HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5916, 3 June 1886, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. Wednesday, 2nd June. Present— Messrs Willis (chair), Poison, Blythe, Cornfoot, and Spurdle Statement of Accounts,— The statement of accounts for the year ending 31st Docem» ber, 1885, was laid on tho table. On the motion of Mr Poison, seconded by Mr Cornfoot, the statement was passed and accepted. ORDINARY MEETING. The Board then proceeded with tho ordinary business. After confirming th 6 minutes of the previous meeting, the Secretary reported that there was a credit at the Bank of £192 11s 7d. Outward Correspondence.— The outward correspondence was read and apprpved. Accounts. — Accounts amounting to £385 were passed for payment, £325 of whioh was the half-yearly interest on the £10,000 loan. Thatohrr's Lease.— Meßsrs Fitzherbsrt and Marshall, solicitors to the Board, reported that they did not think Mr Thatcher had any claim on the Board for remission of rent, and the Secretary stated that Mr Thatcher had informed him that he also had been advised by his solicitor he had no claim, and that therefore the rent wauld be paid. Change of Meeting Day. — Mr Poison's notice of motion to change tho meeting from Wednesday to Tuesday was seconded by Mr Blythe and carried. There waß some discussion as to whether the hour should be 2 or 3, and it was decided to retain the present hour, 2.30. Freezing Resbrvk.— Mr Hutchison wrote stating that as ho heard that the Board was receiving rent for a cottage on the Freezing Reserve which was leased to him, he would like to be furnished with a statement of the amount received. The clerk stated that it appeared that under lease of 6th May, 1885, tho Board had let the reserve at a nominal rent* The covenants were : that the lessee should erect certain buildings within one year, failing which the Boajrd had the right to re-enter. The olerk had been Instructed that the Board had the right to reenter on this land on the 9th June. They had, however, demised the whole land to Mr Hutchison without any reservation being made by them of the cottage now let to Mr Doran. He (Mr Notman) did not know whether it was on the reserve or not. Some discussion ensued on this matter, it being pointed out that Mr Hutchison had the place for 10a a year, and had not fulfilled any of the conditions relating to building.— Several of the members thought Mr Hutcbleon had no right to demand such information, and it was resolved that he be informed that the Board was not aware that the cot "age wsß on the Reserve, though it acknowledged receiving rent 3 from it, Harbormaster's Report.— Mr Low reported that considerable numbers of snagg and a quantity of driftwood had come down the river during the late fresh. The snags had been removed as far as possible. A new buoy had been put down about 100 yds above Putiki, Wharf, and nearly in a lino with the face of the latter on the top of a reef of day with only two feet of water on it at low tides* During the Southerly weather on Sunday 16th, the wash of the sea broko over the South Spit for some time before and after high water, The damage done waß not great some of tho scrub fences being knocked down,' but the loss was partly compensated by the driftwood washed up. The fences had sinoe been repaired, He recommended that some more scrub be procured so that some of the weakest portions might be strengthened. At the same time the gale wrenched the mooring posts out of two of the punts, when they swung round and came in contact with the crane punt. This started some of the planks, but they nad since been caulked. Repairs had been effected to the Putiki Wharf. During the month 30 steamers and 2 sailing vessels had entered ; and 31 steamers and 2 vessels cleared outwards, — Report adopted: Pilot's Report— The Pilot reported that the channel had shifted north, and now bore by compass from flagstaff S.W. g W., with a depth of 13ft Gin at high water spring tides, and 10ft Gin at high water neap tides, The bank at the entrance had joined the South Spit, and altogether the channel is now in a much better position than it has been for some time. The lower reach of river continues good. A supplementary report mentioned the grounding of the St. Kilda on the sth ult and the Kennedy on the 11th. — Report adopted, Rating Bill — The business transacted by the emergency meeting in reference to the Rating Bill was confirmed by the meeting, on the motion of Mr Spurdle, seconded by Mr Blythe. Heads Whabf— The Secretary was instructed to draw up a statement by next meeting showing what amount was due by the Heads Railway Company on the wharf, computing the ffiterest with compound interest from the dates of the various progress payments to Mr Denby. The Board then adjourned,