HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 604, 7 May 1891, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

kx ordinary meeting of the above was held pn Tuesday evening. Present : The Chairman (Mr Townley), end Messrs Clark, giev’wngfr, OhrUp> Arthur, Shelton, and Brights Meiers Gibson and Hall applied for the section reserved for timber purposes, on the Board’s endowment, at 3d per acre. Mr Grayson also made application for 600 acres of reserve, and 1900 acres of other portion at 2sd per acre. Mr Grayson, ihe Chairman said, had informed him that there were only a few trees on the so«cal!ed timber reserve. However, he did not know whether they were justified in dealing with the reserve without advertising it.- On the matter beinj looked up it was found that no reserve hat really been made, and on Mr Arthur’s motion, seconded by Mr Clark, it was decided to lease ths land.—Mr Shelton said that Mr Grayson was a most desir&b’s settler, and the way be set about bis work would probably induce others to take up sections. Arthur pro-

posed, Mr Clark seconded, and it was resolved, that Mr Grayson’s offer be accepted. Messrs Palliser and Jones, through Mr Bicheno, applied to know at what price the Board would dispose of six iron wheels of which they had a double set. —Resolved to offer the set at the cost price landed in Gisborne. Mr J. Burns, shipwright, applied fir permission to erect a slip for the purpose of bis trade, at the confluence of the Taruheru and Waimata rivers.—The Chairman said such permission had been previously given at a nominal rent, but was not taken up; no doubt it was a very necessary work.—Decided to leave the matter to the consideration of the Foreshore Committee. Th? Wharfinger gave a report on the use that had been made of the wharf, noting several instances of inconvenience to shipowners.—Mr Shelton said some time ago the Board had resolved that Mr Witty should report at each meeting as to the state of the plant, but said he had not received instructions.—The Chairman said he believed instructions had been written, but not sent, and he had then given Mr Witty verbal instructions to look after the plant.—Resolved to confirm the Chairman’s instructions. The Harbormaster, Captain Thomson, in his report, recommended a line of fascine wattle work to prevent further silting on the western side of the river, He also recommended that something be done to prevent a channel cutting behind the training wall. He further mentioned that stones were washing from the training wall into the river, and he bad to remove some of them. The Iris had carried away the lower beacon. In discussing the report the Chairman said he ihought Mr O’Connor’s report should have more consideration than it had received.— Mr Shelton thought they should have a special meeting to go into the whole of these matters connected with the river and port. It was decided to adjourn the meeting later on (for a fortnight) for that purpose. The Chairman mentioned that Mr Trent, of Christchurch, had looked at the Board’s big boat, and wished to know at what price the Board would sell it; if cheap enough he might purchase it instead of going to the expense of repairing one he bad on hand. The boat originally cost £B5, and had never been used, but was going to destruction where it now lay,—Decided co offer to sell the boat tor £4O. On the motion of Mr .Shelton the name of Mr Bright was added to the Finance Committee. The fol’owing accounts were passed for pay ment:—A. R. M nr £2 10a, A. Thomson £2 7s, Wharfinger £l6 13s 4i, R. Robioson £5, Young and Drummond £lO, Sundries £2 12s 63. The item of £lO to Messrs Young and Drummond was in connection with the investigation of ihe books, and the members considered the charge very reasonable.