HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 374, 7 November 1889, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of the above was hold on Tuesday evening, the object being to endeavor to oonfirm the resolution to have the Board’s endowment plaoed under the provision of the Public ■ Works Act. There were present: The Chairman and Messrs Chambers, Sievwright, Shelton, Arthur, Bennett, Clark, Townley, and Dr Pollen. Mr Bennett objected to the inconsistent way in which the thing was being dealt with it seemed that it was changed according to who had the strongest party. The motion was then put, those dissenting being Messrs Bennett, Clark, and Shelton. Ths ordinary business was thou gone on with. The Secretary read the letter which he had sent to the Government in regard to the request to send an Engineer to inspect the works if he was not satisfied with the proposal to keep the pier in a straight line. Mr Shelton did not think the letter conveyed the intention of the resolution, which was that the Government should send an Engineer irrespective of the quesjfion ae to the curved or straight line. Mr Bennett undeaMpfl that if Mr Blair agreed to the line there was no necessity for him te oome. The Chairman said he thought if the intention was that an Engineer was to be sent to inspect the work generally it should have been explicitly stated and a separate motion made. He thought Mr Bourke’s letter fairly carried out the spirit of the motion. Messrs Chambers and Sievwright agreed. Mr Shelton coultl not see why, after the manner in which .. the thing had been dis cussed, the latter part of the motion should have been eliminated.

Mr Bennett said he had raised the question at the time and the Chairman had stated the motion referred only to the main subject under discussion, as to whether there should be a straight line or hot. Mr Shelton said six lines of the resolution were given and the seventh left out, That was whut he complained of. A different con. struotion had been put on th»>last part to that which was intended at least by some members.

The Chairman said the only lune was as to whether there was to ba a straight line or not. The only harm that had been done apparently, was to mislead the Secretary. The subject was then dropped. A communication was made by the Marine Department in regard to the proposed survey of the Bay, and also expressing a desire that a further survey should be made. In reply to Mr Chambers the Englnatr said the additional soundings would oost from £3O to £5O,

The Chairman thought the work had better ba done, or It would probably lead to a refusal to agree to the straight line, The Engineer said tbs soundings would be useful. They ware the same as were being asked for by Sir John Coode in regard to the New Plymouth breakwater. Mr bhelton said if the money was to oome out of the loan fund it did not matter much where the money went, but it it was to be out of ordinary revenue they should be vary careful or they would bo in the same position as the Borough Council. The Engineer considered it would ba part of breakwater construction. Mr Chambers moved, and Mr Arthur seconded, that the work bs done, end suggesting that it be done in the cheapest-manner possible. Ths agents of the Wave Queen wrote complaining of the way in whion the vessel was being lightered, and stating that only 450 casks ot cement had been taken out, whereas there should be 500 casks lightered every day, and further that the Board would be held responsible for demurrage it more expedition was not shown. The tatter having been shown to Messrs Kennedy and Evans they replied that the vessel was lying a long distance outside of the usual anchorage, but that the lighters were at work in all reasonable weather.

Mr Bennett stated that unfortunately on the fine days Messrs Kennedy and Evane always had the Union Company’s boats to lighter. The captain of the vessel told him that 600 casks a day could be lightered, and one day there had been 580 lightered. The lightering had now been completed.

It was resolved that Messrs Kennedy and Evans be informed that the Board will hold them responsible if there was any claim made against the Board. It was decided, after some discussion, to refuse to accept a greater quantity of coal from Mr Johnston than 100 tone it was agreed to take.

Mr Shelton took exception to the Works C ommittee opening and accepting tenders for timber, and after discussion the Board confirmed the action ot the Committee.

Mr Bennett said the Committee appointed in regard to the tariff lhad agreed on all the items excepting one, that was frozen meat, and he did not see why they should charge so much ae twopence for sheep when they did not even touch the wharf.

Mr Townley was surprised at Mr Bennett asking for a reduction. It was decided to allow the report to lie on the table until next meeting. - Mr Townley said steps ought to be taken to have the breakwater gazetted as a wharf, as the Union Company were making enquiries about when the pier would be available for the use of their small boats. ' The Harbormaster reported that the schooner Waiapu hadarived, drawing ?ft6in of water, but could not get in the river, and as there was a swell on the captain preferred to lighten hie vessel instead of coming along, side the breakwater.

The Engineer made a general report, to which he added extracts from some of his previous reports to show that the training wall was not a new Idea and that be had held that when the pier went out far enough to shelter the Waikanae beaoh it would Improve the river. He further contended that the work would be of use as it went out had been proved by the fact ot the Orowhaiti having come alongside and remained at the pier all day. The following accounts were passed for payment Duty on cement £72 fl« lOd, Evening Post £l3 16s, wharfages £67 Is 3d, A. R. Muir £2 7s fld. petty cash £5, H. E. Johnston £l9l 14s 3d, Wingate, Burna and Co. £lB 16a Sd, Kennedy and Evans £3O Ifis 6d. Brown and Smalll £ll 16a 3d, W. Ring £2l 13a lid. J. Mullane £5 13s Id, P. McLoughlin £l7 6a fld, wages account £319 | 10a fid.