HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11635, 16 March 1901, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

Tun Boanl mft on Fri<ky. Present : Messrs Maxwell (chairman), Connett, McLean, Cliff, Ward, Sarten, Hignett, and Ralfe. Mr Marchant wrote at length re the sand pump and sheathing the wa lings on the wharf. He did not think tae latter necessary. — A discussion ensU' J on the way the wharf contract w.19 Loing done. —Messrs Cliff and Sarten considered the work should 1)3 tested as it progressed. — The Chairman ruled the discussion out of order, and said it was for their engineer to formally pass the work. Mr Napier Bell, writing from Hobart on February 25. stated that owing t > illness and pressure of work where ha was, | he could not visit New Zealand. He, however, considered the Board's interests would be fully served if all plans and reports, and opinions on the works were forwarded to him. He could make a careful study of the plans, &c, and as he bad a personal acquaintance with the harbour he could send them a report on tho harbour. — Mr Sarten: I don't feel inclined to send Mr Bell my report. — The Secretary read a letter he had, according to the Chairman's instructions, sent Mr Bell giving the information asked for. — Mr Sarten said he had been in communication with Mr L. Reynolds, engineer, as to his hole-in-the-wall scheme. He desired an engiueer to make a personal inspection of the harbour, and if Mr Bell could not come here then he would fetch Mr Reynolds here without any expense to the Board. — Mr Connett said he was in favour of a personal inspection, and he moved, That the Board preferred a personal visit, as any report given otherwise would not have the desired effect; also that the Board would hold the matter over till Mr Bell was able to visit New Zealand. — The motion was carried. Mr Samuel, solicitor to the Board, wrote with respect to the advertising of the Mount Eliot reserves. It was tho custom when reserves were applied for to demand a deposit from the applicant to cover the cost of advertising and other matters in connection with offering them. The deposit taken only allowed a small outlay on advertising, and he had inserted the advertisement in the Herald. The News Co. had, however, inserted the advertisement without authority. —A letter from the News Co. was also read. — The Secretary said that all the Board's advertisements were inserted in both papers.- After discussion, it was decided that the News Co. be paid for the same number of insertions as the Herald. — Mr Connett thought the Board should not cut expense in advertising such a valuable property. — Messrs Ralfe, Me Lean, and the Chairman considered that if there was any blame it was the Board's. — Mr Hignett moved, in effect, that all advertising in the future should be done through the secretary, instructed by the Board. — Mr Cliff seconded the motion, which was carried. Letters were read from the Stratford , County Council and Barrett Road Board, supporting the Board in the objecion to the charges for valuation made by the Valuation Department : letters were read from the Colonial Secretary's Department, and also from the Valuation Department, stating the Board's objections would receive consideration. — The Secretary said the letter from the Department was dated February 28, and yet no reply had been received. Mr Tribe, Secretary of the Sash and Door Company, wrote asking for a reason ! why the Co.'s tender, being the lowest, was not accepted for supply of totara and kauri.— The Chairman remarked that the tenders were fixed up in Committee. A copy of the verdict of the Coroners jury in connection with the drowning of the late Mr J. S. Hart was forwarded by the Marine Department. The verdict had a rider stating that as the place was dangerous a notice board should be put up. — The Chairman said it was no part of the Board's duty to put up notice boards. They might as well put notice boards up all along the coast. He said that since this fatality a man had been washed off the Mikotahi Rock, and had a narrow escape from drowning. — Mr Sarten considered a notice board was necessary, as the place was dangerous. — No action was taken. Mr Samuel wrote with reference to sale by auction of Mt. Eliot leases. He stated he had 9een Mr S. W. Shaw as to the sale and Mr Sbaw had informed him that neither he nor Mr King would receive any consideration or benefit from the selling of the leases, and that another auctioneer will conduct the sale and Mr King's mart will be lent gratuitously for the purpose. He (Mr Samuel) would attend the sale and suggested that the secretary should do so and that the Board should resolv«, "That the secretary bo authorised to sign on behalf of the Board agreements for leases which may be sold at the auction of sale adti«ed to take placed on March 30, 1901." This was carried. The foreman's report was read. During February he had driven three piles in centre of approach where the extension work is going on, the old piles being completely done; the iron slay-piles of the delivery pipes of the new sand pump were almostcpsized during the late storm. He received 109 tons of large stone from the quarry. The wharf extension contract «ras progressing satisfactorily, and should be finished in about a month. The harbourmaster reported that during February 37 steamers, of an aggregate tonnage of 27,262 tons, had been berthed at the wharf. The imports were 2641 tons, including 448 tons of private coal and 255 tons railway coal; and the exports wtre 971 tons, making a total ot 3612 tons of cargo. On Saturday, 23rd February, a very heavy N.E. gale set in, with very heavy sea and high tide, giving the mole a very strong test of its stability, and the Gairloch was moored at the whirf and landed 1100 sbeep during the day. The dredge worked 15 days, making 156 trips, removing 9360 cubic yards of sand. The pump and machinery in the dredge were working satisfactorily. He suggested tbo adVisableness of imporiing from Eng land Bailey and Chapman's latest patent acetylene gas plant to supply the whole of the lights on the wharf and approach, also the leading lights for the port. He estimated the price at £70 to include the whole of the plant and fittings.— The last named suggestion was held over till next meeting. It was decided to order 250 more pamphlets on the harbour, and to give Mr Smith M.H.R. 60 copies to take to England. Accounts wero passed.