WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14235, 7 March 1914, Page 4

WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD.

The Harbour Board met last evening. Present J. B. Murray (chairman), W. G. Bassett. C E. Mackay, W- J. Poison, J. T. Hogan, T. B. •Williams, A. G. Bignell. FINANCE.—The bank book showed a dr. balance on general account of £10,504 4s 4d. ACCOUNTS- Accounts totalling £320 19s 6d were passed for payment.

GENERAL BUSINESS,

WORKS COMMITTEE.—The Works Committee reported as follows:—T. Mitchell, Ltd. (in liquidation): Your committee recommend that, as the Board had given no rights to anyone to erect pontoons of staging alongside the Wanganui bridge, they therefore cannot give any permission of transfer.—R. Sanders re hire of piledriver: A resolution was passed that the Board insist upon the account, vi., £7B, being paid in full.—Adopted. RIVER STEAMER WHARVES.— Messrs Hatrick and Co. wrote that, the insanitary hovels having been removed by the Health Department from the vicinity of the river steamer wharves, to prevent a recurrence of the horrible filth which had prevailed there, they had erected a short length m picket fence, which could be removed at any time when desired. The Board’s approval of such action was asked for-—Approval given, fence to remain only during the pleasure of the Board, and no debris to be deposited in the space enclosed. DREDGE—Mr F. W. Blackey, of Auckland, New Zealand agent for W. Simons and Co., of Renfrew, forwarded particulars of several dredges built by his firm for New Zealand harbours, and asked the Board to forward details in connection with the type of dredge decided on for Wanganui.— Referred to the Works Committee. EROSION,—Re erosion at Qonville, the Board’s solicitors advised that the Board had no liability if the Engineer’s report that it was caused by wave action, and not by scour, was correct. Any person claiming would have to prove that the Board’s works caused the erosion in order to succeed, and would probably have to go further and prove that the Board had been negligent in not taking precautions against danger that ought by a reasonable man to have been foreseen. The solicitors question whether this could be proved in face of the Engineer’s opinion, and could hardly adl mit any liability.—Resolved to forward copies of the solicitors’ opinion and the Engineer’s report to those who had drawn the Board’s attention to the matter. OFFICE.—The chairman and secretary were authorised to purchase a new typewriter for the office.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. ~

Reporting for February, the Engineer stated: — output for the month amounted to 2050 tons. There will only be sufficient rubble stripped to keep the work going for one week from date, after which It will not be advisable to work without some definite plan of operations. I would recommend, until such time as the Hoard is ready to proceed with the extended scheme, that a sufficient number of the quarry hands be employed in testing the reef by cross driving on the line and locating the rise and dip, so that the top of the incline may be located exactly to work the necessary estimated quantity of rubblq, required for future proposalsSouth Mole,-; The raising. to average high water springs of the outer length of the was continued, and 1510 tons of rubble deposited.

were deposited on the north training wall in raising portions to the required- ' Dredgjtjg.—The dredge has been engage ! in deepening the berthage at the town wharf, and during the month has removed 5700 cubic yards of spoil. Entrance.—Soundings taken during the month indicate a minimum depth of 23ft at average high water spring tides.

River Channel. —The minimum depth is 14ft Sin at average high water spring tides. It was resolved to further consider the report on Tuesday afternoon next, at 2 o'clock, to which date the Board