HARRBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3564, 13 October 1880, Page 2

HARRBOUR BOARD.

TflE Flarbour Bo ml met on Tuesday. Present : Mr. T. King (in the chair), Messrs. Carringfc^n, Dingle. Thompson, Bevy ley, Staudish, Yavisour, and Wells. Concrete Scheme. — A communication from the Secretary of the Marine Department was read, forwarding a copy of the New Zealand Gazette containing an Order in Council approving of the plans for the concrete breakwater at New Plymouth. The letter stated that duplicate plans as approved had been forwarded per llinemoa. — The CHAIRMAN also read the notification in the Gazette approving of: the plans and vesting in the Board power to adopt cither concrete or rubble work in the formation of the breakwater as far as low water mark. Iron-sand Company. — A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary acknowledging the receipt of a letter from the Board, urging upon the Government the importance of the Government assisting the New Plymouth Harbour Board in recovering from the New Zealand Tita-iic Iron and Steel Company the penalties clvi for non-fulfilment of its engagement in smelting the iron sand, and snting that the letter had been referred to the Crown Lands Department. Prison Site. — The CHAIRMAN said that lie had forwarded a letter to the Government on behalf of the Board requesting that the old prison site might be granted to the Board in lieu of the land at Mount Elliot proposed to be taken by the Government for railway purposes. No reply had yet been received to the letter. Engineer's Report. — The Engineer's report was read as folio >vs :: — ■' I have the^ honor to report that the following works are now in hand (employing 7!) men, or a daily average of S!U) :—(1): — (1) Road to jetty ; (2) Erection of launch ; (3) Erection of engine and boiler ditto; (4) Snipping the Fishing Rock: (5) Quarrying stone for retaining wall to tramway ; ((>) Protection of sand slopes on road form^ I by Bishop ; and (7) Erection of shed for steam crane. The tramway Ins been surveyed, pegged out, and plans, sec ions, and specifications prepared for contract. Tenders have been called for lowering the tramway grade to the level of the revised plans. I have to ask your authority to call for tenders for the supply of fire woo I for engines, cranes, Sec. The works are progressing favourably. I enclose copies of telegram received from Messrs. J. McE .yen & Co., ami reply to same. Also, a return of officers employed. Copy of telegram received from Messrs. J. McE .yen & Co.—' London, September 30th, 1880. — Have chartered British ship Adamant, sailing in November. May we till up cargo with 3000 casks cement, saving you £100 .'" Reply : ' Ship if you can get ready for nest direct vessel to Wellington one locomotive. You can arrange cement as propose!.'" Return of Officers Employed. — A return of officers employe I was read as follows: — 1 clerk ; 1 foreman fitter ; 1 foreman quarryman ; 1 store and time-keeper. Note : Mr. O. Deacon has been appointed storekeeper and time-keeper, at a salary of £125 -is. per annum ; or Bs. per day. Freight Charges. -A letter was real from Messrs. E. L. Humphries & Son, Agents for the s.s. llangatira lately stranded, stating shat the owners oE that vessel declined to refer their claim against the Board for freight to arbitration, and requested the immediate settlement of the account. — The Chairman said tint he an I Mr. Dingle had gone into thing to be done was to pay the amount claimed. Although it was excessive, it would save the expense of costly litigation. One item had been reduced by the boatmen agreeing to take £3 less than the amount charged. — Mr. Bewley hoped that arrangements would be made in future so as to avoid a similar dispute arising. Firewood. — On the motion of Mr. Dingle, 'seconded by Mr. Caubington, it was resolved "That tha Engineer be authorised to call for tenders for a supply of firewood for engines, cranes, &c. !< — The Engineer stated that he proposed at first to try firewood instead oC coal, as the former was cheaper. IE he found that wood did not answer the purpose he would then request the Board to authorise him to obtain a shipment of coal from Newcastle. TimeJtecper. — Mr. Standish asked the Engineer if it was necessary to engage the services of a timekeeper at present ? — The Engineer stated that it was necessary to make the appointment, as the work of keeping the time o£ the men already engaged too much of the foreman's attention. — Mr. Standish : There is a clerk as well : is it necessary that there should also be a timekeeper.' — The EvGINEER : The clerk's time is .taken up iv attending to the office, &o. Were there not a clerk I should have to stay in the office myselE when I should be at the works. Tenders. — In answer to a question the Engineer stated that he had to postpone the receiving oE tenders for earthwork, as he had telegrams from Dunedin and Napier asking for information about the work. — Mr. STANDISH : It was rather awkward your appointing the tenders to be in by Wednesday when the Board does not meet till the following Tuesday, aud the tenders must be opened by the Hoard. That will necessitate a special meeting of the Board being calleJ. — Mr. lltiiss : There is no necessity for a special meeting being called ; the tenders can remain unopened until the usual sitting of the Bo ml.— Mr. Standish said that the time allowed for completing the contract was too short ; it would require a large number of men to do the work in the specific I time. — The Engineer said he wanted the ground to erect the buildings upon. — Mr. Staxdish (to Mr. Itees) : You said just now that there was no hurry for the tenders being opened : why then is there any hurry for the contract bsing completed /—Mr. Eees : It did not matter for a week.— Air. Standish : I have also heard complaints about the unusually heavy penalty — £.>() per week — after contract time. That has had the effect of preventing persons tendering.— Mr. Rees said that the laud was urgently required in order to erect the sheds for the plant which was expected to arrive from England, and if the sheds were not finished when the plant arrived, temporary sheds would be required, which would involve the expenditure oE £100. It was, therefore, necessary that the penalty should be heavy in order to ensure the completion of the contract within the required time.— Mr. Dingle (to the Engineer) : Will yon guarantee to do the work yourself in six weeks ? I think the Board will have to pay clearly for having this work done so quickly. I do not believe the Engineer could do it in six weeks. It is well known that work costs more whuu it has to bu dove quickly. —Mr,

Rens : It would not be any great pivss ire to require the work to bs done in :i month instead of six weeks. On a large portion of the coufract a rain can be employe I ou every three yaivis or less. — Mr. Dixgli: : The work should have been let in two contracts if it was required to be finished, so soon. — Mr. Vavasour : We can got the work done cheaper by having one contract, and we can depend upon one contractor better than two. — -Mr, C.YUKixuTON said that one or two men had spoken to j him about the short time allowed for completing tho work, but they did not say anything about the penalty. Under-mining the Cliff's. — Mr, Well moved " That the Harbour Master be instructed to take steps to put a stop to the practice that existed at present of under-mining the cIiHN. Ho said that some men had. under-mined the cliffs near the gas-works, and the practice wtiij a dangerous one. — Mr. Thompson seconded the motion, which was carried. Mi. CarringtttiCs Responsibility. — Mr. Carrington asked if anything had been done with the letter \rhich he addressed to the Board on the Ist March, 1 880, and afterwards published in the TAUANAKI IiEUALD, having' reference to his views upon the harbour scheme at New Plymouth ?— The Secuetaky replied that the letter had been considered by the Board, but that nothing had been done in connection, with ir. — Mr. Cahring-ton : That is all I want to know. I wish to put something on rccor 1, so that when I am in my grave it will be seen that I am not responsible for somethings which have happened in Taranaki. — .Mr. Dixgle : Yes you will be responsible, Mr. Carrington, unlcs3 you clear out of the Board. Accounts. — Accounts amounting to £1(75 !)». 5 I. were passed for paj r inant. The Bo.xrd then adjourned until Wednesday next.