HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 8 April 1899, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

» — The ordinary monthly meeting of Ihe larnour Hoard was held yesterday, theie cinq present - Messrs 1». U. Poison (in the hair), 11. M. Gatenby, J. B. Murray, W. titcbie, A. Higt-ie, A. Hattick, A. J. Parons, .D. Willis and ■ . Fliiott. After the minutes of the previous meetnc had been confirmed, ana the matter of he Chairmanship dealt with, the following etter from Mr C. Napier Bell, M. Inßt. !.E :-Iu reply to^flfi letter of 4th klarch, I tball be uSHEP act as consultog engineer to your^PPßrd, but I cannot :ell at present exactly when I would be ible to visit Waoganui, as I have an en■agement to act as Corumissiouer to the New fc'onth Wales Government to iuvesti;ate and report what can be done lv mitigate the elf'ecis of iloods in the Hunter tliver. Consequently until I go* to Sydney md csceuain the extent of the work, i :annot lix a date when I caa return to N«w Zealand, but I «oiild let you know wben I know my lime. If I uudeistand.^ rightly, w hat you require is a desgnfor^* 1 " tlte niprove.ment of the sea entrance and the navigable part of tho river, for which purpose, and in older to apply my experience in these matters, I ambt iuspeoc the coast and the river, gain inforniat;ou about currents, tides, lloodu, coast drift, river drift, cost ot materials, and other particulars, aud make r lans, sections and drawings for proposed woiks. My fee : or this work would be 240 guineas, "you providing me with data suc'i as soundings, plun of river, and conveyance to the Heads and on the river as I require, and a room in your office to make my plans. If after designing the work I am required to act as consulting engineer for them, I find a difficulty in fixing any sum in the way of salarr, being consulting engineer to four other Harbour Boards in Queensland, Tasmania and New Zealand, 1 could not fix on a stated number of visits to devote to your work. I can, however, agree to come whenever sent for, as nearly as my engagements will allow ; which, in fact, is what I.agree to do with other ports which engage my service, and I would charge my visits^ a3 I do for them, at the rate of seven guineas per day fur time engaged on jour work, and five guineas per ray whea travelling to or from the place 1 happened to h> summoned from, with steamer and train fares repaid to me. /s I leave for Sydney next Thursday, your reply, addr«Esed to G.P.0., Wellington, will reach me in due time." It was decided to accept Mr Bell's offer and to write him asking him to visit Wunganui as early as possible. r V