HARBOUR BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 94, 20 April 1912, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. -» **'• : . The ordinary meeting of the New Plymouth Harbour Board was held at the Board’s office yesterday, when there were present; Messrs J. B. Connett (chairman), Newton King, E. Docknill, C. E. Bellringer, C. A. Wilkinson-, D. J. Hughes, W. Swindling and E. Maxwell. SuperintendDHt’a Report. The superintendent (Mr F. Henderson) reported as follows: Dredge Paritutu.—The Paritutu dredged in the fairway on 17 days (net time 164 hours) and removed 48 ■ loads, equal to 18,400 tons. Work Was suspended for three days for the Easter holidays. Two days were lost through a heavy south-east gale, during which time 16 of the buckets were changed. Half a day was occupied in coaling and. one and a-half days in shifting moorings. The cut has been / carried outwards a further length of 270 ft,> making a total length of 700 ft. from the end of the wharf. Ihe spoil is ,uow practically all sand and quite suitable for pumping, but the alterations to the sand-delivery pipes are being made for commencing a second cut to the eastward. - Dredge Thomas King.—The Thomas King has been on the gridiron for a fortnight for cleaning, painting and inspection of hull; ..the hopper has been patched in several places and one plate has been renewed. Dredging was resumed on tho 3rd inst., and for ■six days* dredging 52 loads, equal to 4.160 tons, have been removed. ■Wharf widening.—At the wharf widening 27 piles have been driven, leaving ,one lay of three piles yet to drive. The cap walings are all fitted. Deck beams are finished up to pile 42, chafing pieces to pile 38, braces and low r er walings to pile 36, and the decking is laid to pile 33. Another month should see the whole of the widening completed. Breakwater. —Nine concrete blocks have been placed at the outer end or the , breakwater and gravel and stone are brow being procured for making thd twenty additional blocks authorised. General. The Board decided to instruct the superintendent of works to submit a report at next meeting giving an estimate of the cost of erecting a parapet in reinforced concrete 10ft high along the edge of the breakwater, as far out as tho end of the wharf, as recommended by the harbourmaster, in order to protect large vessels when at the wharf from the pressure that would be exerted on them by the westerly winds. lro?isanti Leases. Mr W. G. Dauncey, C.E.M.E., of London, through Messrs Garrick and Co., solicitors, of Christchurch, wrote, under date of February 6, 1912,' that he was again approaching the Board in connection with Tara- ( naki ironsand because ho understood that by the date his letter arrived all options, etc., would have expired, and 1 that the Board would be in a position to entertain his application for a short-term option embracing the right to take up and work the ironsand deposits of Taranaki. He emphasised the fact that he had been im communication with the Board for nearly three years and had always been prepared to carry out his original undertaking, viz., to pay a nominal aum for a short-term option, providing that in the event of his demonstrating that his contentions were correct the lenses become Lis properly. He suggested that the Harbour Board, after receiving his cash for the' option, should evolve some scheme by which they could receive—(1) A nominal rent for the period'that elapsed between the time when he secured the leases and commenced to turn out manufactured iron and steel, and after that an arranged royalty at per ton on all iron and steel manufactured, or (2) that an annual rental charge should be placed upon the iron-bear-ing area of Taranaki. He considered that the first suggestion would he the most mutually advantageous l if worked out, say, on a royalty of so j much per ton up to 100 tons petweek; a slight decrease if the output exceeded 100 tons, but did not exceed 200 ' tons, and so on, to meet any possible output. The Board would thus he assured of an increasing revenue from the royalty, although the rate per ton would be a decreasing one. These, however, wore only tentative suggestions, and he was prepared to give the fullest possible consideration to any alternative ideas the Board might submit. Now that all other schemes had fallen through, he continued, he presumed there would he no obstacle placed in the way, and that at last lie was about to have his turn. Csnsra!. It was resolved to obtain estimates for altering and painting the harbourmaster’s residence. The annual meeting for tho election ‘ of tho chairman was fixed for Friday, May 3, when the ordinary meeting will also he held. On the motion of Messrs Wilkinson and Swadling, it was resolved to reply to the effect that the Board regretted that it was not at present in a position to treat for. the leases. f Mr Swadling, in accordance with notice of motion, moved that all previous resolutions dealing with the removal of boulders from the beach at the Waiwakaiho should be rescinded. Ho considered the Board should, if possible, gain revenue from tho boulders. This was seconded by Mr Dockrill and carried.—“ News.”