WAITARA HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143550, 15 July 1911, Page 7

WAITARA HARBOUR BOARD.

s (From Our Own Correspondent.) The usual monthly meeting of the above board was heiu on IM'iciay afternoon. Present; Messrs. \Y. if. Jenkins (chairman), \V. Birdling, K. T. Hicks, Jas. Mine,. Junr., Jas. Rattenbury, and J. IX- Smith. An apology was received from Air. AV..J. Jennings, Jl.Pi, for his unavoidable _ absence, owimg to having to go to Wellington. Tho following correspondence was dealt with : From Air. G. H. Pope, secretary of the Urenui Railway League, asking tho board’s co-opcration in regard to tho proposed railway between Urenui and AVaitara. —Acknowledged. The chairman remarked than a public meting had been convened • but very little interest had been shown by the public, only thirteen (the devil’s number) turning up. / From Captain Jensen, master of the Tainui, complaining of an qbstruc- ' tion in the river which retarded the steamer's movements for some three hours. The chairman mentioned that the day in question there was an exceptionally iow tide. Air. Hicks suggested soundings being taken. The obstruction miglit have been caused by a log brought down by the recent fresh. Mr. Hine (said he had previously mentioned that the dredge should have completed tho river operations near Hatrick’s wharf before being put out of commission, particularly as he understood that there was a possibility of stones or rock in the vicinity. The chairman remarked that the dredge was not at tho present able to cope with the matter of lifting stone, until the grab was altered. it was resolved that Air. Hicks and the acting pilot be authorised to take soundings in the locality, for the purpose of ascertaining where the obstruction is. From Harbours’ Association re annual conference, asking it there was any business which the Waitara Board desired being discussed. From Lyttelton Harbour Board, asking for information as to the personnel of the AVaitara Board as present constituted.—Resolved that information be given. From Marine Department re regulations for life saving purposes and requesting information as to what life saving apparatus was in use in AVaitara.—Received. From Health Department re the necessity of dealing with the prevention of the plague bacillus by rat extermination. From New Plymouth Harbour Board declining terras for hire of the AVaitara Board’s steam winch. From Ocean Accident Society re insurance of board’s employees.—Resolved that policies bo renewed. From Mr. L. H. Sampson, applying for re-appointment on tho grounds that at the last meeting it was stated by a member of the board that old employees were eligible. The chairman said he hardly understood the present position. Air. Hicks wished to know which position the applicant wished for. Mr. 'Smith said the former position held. Mr., Hine said that Air. Rattenbury was the member responsible for the statement, and seeing tho statement had been made unqualified he thought that Air. Sampson was quite justified in sending in his application. Mr. Rattenbury said what he meant to make clear was that ‘‘all who were eligible could apply for the positions that were "being advertised for.” The chairman said perhaps Air. Sampson was trying to take a rise out of the board, but as a matter of fact they could do nothing as' applications had been called for stated positions. Ho moved that Mr. Sampson be written to and informed that his application could not be entertained. Air. Smith seconded the motion, as he- thought it the only thing to do in the circumstances. Air. Hine said it was regrettable that misleading remarks should be made by a member, which should place a man in a false position. * Tho chairman said that it very often happened that a member of a public, body made a remark which might be construed" into various meanings, and this was one of them; The motion was carried. The board then considered the applications for' harbourmaster and secretary, There were thirty-ftmr applications for this dual position, from applicants residing all over the Dominion. The successful candidate was Captain A. G. Thompson, who received tho largest number of votes. The newly appointed officer though only in his 29th year comes with the highest credentials. He joined the Royal Navy in 1898, and after attaining tho rank of lieutenant, resigned from the service to enter that of the P. and 0,. Company as fourth officer, and later received a Board of Trade certificate as master of a foreign going ship. He was then at his own request transferred as purser with the, same company, and was engaged in that, capacity mitil January of this year. In addition to the above the applicant has made a special study of accountancy. The position carries a salary of £250 per annum. The successful candidate for tho position of cadet was Hugh Dimmer. , The salary in this case starts at £4O per annum with subsequent rises until £BO which is the maximum.