February 1924, Page 8

THE HARBOR PROBLEM.

I LYSNAR'S AND KAITI DIVERSION | .. SCHEMES. MR, FURKERTS ADVICE TO BE ' SOUGHT. Mr. 0. Williams moved that Mr. F'ur•kert be asked to investigate the various reports on the Kaiti diversion scheme. The fact that Mr. Furkert stated that tho modified scheme was a gamble, would put many people against it. Referring to mistakes made in the past, Mr. Williams pointed out where (hey could take notice of them in the future. Three mistakes named led the Board to make pledges that they had been unable to keep. There i was a small minority at the Board table that criticised each of the mistakes, and it had eventually been shown that the minority were right. They had been dispensing very large sums'of money for practically nothing. At the same time they had refused engineering advice gratis. It was against common sense to refuse this. Mr. Furkert's decision was final. The whole thing could be done in a very short period of time. If Mr. Furkert could report on one scheme he could report on another. Mr. Sherratt seconded the motion. Mr. Todd asked if Mr. Williams would leave the scheme if it was turned down or if lie would bring more forward. Mr. Williams: I don't think that is quite fair. It was the last scheme that he personally intended to bring forward. Mr. Todd wondered if they investigated the Kaiti scheme, whether there would be other wild-cat schemes brought forward. Mr. Witters supported the resolution. Mr. Williams said his real quarrel with a deep sea harbor was the difficulty of building a sea wall. It was to him a ease of inner or outer harbor. Dr. Collins said Mr. Furkert had been asked to report on Mr. Lysnar's scheme. Mr. Furkert had limited powers, and while he might be willing to report on an outer harbor scheme, why they should burden Mr. Furkert with an inner harbor that the Department was antagonistic to, he failed to see the object of it if they were going to put every scheme before him. In reply to Dr. Collins' statement regarding mistakes made in the past and iittacks on Board members. Mr. Williams said the'attitude the former took up in the matter was unreasonable. The fact that there were only three issues before the Board, was that no one except Dr. Collins had brought the issue before them. On being put to the vote the rcsolu-1 tion was carried by eight voles to 6. | Mr. Corson proposed a motion which, j however, the chairman ruTed was out of] order. The motion concerned the col- j laboration of the Board's engineer with I Mr Leslie Reynolds. Tiie chairman pointed '■ out that Mr. Corson's motion could follow ; Dr. Collins'. Mr. Witters thought that the Board; should ask Mr. Furkert? to investigate: the schemes in the Board's hands. They I did not know what was in Mr. Lysnar's scheme. He moved in this direction. In seconding the motion, Mr. Quirk thought that it was only a reasonable tiling to put Grant and Cook's scheme beiore Mr. Furkert. Mr. said that Mr. Lysnar would not put his scheme on the table. : Grant and Cook had done so. Messrs. Williams and Corson supported | the resolution. One scheme, Mr. Corson j said, they knew about, and the ojJier: they did not. The chairman said that Mr. Lysnar's : scheme was different. When they asked | Mr.. Furkert to report on any scheme it was a bit ridiculous. He did not think Mr. Furkert would do it. Dr. Collins : Oh, put the resolution. Mr. Sherratt: It seems to me there is sonio undercurrent. Grant and Cook have been men enough to put their plan on the table, so let Mr. Lysnar do so, too. Mr. Witters' motion was carried by eight votes to six. vVill you just tell us where we are in regard to harbor-making? asked Mr. Tombleson. 'The chairman said that in regard to the telegram, the Board could not go on w.ith the modified scheme. It was for the Board to decide what scheme they would go on with. If he'should get any word from Mr. Furkert he would caii a special meeting. Mr. Corson: In the meantime it is taihoa, as usual. ;"...■ Mr. Williams : We dbn't know now what the total cost 'of tho Reynolds scheme will be. Cur engineer could surely give us a pretty good idea of what the , whole thing will cost. j The engineer (Mr! Campbell)' said the first stage of the Reynolds scheme could be done for £900,000. Dr. Collins : That scheme was adopted by the Marine Department. Mi-.' Campbell said the first stage of the modified scheme would cost £420,000. ; Dr. Collins: They are getting so conI fused now they don't know what they i wiil be doing presently. Mr. Oorson asked if it would not be I possible to go on with the Reynolds acheme now if. Dr. Collins' motion was carried. ' The chairman : We have to keep faith with the ratepavers in regard to not exceeding £750,000. In reply to Mr. Todd, the chairman said that tenders had not yet been invited for the hopper barges in Australia. The meeting then concluded.