HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3229, 17 September 1879, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The usilal fortnightly meeting of the Harbour Board was held on Tuesday; Present : Major Atkinson (chairman), Messrs. Banks, Besvlcy, Oarrington, Caverhill, Courtney, and Wells.

Application from Mr. E. M. Smith.— -An application was read from Mr. E. M. Smith, requesting the Board to grant him assistance in order to enable him to visit Wellington and Dunedin for the purpose of forming a company to smelt the iron sand. In the letter Mi-. Smith stated that his idea was to proceed to Wellington and Dunedin to assemble the shareholders of the Titauic Steel Company, with a view of inducing them to commence smelting operations. Ho believed that all that was wanted was to lay tho facts before the shareholders, and they would immediately commence work.— The Chairman did not think the Board would bo justified in granting the application made by Mr. Smith. — Several other members coincided with the views expressed by the Chairman ; and tho Secretary was instructed to write to Mr. Smith conveying the thanks of tho Board, but informing him that it could not grant his application. Engineer's Report. — Tho Chairman read the Engineer's report, as follows : — The work at tho harbour site is progressing satisfactorily, and employing 190 men. Paritutu Drive : This work is now 101 feet in from the face of the rock. From the commencement to about 80 feet, a gradual (although in a slight degree) increase in the distance between the joints occurred, but the work done during tho past fortnight leads me to believe that the distance will not be increased, as the rock now appears similar in character to that mot with at from 70 to 80 feet.— Fishing Rook Tramway : This work is now employing 81 men, and is proceeding satisfactorily.— Fishing Rock Quarry (day work) : Ninety-nine men aro now employed upon this work. The material, owing to its plastic nature, still continues difficult to work ; but, judging from the appearance oE the present face of the rock, this sticky clay will bo passed in a few days. ■ A strict account of each class of work is being kept, so that in some measure a comparison may bo made between day and contract work.

lUr. J. lionet/field's Glabn.-r-X letter was rca-l from the Engineer relative to the question of tho compensation claimed by Mr. J. Honeyftold for a piece of laud at Moturoa sought to be acquired by tho Board for purposes connected with the Harbour works, and for the proposed construction of the railway from New Plymouth to tho Harbour site. The Engineer stated that Mr. J. .Honcyliold expected to bo paid £300 for the piece of land in question, and as the Engineer considered the amount claimed to be excessive (the urea of the land baing only 1 acre and (5 porches) ' he suggested to Mr. Honcyficld that the question be submitted to arbitration, which Mr. Honcyfield agreed to.— On the motion 6f Mr. Oarrington, 1 seconded by Mr. CaveßniLTi, the report made by the Engineer respecting Mr. J. Honcyfiold's land was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Staudish, Wells, and Carringtou. Port Charges.— A report made by the committee appointed to enquire into the Port charges now levied at the Port of New Plymouth was road.r— Tho roport showed that the r.itcs at present charged at New Plymouth, were as follows : — Pilotage, 3d. per ton in and outj ; I'ort charges, Id. per ton per quarter ; Harbour Master's fees, no charge. Tho proposed tariff for the Port of Now Plymouth was :— Pilotage for sailing vessels, one full annual pilotage (3d, per ton in and out, and exemption certificate) ,* steam vessels, £2, upoji complying with section 78 of the Act ; port charges, 4d per ton half-yearly on all vessels ; harbour fees, Id. per ton on all vessels when harbour-master's services arc required. The report also shewod the present rate charged at Waitara, viz., pilotage, £d. per ton in and out ; port charges, 3d. per ton per quarter ; hiirbour-niftster's fees, no charge. The maximum fees allowed. by the Act arc .-—Pilotage : sailing vessels, in and out, (Jd. per ton ; steam vessels, 4d. per ton, in and out. Port charges : Sailing vessels, steam, or otherwise, 0d per ton half yearly. Harbour-master's fees : For vessels of 1201 20 tons and upwards, ld.perton ; vessels loss than 120 tuns, 10s. All vessclfe under 100 tons (section 87 of this Act) are exempt from compulsory pilotage. In all cases where pilot is signalled for, pilotage rate will be charged. The report as read was ordered to lie on the table.

Depositing Rubbish on the>Beaoh. — A (letter wns road from the Harbour-master complaining that persons were in the habit of depositing rubbish, broken bottles, &c, on^tho beach below high water mark, jto the tlaugcr|of persons travelling upon the beach. Ho had repeatedly asked persons not to deposit tho rubbish there, but no notice had boon taken of his request. He therefore desired tho Board to see that clause 217 of tho Harbour Act was enforced. The Secretary was instructed to sec that tho clause was enforced in future. Tender?.-— Tenders for the erection of a fence on the reserve at Parittitu were road as follows : Tenders for wire fence— A. Bayly, &\ 19s. per chain ; George Hoby, £1 lite, (id. per chain ; J. Mother, £2 per chain ; W. H. George, £2 2s. per chain ; J. Maver, £2 10s. per chain. Post and rail fence :W. 11. George, £2 Bs. per chain ; J, Mather, £3 (N. per chain. — Tho tender of Mr. A. Bayly was accepted. Blasting at Paritntu.—Mv. Oaveiuiill said he noticed in the newspapers that a contractor at Lyttcltonhad succeeded in breaking up at ono blast 8,000 tons of stone, and he thought it would bo a good plan to try the same at Paritutu in order to test the nature of tho stono boforc the Engineer proceeded to England. — Tho Engineer was ' asked his opinion, and he statod that a great deal would be required <o be done before even a small blast could bo put in.— Mr. Bewlet asked if the blast could not bo put in tho present chamber ? — Tho Engineer said it would be useless to put a blast in the present chamber, as the dirt would mix with the stone, and the stone could not be got at to ascertain it»s character. A new face would be required to be made before the blast could be put in. They would require to go in twenty or thirty feet before the blast would touch tho face of the rook. — Mr. Banks thought that if thpy could only get the faceof tho rock it would bo better than nothing, and it would give some idea to Sir J. Coode as to the nature of the rock.- -On the motion of Mr. Banks, seconded by Mr. Cakkinutox tho Engineer was instructed to make a blast with the least possible delay. Accounts. — Accounts amounting to £-105 (ss, Sid, were passed for payment. Tho Board adjourned for a fortnight, ;