GREYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD AND HARBOUR WORKS (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1888 Session I, D-12a

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1888. NEW ZEALAND.

GREYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD AND HARBOUR WORKS (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE).

Return to an Order of tJic House of Representatives, dated 22nd May, 188 S. Ordered, " Tliat there be laid before this House copies of all correspondence between the Government and the Greymouth Harbour Board as to the removal of the members of the Board, and the appointment of new members in their stead; also copies of all reports received by the Government from the Eugmeer-in-Chief and any other Government officer as to the manner in which the harbour works were being carried out by the Greymouth Harbour Board."—(Mr. Guinness.)

The Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks to the Chaieman, Greymouth Harbour Board. Sib,— Public Works Office, Wellington, 6th March, 1888. I have the honour to inform you that the Government having carefully considered the question brought forward in Parliament last session as to the desirability of taking over the construction of the harbour works at Greymouth and Westport from the Boards, and carrying same ok under direct Government supervision, the Cabinet has come to the conclusion that, all things, considered, it would be preferable that the works should be carried on by Government. It has therefore been decided to take over the works at once, and as a Board is necessary under the existing Act, and also desirable as a Board of Trust in order to conserve the funds for the work as distinct from any other funds over which the Government has got control, it has been decided to appoint a Board of Government officers, who will, however, act merely formally under the instructions of the Public Works Department. Feeling sure that the members of the present Board will be willing to assist the Government in carrying out what they believe to be for the best interests of the locality and the colony at large, I have now, therefore, the honour to request that the present Board will aid the Government in carrying out their proposals by placing their resignations in the hands of the Minister of Marine. While making this request that the members of the Board should send in their resignations, I would wish at the same time to convey to the Board my thanks for the services which they have rendered to the colony while acting on its behalf. * I have, Ac, Edwin Mitchelson, The Chairman, Greymouth Harbour Board. Minister for Public Works.

The Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks to the Chairman, Greymouth Harbour Board. (Telegram.) Wellington, 20th March, 1888. Will you please send definite reply by wire to-day as to whether or not Board will resign ? or, if not possible to reply finally to-day, please say when final reply will be sent. G. P. Eichaedson, The Chairman, Harbour Board, Greymouth. Minister for Public Works.

The Chaieman, Greymouth Harbour Board, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks. (Telegram.) Greymouth, 20th March, 1888. Having never received any intimation that Government wished Board to resign, I await further information to lay before the Board before replying to your question. EICHAED NaNCAEEOW, The Hon. the Minister Public Works, Wellington. Chairman, Harbour Board.

The Hon. the Minister for Public "Woeks to the Chaieman, Greymouth Harbour Board. (Telegram.) . Wellington, 21st March, 1888. Fbom the Greymouth telegrams in this morning's paper it would appear that you had not yet received letter of 6th instant, to which my yesterday's telegram referred, and I therefore now wire you copy of the same as follows: "Public Works Office, Wellington, 6th March, 1888. —Sir, —l have the honour to inform you that the Government having carefully considered the question brought forward in Parliament last session as to the desirability of taking over the construction of the harbour works at Greymouth and Westport from the Boards, and carrying same on under direct Government supervision, the Cabinet has come to the conclusion that, all things considered, it I—D. 12a.

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would be preferable that the works should be carried on by the Government. It has therefore been decided to take over the works at once; and, as a Board is necessary under the existing Act, and also desirable as a Board of Trust, in order to conserve the funds for this work as distinct from any other funds over which the Government has got control, it has been decided to appoint a Board of Government officers, who will, however, act merely formally under the instructions of the Public Works Department. Feeling sure that the members of the present Board will be willing to assist the Government in carrying out what they believe to be for the best interests of the locality and the colony at large, I have therefore now the honour to request that the present Board will aid the Government in carrying out their proposals, by placing their resignations in the hands of the Minister of Marine. While making this request that the members of the Board would send in their resignations, I would wish at the same time to convey to the Board my thanks for the services which they have rendered to the colony whilst acting on its behalf." I have, &c, G. F. Richabdson, The Chairman, Harbour Board, Greymouth. Minister for Public Works.

The Chairman, Greymouth Harbour Board, to the Hon. G. F. Richardson. (Telegram.) Greymouth, 21st March, 1888. Owing- to absence of members, Board cannot consider Government request re resignation before Monday night. Eiciiaed Nancaeeow, The Hon. G. F. Richardson, Wellington. Chairman, Harbour Board.

The Hon. the Ministee for Public Works to the Chaiiuian, Greymouth, Harbour Board. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd March, 1888. I would bo much obliged if you will let me have reply as to resignation of Board to-day, if possible, or at latest to-morrow. I very much regret delay in carriage of letter, and having consequently to press' for reply with probably inconvenient haste ; but there are reasons why it is necessary that new arrangements should come into operation at botli Westport and Greymouth before the end of the present month, and hence cause for urgency. The Chairman, Harbour Board, Greymouth. E. Mitchelson.

The Hon. tho Minister for Public Works to the Chaieman, Groymouth Harbour Board. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd March, 1888. Presuming that your Board decides to resign, I find since writing you on the 6th instant that the more regular way for members of Board to resign would be in terms of section thirty-eight of the Harbours Act, seventy-eight, that is to say, that the members of the Board should send in their resignations addressed to the Chairman, and that the Chairman, as a member of the Board, should then send in his resignation, also addressed to the Chairman, and if you will have this done I would be obliged. The Chairman, Greymouth Harbour Board. E. Mitchelson.

The Seceetaey, Greymouth Harbour Board, to the Hon. the Ministee for Public Woeks. (Telegram.) Greymouth, 22nd March, 1888. lam directed by the Chairman to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of to-day. Letter of sixth of March only arrived this morning. Chairman regrets that it is impossible to get a meeting of the Board before Monday next. F. W. Lahmann, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Secretary, Harbour Board.

The Seceetaey, Greymouth Harbour Board, to the Ministee having charge of the Maeine Department. Hon. Minister of Marine, Wellington. Greymouth, 27th March, 1888. I am directed by the Chairman to transmit to you the following resolution passed by the Board at its meeting last night; also to inform you that Mr. Petrie handed in his resignation to the Chairman : "That the Board, after careful consideration of the important communication made to it by the Government asking the Board to resign in a body, does not see its way to acquiesce, for the following reasons: Firstly, the Greymouth Harbour Board Act, and under which the Board was created, is a separate measure, and distinct and apart from the Westport Harbour Act. Secondly, that the individual appointments of members of the Board are made by His Excellency the Governor on the advice of His Excellency's advisers, vide section 4, ' Greymouth Harbour Act, 1884 ;' the same power to remove any individual member rests with the Governor, it is presumed on the advice of His Excellency's advisers ; and it is only reasonable to •expect that strong grounds must exist before such an extreme step would be advised. Thirdly, by the Board passing a resolution to resign in a body it would, as it were, be doing that which, under clause 13 of the Greymouth Harbour Act, Parliament alone has the power—namely, declaring the works to be colonial works, and might be construed as recommending Parliament to dissolve the Board, and that the Board admitted maladministration or incompetency, or, on the other hand, that the Board desire local control and administration, together with the district's valuable endowments, to be taken away." F. W. Lahmann, Secretary, Harbour Board.

The Assistant Seceetaey, Marine Department, to the Secbetaby, Greymouth Harbour Board. (Telegram.) Wellington, 27th March, 1888. Minister directs me to inform you that Governor in Council has removed all the members of

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Greymouth Harbour Board from their seats, except Mr. Petrie, who, I understand, has resigned. New members have been appointed, and I will advise you of their names later. Lewis H. B. Wilson, The Secretary, Greymouth Harbour Board, Greymouth. Assistant Secretary, Marine.

The Assistant Seceetaey, Marine Department, to Daniel Sheedy, Esq., Greymouth. (Telegram.) Wellington, 27th March, 1888. Advebttng to previous correspondence, I am directed by the Minister having charge of Marine Department to inform you that he regrets that he has felt compelled to advise His Excellency the Governor in Council to remove you from your position as member of the Greymouth Harbour Board, and that His Excellency has been pleased to do so this day. Lewis H. B. Wilson, Daniel Sheedy, Esq., Greymouth. Assistant Secretary, Marine. i Similar telegrams sent same date to Arthur Eobert Guinness, Esq., M.H.E., Greymouth; James Kerr, Esq., Greymouth; the Hon. Henry H. Lahmann, M.L.C., Greymouth; Eiehard Nancarrow, Esq., Greymouth; Eiehard John Seddon, Esq., M.H.K., Kumara.]

The Assistant Seceetaey, Marine Department, to James Keee, Esq., Greymouth. Sic, — Marine Department, Wellington, 27th March, 1888. Adverting to previous correspondence, I have the honour, by direction of the Minister having charge of this department, to inform you that he regrets that he has felt compelled to advise. His Excellency the Governor in Council to remove you from your position as a member of the Greymouth Harbour Board, and that His Excellency has been pleased to do so this day. I have, &c, Lewis H. B. Wilson, James Kerr, Esq., Greymouth. Assistant Secretary. [Similar"letters sent same date to the Hon. Henry 11. Lahmann, M.L.C., Greymouth ; Eiehard Nancarrow, Esq., Greymouth; Eiehard John Seddon, Esq., M.H.R., Kumara; Arthur Eobert Guinness, Esq., M.H.E., Greymouth; Daniel Sheedy, Esq., Greymouth.]

The Assistant Seoeetaey, Marine Department, to the Secretary, Greymouth Harbour Board. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th March, 1888. Re my telegram of yesterday. Minister directs me to inform you that Governor in Council has appointed Francis William Martin, District Engineer; Jackson Keddell, Eesident Magistrate ; William Stone, District Manager of Eailways; James Garland Woon, Collector of Customs ; Hugh Calders, Postmaster ; and William Alfred Barton, Clerk to Court, all of Greymouth, and John Alexander Wilson, Assistant Engineer, of Westport, to be members of Greymouth Harbour Board, in placo of Eiehard Nancarrow, James Kerr, the Hon. Henry H. Lahmann, Eiehard John Seddon, Daniel Sheedy, Joseph Petrio, and Arthur Eobert Guinness respectively. Lewis H. B. Wilson, Secretary, Greymouth Harbour Board, Greymouth. Assistant Secretary, Marine.

The Assistant Seceetaey, Marine Department, to F. W. Maetin, Esq., District Engineer, Greymouth. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th March, 1888. Ministee directs me to inform you that Governor in Council has appointed you a member of the Westport and Greymouth Harbour Boards. Lewis H. B. Wilson, Assistant Secretary, Marine. Francis W. Martin, Esq., District Engineer, Greymouth. [Similar telegram sent same date to John Alexander Wilson, Esq., Assistant Engineer, Westport.]

The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, to William Alfeed Baeton, Esq. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th March, 1888. Ministee directs me to inform you that Governor in Council has appointed you a member of Greymouth Harbour Board. William Alfred Barton, Esq., Lewis H. B. Wilson, Clerk to Court, Greymouth. Assistant Secretary, Marine. [Similar telegrams sent same date to William Stone, Esq., Eailway Manager, Greymouth; Jackson Keddell, Esq., Eesident Magistrate, Greymouth; Hugh Calders, Esq., Postmaster, Greymouth; James G. Woon, Esq., Collector of Customs, Greymouth.]

The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, to the Seceetary, Greymouth Harbour BoardSib, — Marine Department, Wellington, 28th March, 1888. Adverting to my telegram of yesterday's date, I have the honour, by direction of the Minister having charge of this department, to inform you that His Excellency the Governor in Council has been pleased to appoint Francis William Martin, District Engineer; Jackson Keddell, Eesident Magistrate; William Stone, District Manager of Bailways; James Garland Woon, Collector of Customs; Hugh Calders, Postmaster ; and William Alfred. Barton, Clerk to Court, all of Greymouth, and John Alexander Wilson, Assistant Engineer of Westport, to be members of the Greymouth Harbour Board, in place of Richard Nancarrow, James Kerr, the Hon. Henry H. Lahmann, Eiehard John Seddon, Daniel Sheedy, and Arthur Eobert Guinness, who have been

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removed from their position as members of.the Board, and Joseph Petrie, resigned; and that a notification of these appointments and removals will appear in the next number of the New Zealand Gazette. I have, &c, Lewis H. B. Wilson, The Secretary, Greymouth Harbour Board, Greymouth. Assistant Secretary.

The Assistant Secbetaey, Marine Department, to P. W. Martin, Esq., District Engineer, Greymouth. Sic, — Marine Department, Wellington, 28th March, 1888. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister having charge of this department, to inform you that His Excellency the Governor in Council has been pleased to appoint you to be a member of the Westport and Greymouth Harbour Boards, in place of James Colvin and Eichard Nancarrow, who have been removed from their positions as members of those Boards respectively; and that notifications of these appointments will appear in the next number of the New Zealand Gazette. I have, &c, Francis William Martin, Esq., Lewis H. B. Wilson, District Engineer, Public Works Office, Greymouth. Assistant Secretary.

The Assistant Secbetahy, Marine Department, to Jackson Keddell, Esq., Eesident Magistrate, Greymouth. Sib, — Marine Department, Wellington, 28th March, 1888. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister having charge of this department, to inform you that His Excellency the Governor in Council has been pleased to appoint you to be a member of the Greymouth Harbour Board, in. place of James Kerr, who has been removed from his position as a member of the Board; and that a notification of your appointment will appear in the next number of the New Zealand Gazette. I have, &c, J.ackson Jveddell, Esq., Lewis 11. B. Wilson, Eesident Magistrate, Greymouth, Assistant Secretary. [Similar letters sent same date to William Stone, Esq., District Manager of Eailways, Greymouth, appointed in place of the Hon. H. H. Lahinann ; James Garland Woon, Esq., Collector of Customs, Greymouth, appointed in place of Richard John Seddon ; Hugh Calders, Esq., Postmaster, Greymouth, appointed in place of Daniel Sheedy; William Alfred Barton, Esq., Clerk to the Court, Greymouth, appointed in place of Joseph Petrie, resigned.]

The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, to J. A.W Wilson,tilson, Esq., Assistant Engineer, Westport. Sib,— Marine Department, Wellington, 28th March, 1888. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister having charge of this department, to inform you that His Excellency the Governor in Council has been pleased to appoint you to be a member of the Greymouth Harbour Board, in place of Arthur Eobert Guinness, who has been removed from his position as a member of that Board, and also to be a member of the Westport Harbour Board, in place of John Fennell, who has been removed from his position as a member of the Board; and that a notification of these appointments will appaar in tha noxt number of the New Zealand Gazette. I have, &c, John Alexander Wilson, Esq., Lewis H. B. Wilson, Assistant Engineer, Public Works Office, Westport. Assistant Secretary.

The Engineeb-in-Chief to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. (Memorandum.) Public Works Office, 3rd March, 1888. Be Greymouth Harbour Works, and the question raised as to whether they have been carried out in accordance with Sir John Coode's plans. I entered into a full consideration of this question with the Harbour Board's Engineer, Mr. W. H. Scott, who showed me all the progress plans of the different works, and also a letter which had been written and published in one of the local papers, the writer of which made certain statements capable of being proved or disproved by absolute measurements. On the appearance of this letter, Mr. Scott wrote to the Harbour Board drawing attention to it, and explaining that the writer was in error, and that the works were in fact being carried out according to the approved plans. This explanation, however, did not satisfy the writer of the letter, who awaited my arrival in Greymouth, and during the progress of my inquiry called on mo personally to urge the correctness of his statements and the incorrectness of Mr. Scott's explanations. His first reference was to the main or south breakwater, alleging that it was being constructed too high out of water, and quoting a portion of Sir John Coode's report to verify his statement. The quotation is as follows, viz., " Seaward of this point, 1,800 ft., the works would partake of the characrer of a pierre perdue breakwater, running in the same direction for a length of 1,200 ft." In reading the quotation he did not use the words "pierre perdue," but substituted the word " submerged," and, on my asserting my opinion that no such word as " submerged " occurred in Sir John's report, he replied that that was the meaning of the words " pierre perdue," in his opinion. I explained that, whatever these words actually and originally meant, they now were applied to masses of stone thrown down at random, not necessarily all under water, as the term might imply; and a reference to another portion of Sir John's report showed distinctly what he meant, his words being, "the south breakwater, it must be remembered, being well above high water of the highest tides." As a matter of fact, this portion of the breakwater is being constructed about sft. above highest tides, and it may be subject to a little settlement from time to time. The next reference was to the outer end of the north breakwater,

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which was asserted to be fully 10ft. higher than either the plans or the report of Sir John Coode would justify, as I would undoubtedly discover if I measured or observed it carefully. Having gone carefully over both the plans and the works with Mr. Scott, I was for some time at a loss to account for the alleged discrepancy, but at length discovered the meaning of the assertion. Sir John Coode's report was again quoted; it runs as follows, viz., " North Breakwater. . . . 650 ft. of which would be formed as a rubble end-tip, the remainder of this breakwater, 630 ft., would be rubble deposited from a staging in the same manner as the outermost part of the corresponding work on the south side, excepting that in this, as in the case of the north training bank, the top should terminate at the level of high water of neap tides." This was interpreted by the writer of the letter to mean that, at the end of the 650 ft. formed as a rubble end-tip about 10-Jft. above high-water neaptides, the work should suddenly and at ooce drop down to high-water line neap-tides, whereas the plans show that it is not so intended to drop down suddenly, but by a gradual slope of 1 in 30, and according to this plan the works are being carried out. Taking, therefore, the report alone as a guide, there is ground for the assertion that some part of the north breakwater is being built 10ft. too high; but, taking the report and the illustrative plans together, there is no foundation for the assertion. I feel it satisfactory that I have been able to clear up these reports as to the manner in which the works were being carried out. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. John Blackett. P.S.—Attached is a tracing showing works as actually constructed, 28th February, 1888, M.D. 1398. [Approximate Cost of Pa/per.— Preparation, nil ; printing (1,275 copies), £3 3s.]

Authority : George DinsßUitY, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBB.

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