WAIROA HARBOR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18063, 13 April 1933, Page 5

WAIROA HARBOR

BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING (Herald Correspondent.) The Wairoa Harbor Board met on Tuesday, there being present Messrs. H. L. Harker, chairman,- W. H. Brady, R. Tapper, jun., J. Oorki.ll, J. M. Taylor, and F. L. JAblin. Mr. O. V. Chamberlain waited on the board by request and gave details of the civil case of the Board v. Ormond, and the grounds of the magistrate’s nonsuit. Briefly stated the case for defendant hinged on the fact that where no structural work had been carried out at such places as Kinikini the board could not charge- wharfage, but under tho by-laws the board could only prosecute for trespassing, no consent having been given, and the maximum fine was £lO. As it stood ally person could land goods in front of the board’s office and no wharfage could bo collected.—Mr. Corkill asked was it wise to take the matter any further seeing that Mr. Ormond had no road connection and could only use the sea. It would result, no doubt, in the foreshore being exempted.—Mr. Harker said this was the first time the point had been raised and now was the time to put it right.—Mr. Corkill admitted this, and Mr. Harker submitted that all the facts should be put before the Harbors’ Association so that it could take up a test case. Ho did not want to “put it over"’ Mr. Ormond, but it was a serious thing that in certain eventualities the board, instead of being ablo to collect legally imposed wharfages, could only prosecute for trespass. —It Was decided to put the matter before the Harbors’ Association, Mr. Chamberlain to protect the board in 1/bo matter of tho appeal. Correspondence was read from Messrs. Richardson and Company, in reference ro improving the shipping arrangements, which at present were not paying, and stating their representative would wait on the board at, an early date.—lt was decided to ask tho company to name an approximate date. Messrs. Sandeman and Chamberlain reported on the new clause passed to authorise the payment ol" the cost of the collection of rates out of rate moneys.

The badminton club applied for the use of “B” shed for the .winter. Mr. M. Sheehy, late of Gisborne, also applied for the shed, offering a rent, of £3 per week.—After some discussion it was decided to let the shed on a- weekly tenancy at £3 plus the cost of lighting and £i 10s to cover insurance for 12 months.— Mr. Brown stated it might be arranged for the badminton club to get one night other than Saturday. Tlie secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Union, Wellington, wrote asking on behalf of the Waikokopu branch that tho use of the accommodation house there be granted them for card parties, etc., the proceeds to go to the relief of distressed members. —The chairman denied that any such application bad been previously made to the board, but ono was received from a private person. He agreed to the present request on the union paying the lighting charges, and keeping the place in a good condition, subject to the approval of Mr. Hutchinson, and an assurance from the Wellington secretary that the funds would be used as stated.—The suggestion of the chairman was put into the form of a motion and carried. The Public Works Department notified the imposition of a charge of Is 6d per ton for the use of trucks in connection with goods not carried on to Wairoa by rail!—Tho chairman said that to do this would be contrary to the bylaws, and in any case the railway tariff was ridiculous, varying from 29s 4d by rail to 15s by sea. A reply is to bo sent accordingly.— Tho secretary stated that it was the lorry carting at Wairoa that brought up the rail rate, and lie thought the difficulty had now been overcome. Mr. W. Tait wrote asking.to be supplied with a note of the charges on wool to Napier via Waikokopu and Wairoa. The. information is to bo supplied. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote regarding the Taramavama block practically denying his previous statement that revenue from the block would be apportioned pro rata, between the Grown and the board. —It was decided to approve of the secretary’s reply, and to take further action if necessary.

Mr. T. Browne wrote giving particulars of his cottages unlet for which he Was claiming remission of rates.—The secretary stated that only one application. complied with the law, the other two not being unoccupied for six months In one rating year. The secretary mentioned that Crown lands tenants owed £1172 in rates, and Land Board tenants £164 13s.—It was decided to pay over further sums to the State Advances Department as rates name In, and £6OO was approved of as tho next payment, the chairman stating that it was imperative that they should keep faith with the department. Tho food and Gun Club was granted the same terms as last year in respect to shooting rights over the V\h!mamahifi lagooli. Tho reports of the pdot and wharfinger at Waikokopu were adopted. The chairman drew attention to the secretary’s financial statement, which showed that tho wharfages wore up by about 50 per cent, and tho port charges (Waikokopu) down 50 per cent the hoard was not getting the benefit it should, hence his notice of motion that the port charges at Waikokopu bo increased.—Mr. Taylor suggested holding tho matter over as tho present was a small meeting, to which the chairman agreed. .