HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 201, 27 September 1888, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The uf'nal meeting of the Harbor Board was held on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs Sievwright (Chairman), Gannon, Dickson, Matthewson, Clark, Murphy, Townley, and Tucker. SUPPLY OF CEMENT. Messrs Johnston and Co. telegraphed stating that the Deva would shortly arrive m Gisborne with the balance of their supply of cement. Mr Matthewson asked what was the amount of money in the bank at the present time. Mr Bourke said there was a balance of £99,531 4s 8d to their credit. In reply to Mr Matthewson the Engineer gta'pd that there was between £2500 and £3OOO worth of cement on the Deva. There would be about 4000 casks. Mr Matthewson said that he had asked the Engineer before how many casks there were, and he had told him there were 3000. He Baid it was impossible to get a straightforward answer from the Engineer. The Engineer said he was not going to be talked to like that. What Mr Matthewson had stated was not true. Mr Matthewson said it was perfectly true, and he would sav it still. He had asked if the 1000 extra casks obtained were to be considered part of the original contract, and he had not obtained a straightforward answer. The Engineer said he had told Johnston and Co. that the Board would give no guarantee that it would take the balance of the contract. He did not like these insinuations of Mr Matthewson’s. Mr Townley said the explanation was considered perfectly satisfactory at the time, which was that they should deal with the question of taking the balance of the ment at the time of arrival, and if they found that they Jid not want the balance of 1000 casks, Messrs Johnston and Co. would have to take it. If the works had gone on there would have been no difficulty about the matter. He thought the proper course would be as pointed out bv the solicitor, and pay for it as soon as possible. He proposed that the answer to the telegram be that on arrival of the cement the Board would be prepared to take it. The stuff was ordered and there was no way of getting out of it. If they did not go on with the worksit would always be worth its value. They could not do better than to take it over. Mr Gannon seconded. Mr Matthewson asked whether the whole amount should be taken. Mr Townley said that he would rather see that done. , In reply to question the Engineer saiu there was four months’ supply aboard the Deva. Mr Diekion thought it would be well to exclude the extra thousand casks, in the event of the poll not taking place. Mr Townley aaid they were getting the shipment under the old freights, which would be increased shortly. Mr Townley's motion was carried, the ex.ra amount of cement also to be taken.

a bequest. A circular was received from the Marine Department stating that it was proposed to issue a new edition of the “New Zealand Pilot,” and asking that the Harbormaster might supply them with any fresh information. claim fob posts. Major Porter wrote asking for payment for posts which had been removed from land adjacent to the blockyard. The Engineer said the contractor had removed the posts. , _ . The matter was referred to the Engineer. BATES. Mrs Clarke applied to have her rates remitted, owing to the severe loss she had sustained by fire recently. It was decided to reply that the Board had no statutory power to remit rates. The Haiti Committee reported that they had no recommendation to make with regard to Captain Tuftker’s claim for rent of the spring on Haiti, at the rate of £l3 per year. Captain Tucker being trustee for certain nrtives. . Mr Matthewson said he was a member of the Committee, and he was under the impression that the terms had previously been agreed to. Captain Tocher said an arrangement bad been made for the Board to pay an annual rent of £l3 for the spring. This he had agreed to. . It was resolved to pay the amount claimed, and to have the original agreement reduced to writing. THE SILT QUESTION. The following letter was received from the Marine Department:— It having been represented to this Department that it has been found that since the gale on the 31st ult. the river channel has silted up to one hundred feet beyond the end of the present breakwater on the west side, and that where, before the gale, there were twelve feet of water at low water, there is now only from eighteen inches to four feet at low water, I have been directed by the Minister having charge of this department to ask you to be good enough to obtain from the Harbor Master, and forward to this office, a full report on this alleged silting up of the channel. Mr Gannon thought they should know who represented this to the Department. Anyone having a complaint of that nature should have laid it before the Board first. The consideration of the letter was held over until the Harbormaster’s report was read.

HARBOBMASTEB’s BVPOBT. September 11 —Since my last re port, having obtained from rhe harbor works a spar 15ft x 12in x 12in, the flagstaff has been put in good order, the cost of the carpenter’s work beihg IQs- It will be remembered that some time ago I pointed out that by the aid of ,ome < f the gear used in connection with the harbor works, an improvement could be effected in the depth of water alongside the wh rf. This work, although I think it was authorised, was never undertaken. Recently I discovered a snag, which in a great measure caused the trouble, and having removed it there was a very noticeable improvement, the water deepening and giving the veswls greater facility for coming alongside the wharf. The heavy gale and fresh at the end of last month caused the river to become shallower, but since abreast the wharf and the Wuikanae there has been an improvement. Seaward the lodgement has pot yet been carried away. I have to report arrivals If), departures 13. In a later report the Harbormaster gave details of the accident to the Kenilworth, which he said was drawing Bft 3in aft and 7ft forward and thumped considerably coming over the bar.

Mr Gannon said it seemed to him a rather extraordinary letter to come from the Marine Department. He did know whether the river had silted up. The Board was asked tq give an elaborate report, and it was only fair to know who had represented this to Government, for the reason that if the Board was to be called on to go into expense for every anonymous report sent to the Department there was no knowing where it would end. The Chairman said they should not have been sent a communication of this kind. Any person making a complaint should be named and his responsibility would thus be known to the Board. The matter required expense. He supposed it was some meddlesome, maliciously disposed person who wanted to obstruct and depreciate the works. He did net think the Marine Department should ask them to make an enquiry which would result io nothing. Mr Gannon thought the Harbormaster s report was a complete answer, and rendered it quite unnecessarv tor the Board to do what was asked. He did not like these undercuts tHe Mr Matthewson thought they should ask the Marine Department for its authority. There was a good deal of truth in the report, and he did not think it would be much trouble to comply with the request. He moved that the communication bo referred to the Harbormaster for his report Mr Clark said there Was a great impression in the country that the river was silting up, and bo thought unless an enjuiry was made it would affect the voting at the poll. Mr Dickson thought they should know who had given the Department its information. So far as the silting of the rirer was concerned, theta was no get out of it. Captain Tucker aaid the Department bad Iskdd the most simple question in the world,

and be did not know why they wanted to get out of answering it. The Board did not want to hide the facts. He seconded the proposition. Mr Gannon said what he complained of was part and parcel of the same sort of tactics which had been pursued for years It was done for the very object in which it succeeded. It led to reports being sent round the country. . Mr Clark said as they were going to take a poll,they should have the matter cleared up. Mr Gannon said they should ask at what spot there was 12ft of water last month and only one foot now.

The Harbormaster said there war. the same depth of water ahead of the breakwater as there had always been, but to the west of the breakwater the bank had grown shallower. Seven or eight years ago he had brought in a vessel drawing Bft 6in, but that was after a fresh. The average draught of vessels coming over the bar was 7ft.

The Chairman thought the clearer the matter was the better. He moved as an amendment that the Engineer assist the Harbormaster. Mr Clark seconded, and the amendment was carried. It was decided to telegraph to the Marine Department asking for the name of the person who made the report. engineer’s report. The Engineer reported as follows: —There was no meeting on last Board day, the 11th Sept. At a P.W. Committee meeting it was decided before parting with the diver, to get him to clear out the projecting ends of the foundation bags on the river side of the breakwater. This has been done, and he has also been employed blasting some of the worst rocks or papa ledgers in the river. At the beginning of the month we had a moderately heavy fresh, which swept a portion of the sand forming the bank in river below the bridge ; it also cleared sand from abreast of the Town wharf and below the cattle yard. There was a heavy sea at the time which, with the current from the Waikanae cutting square across the main current of the river, caused the sand to deposit between the Waikanae and the sea, shoaling the river at that part for a time. The main body of this sand has how ever now been carried away and we have deep water again, although there has been continuous heavy seas all the month, which is the most unfavorable circumstances that could have taken place. Notwithstanding these disadvantages the Kenilworth drawing above Bft came in on Thursday evening during very rough wpather. It is necessary to fix battens over the joints of the back planking of the viaduct the timber has shrunk and in places the joints are half-an-inch open, and the sand passes through into the river in large quantities every tide. The work will cost £5O or £6O.

With regard to the battening, Mr Matthewson thought there was no use spending money on trumpery jobs. The Engineer said the bar would be injured by the sand. It was decided to do the work. TAKING THE POLL. Mr Gannon said, for bia own part, having gone through the Bill carefully, it seemed to him that the only course open to the Board was to go at once to the ratepayers, and see what their opinion was on the matter. There had been a good many statements made as to the way the works had been carried on, regulated with truth according to the feelings of the persons who made them. A full enquiry into the action of the Board had been made, and there was no other course than to go to the ratepayers and let them say whether the thing should go on or not. He proposed that immediate steps be adopted for taking the poll of ratepayers on the subject. It dia not follow that because he said immediate steps, that the poll could be taken in less than four or five weeks. He did not think it would clash with any opinion which might be given. He thought it necessary for the Board to take decisive action at once. There was a good deal to be done in the way of revising rolls. He hoped thd Board would carry his motion, Mr Murphy seconded the motion. The Chairman agreed that it was the right course to adopt. He did not think they would gain much by getting any further opinion. Mr Clark would like to see them go to the ratepayers. He would also like to see the exact position of the Board, their funds, income, etc., all laid before the ratepayers before the poll was taken. The Chairman proposed himself to see that all information on the subject was placed befo re the public, previous to a meeting being held.

Mr Clark said when the first poll was taken the prospective revenue was laid before the public, and it had not nearly come up to their anticipations. For instance Tauwhxreparae was put down as £5OO or £lOOO per year, and they had not received a penny from it ; and the wharfages were put down as something enormous. Mr Gannon said it should be stated that up to the present moment the ratep 'yers were liable for every penny of interest on the money that had been spent, and that if the extra sum were expended the additional burden would be very light. It was

ascertained that the total amount on which interest would have to be paid was £lOO,OOO. , , p Mr Clarke said should be laid before ratepayers. My Townley also thought these facts should have been laid before the Board before the resolution to take the poll was carried. Everything should be fairly considered and laid before the ratepayers. He th' .tight before they passed the r< solu ion they should have further advice, and they should know their exact position. Members seemed to be inclined to rush into the matter. B.ut he thought it would be a straightforward and business-like course to take under the circumstances, if they took time to consider the matter. He did not think the poll would be carried as easily as some imagined. Captain Tucker did not agree with Mr Townley. He did not think there was any other alternative bu| to take the poll. Mr Dickson entirely agreed with Mr Townley, but they coqld not go on unless the poll was taken. The motion was then put and carried, no one objecting. A motion by Mr Gannon that the Chairman take all necessary steps under the Act to have the poll taken, was carried. Mr Chambers’ notice of motion was allowed to stand over on account of his absence. THE engineer’s SERVICES. Mr Dickson moved that the Engineer be given six months’* notice, if he had not already taken it. Mr Matthewson seconded. Mr Townley said by the agreement the Engineer’s engagement would cease if the works ceased. Mr Gannon said the motion would influence the ratepayers in their voting. The Chairman disagreed with the fairness or propriety of the motion. Mr Clark thought if six'months’ notice was required the sooner it was given the better, otherwise it was a pity the matter was mentioned at all. The motion was withdrawn. ! PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for pay--5 meat:—

Rent .. £7 10 0 Weighbridge keeper .. 8 0 0 Office expenses . I 4 0 0 Interest - account 5106 9 o Lyon and Biair •. 7 19 11 Secretary .. 8 6 8 Wharfinger .. .. 16 13 4 Harber Master .. 16 18 4 Union Bank . . T •« County Council rates.. 1 a 6 81 9 7 Borough Council rates 28 2 6 A. B. Muir .. .. 5 7 0 Wages account • • 89 3 2 D. McLeod «• «« 209 5 0 A. Sawyer .. 0 6 0 Wages account 87 14 11 W. H. Tucker (trustee) 21 0 0 £5596 1 4