Harbour Board,

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6363, 8 November 1887, Page 2

Harbour Board,

Ordinary monthly meeting, Monday, November 7th. Present— Messrs Haudley, Davey, Laird, Borlase, Poison, Thatoher, Willis, and Bpnrdle. Minutes— The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. PiKANOS— The bank book was produced showing a credit of £623 Is lOd, The Rating Bill— a. long discussion as reported elsewhere took place on the Bating Bill. Mr Poison gave an explanation to the effeot that Mr Laird and himself had waited on Mr Fitzherbert relative to the introduotion of certain proposed alterations in the Rating Bill, but owing to his objections they did not press the matter.

Refdnd — The Brunnf.r C^pany wrote asking for a refund of wharf dues on the St Eilda, whioh had put in through stress of weather, and it was resolved to refund them,

The Endowmbkt Block— A report on the Endowment Block by Mr MoKerrow, Surveyor-General, was read. In this Mr MoKerrow reported to Mr Ballance, under date Sth October, to the effect 'hat there are still unsold 77 sections covering an area of 13,600 acres. Tbe aotual value of this, if rendered accessible by roads, might be stated at £13 500. Thirty miles of road would require to be felled and cleared before the land would be sileable. To do thin would cost on an average of £100 a mile, to fell bush one ohain wide, and clear and stump 16 feet in the centre, from a bridle track 6 feet in the solid on siblings and culvert the oreeks in all £3000. As the moat valuable portion of the endowment lies in the Oroua Valley, this should be opened up first by clearing tha road lines on that water shed, and the road lines on tbe water shed between the Oroua snd Pohangina This Implies 20 miles of road dealing. Were this dons It would open ont about 10,000 aores of the beat and moat saleable portion of the endowment. Tho land might then be offered in in alternate sections for ensb and on deferred payment, the ouh seotions at 20s ! an acre, and the deferred payment at 255, or a block of 2853 aores might be offered for cash as approved by the Land Board on the proposal of the Harbour Board to expend £386 on 351 chains of road.— There wo* also a letter from a member of the Kiwitea Koad Baard reepecting a vote about to be taken as to borrowing £3000 for roads in tho Pohangina Ward, and asking tbe Board to appoint a member to attend and vote on the 17th. It was resolved to appoint a oommittee consisting of Messrs Poison, Laird, and Willia to inquire as to the proposals, and it necessary appoint one of the Board with power to vote.

Tns Endowmknt Block*— Mr J. R. Anderson, resident in the . Pohangina Block wrote calling attention to the neoeuity cf taking steps to preserve tbe reserve in the Harbour Board Endowment Block from floods. On this Mr Mo Doonell, one of the residents of the Blook also wrote, and quite a flood of correspondence had been opened upon the subjeot as to the removal of certain timber. The secretary was instructed to warn Mr McDonnell against removing timber, and Mr Algernon apaintt fencing in a portion of land not inclnded in tha Board's grant to him,

Habbotjb Mastbb's Report —The Hurbour Master reported that the flats had now from 10ft 6m to 13ft cf water on them. Tho South Spit had widened considernbly, and some grata had been planted there — Report adopted. Pilot's Rhpobt.— Tho Pilot reported that the channel remained in tbe direction S.W.'Ji 8., with 12ft at high water spring tides and 9ft at high water noapi. Tha late westerly set had increased the width of tho phanco', and 'lightly lessened tbe depth.— Report received and adopted. This concluded tho business and tbe Board adjourned.