HARBOR BOARD.
An ordinary meeting of the above was held on Tuesday evening. Present : The Chairman and Messrs Chambers, Townley, Clark, Bennett, Shelton, and Dr. Pollen, A telegram from Mr Graham was read, asking for information as to the silting up in the river, of which he had heard unpleasant rumors, and the matter would no doubt be mentioned in the House, The Secretary said he had referred Mr Graham to the report sent to Mr Olliver. In resigning bia seat on the Board, Mr Murphy suggested that Mr A. C. Arthur be selected in his stead,
Me DeLaatotir, tha Board's sofiottor, wrote Balling attention to the urgent neeawlty of peering the essential parts ot the Bill now be-oto ths House, and suggested that tha Board wire to Mr Graham to that effect,— This course was resolved upon, Mr Chambers pointing out that unless the clauses in regard to tha rate were passed, the Board could not recover rates struck under ths Act of 1880. It was also resolved that tha Chairman communicate with the Government to thia effect.
Mr Sievwright wrote I am unable to attend the meeting to night, being confined to my room, and consequently shall bo unable to vote on Mr Clark's motion of which he gave notice. In the circumstances perhaps I should be permitted to say that I oppose Iboth. There is not, to my mind, any need for furthar outside reports on the works. Government will not appoint anyone to do so, and the Board out of its limited resources oaunot afford to do it. No one ever expected, and it would be unreasonable to expect, that no difficulty would occur in the carrying out of such a work—that it would be all plain sailing, and I deprecate the snares that are now and again created or attempted to be created, whenever a little accumulation of sand oocurs, as if the whole scheme will be useless because of this. Inspection of the Waikanae beach satisfies me that the sand is rapidly clearing down to the rack, and that the small tongue of sand, which is now the cause of a kind of mild scare, will if let alone gradually work away, Of oourse it would be morequickly done with the aid of the proposed training wall, which would furthar keep it Cleared. Till the scheme shall have been completely carried out it appears to me we have no ground for anticipating’failure to any extent because of an occasional obstruction occurring while we are still working in what is only shallow water. Everybody admits that dealing with bar harbors in this country is, to a considerable extent, a problem, but it appears to me that in the case of the Gisborne work we are going on a great deal better than might have been expected. The Harbormaster, in his report, referred attention to the three boat accidents that had occurred, two on the bar, and one in the bay, and pointing out the necessity for davits on the pier, There had been no improvement in the river, but the tides were better.—ln rep'y to the Chairman the Harbormaster said ths only information he had sent outside in regard to the river was in reply to communications by telegraph from those in charge of the Fairy.— The Chairman said he thought it would be better if the Harbormaster always mentioned such matters in his reports to the Board.—• This was assented to by the members of the Board.—lt was decided that davits be procured.
Mr Thomson reported :— The section of breakwater on hand last meeting was finished on the 9th dnst., giving a length ot 814 ft. top measurement. A survey and estimate of the proposed training wall on Waikanae side of river has luen made. The work will cost about £3,700, done in the cheapest manner. The alternative work, that is the short curved line, would cost £1,170. The more expensive work would not be suitable for wharfage purposes without further cullay, as for the greater part it is composed of two rows of piles filled in with stones, and decking is not provided. There is little change in the depth alongside the breakwater, it alters a little each tide. At present there is at a distance of 20ft. from pier at high water 18ft. at end, 10ft. at 700, Oft. Sin. at 500, and Oft, Sin. at 400 ft. along pier, The stone for past fortnight cost Is 7sd per ton, or Is 9}d including coal and oil, and this price includes large as well as small stone.
Mr Chambers said, in reference to the prosed training wall, that when the scWmo was before the Board ha thought it woffld be better to have a permanent work, but the Engineer's scheme had rathei' frightened him. If the Engineer considered the first plan would suit, he would be in favor of that. In any case tbe point of sand must be out off It was not an engineering question. [Mr Townley : It is a financial one.] It was simply the wearing away of the beach. If anyone could prove to him that the sand was a continual drift from the westward he would give in, but ho was satisfied that it was not io. Mr Bennett pointed out that if Mr Clark’s motion were carried, the discussion on the plans would only be waste of time, and it would be better to wait until that was decided. This course was agreed to. The following accounts were passed Cablegrams £3 13s Gd, Wharfages £25, Sheet and others £1 10s 6d, Advertising (outside district) £lB 7s, Weighbridge Keeper £l, J. Thomson £4OO, Wingate. Burns and Co. £l7 18s 7d, J. Mullane £6l7s 7d, J. Mossau and Company £1 13s, P. McLoughlin £2 18s 4d, Wages Account £294 Is Bd. In reply to Dr. Bollen the Engineer said he thought the present method of getting sand was three or four times as dear as getting it from the western side of the pier. Mr Shelton said he had been asked whether the Board wished to keep the diving boat which they had. He noticed that it hod not been used lately.—The Engineer said he found they could get on better so far by working from the pier,—Mr Chambers thought they should not part with any of ths plant they had thought necessary in th? instance, unless it were shown they would have no use whatever for it.—Mr Townley thought they should take advantage of an offer if, as the Engineer said, the boat was not wanted i when starting the work they had gone in for all that they had been advised to get.—The Engineer could not say positively whether the boat would eventually be required.— Mr Clark said the amount involved was so small that it was hardly worth while disposing of the boat.—“Ths matter was allowed to drop, no motion having been made.
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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 338, 15 August 1889, Page 2
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1,158HARBOR BOARD. Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 338, 15 August 1889, Page 2
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