WAITARA HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16462, 14 June 1919, Page 6

WAITARA HARBOUR BOARD.

i MONTHLY MEETING. Per Press Association. The. monthly meeting of the AVaitarn Harbour Board was ncld on Friday night. Present: Messrs. J. Hint 1 (chairman), Spurdle, A. AV. Ogle, It. Gribbon, P. J. Allen, and H. MTven7,ie. Mr. T. Buchanan was granted leave of absence on account of illness. Messrs. Thos. Borthwick and Sons wrote asking that lights be placed at the end of the walls to facilitate the navigating of the barges at night during the loading. Mr. P. J. Allen said that the AA T aitara men who took the barges out and back to the last Homo boat had found great benefits from, temporary lights that wore nlaced there.

Mr.* A. AV. Ogle said that to a master mariner such lights would be misleading; If it could be arranged the best thing would be to put distinguishing Colours so as to avoid any confusion with the leading lights. It was decided to allow the temporary lights to be shown while loading was proceeding. It was resolved that the solicitor of the Board bo asked to write to the Mohan Estates Company informing them that unless the arrears of rent on the building in AA r est Quay were paid within 21 days it would repudiate its obligations in connection, with the Farmers Co-operative Society. ' Mr. P. J. Allen informed the Board that there was a leak jn the roof of the wool shed, which had damaged some bales of wool.

Mr. Ogle said that they had had no information of leaks. The bales of wool ■were piled so high that it was not_ surprising that no notice had been given, as the leak ivould not be seen. The secretary was instructed to sup ply the necessary material for temper ary repairs. The chairman, before the reading of the accounts, said that in future he considered that the details of the accounts should be read to the board. Now that there was little shipping he did not consider that there should bo so much spent on casual labour. He had spoken to Mr. Tome about the matter, and since then Mr. Tolne had done a good deal of the work that had hitherto been done by casual labour. As the Board was at present situated he did not consider that there was sufficient work for two permanent men. They were at present paying Mr. Tolne £220 .a year, and Mr. Lang £IBO a year, with a home, and unless there was an improvement he thought it would be advisable to do with one man instead of two. The accounts were then passed for payment, Mr. Ogle said he thought it would be as well if the members .gave, the matter consideration between this and the next meeting. It was resolved to place £SOO on fixed deposit for 12 months. Mr. B. Gribbon said that Parliament would soon he sitting again, and it would be advisable to take steps to get sanction to raise the rate of interest on tlie harbour improvement loan. Mr. Ogle said we must get the money if they were going to do anything. If we can improve the port it is our duty to do it; but the state of tho river was not tho cause of the trade going away. In fact they had had a particularly good run during the last two yen rs. 'iiie Eor.rd adjr.imcd.