Harbour Board.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2795, 29 January 1878, Page 2

Harbour Board.

The annual and usual monthly meeting of the Harbor 13oi*rd was held at the Borough Council Chambers at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. There were present —Messrs Daviss, Wilson, Gibbons, Mennie, Price, EagnaU, and Spencer.

EJECTION OP CHAIRMAN

On the motion of Mr Gibbons, seconded by Mr Price, Mr William 3)ayies was reelected Chairman for the ensuing term of office. He then took the chair.

The Chairman said he thanked them for the honor done him in re-electing him Chairman. He said that it now behoved them to consider f'ieir position. A telegram had been received from the Government by the Collector of Customs here authorising him to hand all moneys in his possession to* the Board, and also to lodge,in any bank which the corporation might appoint wharfage and other dues accruing to the Board. What they had was not much, but still, it was enough for them to carry on with at present. As Sir G. Grey and Mr Sheehan would be in Auckland this week he thought it would be advisable to endeavor to obtain a grant from the Premier at once for necessary works. He thought they might get #5003. The following was the plan of works which he considered should be done a 9 son as possible. The Goods Wbarf should be extended a distance of 100 feet —not a tee —but straight out. This would afford ample wharf accommodation for the present rsquirements of the port. Precautions would also require to be taken to prevent the harbor silting, by the erecting of retaining works. This would aJso assist in reclaiming the foreshore. Money would also require to be spent on Shorlland and Ciriis' wharves; and the former could be made much more useful if they could either buy or get the loan of the dredu'ng machine belonging to the Auckland Harbor Be .rd, and deepen the channel. It might a.so be used in deepening the bea^h in the vicinily of the Goods Wharf. A couple of cranes should also be erected oa that wharf. He again thanked them for the honor done him by re-electing him. Mr Price said that he thought something would need to be done io the Goods Wharf immediately. He suggested that the present planking be taken up, reversed, and laid down again, the planks being laid close together. The Secretary spid that a new stringer would also be required. The precent oni.' was very weak. After some further discussion the mat-, tor dropped. THE SFED ON GOOD 3 TVHAB7. Mr Price, as one of the Committee appointed to enquiro into this matter, reported that the shed ersctcd by C'apt. Butfc on the Goods Wharf did not hinder the traffic, and recommended that the shed be left where it is. This was agreed to. A short conversation ensued, during which it wr.s suggested that the shed on Goods Wharf should be purchased, which it could be at a cost of £30 or £40, when it would become an item of revenue right away. PaOSAELE INCOME. The Secretary rea 1 a statement of the probable income of the Board for the ensuing year. It was as foMows :— " Probable income of Thames Harbor Board:—Goods Wharf—From pilotage charges, £72; do. port do., £75; do wharfage do.,£<'X); do. tolls do., £250. From Curtis' Wharf, £30; do. Maxwell's do., £20; do Shortland do, £150; do. foreshore sites, viz., from Moana'.airi W. Supply, £50; do. Imperial Crown, £50; do. Herald, £50; do. Moanalairi, £50; do. Kurarui Hill, £50; do. J. E. Perry, £50 ; 'do. John Brown, £50; total, £350. From boatmen's licenses, £5; do. cash in hand of Government, £142; do. 2 sheds on Goods Wharf, £20; grand total, £1531. The secretary said he put down the expenditure for salaries, etc., at about £600.

Mr Bagnall remarked that he thought; the secretary's estimate of the probable income was rather too good. He thought they could not expect more than £1200. TABABU WHARF. It was resolred that a letter bo sent to the proprietors of the Tararu wharf asking their intention respecting it. AJT APMJCATION. The Chairman again referred to the advisability of their applying for a sum of money for harbor works at once. He thought that they might get £5C90 to carry on with at present from the Premier, aid they might push for a larger rote when Parliament sat. During the 10 years they had been here the Thames had not receired £1000 lor Harbor Works, and the Government had been well paid for what they hrd done. Mr Mennie thought that they were perfectly entitled to a grant, though he understood that it was not proposed to do any groat work at present. Ii wa; carried alter some further discussion that the Chairman proceed to Auckland, and see Sir George Grey, and endeavor to get £5000 for immediate works. APPOINTMENT OF BECBErAEY. Mr Dean was re-elected Secretary and Treasurer for the ensuing 12 months. On the motion of Mr Mennie it was resolred that a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Deoi for bis ser7ices durirg the past year.

HANDING OVEJI OF THE, FOIiESHOBB. In answer to Mr Bagnall the, Chairman said he expected - a telegram from the Government any minute placing the harbor under their . control. The harbor officials had already been ordered to place themselves under the Board, but they had not yet the authority to t?ke them over.

/PJOINTMEHT OF BANK. It was resolred that the Bank of New Zealand be the Bank of the Harbor Board.

THE PABAWAI MEMBEB. The Chairman said that when he went to Auckland he would see the Hon. J. Sheehan on the matter of the non-election of a member of tho Harbor Board by the Parawai Board, en the day appointed for such election by the Returning Officer. Mr Mennie and others expressed regret at tho Parawai Board not being represented.,

BOABD MIETING. It was resolved that the Board meetings be the first and third Wednesday in every mouth, at the hour of 7.30 p.m. This was all the business.