HOKITIKA HARBOR BOARD.

West Coast Times, Issue 10430, 8 December 1896, Page 4

HOKITIKA HARBOR BOARD.

Monday, Dec. 7th. The Board met at 4 p.m. Present —the Chairman (Hon. J. A. Bonir), Messrs Churches, and Wado and the Collector of Customs* The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and the outward correspondence approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. > From General Post Office, Wellington, intimating that debentures, £10,000, with accrued interest, £1000, had matured end requesting payment. — Received. — The Chairman said they expected a reply from the Government, dealing with this matter, as also with reference to the disposal of the reserves. Owing to the action of the Government they had not been able to utilise the reserves, as they were pro vented from dealing with them. The position was that they had 26000 acres of reserve which were supposed to be worth £26,000, as against which they owed £11,000 on their debentures, with interest. The Government bad also interfered with their revenue by the railway tariffs and adjusting the arrangements so that they prevented competition of vessels and conwequently the port was not utilised to much as formerly. The reserves paid in rates to the County Council £66 per annum, the cost of management was merely uominal, about £13 a year; the remainder of the revenue was not more than half the sum required to pay interest on the debentures. It was suggested that the Government capitalise the interest and arrange rates of interest ou the total amounti so that the revenue from the reserves would be sufficient to meet the charges on the debentures and the ordinary revenue could then suffice for the ordinary expenditure. An offer had been to purchase the whole of the reserves in oue block but it was thought inadvisable to dispose of them at the price. They oouki do nothing in the meantime. From County Clerk, notifying that Mr John Staiues had been appointed County Chairman— Recei ved. From Goldmining League, asking for donation— Received— Referred to the Finance Committee to report. From Finance Committee, involving payment of accounts amounting to £70 6s 7d —Received and adopted. From Public Works Committed recommending that tenders be invited for 4000 feet, heart of red pitse, for repairs to wharf— Received and adopted— Mr Churches, in moving the adoption, sa\d several of the timbers on the wharf required repairing very badly. The Harbormaster reported there was a straight channel with 10ft of water. The Board then adjourned.