HABBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3464, 24 June 1880, Page 2

HABBOUR BOARD.

The Harbour Board met on Tuesday. Present : Mr. T. King (chairman), Messrs. Carringtou,' Dingle, Thompson, Wells, Curtis, Vavasour, Bewley, and Sfcandish. Boatsheds. — The Committee appointed to enquire into the state of the sheds now in use by the Landing Company reported as follows : — " The roofs are more or less all leaky, and require repairs. To cover with corrugated iron will take about 7000 superficial feet/ The galvanised iron can be spared from the harbour stores. About 2000 feet (b.m.) of timber will be required for repairs to walls and roofa. Total co^t of timber and laTfour'i £35. — Mr. Thompson thought it would be .advisable to allow the Lighter Company to continue their tenancy at the present rate (£IOO per annum), and the Board should cause the necessary repairs to bo eiecuterl. — On -the motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Wells, it was resolved, " That the report be adopted, and the tenancy of Boswell and Company be received on the same terms for twelvemonths." Engineer's Report. — A report by the En-" gineer was read as follows: — " Referring to information desire*d of me by the Board at their last meeting relative to works 'requiring' attention, I have to submit the following, viz., — (1) Stone pitching to foot of slopes of new road. (2) Stone pitching to tramway. [The above are necessary to protect .the work from the sea.] (3) To make the necessary arrangements for landing and storing the cargo expected by the direct ship. (-1) To call for tenders for the erection of necessary stores and boat-house for launch and cargo boat. Memo, of plaut landed 21st June, ex Rangativa — \ pair bellows (ri vetting); 2 cisks o£ phain; i coils rope; 1 pair blacksnlith's bellows; 300 casks cement; 91 iron rails, 401b5.; 235 bundles fish plates."'— The CHAIRMAN* ' said the protective works mentioned by Mr. Rees were necessary, as some person had taken *away the stone originally laid down-at the base of the work. Possibly ,this was done by the contractor for. metalling the road.- • Mr. Rees also intended to erect a' boat-house adjoining the present one, and to construct the inner portion of the jetty with timber. This would enable the rron jetty to be run out to low water mark, and it would be available at any state of the tide. Landing Plant,- $c— The Chairman said arrangements. had been made with Messrs. Boswell and Co. for landing the stores, Sec, already in the Colony, at the rate of 7.5. 6d. per ton 'at New Plymouth, and 10s. at Moturoa. Mr. Rees had made arrangements with Messrs. Berry and Newman for renting a store in which to place for the present the cement landed ex Rangatira. T/ie Nen> Boat.—W:. Standish asked how •soon it was intended to have the proposed -boat built ? Unless it was done/immediately it would be of little use, as the ship would arrive from England shortly, and .her cargo would require to be landed at once. — The Chairman said that the Engineer had made arrangements for obtaining specifications, and tenders would be called for the work in a short time.— On the motion of Mr. Caruington it was agreed " That the Engineer be instructed to -carry out the stone pitching at the new road .and at the tramway, and to-call for tenders for the erection of' the necessary stores and boathouse." Also "That the Chairman and Mr. Rees be authorised to make the necessary arrangements for landing and storing the cargo expected by the direct ship." Resuming Operations. — Mr. BEWLEY asked if it was contemplated by the Engineer to proceed with the stripping of Paritutu at once? — Mr. Rees said he did not think it would be advantageous to commence work at Paritutu until the other works were more advanced.' The levelling of the quarry ground could be commenced at once, but the tramway could not be taken in hand at present as the original levels had been altered. — Mr. Standish asked how soon it was expected that the Government would approve of the amended plans? — The Engineer said it would take about ten days longer before the tracings of the plans would be ready to be sent to the Government. He proposed to send His report at the same time.' — Mr. Standish thought that Mr. Rees should go to Wellington in order to expedite the passing of the plans by the Government. It was very probable that the Government would require further in formation from Mr. Rees than would be contained in his report. — Mr. Bewley did not think it would be right to incur the expense of sending Mr. Rees to Wellington before it was absolutely necessary to do so. — Mr. Standish : Expense is nothing in a case like this.— The Chairman agreed with Mr. Standish that the expense of sending Mr. Rees to Wellington should not be considered in such an important question, but he was not of opinion that it was necessary to send Mr. Rees until the Government had asked to be supplied with further information. — Mr. Standish thought the Government was certain to enquire into the discrepancy between the estimate of Sir John Coode and Mr. Rees. and it was of great importance that Mr. Rees should have an opportunity of convincing the Government that his calculations were | right. — The Chairman did not think that was a question that could be decided by the Government or anyone else. Time alone would prove whether Sir J. Coode or Mr. Rees was right. — Mr. Bewley said the* Board was prepared to accept the estimate of Sir J. Coode, and if Mr. Rees calculations were right, the Board would be able to continue the breakwater a greater distance than the point indicated by Sir J. Coode.— Mr. STANDISH said the question which the Government would consider was whether, if Sir J. Coode's estimate was right, it was advisable to spend so much money for so small a result ? — Mr. CarringTON agreed with the views expressed by Mr. Bewle3 r . He did not think it would be necessary to obtain the authority of the GoTernment for every foot of the work proposed to be constructed. It would be quite sufficient to obtain their sanction to the general scheme, aud the breakwater could be extended as far as the funds would parry it. — Mr. Bewley said if the question of the two estimates was considered, it would only introduce a bonC of contention as to which was right.— The CHAIRMAN : All we want is the Government to sanction the work to be carried out in accordance with Sir J. Coode's plans. Accounts.— Accounts amounting to £119 Is. 2d. were passed for payment. The Board then adjourned.