HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 103, 16 June 1900, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

Thk monthly meeting of the Harbour Board was held on Friday. Present: Messrs. Maxwell (chairman), Connett, McLean, King, Oliff', Sarten, Hignett, and Ward. The Kailwßy Department wrote relative to the smd drifting from the bank near the harbour on to the railway, and asking that steps might be taken to prevent this. The Chairman stated that he had instructed the Foreman to plant sand gras?, but if it was found that this mear s was not success r ul it would be necessary to put clay on. It was decided that the Board do its best to remove the causa of complaint. An ofler by the Railway Department to allow the Board the large stones that were obtained from the quarrying operations now going on, at 2s per ton, was accepted. Notice was received from the Borough Oouocil requiring the drain at the Board's property in Broughanwstreet to be cleaned out, Mrs. Richardson applied that in in ns< q if nco of the premises she held i\.hi Uiu Bjard beiog in a very dilapidated and insanitary condition the lease -.luuld bo cant; lied at the end of June. Tno application was granted, subject r,o all reiit and ia*;es being paid up. Mr. Samuel attended the Board, by i. quest, and advised as to the Board's | position i elativo to the present tenancies f the Brougham-street Eeserve. ! It was decided that on the expira- ' ion of the present leases the Board A-iil not renew, but will take steps to nuve the buildings removed, Authority was given for the pur-: chase of the necessary stores. Mr, Counett brought up the question f taking action with a view to getting : the road to the breakwater put into decent order, and suggested that a mem-!:

■ ber of the Board should be appointed to co operate with Mr. Samuel, who was moving in the matter. ! Mr. Samuel explained the position of affairs, and stated that there was a probability that the Government might be induced to take over the road and after putting it in order hand it over |to the County Council to maintain. | Mr. Connett was appointed to cooperate with Mr. Samuel, who was thanked for his assistance.

The Harbourmaster reported that during May, 36 steamers were berthed at the wharf, the aggregate tonnage ' amounting to 13,890. The imports were 2545 tons and exports 836 tons, making a total of 3381 tons, Owing to the heavy gales the dredge had only worked eleven days and had removed 6420 cubic yards of sand. The depth of water in the harbour was keeping about the same, 12ft. Gin, at L.W.S.T. - The Foreman reported that all the month the hands had been working at the new sand pump. Also that the stones all along the weather side of the wall were subsiding owing to the late rough weather. The Engineer, Mrr Marchant, reported that he had been superintending the erection of the new sand pump, and that a foot valve was required and several small difficulties to be overcome before the pump could be started, but he had every confidence that all would be right in about three weeks. He explained that the vacuum in the pipes was one of those tricky thing* to be got over. He doubted if any cylindrical pump could lift the sand 18 feet, and he did not think it would be possible to work the pump more than between half and full tides. Mr. Sarten said he did not profess to know everything, but in his opinion the ■ pump never would work. There were many people in New Plymouth who : believed that the pump was worse than : tho hole in the wall. Mr. Marchant, in reply to Mr, Cliff, said it would be better not to use the new boiler obtained for the dredge, but to make use of the small Lc >motive, as it was essential to have a power that could easily be moved and plaetd under shelter. In reply to Mr. Sirteu, he said it was a mistake to prophesy failure because of a few difficult its ; which could easily be overcome. Ex- [ perience alone could prove what would ; best answer the purpose.

Tie Chairman stated that as Mr. Marchant was leavirjg for Timaru ou Monday, he ('.he Chairman) had sanctioned arrangements b. ing made with Mr. Rollofcr rendering his services inquired, jn any ditfipultiea in flushing the sand'pump worlr. •""■' The Chairman's action was confirmed. The Board then, went into Committee. 1 On resuming, the tender of the Scottish Metropolitan Accident Insurance Association fcr 2s 6 J per cent, to cover the employers and the Common Law liability was accepted. A letter from the District Traffic Manager, relative to minimum parcel rates, was held over till the tariff was revised. It was decided ta ask the Railway Department to send a competent man to inspect and pass the timber to be used fir the wharf extension. A letter from the B)rough Council was read, relative to extension of (Jurrie-Btrce f , but owing to the existence of a leasa having several years to run, no action could bo taken. Accounts amounting to ,£596 3s 3d were passed, and the Board rose.