HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 11415, 2 December 1886, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD .

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above body was hold yesterday. Present—Messrs Cornfoot (chairman), Boxiaae, Spurdle, Blyth, Davy, Murray, and Handley. Minutes. — The minutes of the pre>« vious meeting were read and confirmed. Finance.— The bank book was pro* duced, and showed a credit balance of Mil 15s 2d. Correspondence. — The outward correspondence was read and approved. The Endowments. —Mr Bray, o! Feilding wrote, stating that he would accept the terms of the board re surveying the endowment blook. A later telegram was received stating that he would send his import not later than December 10th.— Mr Axup wrote asking to be appointed valuator for the endowment block.— -The Secretary stated that ha and tho Chairman, as instructed, had, before receiving Mr Axop's letter, appointed a valuator, — Mr Axup also wrote re leasing some sections iu the reserve — Letters left on the table. Wool Oarriagb. — The Seorefcary stated that considerable attention had been drawn to the faofc that competition in the oarriage of wool would ensue through the opening ofthe Wellington* Manawatu railway, as a large quantity of the wool from stations south of Wanganui would likely go by rail." Some 7090 bales were sent away every season, which, at 9d per bale, came to £265. 470 bales came from Mar ton, 266 from^ Bonny Glen, and 867 from Turakina.' If the charge were reduced to 6d per bale, and all this wool from the south of here came '' by Wanganui, the result would come to about the same as if they lost it and still charged 9d. There would be very little difference. As no representatives from the public or the shippers were befere the board on the subject, it was allowed to drop. - Accounts, — Accouuts to the amount of £1110 were passed for payment. Harbourmaster's Report. — The Harbourmaster reported that the ohannel over the bar continued good, and the sand' bank near the Putiki cattle wharf had been scoured nearly away* The reef at the heads had been operated on, and as near, as he could estimate, about half had been blown away. It felt quite soft for some distanoe under the surface of the reef, and was now much harder to remove by the present process than if it were harder. The action of the tide would no doubt wash away the portion of the surface loosened by the dynamite, if it could be ÜBed. 3± steamers have entered inwards, of 4210 tons; and 33 outwards, of 8987 tone, and one sailing vessel outwards, of 45 tons. — Report adopted. •. Heads and Spit. — The Chairman re« ported that he and Mr Spurdle had visited the heads and spit, and thought . nothing could be done unless they had a professional man to report on it. Pilot's Beport. The Pilot reported tbat the channel continued about the same, only a little wider, with a depth of 12ft 6in at high water spring tides, and 9ft 6in at neaps. A small channel* had formed between the main channel and the south, and this tended to shallow the other, but it had done no damage as yet. — Beport adopted. The Signalman.— Mr Jenkins, the signalman, wrote, pointing out that it was hard for him to be turned off oil one month's notice, after 18 . year's. service. He wonld stay another 12 months, and do his work for the benefit of the town. — The Chairman moved that tho board offer the signalman one half of his salary to stay on, and leave it to the townspeople to make up the other half. — Seconded by Mr Spurd'xe and carried unanimously. ' - The board then went into comi&ittee to dißcusa finance.