HARBOUR BOARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVIII, Issue 12365, 3 December 1904, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARD

The usual monthly moating of the Harbour Board was held yesterday af-tea-noon.

PRESENT.—Messrs. A. D. Willis, M.H.R. (in the cha.r), A. Higgie, R. Neilson, C. F. MAllward, W. Ritchie, A. G. Bigneill, J. B. Murray, T. B. Williams, and A. Elliott.

MINUTES.—Tho minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

WILLOWS.—Mr. Neiisom stated* that he had nofwad that a number of wil>lows were stil remaining on the sand bank opposite the Aramoho pa, and he suggested llhat the Board's foreman ba. instructed to see that the Board's orders about this matter were carried out.

FlNANCE.—Accountis amounting t<o £231 14s. Id. were passed for payment. The Bank book was laid on, the table and showed a credit badance of £886 7s. (3d.

UPOKONGARO FERRY—The Wanganui County Courfcili wrote stating thait' Messrs. Neilson, Mason, and Speed had been appointed a committeei to confer with the Harbour Board on. the ques^tion of by-laws for the Upokongaro' ferry.

PUNTS.—The Martaongaonga Road Boaa-d were granted tihe Harbour Board's punts in connection -with, tliie protective work at Shakespeare's Cliff. WORKS COMMITTEE.—T!he report of the Works Committee on Mr. Lomax's request re fencing in Land for boat shed' at Arainoho was read and adopted. TIDE GUAGE.—The Marine Department wrote stating that an automatic tide guage had been forwarded to the Board.—-The Chairman and Mr. Elliott were appointed to consult the pilot with reference to fixing up the apparatus. DREDGEMASTER.—It was resolved that Mr. J. McHarg, of Westland, .be appointed engineer and dredgemaistex. STONE.—Mr.-J. L. Stevenson, chairman of directors of the Castleclifr Railway Company, .wrote asking the Board for half a dozen trucks of stone for the protective work at the railway line at Cast.'ieeliff. —Referred to tha Works Committee.

CASTLECLIPF WHARF.—Tho Foreman reported that he would proceed as •rapidly as possible with the work of strengthening the Castlecliff wharf. He painted out that ho could only work- at low tides. —It was alsx> resolved, tlhat the Marine Department be written to with reference to the plans for the wharf. LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS. — The Heads Railway Company wrote stating that they intended to procure a life buoy >nd line for Castlecliff, and asking that the Board take charge of it.—lt was resolved that the Board grant the- request. . ■ • ;: ■ '•'-. EMPOWERING BILL.—A communication wais received from the Government dealing with the Empowering Bill.

: CLAIM.—A claim for £36 17s. 6d. was) received from the owner of the Storm and referred to the Board's solicitor rf This cfaim was in connection with the re cent incident at the Oastlecliff wharf, where tho Storm slipped down a" sand, bank and broke her mooring 'lines. •

PILOT'S REPORT.—The pilots-rep-ort was ,reau and adopted. The report showed that the channel over the bar had shifted south consider.-abliy owing to the recent westerly ,gal©., It now box© by compass from the flagstaff S.W., with a depth of 12 feet at high, water spring tides, and "9- feet at high wafer neaps. The lower reach to th€ river was fairly good. The upper flats were pretty bad; but if good spring tides were experienced the pilot thought the 'harrow would improve tho flats considerably. During the month 70 yesse's crossed thel bar, 34 being in the night. With ref ei> enca to the Westport Goal Company's application to moor a ■; coal hulk in tho river, the pilot expressed the opinion' that the only place available was between the Town Wharf and Oattlte Wharf .--It was,resolved that tho Coal Company's request be granted. FOREMAN'S REPORT.—-The foreman's report was-read and 'adopted. " It was resolved that the foreman's recommendation to put in dolphins at the upper end of the Heads Wharf be canted into effect. The Works Qommittee was authorised to deal with the foreman's recommendation re dredging at the Heads Wharf. , ' * ■ ■

LUNDON PARK.—T!he Qistlediff Sports Committee were giian-ted permission to use Lundon. Park for a sports meeting, '-■ ,: ■ • • EXPLANATION—'Captain Pope wrote explaining ihis action in connection "vyith. ■tho compla.int made at tiie previous meeting by th© captalti of tlie Huia.—lt was resolved that the Board considers Captain Pope's explanation, quite satis>factory. . . HARROWING.—It was reported that, the harroAving operations had had the effect of improving the flats. The cost so far had been £19 lCs. It wail resolved that the flats be again harrowed' after next spring tddes, .and tihe foreman take soundings. RESIGNATION.—Mr. WiMis's res;gnation. as .chairman was accepted with regret, and it -was resolved to place on record the Board's appreciation of his services during the last 25 years1.. CHAIRMAN.—It wa« i-esdlv-sd tha-fc Mr. Bignell be appointed chaiirman till.a permanent appointment is madlo at next* meetojjg.