HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10331, 12 June 1895, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

( Continued from yesterday. ) The Board adjourned at 1 and resumed at 2 o'clock.

The Board, on resuming from Committee, accepted the tender of B. Pool, of Feilding, for quarrying and putting stone over tha seaward face of the mole at 2s 3d per yard. Reports. — The Harbourmaster reported that the dredge during May had made 37 trips, taking to sea 1480 yards of sand, working 14 days. — Tho foreman, Mr Gillbanks, reported that 424 cubic yards of stone had been quarried and put over tho face of the mole ; also that 440 cubic yards of sand had been cleared off the permanent way ; and that one damaged section of the breakwater had been reI paired. Finance Committee. — The Finance Committee made recommendations with respect to the payment for the position of secretary and collector. — The report was held over from the last meeting. - Mr Smith enquired if it was not an instruction to the Committee to confer with the Secretary as to the terms on which he would retain the office) and if the Secretary did not agree then tenders were to be called for the positions. — The Chairman said that the Committee were to recommend to the Board,who would offer the terms to the Secretary. The report of the Finance Committee was as follows : That £ lOObe paid as secretary • aud 2£ per cent.as collector of rate, to include all expenses except compiling rolls, advertising, and rate law expenses ; and that if the rato be less than £8000, on which the estimate is based, the percentage be iv proportion. — Mr McLean moved tho adoption of

the report. — Mr Ward moved as an amendment, " That the remuneration for the secretaryship be as heretofore, but that the per centage for collection be reduced from 3£ to 2h" He explained his reasons for moving the amendment. — Mr Smith seconded the amendment.

He said that while receiving an apparent large sum in the past, the secretary had a lot of expense, and what was to bo taken into account was what the secretary actually received after deducting the expenses. In consideration of the past services of the secretary, his intimate knowledge of the Board's affairs, and with the belief that they could not get a better man, he would support Mr Ward's amendment. He trusted the members

would accept the amendmont. —Mr Davies said if Mr Ward would alter his amendmont to 2j per cent, for collection he would voto for the amendment. —

Mr Shearer was of the same opinion. —

Mr McLean said that the Committee thought that 2 per cent, would have been sufficient for collection, but in view of Mr Jtennell's long service they had added another^- per cent. — Mr Rennell said that 2-f per cent, on £8000 would produce £180. He had to purchase rato books, and then there was a charge of £20 for post cards to notify the ratepayers, and replies had to be sent. If a notification for the second inBtalment were made there would be an additional £20. — Mr McLean : But you would only have to stamp any receipt over £2. — Mr Rennell : That is free ; the cost is incurred in notifying the ratepayers by post card, which i 3 compulsory by law. Mr Rennell continued that ho bad to purchase rate books, receipt books, and thousands of envelopes. The reduction proposed would not be appreciable to the ratepayers, nor would it favor the landholders in any way. The committee asked him to accept the reduction, and if ho refused them in the alternative the Board would call for tenders without giving him any warning or remuneration for his long service in tho Board's employ. Ho had been connected with tho Board from its inception, being first auditor, and subsequently secretary, under eight: different Boards, in which capacity ho had given general satisfaction. — After further discussion, Mr Ward's amendment was altered to read, That the secretary be paid as heretofore, but the per centage for collection to be reduced from 3£ to 2£ per cent, tho Board to bear the expenses hitherto borne by the collector.— Seconded by Mr Smith, and cawied on l a show of hands.

Dredging. — ' The Chairman explained ■what st«ps had been taken - with a view of securing a dredge. He referred to the cable sent to Melbourne and the reply tended to show that tho Harbor Trust there had several dredges on hand. It was however the opinion of n. competent authority, the manager of the Union Company hero, that the Board should endeavor to get the Tiraaru dredge. — Mr Smitu advocated the Chairman proceeding south on the dredge question. The Chairman could proceed to Wellington and interview the Premier, and afterwards proceed to Lyttelton, Timaru and Dunodin if necessary. At the same time the Chairman, while in Wellington, could see about a weighbridge. He moved in that direction. — Mr Wakd seconded the motion, which was carried. — The Ciiah:MAN said he would bo prepared to go on Friday next. — Mr Smitu said that Mr Maxwell if ha wanted information would know where to find him in Wellington on his return from the South. Works Committee's Riport.— T)w Works

Committee, who met on Monday, made several recommendations, which wero adopted. It was also decided to obtain a weighbridge for the purpose of weighing tho stone to bo put over the mole. Prinonm' Carriugc. — A lettOT from tho Prisons Department vfai lvad iutiinating

th.it the Railway Dopnrtmonc would no longer carry the prisuripj-i iree. and re-

questing the Board to mivlcn arrang';-

ments ior the future.- Mr Smith said it would bo as well to know what it was inteilded to do with the prisoners before the Government were approached on tho subject of a concession. — Mr Maxwell said it was understood that in the event of a tender boing accepted the prisoners would bo put on to clean the quarry up, &c., and aftor that was done he did not know what use they would havo for tho prisoners. — Mr Smith suid tint was the answer ho had oxpected. Ho was of sufficient intelligence to know that in the acceptance of a tender tho prisoners would bo dispensed with. TJndor tho circumstances he would not bother his head over tho matter. — Mr McLean said it was a question of cost. If tho prison labor cost more than it was worth to the Board it was no use keeping it on. It was a question of getting a roduction.- — It was decided finally that the chairman and Mr Smith, when in Wellington, should interview the Minister of Railways with a view to a reduction. Accounts wore passed, aud tho Board adjourned.