HARBOR AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 879, 1 May 1903, Page 3

HARBOR AFFAIRS.

'A RIFF, LIGHTERAGE, AND PLANT.

At, the Harbor Board meeting yesterday, Mr MaUhewson asked if the Board gob any revenue Born the shear-legs on the Kaili side of the river. lie had been informed that

an exorbitant charge had been made by Kennedy and Evans for lifting a boiler on to the wharf —S3U—using Hie Board’s crane. Did the Board derive any revenue therefrom ? The Secretary said Lliat no charge had been made. They could not use it unless they put their own gear there as well. By itself it was absolutely dangerous 'l’lie Chainuau : It was put- there for a purpose, and some charge should lie made.

The Secretary : If the Board is going to make a Larill for it, they must puL it in order. It is now absolutely dangerous. Mr Mattliewson : Then it should be taken down.

'i’lie Chairman ; The Board used it Br lifting heavy stud. The Secretary said that Kennedy

and ldvar.s had used it at their own risk.

Mr llarding : If anything happened, you would find that it would be at the Board’s risk.

The Secretary : No ; it was expressly stated that they used it at their own risk, and Captain Kennedy made everything safe d Mr Matthewson : They should not get the use of the Board’s plant for nothings . Mr Harding said that lie had heard the matter talked of—that an exorbitant price had been charged, as well as the Board’s plant being used. But that was not the only question to be gone into. Had there been _ a lull meeting, he had intended to introduce the whole question of whar - age, lighterage, and matters connected therewith, but would bring up the subject at next meeting.. They would have to face it in the near future and the sooner they went into it the bet-

ter. The .Secretary : No charge is made for the crane on this sideMr Matthewson : But that was put there for the convenience of the people. . Continuing, Mr Matthewson said he had only asked the question for information. The Chairman said that when they put the crane up there was talk of charging a pound for each t-iuie that it was used. The Secretary,: That was four or five years ago. The. Chairman : It does uot matter if it was fifty years ago. We run the risk of some portion of the crane beitig damaged. Mr Harding then gave notice to move at next, meeting of the Board, that a committee, consisting of the whole Board, be set up, to go into the whole question of wharfage, lightering, and the use of the Board s plant. They had to face the question in (lie near future, he Said, and the sooner thev got to work the bet - ter. . They had all this money lying in the hands of the Public Trustee, and perhaps he would not object to their investing some of if in plant to do the work themselves.