HOKITIKA HARBOR BOARD.

West Coast Times, Issue 2773, 20 February 1878, Page 2

HOKITIKA HARBOR BOARD.

Tuesday, February 19. The Board met at 8 p.m. at the Board Room, Gibson's Quay. Present — The Chairman, Messrs Patten, Churches, Hall, Chesney, and Learmonth. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From tbe Secretary of the Auckland Harbor Board, forwarding certain documents iv connection with the finances of that Board, and requesting information from the Hokitika Board. Received. From the Colonial Secretary stating that the statement of the Harbor Board's accounts had been published in the Gazette. Received. From the Warden's Office, Rosi, stating that the amount of revenue derived from the Harbor Board Reserve since 1876, was only £2 6s ; that there were a few farmers and settlers on the reserve, also about twenty miners, one storekeeper, and one publican. Received, and left in the hands of the Chairman to deal with. From the Town Clerk, Hokitika, requesting an early payment for the amount of account rendered (£2l), for gas on the wharf. Received. Mr Learmonth said he had brought the matter before the Borough Council, and the letter just read was the result. Mr Patten said the amount was not worth while debating about. He moved that the money be paid. Mr Hall understood that the lamps had been taken away. He seconded the motion. Mr Chesney said he had good reason to believe that the Gas Company had got notice from the Borough Council to discontinue lighting the lamps. The motion was carried on the voices, Mr Chesney being the only dissentient. FINANCE. Ihe Finance Committee's report, which

contained nothing of importance, was received and adopted. RIVER PROTECTION WOEKS. A telegram was read from Mr Knowles, nrn f thtlt tUS P IaQS ff ° F " Ver n,Zr T ks blld only just been Z7 i 1 a?d that thu Marine Engineer had only just returned to Wellington: also, that it would net be Bate to call for tenders until an answer coud be sent from the Government, which would arrive H day or two. Received. the phemier's reception. Mr Learmonth suid .i meeting had beeu held and a committee formed for the reception of the Premier. The County Council had act aside £25, and the Borough Council £30, towards ttie expenses, lie believed, however, that the County Council would increase their contribution to £50. Mr Chesney moved that the sum of £25 be voted towards the proper reception of Sir George Grey, lie did not care, however, about puttii g a limit to the vote, if the expenditure were Id t in the hands of sensible men. Mr Churches seconded the motion which was agreed to. Mr Chesney moved that a committee consisting of the Chairman, Mr Patten and the mover, be appointed to draw up an address to the Premier. Mr Churches seconded the resolution which was agreed to. * LIGHTING THE WHARF. Mr Chesney, by leave without notice, moved that the lamps on the wharf be lighted, until the Harbor Board could come to some arrangements with the Gas Company. The lighting should take place at once. The resolution, after some discussion, wa9 agreed to. HOKITIKA BRIDGE. The Chairman said some action should be taken about the proposed bridge. He thought the proposed site at Kanieri unsuitable. The cost would not be so much greater at Hokitika, The Board's reserve lay fo the right of the present road, and if a new road were constructed alonij the level country, the splendid timber on their reserve could be easily got at. The present road to Ross would offer no facilities to the Board for increasing the value of their reserve. It was also an unsuitable road. People coming from the south wanted the straightest road they could get. It was very important for the Board that the bridge should be made at Hokitika. Mr Learraonth aaid this matter had been considered in the Borough Council. Two estimates had been sent up by the engineers to the Government, one to bridge the river at Glossop's at £15,000, and another at Kanieri at £9000. As the latter amount had been placed on tbe Estimates, it was apparent that the Kanieri site had been chosen. Ho was afraid \f there was any agitation for a bridge at Hokitika instead of at Kanieri they might not get a bridge at all. He would not like to jeopardize the construction of a bridge somewhere. Mr Chesuey thought the matter concerned the County Council solely. It was not within the province of the Board at all. Mr Patten concurred with Mr Chesney's remarks. He believed tbe bridge ought to be placed at Kanieri, where the main trunk road was. Mr Hall was surprised at the remarks of Messrs Chesuey and Patten. He thought the Board ought to draw attention to the matter. The Chairman moved that the Harbor Board in their address, point out the advisability of having tbe bridge constructed at Ilokitika. Mr Churches seconded the motiou, which was carried on the voices. The Board then adjourned sine die.