Thames Harbor Board.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3123, 20 February 1879, Page 2

Thames Harbor Board.

The first meeting of the new Harbor Board was held at the Council Chambers last evening. Present — The Mayor, Messrs W. Davies, Ehrenfried, Bagnall, J. Osborne, J. Bead, Brown, McGowan, and Wilscn.

The Mayor proposed that Mr Davies take the chair, which was seconded and carried.

The Chairman remarked that the first business was the election of a Chairman of the Board for the ensuing 12 months. The Mayor then proposed, put to the meeting, upon being seconded by Mr Read, that Mr Wm. Davies be elected Chairman for the next term. Carried unanimously,

Mr Davies thanked the Board for the honor they had done him, and trusted that the members of the Board would work well together, and that their united action would give satisfaction to the community. ; ;.;/,;. tailings. A letter was received from J. R. Perry asking leave to wash tailings on the Beach from near the end of the Prince Alfred tail race.

Mr Brown said h& thought that this portion of the foreshore should be put by and leased by auction, so that all engaged it the tailings business might have a fair show.

The Mayor proposed that the Chairman and Messrs Ehrenfried, Osborne and Bead bo a committee to report on this matter. Carried. THANES. A letter was read from S. Ensor thanking the board for the assistance granted him while laid up by an accident to his thumb. AUDITOB. A letter was received from the Auditor stating that he would not fix any charge for his services as auditor, but asked the Board to mention' the sum. The Board fixed the fee at £4 4s. boabd's application foe £5000. The Chairman said that a telegram had been received from Mr Sheehan stating that a cabinet meeting would be held shortly, when the Board's application for a grant of money would be considered. A BENEWED APPLICATION. T. Donovan renewed his application for the refund of the money he paid for permission to work tailings, on the forashore on the same grounds as stated in his previous letter. The Mayor moved that the money paid by Donovan be refunded. Mr Ehrenfried seconded.

Mr Osborne moved, and Mr Bagnall seconded, that the action of the old board be confirmed.

The amendment was pat and lost, and the motion was carried. BEPOBT BE DREDGE. The following report on the work of the dredge was read:—" Your committee hare the honor to report that the work done at the present by the dredge has been to cut a channel 250 feet long by 200 feet broad, 4 feet deep through the sand bank from the Goods Wharf in a north westerly direction, and at the present time is engaged in cutting a channel alongside the outer T of the same wharf, 200 feet in length. This last cut will be 100 feet wide at the sea end, and about 40 wide at the shore end, by four feet deep, and will be completed about the 25th. The committee recommend on the completion of the inside channel that instructions be given to the captain of the dredge to continue the first channel cut by him in the same direction it is now going, a further distance seaward of 250 feet. Your committee consider the work is being satisfactorily done, and do not anticipate the channels filling to any appreciable extent by the action of the sea, and hare no doubt that a very slight expense will always maintain them clear. Your committee consider the work already done will be of great service to the port, by allowing vessels drawing 13 feet ot water to load at the wharf, as well as allowing the Eotomahana to come alongside an hour and a-half earlier, and depart an hour and a-half later on the tides than she has hitherto done.—War. Daties, Chairman. — Thames, 18th February,

Mr Brown asked if any marine engineer's authority had been obtained as to the durability and permanent utility of the work being done by the dredge. The Chairman said that the Committee did not say it would remain open, but they believed the work would be useful.

Mr Brown said he though they dbould have an authority. He had his opinion and some one else had his opinion, but the Board should have the opinion of some one they could depend on. He himself did not think the work would be permanent.

In answer to a question, the Secretary said the present cost of the dredge was £175 per fortnight. There was a month yet to go.

The Mayor said that having commenced the present work they would have to carry it on, but he thought the further extension of the channel should be narrowed so that a greater distance out might be obtained, thereby giving the present cutting an outflow. Any time afterwards that the dredge was at the disposal of the Board the opening of the Eauaeranga Creek should be proceeded with. He strongly advocated the pushing on of the work.

Mr Brown thought they should have the opinion of a competent engineer. Mr Blackett might be telegraphed to. The Mayor moved the adoption of the report with the amendment that the further cutting out be made 100 feet wide instead of 200 feet.

Mr Brown said that his opinion was that the whole thing was a mistake from beginning to end, but as it would only cost about £300 to finish the work/he would not oppose it. Mr C/sborue seconded. The motion was then carried. SHEDS OK WHABVES. The committee appointed re this matter reported as follows:— " Y our committee have to report having visited Shortland Wharf, with a view of considering how and upon what conditions authority to erect sheds and receiving houses should be granted by the Harbor Board upon such wharf, and recommend that the Board's Engineer mark off tho sites on which sheds could be placed without interference with the shipping. The minimum rent of such sites for a period of 1, 2, or 3 years having been fixed by the Board, they should be offered at auction, and the person bidding the minimum, or the highest bidder above that price, should be the lessee under the Board for the period determined on.—W. Davies, Chairman.—Thames, 18th Feb., 1879."

The report was adopted without comment, the matter being left in the hands of the committee. bevenuk. • The secretary reported that the sum of £32 10s 4d, wharfage and tonnage dues, had be3n received during the month'of January. HABBOB ELECTIONS. The secretary stated an account had been received from Mr Crick for preparing the list of voters for the election. Mr Ehrenfried said that the present mode of electing Harbor Board members was rotten, and he moved that the Chairman, the Mayor, Mr Bagnall and himself be a committee to report on the manner of conducting the elections. Mr Brown seconded. Carried. It was then decided to reduce Mr Crick's account to £1110s. FINANCE. A number of accounts, including one of £126 for dredging, were passed for payment. TAEAHXT WHAEF. Flans of the wharf were laid on the table, and it was resolved to forward them to the Governor in Council at once.

This was all the business.