HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 467, 14 June 1890, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the above was held on Thursday afternoon. Present : The Chairman (Mr Bonnett) and Messrs Arthur, Shelton, Townley, Johnston, Clark, and Dr Pollen.

lu the courte of the correspondence with the officials Captain Bennett was finally notified of his discharge on the grounds of retrenchment, Mr Witty’s duties were increased to include a daily inspection of the Board’s plant and other property, and Captain Thompson was appointed pilot, for the duties he would get the fees, the Board making no guarantee.—Mr Shelton suggested that the agreement with Captain Thompson should be made plain, so that there could be no misunderstanding, and no sum guaranteed, The suggestion was adopted. —Mr Johnston said that he hoped there would soon be compulsory pilotage, as in nearly all other ports of New Zealand. It was decided to go into Committee to discuss certain correspondence with the Government regarding the Board’s financial position, and after a long discussion the Board resolved they could do nothing more in the matter—that there was no option, it was decided, Mr Arthur expressing the belief that he would get away next Friday, that he should attend to the matter, and if necessary two members of the Board would go down as a deputation. . A communication from tbe Marine Department was to tbe effect that the survey of the bay would be gone on with after the winter, the Decartmenl making arrangements as 10 the engineering portion of the work. Captain Thompson (now in charge of tbe Pilot Department) made a long report on general matters, and several suggestions made by him were agreed to. Mr E. Murphy tendered tor Tauwliareparae section 13, at 2d, and 8, 10, and 11 at IJd per acre per annum. Mr Arthur moved that Mr Murphy’s tender be accepted, providing tbe Board approves of the surveyor. Cr Clark was in favor of those blocks applied for by Mr Murphy being let, but he thought the others should be withdrawn from the market. It was then agreed to accept the tender. Mr Arthur said he would try and arrange to get some money placed on the estimates for a road leading to Tauwhareparae. Io reply to a question Mr Arthur said he thought most likely the Tauwhareparae would be included in the Waiapu tiding, but he would like the Board to back him up and keep tbe block in the Cook County. Supposing it was placed in tbe Waiapu riding, there would no doubt be a very small rate struck, which would be a loss to the Board.

Tbe Chairman said he had been informed that some of the timber at the breakwater was disappearing, but he was not in a position to sav how it went. Even when they had a night watchman the timber was taken away, He suggested that all timber be placed in the ebed.—Agreed to. Anpther point brought up was that the carts were now running along the viaduct instead of keeping on the road.—Decided to advert ise warning carters against this practice, and if not stopped, Board prevent removal of shingle. Accounts were passed as follows : —Refund of rent, £3O 16s B<i; Advertising interest, £1 5s 64; Advertising Tauwhsraeparae, £l5 10s 94; Beturning Officer, £4 4s; Clerical assistance, £2O; A. Thomson, £2 Is 91; J. Bennett, £1; Gisbobnk bUNDann. £6 las 61; Scavenger, £1 12s; Wages account, £7 19s; Gas Company, £27 os 44; Public Works Department, £6 6s. Mr Townley moved in accordance with notice, that the resolution ot the Board to lease to Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. that portion of the foreshore above Taruheru bridge, be rescinded. He said he bad been informed by the Chairman at the last meeting that the Act had been complied with. Since then he had looked the matter up, and found that clause 113 stated, in regard to leasing, that whatever portion the Board intended to lease would have to be advertised for two months, and then sold by auction. The Clerk said that the advertisement calling for tenders appeared on the Sih March, the date of closing being the 15 h April. Mr Townley (continuing) contended that the Act had not been comp Led with. He had gone fully into the question and found that £23 13s had been paid away last year, just to open tbe bridges a few times to allow the vessels to pass up to the freezing works. The rent the Board would gel from Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. was £23, and the utmost they would expect to gel from that portion of tbe foreshore, including rates, would oe about £5O. The Board would now be liable for a very great expense if they allowed their former resolution to stand good, as cargo steamers were coming here weekly, and most probably the bridges would have to be opened on each occasiou to let the lighters pass up lo the store. Then there were the coasting schooners, and other small craft that would be employed running out to the wool ships, and ea'.-h time the bridges would have to be swung. He estimated that this alone would cost the Board fully £lOB a year. Then there were other objections made by seafaring men, who informed him lhat i( a shed was erected on that portion of the river it would seriously interfere with the traffic. The Board should not treat these opinions lightly, for if they had considered the different opinions received from nautical men they would have been in a better position in regard to Harbor matiars now. The question was one which wanted careful consideration, as it affected tbe ratepayers at large. When Captain Beed built Common, Shelton and Co.’s old store there was plenty of water and vessels could float there at all tides, but now a bullock dray could bo driven round it. THs same might apply in this case. He considered be would have been neglecting his duty if he bad neglected to bring the matter clearly before the Board. The deed was then ready for signature, but he had never seen any plans ot the proposed store, though be had been appointed as one of a Committee of two to examine the plans before they were Bent to Wellington. If the Board granted the lease it would be illegal, and the ratepayers would then have a very simple course in preventing tbe buildi' g being erected. It would be just a similar case to that of Mr Chambers with the Kaiteraiabi bridge loan, which was upset through a faulty roll. The leasing of the foreshore would be a loss instead of a profit to the Board. It was also possible that vessels would sustain damage when passing through the bridge, as the site selected was the worst that could be chosen, and would no doubt alter the channel. The Clerk explained lhat the Board weie acting under clause 6 of the Public Bodies Powers Act. The Chairman said ha only considered it fair to let Mr Townley explain his views on the matter, but as yet there was no seconder to the motion.

Mr Johnston seconded the motion, but he disagreed with Mr Townley's arguments as very weak. He thought plans of the Board a whole foreshore should havs been submitted. He said it wss a pity Mr Shelton did not take tbe lot, and the breakwater along with it, but there was no doubt that Mr Shelton bad got a very soft thing on. A fair rental should be obtained for ths sites.

Mr Clark said it was rather late in the day to bring this matter up. The Board had fixed their own terms, under which tbe foreshore had been leased. He hoped it was a soft thing tor Common, Shelton and Co., for they all wanted to m.ke something. Perhaps if it had suited Mr Townley, so that he could have made something out of it, he would himself have tendered. If he (Mr Clark) were placed in Common, Shelton and Co.'s position he would certainly make the Board adhere to the tender. Mt Johnston: And have a lawsuit.

Mr Arthur thought it would be very foolish for the Board to hamper the progress of

the district by refusing to let the foreshore. Ha considered they should all be pleased to see so much produce either coming in or going out of the district. The Chairman said that this question was not a matter of to-day. Some months ago a Committee was appointed to report on the advisability of leasing the foreshore, and oth«r Committees also sent in reports, which wr-re all adopted by the Board. The application from Common, Shelton and Co. had been received about eight weeks ago, and then tbe Board decided to act in the matter, by advertising that portion of the foreshore for lease. If there were any objections they should have been raised then, but now the Borough Council found they would be put to some expense in opening the bridges. He would be pleased to see the bridges opened 60 times a day, as it would show the amount of business that was being done in the district There was only one objection to the erection of a building, and that was whether it would affect the tideway with vessels going up to the freezing works. He had made enquiiies, and was ir.foimed that it would not in any way interfere with the river. Mr Townley said the ratepayers had quite enough expense already with the harbor without the bridge being opened frequenty, which would be no benefit to the public. He was supposed to have been on the Committee, and be bad got notice of one meeting, but there was no quorum present, and then he found afterwards that the matter had been completed. Th? Chairman said that Mr Townley had done a lot of good by raising these objections, as the Board would now be rushed with applications. As to the building affecting the river, that would be a matter for the Marine Department, as they would have to pass the plans. The motion was then put—For : Members Townley and Johnston. Against : The Chairman and Members Arthur and Clark.