HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 250, 22 January 1889, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The Harbor Board met at noon yesterday. Present: Captain Tucker (in the Chair), and Members Chambers, Dickson, Sievwright, Matthewson, and Gannon. Messrs Johnston and Co., Wellington wrote, accepting the Board’s offer of 17s 6d a cask for cement which was then stored at the wharf. An offer from Mr S. Doleman for the supply of stone was not accepted, no tenders for such having been called. THE TARIFF. Mr W. King wrote, pointing out the hard, ships of the Board’s wharfage rates in regard to exports of produce, particularly hay, chaff, and potatoes. He contemplated shipping a good deal of timber, hay, and chaff and other produce, and found that he would have to pay 2s [6d per ton wharfage, as goods not specified. He thought that on produce the charges would be injurious to the trade of the district, and he scarcely thought the tariff could be applied to sawn timber for export (not in bulk). He trusted the Board would modify the rates, as the produce mentioned, and timber, could not stand anything but a minimum charge. Mr Chambers considered that the Board should encourage all export trade. The Board charged Is per 1000 ft for import timber and 5s per 1000 ft for export. They did not encourage the local trade at all. The Chairman thought that 6d per 1000 ft was ample to charge for export timber. The Secretary said there were one or two alterations absolutely necessary in the tariff, but it would take some time to make these amendments. Cr Chambers moved that the Board amend the tariff as follows :— Imp. Ex Potatoes, per ton weight .. 2s 6d lei Chaff, per ton weight .. .. 5s Od 2e* Hay, per ton weight .. .. 5s Od 2s Sawn timber, per 1000 ft .. fid He did not think there wae enough timber in the district for export trade, until the vfotu bush was opened up, and that would > *t be for some considerable time, REPORTS. The Harbormaster reported that the black buoy had been replaced, the chain used being some picked up by himself, for which Mr BL E. Johnston would have to pay the Board. He recommended that a boat should be placed at the viaduct for rescuing purposes in case of boating accidents. He also advised that a heavier chain than that formerly recommended should be procured for the red buoy, if one had not already been secured. For the month there were 20 arrivals and IS departures. The question of providing a boat in the breakwater was left in the hands of Engineer and the Harbor Master. The Wharfinger reported that the flooring of the Board’s store was gradually sinking, and was not safe for storage. Mr Matthewson did not think the Board could afford to have the shed altered. It would be far better to have the shed removed, and thus save any further expense. The Secretary explained that tha Board were compelled to keep a store for storage purposes.

Mr Witty stated that he bad just refused the storage nf 800 sacks of grass seed, as he did not think the shed was safe. The Engineer was instructed to make the necessary repairs.

The Finance Committee reported that after considering Mr Thomson’s offer to abate one month’s salary, it recommended the Board to accept the offer, and thank Mr Thomson for his consideration.

Mr Chambers said the Board should have same understanding with their engineer as to their relations with him. Should the works be stopped again there was nothing to show how the engagement with Mr Thomson would terminate.

The Chairman said it was very necessary to have the engagement put on a proper footing. As it was now, they did not know how they were bound.

The Public Works Committee made a general report. Messrs McEwan and Co. wrote stating that a shipment of fishplates, bolts, rails, Ac., had been forwarded by the Tainui and Ruapehu.

engineer’s report. The Engineer reported as to ows:— " We have finished 53S feet of the breakwater and have half-finished another section of thirty-six feet. The pier is now five blocks in depth, or twenty-five feet from cope to foundation. It ie about twelve months to-day since we commenced block laying with the setting machine. The ten tons of rails bought from Government will be here in a few davs.” PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:—

£761 17 5 Mr J. W Witty was granted a month’s leave of absence,

Permission was given to Mr D Malone to remove stone off the Kaiti Beach, providing that he kept the road in repair.—

* £ fl d Cablegrams 5 15 6 J. Thompson 2 0 0 Wharf Account 3 5 2 D. McLeod 108 12 5 J. Grady 9 4 0 Wages 232 12 0 Union Bank 85 0 0 Wingate, Burns and Co. 101 2 7 E. Spurdie 1 19 6 H. Partington 0 15 0 W. King 25 11 5 T. Adams 1 3 0 N.Z.L. and M.A. Co.... 44 6 10 J. A. Harding 46 Kennedy and Evans ... 0 3 0 8 6 J. H. Stubbs 0 10 0 H. E. Johnston 112 17 10 Brown and Smaill ... 47 4 0 J. Thomson ... ... 33 6 8