OPUNAKE HARBOUR BOARD

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144050, 20 March 1913, Page 4

OPUNAKE HARBOUR BOARD

Tho first meeting of tho newly- : elected Board was held at Opunako on Saturday, v. hen there were present; — j Messrs. T. I’. Hugiison, it. P. Malcolm, .M. J. MacKeyuolds, A . H. Moore, Jus. Macho and A. M'Known (elected members), 11. Lambic, senr. (Govern- | meat nominee). j ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. j The returning officer, Mr. Geo. RogI ers, having read tho official dcciara- ; tion. Air. M'Ke.own proposed and Mr. I Hughson seconded that Mr, Macltey- | nobis bo elected chairman. Mr. Hughj ran was proposed by Mr. Malcolm, but | declined nomination. There being no j other nomination, Mr! .Maolteynolds | was declared duly elected. , .On taking his seat as tho first chairI man of tho Board, Mr. Macßoynolds I said he had no idea or expectancy that 1 he would have been nominated for the position, and ho would certainly have declined had Ids' election not been tm- ! aiiiraons. As it was he accepted their I verdict. He was not altogether a noj vice on public bodice, but ho confessed ! ho had no knowledge of harbour hoard 1. business. It was, however, never too I late to learn. During the latter part ) of his life ho had mended considerably, [ and having mended ho trusted ho , would he able to learn. He had every confidence in his team, and had no doubt they would copo successfully with any difficulties which might arise. He again thanked them for tho honour they'had conferred upon him in electing him their first chairman. CONGRATULATIONS Tho following telegram was read from Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P.: “1 aui pleased to convoy - my congratulations to the newly-formed Opuuake Harbour Beard, which, I trust, will he thy means of effecting great improveI mentx in the shipping facilities at the | pert of Opnnakc. Opuuake, although I having splendid claims for railway con- ; miction, should endeavour by all possible means to develop its shipping facilities, which, I trust, tho Board will bo able to bring about. With best wishes for success.” HARBOUR ENDOWMENTS. Tho following letter was road from the I,and;: Department:, “As yon are a ware, -it is provided under danse i) of the Opunnko Harbour Amendment Act, 1912. that the lands mentioned in the schedule attached aro set apart as an endowment for your Board. Although the schedule is incomplete, in that it does not state where the sections are .situated, the lands referred to arc those shown in the schedule, 'and the schedule gives the particulars of the sections that are leased, tho names of tho lessees, the annual rentals, etc. 1 have notified tho lessees that in future the rents payable under their leases must ho paid to your. Board. In tho case of sections 1 to 4, block 28, leased to T, .Knowles, you will observe that the lease expires on Juno 30 next. _ As this lease includes sections 46, 47, 4S, Opuuake suburban, which ■ aro' not part of the endowment, no action will ho taken until tho (late of expiry.” Tho rentals from tho sections above mentioned total £3B 9s 6d per year. FUTURE MEETINGS. Some little discussion took place as to the frequency and' tho day ol the week future, meetings would bo held. Finally it was decided to Jiold tho first ordinary meeting on Wednesday week ■at 1.30 p.m., and thereafter on every second Thursday at the same hour, SECRETARY.

The question of appointing a secretary was next discussed. Air. Moore thought they should defer making any appointment until they know how their finances were, hut tho other members were of opinion that it was essential to have a secretary, and decided to call for applications to bo in and dealt with at next meeting. ‘ ) GOVERNMENT, NOMINEE. Air. Moore considered there had been great secrecy observed in regard to tho appointment of. tho Government member. Absolutely no information was disclosed as to who their colleague was to he until the very last moment. Ho asked tho chairman for an explanation. The Chairman saiid he knew absolutely nothing about the matter, and he had not been silffieiently curious to, find oiifcl' Had he been consulted in tho matter, however, ho would have sooner seen Mr. Lambic than anyone. Mr. Rogers pointed out tfc/.t the official telegram announcing Air. Lambic's appointment had not come to hand until that day-—not, in fact, until after tho hour appointed for the Board’s meeting.—Haweni Star.