HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 119, 12 June 1901, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The Board me!' on Friday. Present: Messrs. Maxwell (chairmtn), LYmtiett, 1 McLean, Cliff, Ward, Sirteo, Higuett, and Ralfe. Before the minutes were put f >r confirmation, Mr. Connett move 1 th it the last entry, containing tho declaration by th') chairman that Mr. Hignett's motion relative to the appointment of Government nominees was ctrried, bo struck out. The reports of both the !oc'.l pipers staged that though the Chairman declired the motion carri d, no show of h inds or divisi n was railed : \ fo-. Mr. Cliff seconded, and said that at. tho time there wa-< suoh a coDfusi.m that tho Chairman could r.ot have ob- ! aine 1 a correct vote of members. Mr, Hignett said t'r.e Chairman did ca'l for a division, and Messrs. Rtlfe, McLean, the Chairman, and hims.df held up their hands in favour, and eo one against, so that the mo'ion was c.tiried unanimously. Mr. Sarten: No; I wanted to sp-ak ag.iost it, but was l.ot allowed. Mr. Ward siid he was astonished at Mr. Hignett's a sertion that the moti n was carried lumnimou-dy. He (Mr. Ward) was moving an amendrnen 1 , but while lie was trying to sp r ak othtrs iveie interrupting,ai din the co.nfusi' n the Chairman rushfd the matter through, and declared the resolution cairiel.

J he Chairman sai 1 lis must dec'ate i.h.t the motion was carried, Ue, us chairman, w-s in a better pon'ion to know what did actuilly take place, and the majority of the members admitted thit the mo'ion was pat, After he had waited for awhile he rose to put the motion, and threa members con-'i')u-d spiking. It was thi mos v rowdy me : inj he had ever s e-i Mo'iil ers: " N"," and "Yo 1 were the c.:use of it." Th; Ch irman, continuing, ta : d 'hi' when he put thrt motion four hands! were ' eld up in fav .ur, ati I h ■ dtcl i e.l itca'- ; ed. Mr. McLein sai l th ni'tn'" rs w re i excie ! , a d a< a mat", r of fust th > thing pc.mirad ixic ly as the Ob irm tu had st ted, Mr. Conne't agrot.d with the Ch iir:mn h t t'".e meeting was a rowdy and ili»gr:.cef d one, but it was the Cnairmm's f'.ult. When he (Mr. Conott') w nted to spiak on the moti n the Oh:iirina - > w, uld lo 1 ; al l w him t) do s , and lu L s h,d p o'ast d aga : nst the Ohiirman's net! n, vas repotted, but th 9 protest w s, aver ru'ed, Tat- motioa to have theminu'erxp iiig d w is th n put, and on a division > i ti • n the vo irg was : -Ayes: «le-sra Connett, ClifV, Watd and Sarten; loo»: Me sts, McLean, Hignett, Ralfe and the Chairmin. The Chairman th*n gave his casting vote agains' 'ha ie olution,

Mr. Ciiff fraid hi wished to move that the B.ard's iolici or's opin'on ba obtvn d as to the Chairman's ruling in 'll iwing Mr. (I ignett's to'ice of motion to be brought on as he did; bub the 'hnirman f-a'd he could not acrept tuch reso'uti in at that stage. The mimes were th n submitted for pproval and confirmed, Messrs. Connect, Wt.rd, av>d Sart?n dissenting. The Chairman said there was a lot of business for the Bard to deal with, md he h p d the membe> s would gel through with it. He wished to get •iway by the afternotn train, and Mr, Rennell also dasired to get away. Mr, Connett: said he thought the Board shou'd not ru?h through its business. Last mee iog he suggested o the Chairman th .t t"e Board should meet in the evening, when a lot of the ousicess left; over could have been ■bared up, but Mr. M.ixwoli would not hear of it. Mr. Wards id he wished to fucili'ate bdsines-", at.d not to interfere with the Chairman's atrangemonts. If the busi- ■ ioss could not be dona without lushing through it, an adjournment would be the best thing. Explanations were givan by the Chairman and Me.«r». McLean and Ward as to the fixing of the date of his meeting, and the Boird went on to iiusiness. The Treasury Depit tment notifi. d that 1256 4s 9d, being 25 por cent, of accruad land r.venue, had bien remitted to the cedit of the Bftud, for the qiaiter ended 31st March, 1901, The Railway Dofar. ment wro'e in jrsferer.ee to the Board running its on the b^e-Water without giving the Department no'ii.'. It was pointed out that dang r existed from [the running of t«vo independent engines on the lines, and the Board was asked to give such instructions in future as wou'd enable the stationmaster at New Plymouth to provide a signalman when required at the breakwater, and thus remove any danger there might be, —The matter has be n at'ended to.

Mr. J. 0, Georgo wrot? as fallows:— A. number of citizens, with a view to make the town attiactive to visitors and to provide pleisura for th'i gene r al communi'y, have in contempktion the erection of a promenade pier near the railway stat'on at New Plymou'b. The c.'mmittea set up for this purpose does not know whether the p-opesod pier will in any way interfere with the property of the Board, it probably will not do so ; but in any c;s3 I shall be glad to have the concurrence of the Board in this fch m?, acd have the honour to ask for a favourable reply 11 this application.—Mr. Higi.ett moved, I atid Mr. Balfe seconded, "That the Board s 63 no objection, so long as the pi r do-s nt interfere with its prope ty."—Carried. Mr W.Syms, M.HR, wrot-, iacknowledgirg i&'e'p' of a resolution pissed at the Board meeting, and stating he had a'tended to the Board's request in the m tter. Mr, Syni's enclosed a reply from the Minis er of Ma'ina re the request that at least two of the nominated members should b i selec'ed" from the country districts, string hat (he matter would rec ive con sideraticn when mombers were next appo ; ntfd. Mr McGuire, M.H.8., also wrote and enclosed the following copy of n let'er sent to the Minister of Marine : " T have the honour to endorso herewith a rrsofu'ion parsed by tli') New Plymouth Harbour Bond. It is not necpssary for me to iufo>m you that I cm in sympathetic accord, with th viso'u iip. Tre uibjact matt ~r of t ho resolution I brought b fore tie Government on .mo-'B than on * owa-ion. [ also brought tho matter ! ef.ue y.'urelf by qu- B'ion in tho House. The ' equesf' is reas nabln and ju»t, It was brought, undr 3 our notice by deputations at Ofunake and Mruaia on y. ur visit to the disti ict I hiva .re much pleasure in submitt ng matter for your CJnsidemtioii." Mr McGuire etclos d a rep'y from t! e Dapa! tment similar (o that received by Mr Syrnes. The New Plymouth Borough Council wrote as follows re removal of stone

f'Cm the beach: acknowledge your letter of 21st insh, and to respectfully point out that the arrangement existing between tha Council and the Harbour Board, made | several yeais ago, was that this Oouocil should piv the sum of XlO annually for all btone removed by it. The Lou- c i th' refore respeotful'y urg- s tV 1 at the agreement cannot ba terminat d by t' e Bo«rd wiihout reasonable notice, atd at leist utitil the Ist Sep'ember pros., tho md of the current year. T: e Council hnß ent»red into , contra'ts s.ndcaniot determine them vfc a moments not : ce without rendering itself liible for damag.-p. The Mayor ■nd Council cannot think the Board, in view of tbe exis iDg annual arrangement?, weuld deJe.mine an agreem n' f years' standing without no 1 ic, and the Council, therifore, proposes removing bjulders and shingle until next meeting of tbe Board, whr-n a deputation will lay the facts before it. The secretary explakel tint the Council h id t let contracts to 31st March, and wished the time extended to that lime, Mr. Ward said he had explained to the To vn Clerk that he did not think ho Bou-1 wishid to embarrass the Council, and w..uld, no doubt, be wiling to extend the lime as reques'ed. Th ■ Ch irman moved that the tirnp 1 .be extended to Ist September.— S cond.jd by Mr. Olifl.

Mr. Saiten m vo l an amendment t! at the time bj further extended to 31st March.—S onded by Mr. Ward. Toe aner.dment was (hen put and carried. The Gov,r:imnjt Ana'yst wrota in reference .to simples of wilder for annlyS'S, giving directio.,s as to the specimens r-. quired.— R quest has been .omjll'd wit'i. Tli'i Ra lway Departmeut with re r erence to the n w position of the wl arf. No alterat'Ors it was pointed out, werd a k d for, but beams were n quirjd for the structure, and if the Bo »rd nut mak>) the a'teritions t'ie sidings must r; maiu as they are. Mr R'i fo moved that the Department be informed tha"; 'lie Bard be informed tjut the Bond cannot see it 3 way to depart from its former decision. Secoudtd by Mr Higoe-t, and carried, Mr Sartin nrved an am-ndmont, that if the D pirtment considers it uafafe to run the engine on the wharf t the | lace indicated, tha Board will co sid- r the matter at its next meeting. The:e was no s j condr.

The chairman expWined that the Dop.v tment wishe l to shift the points. This was held over till next meeting. At thin stage the Mayor, and Mr C. E. Bell inger, Town Clerk, and the chairmin explained that the Board bad agreed to allow the Ooun.il to carry out ■ier.-tiniing that no fresh contracts * ere eatered into. The Valuer-Genf-nl wro'e that be would be in New Plymouth on 21st or 22nd of the present m'nt.h and if he could meet the Biard he thought a jhargrt for revi-ing tho valuation rolls cou'd be arrived at which would be satisfactory to bith par'ie a . If that, irne would not be convenient he wou'd like to mee l ! msmbets in Wellington iboutthe 19th or 21s\ Mr. Hignett moved—" That the Valuer-General be informed thit the New Flymmth Har'.our Board did not req-rre tho work for which the sum of £323 has been charged, and which a va8!; atnoun 1 ". of unnecessary lab ur on the Secretary of thd Board; hat i- stead of the Valuation Department making a charge upon the Board, the S cretary should be conpen-a'ed by the V lua'ion Depar'meut for the additional libour ; that the Chairnan f tho Bond will l.e pleasel to mee'„ the Valuer General iu New Plymouth, if not convenient, to meet in Wellington ; atid that the mggestion of th* Viil'ter-Ganeral that" we should arrive at a charge which is both fair and satisfactory to ihe B»ard and the Department is, in the opinion of this Board, fcintamciint to an admission tint the

xisting charge is exorbitant and one which cannot lie miintaiced." In doii'g so he SJid he held strong views on the question of charges made by the Depa'traenton I'cal bodies for valuation work, acd it was a scandal that a should ba able to mike a cha'ge of an exorbitant nature which, if disputed, it was willing and able to reduce. It was d«ferving of strong condi ranation, and should ba met wi'h a very strong pro'est. Mr. M>L an agreed that a p o'oat mi«ht be made, and would second thu motion, The Chairman said he f-ympathised with the mo'ion, but would not say mow as ha would be the person to meet Mr. McGowan. Mr. Ward thought that it would be unwiss to pass the resolution in the face of the le'ter teseived from the Department. If necessary, after the Conference the rfsilution could be passed. After some further discussion it was suggested that the last portion of the tesolution, from the word " Wellington," bi struck out. The C'hai man said the Valuation Department bad now stopped the work which was unnaceesiry and entailed a large amount of labour, besides causing many mistakes. Mr. Sar'en moved an amendment That the Chairman meet the ValuerGeneral as requested.—Seconded by Mr. Cliff.

Mr. Higuett said he would be scrry to tie Ihe hands of the Churraan ; but, having strong opinions on this question of va'uation charges, he could not vjte fo l- Lis rafolution as proposed to be amended. The Board should give expression to i's opinion, and the fact 'ha f . the Department was willing to m ke reductions in its charges wa», he consider d, a condemnation of the system by which it airived at thosi c'- arges. Mr. Connetf. agreed with the Chairman's remarks on the re-solution, bu l . ho thought the latter portion should be struck out. Mr. Cliff thought that as a rna'fcr of courtesy the Cha'rman should meet the Valuer-General, and if a suitable arrangement could not become to then it would be time to pa=B as strong a res lu'ioa as possible, Mr. Wa--d thought the Board's ir.te''en u s would be safe in the Chairman's hands. The amendment was then put and hst Mr. Conne tf movtd a further amendment Th.t the words of the resolution fter •' Wellington " be struck cut.— Mr. Waid Si cji d d, and the amendment was carried. Mr. Rigngtt'ciro<eolution, as<• mended, «as then put and carried on a division, M'. Higrie't dissenting. The H'al h D pir'ment wiote in re'erence to the number of rats des- ■ rayed at New Plymouth.—No action taken. The rep rt of the committee appointed to consider an Application from the Education Board re office site was read and adopted,

The Harbourmaster reported:— Du ing the month ending 31st May, 115 steimers berthed at the wbaif. The aggr gate gross tonoge was 34,299 tons. Imports were 2,122 tens, including 370 tons private, and 904 tons of railway coal. Exports were 722 tons. During the month a long spell of heavy I south-west and westerly weather was' experience!, causing a large amount of Sind to accumulate becwesn the rubble groin and the breakwater. The dredge was ju*t abJe to cope with the influx coming round the end of the breakwater, The dredgo worked 16 ■'ays, making 162 trips, and removing 9,720 cubic yards of sand. The chairman stated that the Sarbourmaster had informed hiia that '.he weather whs so rough that he was uoable to make soundings, and the andspit at the eod ef the Breakwater <vas increasing, though he anticipated no difficulty as s >on as the diedge could; get to work again.

Consideration of Mr. Marchant'n lettor, held over from last meating in • eforeica tj the question of a fixed sand-pump, was brought on. Tte Chiirman said that Mr Marchant had asked him to hand oopies of the htter to members, and he could only do so, Mr fialfe said he thought the letter was not bent to the Boaid as a body, >ut simply ti the members as private individual. At this stage Mr Cliff tendered a pap r to the Chairman s t'ing forth his resignation as a Government nominee on the Bmrd. Mr S rten started to sp'ak, but the Chairman said he could not al'ow him to fpe ik unless he moved a motion. Mr Sarten then msved that the papers te returned to Mr Marchint. The Chair said he could cot accept; thit. Mr Sarten than moved that the Board take ns notioe of the letter. Ha siid it teemed t h*t the Board could do nothing. They were not a'lowed to do th'B or th it, or anything in fact. No one seconded, and the matter dropped. i Speaking of the pump, the Chairman said a new j nnt had been received, and the pump put in order. No hitch had occurred, and during the past week the suctioQ pump was acting well. The snnd arouud the pump was showing air ady a dec-rase. It had worked since la i t Saturday, for fu'l time each day. The cost of coal for s f *am had been reduced by about 35 ptr c*nfc. Mr Connett said in that cas* the main trouble was that iu thn past the Board had not provided a'l the accessions necessary.

Mr Hignetfc, mentioned (hi question of ths QovemmiLt not paying the usual charge made on p ssatgera in cDimeo'.ion with the Maoris. Th ■ Chairman explained the po i ion in regard to the charge imtitu'.ed by the Board on steamsis berthing at the wharf. The Shipping Companies ljok«d upon tbe charge a* a pwsenger tax. The Government waa ftee from wharfage cba-g s; but in this case the companies wereliable for the charge on pach M-.ori, as it was really a berthig« and their boats were not chart red to the Government, Mr. Higneit moved that steps be t .ken to obtain payment of the usual charge on the Maor's.—Mr. R.lfe seconded jn'oforma, and asked if the shipping companies had seat in any statement of tbe pissengnrscarrird. It was pointed out tint the Maoris would cot be included in the last term for which a stitcment was submitted. Mr Ward supported tho suggestioi to lot the matter of a charge on the natives go. The Board should not put any obstacles in the way nf the Gov rn mant assisti'g th se mtivosto go to Auck'aud.

The mattii- was allow.d to stand over. Ttio Foremin reported that the co'tage on the wharf was finished, and the ironwork had beeen pa nted inside atd out. The knnckle-j'iirit for the fand-pump I ad arri.ed frsrn Dunedi and had been in position, and pumping operations started. An anchor had bien dropped to fastan a [guy to 'he suction pipe, so as to steady it. Thirty-seven tons of small stone werarereiv»d from the quarry to fill np ! a hols in tho will b-fore covering in wi'h concete. Owing to a storm a few d»y< afterwards the cone ete wjrk 1 *as broken aud washed out. The new diving dre<s was «t hand. The resn voir had been cleaned out. The action of ths Ghairmin in accepting the tender of Messrs. D. Berry and Company for supply of pi'es, wns confirmed. Tha ques'ion of accident insurance was considered, and pfftr by th New Zealmd Company to h'ld the Board's employees covered free of charge uoiil the rat i of premium coul l be fixed, provided the company git the Board's bueioess of i' 6 quotation when made was not above that of other*, was accepted temporarily. Further ron sideration was d ferred, but the Chairman was authorised to accept the lowest of any tenders received fjr in suraoce.

Accounts we*e passed, totJlirg .£520 2s 7d. After some discussion the resolution passed at last meeting ef the Board re the Harbour road, wis rescinded, on the motion of Mr Cjnnett, seconded by Mr Sarten. Mr Connett th-jn moved that 5000 yards of metal be granted to thCounty Council on the terms asked, not to inter fere with Harbour Board requirements, only waste from qu'rrirs i co be take-I.—SaconJtd by Mr Sart r n ! and carried. It was understood that the Mad would require t i oe put in order wiihii twe've months. Chi Mr UigneU'? mitioD, eecond- d by Mr Rilf--, Messrs Maxvrvll, Hignetaud C mnett were appointed a Committee to reviso bye laws. Mr Sarten gave notice to move a next mte'ing -" That it would be imperii! Nt and improper for this BoaiV. to dictate to the Government as t' whom it should appoint as its nominee?, more e-p cially as in the b sis of representation in prop r'ion to funds contributed the Goverrment has 'jot a fair >n of memb r-, and that this Board ther< fore, i the justice and fairnes, wiuld esk the Qovfrnmuntto amend the Harb u. Act so aa to give it (the Government) moie representations on the Board; and also to mske provision for thie numbers or more being elected in such manner a=i to reprefent the large and f»st growing cjmncerehl ink-rests of this district, and the large revenue it derives from wharf and harbour dues. He also gave no'ice to b ing up r motion re shelter shed, of which he g<.v i notice on 22nd September. The Board adjmrnid.