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NEWPORT TOWX COUNCIL.

NEWPORT HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS

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NEWPORT HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS The annual meeting of this corporation was held on Wednesday. Thomas Gratrex, Esq., was called to the chair, there being also present Aldermen Burton and Latch, Capt. Foote, Messrs. G. Harrison, H. J. Davis, He wertson, Hall, T. Latch, and John Davies. The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and with regard to a portion of them remarks were made. The Clerk (Mr. Wildy) stated that the resolution re- quiring Capt. Moon to change his residence had been con- veyed to him, and he would, no doubt, act upon it, when enabled to make the necessary arrangements. Mr. Hall reported that Mr. Homfray and himself had examined the articles upon Mr. Cooke's premises, and recommended the Commissioners to purchase the b'ack- smiths' shop (without tools), the steam kiln, and the grindstone, at £ 30. The other things the committee considered it undesirable to purchase. Mr. Hewertson thought the amount named by the com- mittee very low. Mr. Hall was requested to proceed with the matter, the clerk being authorised to pay the amount, should it be accepted by Mr. Cooke. RAISING FUNDS FOR THE GRIDIRON. The report of the committee upon this subject- Messrs. Homfray, G. W. Jones, C. Lyne, and H. J. Davis was read. It recommended ''that the money required should be raised by sale of shares in the Water- works and that 100 shares at least, being 50 original and 50 preferential, be sold at once, and a similar number of shares two months afterwards; but your committee think taat if at the first sale the shares sell freely and at a good price, a further number might then be prudently sold." Mr. H. J. Davis explained that the object of the com- mittee in recommending the sale of both original and other shares was to try the market for each. No doubt the original shares were worth more than the others. The question was which were the better to keep, and that would be ascertained after the first sale; while by an interval of two months being allowed to ela;- e, the JlLrkt would not be over pressed. It was su^v.-sted, too, that the shares should be divided into Lts of rive or ten each, so that the opportunities of purchasing them might be more extended. Ald.rman Latch did not think they could do better than receive the report, and empower the committee to exercise their discretion and upon the proposal of Mr. Juhn Davies, that was doue, and authority given to the clerk to arrange with the auctioneer. TIIE ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS, Duly audited by iir. M. Brewer, and a copy of which had been forwarded to each commissioner, was received and adopted upon the motion of oUr. John Davis. HARBOUR MASTER'S REPORT. Mr. Gething, the harbour-master, reported— That a gridiron is in course of construction on the east Lank of the river Usk, a short distance below the Newport bridge. It is bounded on the north by the Rodney wharf or landing-place, used by the Bristol Steam- Packet Company's steamers, and on the south by Messrs. Hewertson's timber and bark-yard. The aforesaid grid- iron will be 250 long by 37 feet broad, and is calculated to supply a want long experienced in the port, as vessels can be readily placed for examination, and may perform the requisite repair. Heretofore there were only some liard bunks in the river where vessels could be laid for stopping a leak or other teuiporl-y repairs, and where they were always liable to collision and other danger. The estimated cost of the gridiron is £ 3750. It is to be con- structed by the Harbour Commissioners, out of the har- tour fund, and is expected to be complete and fit for the •use 0: shipping in the course of five months from the present period. That the quay wall at the Moderator wharf, which had partly fallen down into the river, and was in a very dila- pidated condition, has been rebuilt by Crawshay Bailey, Esq., the proprietor. New moorings have been placed on the quay, the docks cleared and rendered safe. This ■wharf is bounded north by the CinJerhill wharf, and on the south by a wharf of which Mr. T. B. Batchelor is the proprietor. Adjoining this latter wharf lies a wharf belonging to Messrs. bailey, and in a bad condition. The rebuilding of it was contemplated by Messrs. Bailey last year. That the wharf and river bank at the Monmouthshire Itailway and Canal Company's wharf, which had partially given way through the deepening of the docks, so as to render them inaccessible to large steamers at neap tides, has been repiled, strengthened, and improved, and new mooring posts have been placed for the greater security of shipping. A substantial wall has also been built on the margin of the river, the entire length of the wharf; the whole is now in excellent working condition. The river bank at the Victoria wharf, adjoining the before-mentioned wharf, which has also broken away into the river, has been piled at considerable expense, and every means used to sustain the same, and appears at present to be effec- tive. The docks at these wharves have been deepened and frequently levelled during the past year, and are in good condition and capable of receiving ships of nearly 200 feet in leugth. These wharves are bounded on the north by Messrs Yipond's coal wharf, andonthe south by Jack's pill. That the wood wharf constructed by Messrs. Grant, reported last year as having given way towards the river, remains in the same state and condition. That the wharf reported last year as building by the Blaina Cwm Celyn Company, adjoining Messrs. Grant's wharf, is now com- pleted, the dock cleared of the mud and levelled, and good, sufficient moorings placed thereon. "That Mr. John Thomas, timber-merchant, has driven many additional piles along the frontage of his wharf, and thereby rendered the river bank much more substan- tial these docks, and the docks at the various wharves from the bridge to the Newport floating dock, have been cleared, or are in course of being cleared, and are safe for shipping. That the Newport dock enlargement, reported last year as in progress, has been completed and opened for the reception of shipping on the, 2nd day of March last. It ia capable of containing from 70 to 80 ships of large tonnage, having an area of seven acres; it has 26 feet depth of water, and its various appliances for the discharge of iron ore, timber, ballast, &c., as also for the shipment of coal when completed, will render it oue of the roost efficient docks in the United Kingdom for its size. Hydraulic power has been applied to the opening and closing of the dock-gates, thus rendering the ingress and egress to and from the dock easy and quick. A large quantity of mud has been cast into the river Usk since the opening of the dock, from thence, which caused re- monstrance on the part of the Town Council, and subse- quently complaint was made to the Admiralty, and Capt. Alldridge was sent as a deputation from that Board to inquire into the alleged offence, when, after several days' patient investigation, he pronounced that the matter cast into the river had not caused any injury or obstruc- tion thereto. That on several occasions during the past year I have examined and surveyed the river Usk from the bridge to its entrance, and I find the water more shallow in Town- reach, and the sand bank in Pill-reach somewhat increased, but from thence down to the river's mouth, the sand and gravel banks continue the same as reported last year, and the depth of water in the channel the same. The channel continues the same course, no new bank has formed, and the river is free from any obstruction, from roots of trees, or any matters other than those beforementioned. The moorings at the various wharves and and on the river banks are in a good efficient state, and the docks safe for the reception of shipping. The various banks of the river have been defended from the action of the tide by limestone and rubbish, together with stakes where required, and at present the river banks are in a good state of preservation. That during the present year ending the 26th of May, 1858, no new jetties, piers, buildings, or encroachments have been made. "ROBERT GETHING, Harbour Master. Newport, Monmouthshire, May 26th, 1858." The Chairman That is a very satisfactory report. Alderman Burton It appears to be no matter what is thrown into the river. It doesn't seem to do any harm. Mr. H. J. Davis It must be a very satisfactory report for the weaker vessels." (Laughter.)—Mr. Davis further remarked that the report of Captain Alldridge must give general satisfaction. Alderman Latch I and Captain Alldridge don't agree, I can tell you. The report was accepted. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. GENTLEMEN,—I beg to report that the police con- stables employed by you, and under my control, have attended well to their duties during the last twelve months, and that I have no cause to complain of any of them during the said time. Charles Broad, No. 3, has resigned at his own request, and I have appointed Thomas Sutton, aged 25, now serving in the Gloucester Constabulary, in his place and be will commence duty here on the expiration of his month's notice in that force. During the twelve months the constables have appre- hended and summoned before the magistrates the following number of persons, viz. For stealing from ships 4 Iron 13 Coal. 12 Drunkenness 48 „ Vagrancy upon wharfs 17 Summonses. 9 For d-.tmages to vessels 3 Deserting from apprenticeship 3 Assaults 17 126 I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant. "JOH HUXTABLE, Superintendent." Mr. H. J. Davis remarked that the document set forth the crime prosecuted. No one could say how much was prevented. EMPTYING RUBBISH INTO THE TRIBUTARIES OF THE USK. The subjoined letter was read by the Clerk, who stated it was overlooked at the last meeting Pontrhydyrun Works, near Newport, 14th April, 1858. To the Harbour Commissioners and Conservators of tltt: liiver Usk. GENTLEMEN,- Will you allow us to draw your atten- tion, officially, to the quantity of refuse that is tipped from the various works on the banks of the Avon Llwyd, into its bed. We are compelled now, for our own de- fence, to employ a company of 40 navigators to clean the channel of the river, so as to drain the back water from these works, and the rubbish thus to be turned off is com- posed of broken bricks, puddling furnace cinders, and coal ashes, cemented with fine sand. We think, if the conservators were to inquire, they would find that thou- sands of tons of this sort of material were carried down by the- last flood, and we are fully persuaded ourselves that this sort of material is fifty times more likely to ob-truot the navigation of the River Usk than all the mud thai can possibly be dredged out of the Newport Dock. To be forewarned is forearmed,' and we rest by bringing this matter under your notice, in the hope that you will be able to find a 'preventive' for it, which will be far more important and less cost than a cure.' We are, Gentlemen, yours obediently, "CONWAY, BROTHERS." Alderman Latch, amidst some laughter, said according to some opinions the stuff from the works must be of great service in stopping up the holes complained of, in which mud would not remain. The Chairman: Are we, as conservators of the Usk, conservators of the rivers above, because, if we are, this mOlY be an important matter to discuss hereafter. The Clerk read the clause applicable to the powers of the Commissioners. The Chairman How fir do our powers extend? The Clerk There is no limit. The Chairman Do you mean to say that our juris- diction extends over every stream flowing into the river Usk ? The Clerk could not say that. The limits were not defined. Mr. H. J. Davis asked if there was not a ckuse at the end of the Act giving information upon the point. The Clerk replied in the negative. Alderman Burton said they bad certainly got as far as Caerleon, because dues were paid there. Alderman Latch thought it had been the intention to embrace all the tributaries. The Chairman said what he wanted to know was whether they had any power to prevent what was com- plained of by Messrs. Conway. Mr. H. J. Davis They themselves can take proceed- ings if they experience any injury. They are as much in a position to move as we are. The Clerk (in reply to Alderman Latch) All Icm say is that you are limited by the Act to the port and harbour of Newport." The Harbour Master said some few years since, he was appointed by the Commissioners to go round among the hills, and examine the tributaries. He discovered that refuse was being thrown into them from almost all the works. The Chairman Was anything done then ? The Harbour Master Several letters passed upon the subject, but the Commissioners agreed that they had no authority to interfere. Mr. John Davies It is likely we have jurisdiction as far as the tide flows. Mr. II. J. Davis: If you moved in the matter, the first thing that would be said to you would be—" Show us it is yuur river." Mr. Harrison And here they would say-" Prove that we threw the stuff in." It would be impossible to iden- tify from which of the works it came down. The Chairman What am I to do with the letter ? Alderman Latch Refer it to the Dock Company. (Laughter.) The Chairman Then we will acknowledge the letter, and say that we are much obliged to Messrs. Conway for drawing our attention to the matter, but that we are advised we have no power to interfere. This was assented to. Some bills were examined, and ordered to be paid, when the Commissioners separated

TOWN HALL, NEWPORT.—SATURDAY.

BLAINA.

MONMOUTH.

CHURCH-RATES.

BRYNMAWR.I

PONTYPOOL.

PONTYPOOL COUNTY COURT.

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