HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11658, 18 January 1901, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

The Harbour Board met to-day (Friday). Present : Messrs E. Maxwell (chairman), Connett, McLean, Kinjj, Ward, Hignett, ttalfe. Sarten, and Cliff.

Mr J. Rollo reported, under date 24th December; on art accident to the saftdfliimp through a belt in the engine breaking. The Engineer, Mr Marchant, forwarded Mr Rollo's report on the late accident to the sand-pump plant; Sucty a smash »s nad occurred appeared to him (Mr Marchant) to be not the result of a pure accident, but seemed to be the result of want of competent management of machinery. .There walj the writer o&ied', nd difficulty in working the plant and getting excellent results under capable and inttlligjnt management, but anything short, of that will not give satisfaction. He suggested that Mr R6lio should have oversight of tbe working of the plant. Concerning Mr Napier Bell, he was glad tbe Board had communicated with him conoeriing Mr Sar ten's scheme, as there was now hope of getting at some fiDality one way or the other. He would like to meet Mr Bell and discuss the matter, but doubted if it would be politic to do so, j for should his report be against the scheme such adverse opinion would most likely be attributed to his (Mr Marchant's) influence. Another letter from Mr .Marchant was to tjie effect that hb could not see hjow the Boards resolution to have a mttntn's trial bf ttie sand puftp oduld be given effect to, as tie plant could not work continuously ; it must be worked as the weather ia favourable. He also recommended the acceptance of tender for windmill and pump io connection with the water sup ply at the harbour. — The Board decided, ou Mr flignett's motion, to accept Messrs Reid arid Gray's tender (L 55 .— The Chairman said as regards the sand pump the members had already fully discussed the matter* and It was now for tUe Boaird to come to some decision as to whether the month's trial should be gone on with or not. — Mr Sarten remarked that it appeared to him that there was something radically wrong with the i pump. One day they were told the plant was working exceHentiy, and the next that an accident had happened. — The Chairman replied that it was very unfortunate that these accidents 6hould occur, and that the final determination as to whether the plant answered the purpose should be continually deferred. —Mr Connttt said it seemed to him that un deserved blamo was attached tct tbe men in charge. He was down at the breakwater just before the accident, and things were wdrkmg satisfactorily. His brother had a good deal of experience in such work, and he (the speaker) did not think such a charge should be made. —Mr Cliff agreed with Mr Connett. If the men were not competent Mr Marchant should, he said, have pointed that out before he went back to Timaru. He thought the Board should adhere to its resolution to give the plant a month's trial. — Mr Hignett stated that the whole question seemed to have resolved itself into a question as to whether the Board has or has not confidence in its engineer. If the Board had confidence in him then the only alternative seemed to be to make a sweeping change among the men. If Mr Connett would pardon him referring to a personal matter, he would like to say if a member of the Board so frequently mentioned that a brother of his .-—Mr Connett: I beg your pardon. I haven't frequently mentioned my brotheri — Mf Hignett t As t mentioned before I do not wish to be personal, but yoti frequently mentioned your brother, and I think if members bring these relationships continually before the Board it is likely to complicate tbe efficient working of matters, — Mr Sirten said they were frequently hearing about the engineer, and this was another instance. — Mr Ward also spoke. — Mr; Connett said he would personally like to see someone else engaged to run the machinery, and then tbe Board would probably discover where the weakness was. — Mr Sarten rose to speak again, but Mr Hignett raised a point of order that Mr Sarten had spoken once, and the business of the Board was being delayed by such breaches of the procedure. — Mr Sarten: Our business is to do our best for the harbour. —Mr Hignett : Yes, but not to delay the Board's .business. — Mr Sarten : I notice that when I've got something to say that this gentleman (Mr Hignett) doesn't want td hear he cries me down. — The Chairman : I must call you to order. You have spoken once<— Mr Sarten : I was going to say . — The Chairman : Kindly sit down. — Mr Sarten resumed his seat, protesting audibly. — Some further discussion took place on the matter under notice, but no resolution was passed.

A letter was read from the Borough Council regarding the extension of Curriestreet.—No action was taken.

It was decided, on Mr King's motion, seconded by Mr Hignett, that a letter be sent to the District Railway Engineer drawing attention to the fact that a quantity of iarge stone at the quarry suitable for protection work is being broken «p, contrary to the understanding with the Department.

On Mr Connett's motion, it was de cided that the question of protection of loDgitndinal piles used in the present contract at the wharf bo referred to the Engineer.

The Advertising Committee reported (bat six photographs of the harbour had been accepted. — Three from Mr Collis and three from Mr White, and Mr Hooker was asked to submit a tender for printing and lithographing 1000 copies of a book giving a history of the harbour.— The Chairman stated that Mr Hooker's tender bad since beep accepted. — Action confirmed. ' -

The Chairman's annual ' report was adopted and Mr Maxwell thanked for the same. It was decided to mention in the report that plans were being prepared for an extension of the harbour.