HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 123, 17 October 1914, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs J. B. Connett (chairman), E. Maxwell, Newton King, E. Dockrill, D. J .Hughes and C. E, Bellringer. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs Marx and McCluggage. CHAIRMAN CONGRATULATED. Mr. Maxwell, as senior member of the Board, expressed the hearty congratulations of the Board to the chairman on the celebration of his golden wedding, and wished him many more years of happy married life. Mr. Newton King, in seconding the motion, endorsed all that Mr. Maxwell had said.

The motion was carried unanimously, and Mr. Connett briefly responded. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster reported that during the four weeks ended October 10, 22 steamers and one sailing vessel, aggregating 22,854 tons, entered the port, and -22 steamships cleared from it, The imports amounted to 0857 tons, 732 tons of which was coal, 582 tons being for the Railway Department and 150 tons for private use. The exports amounted to 84S tons, making a total of 7705 tons handled. Soundings were taken on the 12th and 14th inst.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The superintendent of works reported that the Paritutu had dredged on 22 days, lifting 18,400 tons from the fairway with the sand pump and 12,800 tons with the buckets. The cut had been very difficult for the past fortnight, an advance of only 80 feet being made. Daily blasting had been necessary. • The cut required to be carried a further distance of 40 feet. The Thomas King had pumped for 21 days, principally improving the depth at the west side of the wharf, and removed 85 loads, equal to 6800 tons, in 173 hours, and bad also lifted 74 large boulders for the Paritutu in 41 hours. Five additional piles had been driven on the west side of the wharf, seven E/ts of walings strengthened and four new chafing pieces fixed. The extension of the electric lighting service was in hand, f

dredgemaster's report. The dredgemastcr wrote detailing tlio circumstances connected with the running down of a fishing boat and the consequent death of Mr. Flinders Hursthouse. No action was taken, the matter being the subject of legal proceedings. GRAZING. Considerable discussion took place over an application made by W. 11. Fitzpatrick for permission to use part of the Board's reserve at Moturoa for grazing, it being considered that if the section were to be let at all the Board's employees Bhould have the preference, but it was a question as to whether it was advisable to let it at all, owing lo possible damage to the water. It was eventually decided to decline the request.

.EXCHANGE CHARGES. An explanatory letter from the Bank of New Zealand was read relative to the resolution passed by the Board at its last meeting as to the excessive charge for exchange on money remitted to London. After a short discussion it was decided to take no further action.

REMOVAL OF BOULDERS. The Borough Council applied for permission to remove stone from the mouth of the Waiwakaiho river at a nominal royalty. It appeared that a similar request was made in 1911 and declined. The matter was revived in 1012 and no" action taken, in consequence of a statement liy tile the engineer that the Borough Council would not bother further about il.

Mr. King favored one public body helping another whenever possible, but it was necessary to understand exactly what it was the Borough Council wanted, lie moved that tile chairman. Messrs Uockrill. Bellringer, Hughes and Hie mover be a committee to go into the matter with the borough engineer and report. The motion was carried.

WATER SUPPLY. The Mayor, Crs. Kililiy and .luiiiistoiic, with the Town Clerk and engineer, waited on the Council, the Mayor explaining that the objict of the deputation was to obtain the rescinding of the resolution declining to permit the Council running the watijr supply to the Breakwater, lie pointed out that the Council had now the money and materia) available for extending the water service, anil in view of the increa«ed population in tiie vicinity of the Breakwater, as well as the anticipated enlargement of the shipping coming there in the future, it would be most advantageous to have an adequate supply of pure wholsome water available. At present some of the ships coming to the wharf did not se the Board's supply. Imt would take the Borough water, and "nc was confident that the price of the supply could he satisfactorily arranged so as to ensure the Board receiving a good profit. Moreover, the water would be available for lire prevention purpose!). Cr. Johnstone laid great stress on the advantage of the Hoard attaining a pure (supply of water, mid he urged that it would be good bn-iiK-ss for the. Hoard to come to an arrangement with the Borough. Some discussion ensued as In the price, and as to the cost of carrying on '.the main to the end of the wharf. .Eventually it was arranged thatt he Borough officials should submit definite proposals containing the terms on which the water would be supplied. Subsequently too Borough /submitted a proposal to lay on a six-inch wafer main ten chains a'oug the brcalvvaler and to charge the Board Is <id per 10W gallons, the Board provide an approved meter.

' Tiio Toa-i"d ma<lc count''!' ijto;iOsi!s.