HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3227, 15 September 1879, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

A Special Meeting of the Harbour Board was held on Saturday at 10 a.m. Present: Major Atkinson (chairman), and Messrs. Standish, Carriugton, Wells, Courtney, Cavcrhill, Banks, Thompson, and Bewley.

Minutes of Precious Meeting. — On the minutes of the previous meeting being read, Mr. Banks said he did not understand that £500 was to be given Mr. llces as a gratuity, but for the purpose of defraying his expenses in proceeding to England. — Several other members expressed similar views, and the minutes were accordingly amended to the effect that the money would be advanced to Mr. ltees to pay for his passage, also travelling and incidental expenses. THE ENGINEER PROCEEDING TO ENGLAND.

The Chairman read a telegram which he sent to the Hon. J. Macaudrew, Minister of Public Works, stating that the Harbour Board had resolved to send their Engineer to Bugland by the first San Frahciscomail steamer to purchase plant and consult Avith Sir J. Condc generally upon the proposed breakwater, and requesting that Mr. llees be at once relieved from his duties in connection with the, Public Works Department.— The following replios were received from Mr. J. Knowles, Undersecretary for Public Works :— ■" Wellington. The Hon. J, Macandrew is at sea, and I cannot repeat your telegram of this day. He will be here by steamer to-morrow, when I will submit it to him immediately. I think it right to add that I find Mr. llecs has made a similar application to tho Engineer in charge (Mr. Blackett) yesterday, to which a reply was sent that the release could not be granted prior to the 30th instant. (2), I have submitted your telegram to the Minister, who returned this morning. He directs me to express his regret that the interests of the public service will not permit him to accede to your request." The Chairman said this was an extraordary reply. Mr. Standish asked who was to take charge of the public works in the place of Mr. ltees ?

Mr. Banks said that the successor of Mr. Recs was in Now Plymouth at the present time, and he thought that ho was in a position to take charge of the department. The Engineer was asked if he had any communications with the Government ? He stated that he had received a telegram from Mr. Blackett, the Enginccr-in-Charge, .stating that, in the interests of the public service, leave could not be granted to him (Mr. llces) until the end of the month. Mr. ltees said the only reason he could give for the Government refusing to grant him leave of absenco was that his successor was a young man, and i£ any question were to arise requiring explanation, he (Mr. llees) would be out of the Colony, and would not, therefore, be able to give the required information. He was sure that if he were not going to leave the Colony the Government would not object to relieve him from his duties ; his accounts were all up to date. Another reason Mr. Blackett may have had for refusing the application was that he might have asked tho Treasury how his (Mr. Uees) accounts stood, and at that time he had not sent in a full account of the expenditure of a largo sum of money which ha- 1 boon granted about three weeks previously. Mr. Thompson asked the Engineer if he had not the idea of leaving ou the 25th inst., via Melbourne /

Mr. ltGUSsaid, of course, if the Government refused to grant his permission to leave ou 25th, he could leave of his own accord, only he would be at the loss of his salary if he did so. Several members expressed a very decided opinion that it would be unadvisable for Mr. llces to leave without having the consent of Government.

Mr. Rees said it would be a serious matter to him personally if he were detained for another month, as he would then have bad weather for travelling, and also bad weather whon ho arrived in England.

Mr. Banks thought it might be advisable to make another application to the Government explaining the whole circumstances. Mr. CARRINGTON did not think it would be oxpedient to do so. Mr. Rises said his successor had been- in I Taranaki for some time past, but ho had been principally at Normanby. When he (Mr. ltees) knew he was expected to go to England, he at once telegraphed for his successor to come to New Plymouth, so as to give him the necessary explanations as to the accounts, tea. He had now given him all the information that was in his power. The Chairman said that of course it might be assumed in the ordinary way of business that Mr. Itccs would be able to olose his accounts at any moment.

Mr. Courtney said that if Mr. llecs were to explain to the Government his reasons, perhaps the Minister for Public Works might allow him to go en the 25th instant.

Mr. Banks said the. Government might bo. inclined to compromise matters if they received a full explanation. It was ascertained that if Mr. Itces could leave on tho 25th instant, via Melbourne, he would arrive in London only a few days later than the San Francisco mail.

Mr. Keks said if he could satisfy Mr, Blackett, perhaps he might obtain permission to go.

Mr. Courtney said the works could not be carried on continuously until Mr. Recs returned, but they would be stopped at a good time, just as the harvest season was coming tn, and the men would not be at a loss for employment. It was docldcd that it would be unadvisable for the Board to press the matter any further on tho Government, and the discussion then dropped.

Paranoid Cement.— The Chairman' said that he had received a letter from Mr. 10. M. Smith respecting the intended visit of the Hoard's Engineer to England, and suggesting that it would be a favourable opportunity for having tho Taranaki coment tustod.-— Mr. Smith was in attendance, and was requested to make known his views to the Hoard. He said he had to request tho Board that thoy would instruct their Engineer to bring under tho notico of Sir J. Cooilc the fact of thcro being a large amount of cement-making materials in the district. There was a natural cement stone, and a cement material named pomiolana, which was to be found in the Kaitakc llangcs in thousands of tons. It was tho oldest material used in making cement, it having been used by Mr. Smeaton in the construction of tho Eddystono Lighthouse. When this material was mixed with tho Whangaroi lime— a sample of which had been brought here by Mr. Kelly— it undo v hydraulic

cement, and could be produced at half the cost of the imported Portland cement. This would be a great saving to tho Harbour Board, and would create a fresh industry for Taranaki. — Mr. Standish asked Mr. Smith if ho could obtain specimens of the cement before Monday ? — Mr. Smith stated he could do so, and ho would take a witness with him to prove that they were genuine. — Mr. Banks suggested that if the Engineer did not leave on Monday he miglit accompany Mr. Smith and examino tho place himself, and he would then be able to give a better idea of it to Sir John Coode. — The Chairman said it would be advisable for Mi 1 . Smith to wvito down what he had now stated to the Board, with such other particulars ho might think of, and submit them to the Board at its next meeting.- -Mr. Smith said he would place a written statcmont beforo the Board, and also obtain specimens from the Kaitako Ranges. Harbour Plant.— Mr. Smith asked the permission of the Board to bring another subject under its notice — that was the importing of plant from England for the Harbour Works. He was quite certain that a large amount of tho plant to be used in the construction of the breakwater could be made here, and would bo cheaper than that which could be imported. Tho Board' 6 Engineer had attended the casting of tho wheels which had recently taken place, and he had pronounced them to be equal to steel wheels. The wheels were shortly to be handed over to the Public Works Department, and he understood it was the intention of the Government to send them to the' Sydney Exhibition ; he would not, therefore, be in a, position to show them to tho shareholders of the Titanic Company. He thought it was a matter the Board was deeply interested in, as it would derive large revenues from the leases, if the Company could success^ fully work the iron sand, and he thought he might ask the Board to assist him. by granting him a small sum to pay his expenses to Wellington and Dunedin, in order to induce the shareholders of the Company to tako the matter up again. If tho Company commenced the works afresh, they could produce, in two months time, a considerable quantity , of plant for tho harbour works. Besides this, the Government had offered to give the Company an order for making railway plant. — Mr. .Standish said if Mr. Smith could state positively that the plant could be made cheaper here than it could be brought out from England ho thought it was very desirable that the Board should go into the matter, and lie would therefore suggest that the Chairman should confer with Mr. Smith to ascertain what plant could be made here. — The Chairman said it would be better for the Engineer to consult with Mr. Smith upon the subject. — Mr. Standish moved "That the Chairman request the Engineer to sec Mr. Smith on tho subject of the plant for the Harbour Works with the view of ascertaining whether the plant could be produced locally as cheap or even a little higher than it could be imported from England, and to report to tho Board at its next meeting." — Mr. Caverhill seconded the motion.— Mr. Courtney said ho' thought it would only be right that tho Board should allow a sum of money to Mr. Smith for the expense he may be put to in obtaining dpeoiniens of combnt, and in the matter of endeavouring to have tjic plant produced locally.— Mr. SM,rra said Sir Julius Vogcl had submitted the question of the production of the metal from the Tarauaki iron sand to the eminent Dr. Percy, but in doing so lie had neglected to make the whole facts of the case known. Dr. Porcy, in his report on the subject, said that no doubt the iron sand could be worked successfully if there was plenty of cheap coal close at hand. Sir Julius Vogcl could not have told Dr. Percy that an unlimited supply of charcoal could be obtained in the district, or he would novel* have made that report.— Tho CHAIRMAN said that the Company had failed to carry, out the order given by the Government , for. the production of some thousands of railway! wheels from Taranaki ; iron sand, — Mr. Smith said he was about to make'souio other wheels for the Government, and he proposed to tako them down to Wellington, and show them to the shareholders there. He would also go to Dunedin, where the principal directors resided, auil show them how the iron sand could bo successfully worked. He would endeavour to induce the directors to raise sufficient capital to put the works in proper order, and to commence operations at once. — The resolution proposed by Mr. Standish was then put and carried.

Bank Agreement— The Chairman said that the question had been raised in connection with tho proposed agreement between the Board and the bank, whether it was intended Ih it the Board should bounder the necessity of leaving the balance of the loan raise I (which would not be immediately required) for investment by the bank, or whether it would be optional for the Board to put the money out for investment in such a manner as it thought proper. The agreement was altered to show more explicitly that tho Board could place tho money out at interest as it thought proper, with this proviso — that the Bank was to have the refusal of the terms asked by the Board. — Mr. Standish said he was in doubt whether the previous form of the agreement gave power to the Board to invest the money at its pleasure, but the clause now inserted in the agreement was perfectly clear on that point. — On the motion of Mr. STANDISH it was resolved "That the Chairman and Messrs. Wells and Thompson be authorised to sign the agreement with the Bank of New Zealand on behalf of the Board, and to affix tho seal of the Board thereto. The Board adjourned until Tuesday next.

Tho schooner Nelson arrived off the Wuitara Bar on Sunday morning. ' The s.s. Hannah Mokau towed her over the bar and up to tho wharf last evening, thereby sccurthe berth at the wharf before the' three vessels that arrived on Friday evening,

We wore shown by Mr. Drew this morniug a piece o£ metal which was taken off ono of the wheels recently cast at Mr. Vivian's Foundry, and which lie hail polished with the Usual jeweller's polish — oilstone, dust, and dimnomlitc. The metal hud taken on it the most perfect polish, much superior to even the finest cutlery, thus proving that it is without doubt steel of an excellent quality. We believe it is intended to send this polished piece of metal with the wheels to the Sydney Exhibition, to show what kind of metal the whuols uro made of.