HARBOUR BOARD

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11501, 6 February 1903, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD

ANNUAL MEETING.

Tbe annual meeting of the Harbour Board wan held yesterday. Present—Messrs Ji. Kayo (chairman). Reruns, Hay. Buddo, ji.H.K., Brown. Dunlop, Laurensen, 31.H.R-. Connal, (Jibhs, Waymouth, Lambie, Capt. McClaiehie, and the .Mayor jf Lyttchon. THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The Chairman said:—We have nut today to hold the statutory annual meeting adjourned from the. 19ih January, and to receive and pass tlie nuditrd accounts of thrBoard duly certified to by tin , C»ntn>ler B Dd Auditor-General, and it wiil b* my pleasurable umy at the i-'cse of this it-port to move in that direction. B-fore proceeding further, I think it is fitting to remind the members of the severe lo&s that this Board baa sustained by the removal by death of our la'-e Chairman. Mr Edwd. G. Wright, who pas.ved away on August 12th, 1902. As a highly-qualilkd civil engineer, and aa one always taking special interest in • harbour works, his eervkvs to this Board from 1877 up to his death have been of immense value, and it may tru'y lw said ol him, "His winks do follow him." When chairman, for four different period?, the Board had ita affairs guided in a tactful, courteous and wise manner, whr'.e his gonial personality endeared him to all who had the opportunity of working with him. When we- turn our eyes to his photograph, which I trust will henceforth remain hung in room, may we be stimulated and encouraged to continue working on with the sairws unremitting zeal that ev»r distinguished our diceased friend. The treasurer's annual report and vast array of figures, showing to th-e minutest detail the pmition of every department under the Board's control, happily summarised in hi.s interesting report to myself as Chairman, renders it unnecessary for mo to go at gmit length into the statement of accounts, but the importance of several matters require being epee-iuKv touched upon. I might cay the Board commenced the year 1902 with a credit cash balance of £32,221 14a 6d, and the year closed with a cash balance, of £24,150 16h 7d, showing a reduced credit of £8070 17» lid-; but when it i.s borne in mind , that tin; expenditure of the past year included harbour works and renewals of the tug 'LytteJton, amounting together to £21,656 10a 7d, it will be recognised that the Board's ordinary revenue has been more " than sufficient to meet these special demands upon it. The treasurer's statement of the actual earnings and expenditure nnder the general accounts shown a credit balance of £5023 6a sd, for the year 1902, and thesp accounts include the expenditure fo: , tug reriewals. £5136, and wharf and ehed renewals, £2574, during the year. The annual trade returns for ib« port of Lyttelton for the year 1902 ahow the aggregate tonnage of foreign and colonial outward bound veese.'s to have been 1.526,372 tons, or an increase of 80,901 tons over last year. Tlie balance in favour of exports over imports for the past year was £625,649. The dredging account is kept separately, and at the dose of the year -■hows a credit balance of £3150 16s 3d, and an unraised portion of the dredging loan of £9200, co that there remained, at the close of last year, the sum of £12,350 16s 3d for dredging work, which, at the current rate of dredging expenditure, the amount will Jiwt for' one year and ten months, dating from the commencement of this year, and the cost will then either have ' to become a charge upon the ordinary revenue of the Board, or a further loan lor the purpose will have to be raised. •The dredging operations in the Lyttelton hiirbotir have been very considerable in ; ' the paat; some 3,211,000 cubio yards, or •4.495,000 tone of mud were dredged, during ihe 114 years dating from 1877 to 1895, at an average cost of about 6d per cubic yard. In June, 1900, the dredge "Alan■cheater" commenced and since I then, a period of two years and seven months, some 908,996 cubio yards, or 1,262,500 tons of mud have been removed,

st an average cost of 5d per cubic yard, or 3Jd per ton, which includes interest on £31,000, the cost of the dredge. Boundiiigß in the inner and outer harbour will shortly be taken by our engineer, and upon hi» Wport our future dredging operations ■will depend. I think it right to point , out that, whilst the Board have not raised • loan for harbour -works (dredging excepttd) since the £200,000 loan of 1879, they have, out of the surplus balances of ordinary revenue, been able during the past 26 years to expend a sum of £206,908 18s 4d upon harbour works, thus saving the payment of interest upon that stun, and this has not been dope by charging excessive tariff rates. A reference to the treasurer's comparative Teturn, showing the tariff charges levied by the various Harbour. Boards throughout, New Zealand,

makes it clear that our charges bear favourable comparison with those of other-Harbour-Boards. It lias been the policy of the Lyttelton Harbour Board from the first to encourage and assist as far as possible the industries of the country. For instance, our wharfage rate on all produce (wool excepted, which is 6d a bale), including grain, frozen meat, coal, etc., is *t 64, per ton, whereas the import wharfage on general merchandise is Is 6d per ton, which compares very favourably with the porta in Xew Zealand. Again, the HarWmr Board, with a view of assisting me fanners, fixed their on grain at Id per ton per week, which only leaves a bare margin of profit to the Board. The wharf extensions which the Harbour Board put in hand about two years ugp, are now drawing towards completion. No. 2 jetty has been widened and lengthened to 620 feet, and now affords special facilities to the Lyttelton-Wellington ferry service. Passenger trains now meet these steamers on arrival, and the express goes alongside prior to their departure at night, thus greatly adding to the comfort and con-

venience of the passengers. Xo. 6 jetty ii being lengthened to 600 feet, and will • afford additional accommodation to ocean eteamer*. This jetty will be finished in two months. No. 3 jetty is to be widened to 74 feet, and lengthened to 620 feet, and also will affurd additional accommodation for the lnrger class of steameie. Ths timber for this jetty is contracted for to be delivered by the 30th May, and its completion ehould be effected before the end o." October next. When these wharf extensions have been completed, we shall nave some 11,555 feet of berth frontacre. whilst in o •?* e^in S ton nt present amounts to 10,267, feet. Our cool storage buildings have !>een largely added to, and will meet requirements for some time- to come. A shelter for the accommodation of the whart labourers, named the Coronation Hall, and the night watchmen's and boatmen's lodge have also been completed during the year. The aggregate cost of the above works amounted to £32.885, which has been, or *ill be met, m I before stated, out of the lurplus accumulations from ordinary revenue. Coming to the question of future harbour extensions and improvements, the first step will be to obtain a report from our engineer in what direction and at what coet they can be made. The question of improved craneage facilities ia also one which I hope will again engage the Board's careful attention; but as the working of the wharves and jetties is entirely under the control of the Railway Department, it is a matter in which the Board will have to act in concert with them. If the ii.se of electric gantry cranes could be arranged for upon our wharves, it would greatly facilitate and expedite the discharge of veesek. It will be understood that the system of dealing with cargo in ■Lyttelton is for the most .part different to in Wellington., In our case the whole of the goods mucrt go into railway trucks, but iv the case- of Wellington by far the larger proportion is pal direct into ehede and delivery taken from thence by the coneigneee, -whilst in our case the goods have to be forwarded in trocKs to Chrietchurch, the distributing centre. This «yetem is of benefit to Uhrjetchurch merchants generally, but in some cases it

goods sent direct -from Lyttelton, but oft times received them via Christchurvh. uust the Board will use its influence t tectify such anomalies. As the exteneio: and widening of our graving dock to a'siz likely to accommodate all vessels eomin, t.j the \>vrt would involve the raia in:; of a loan, the question is on which should be approached with a certaii degree of caution, more op&ciaJy lookin to the fact tliat the large ocean steamer liave not in tbe pa.st be*n disked reguiarl; at our jwit. At the sams time my penoim belief ts that a time wiii come, awl at n> distant date, when this question must b boldly faced, if we ait to maintain LytU-1 ton as a bi-st-class port in all respects. Ou docking charges are based on a very scale and afford tvciy inducement to duel Wii> is, but Eot,\vi.ths'.;ii)iiiiy th;.s ilk' a\er a:;. 1 numb r of <icrau rltiHiifis docked uui ing tho p-i--t 20 yeais is less lhan fj;iir i y».-ar. JLβ increased size of the ocvaj biramtM trading to our port will netvssi tattj the further deepening of our harbou by dredging. But a shoit time since < depth of 26 or 27ft sufficed to meet the re i]tureineE'ts of loaded vessels leaving ou harbour. Xow, such vessels as the Athenii "icid to a draught of 29 and 30ft, and thi requirement Is one which will engage tlie im mediate attention of our engineer. Anothe question which will have to be considered i; that of providing accommodation, for vessel which bring petroleum oil to the port Li bulk. The Board has already been ap proached with a view of obtaining a e;U '"for tlie erection of oil tanks on the Board': reclaimed land, to the westward of Officers Point. Tlie oil to be pumped from tht vessel to the tanks. Witli some altera tion it is prcrbaUe that the inner end o Gladstone- Pieo , mjiirht be made suitabk \ for such vessels. Notice has bteti Stilt t( fbe Government that the Board desire t< pay for the embankment, under the agree ment made in 1881, at Officers' Point, ant to use it for tbis or other purposes. I air pleased to report that our newly-elected Engineer, Mr Cyras, J. R. Williams, ha: now entered upon his duties. He wa? selected after a careful examination of Uμ claims of over 60.other candidates, some ol them being in the very front rank of civil engineers in Australasia, and perxonal'v 1 think wo have an excellent choice. Tlk terms and conditions' of his engagement are so comprehensive that every possible engineering service which the Harbour Board may require, is assured to them. It will be for the Board to determine what will require hia first attention. In tlie meantime, I have brought under his notice for careful consideration, tbe following matters: — (1) Soundings of inner and outer harbour and Camp Bay to be taken and pans thereof made. (2) To report as to whether there is any evidence of the mud coming out of (Damp Bay and spreading over the harbour and to furnish a recommendation as to where the dredgings shall in future be deposited. (3) In reference to the present system of dredging and what improvements, if any, he can suggest, also time it wi.l take to dredge the inner harbour to average depth of 29ft at low water. Mid a channel outside to same depth. (4) To report on the present condition of the wharves und Katies, and as to the expenditure likely to required in their renewal in the near future, also that wliat additional wharf accommodation, workable by tlie railway, could be provided inside the present breakwaters. (5) In what direction further harbour extension can be made, and the esti-

mated cost. (6) To verify the measurements at the Dock (see Lloyd's surveyor report thereon)* and make new sectional plan on scale recommended by Captain Wilis, for use in docking vessels. (7) Estimate of cost of lengthening and -widening the ! Graving Dock to admit of the -docking of\aU modern vessels trading, or likely*) trade, to the port of Lyttefton. (8) To report on the condition of the following:—(ij Graving Dock buildings and .machinery; (2) cool chambers and electric lighting buildings and machinery; (3) the sheds belonging, to the HaTbour Board: (4) the dredging plant; (5) the tug, huH and machinery] (6) the Smnner Pdot Station; (7) Pilob Station at Heads; outlying jetties at Port Levy; outlying jetties at New Brighton; outlying jetties at Governor's Bay; outlying jftttes at Diamond Harbour; outlying jetties at Purau; outlying jetties at jSumner. (9) Plan and estimate of cost of a skeleton wharf for berthing coal hulks alongside the Naval Point breakwater. (10) Be timber breastwork for timber traders extending from the existing low level breastwork westward towards the dock, eetimate of cost and what depth of water could be obtained along its frontage. (11) Survey of land vested in the Board to eastward of Officers' Point. (12) Small building oh boat jetty for licensed watermen, plan and estimate of cost. (13) Shelter for passengers of No. 2 jetty, plan and estimate of cost. In addition there will shortly be tlie erection of the new Customs examination shed, which the Committee arranged, with the Railway .Department shall be placed at the shore end of No. 2 jetty, which position has already met with the approved of this Board. I have also requested the-Railway authorities to give effect to the Board's resolution to clear away the two remaining sheds from the Gladstone Pier; now seldom used, in order that by extra lines of rails, increased facilities may be obtained for working the vessels berthed in the vicinity. Ultimately I trust to see a broadened wharf all along the, Gladstone

Pier with a deep water frontage capable of taking any vessels. lam endeavouring to have the signal station at the Heads connected with the Telephone Exonange, so that the public may be able on Sundays and holidays to ascertain the movements of shipping, especially arriving steamers. These, and others matters, whicii time forbids roe detailing, have had a great deal of my personal thought and attention, and it is a matter of regret to me that my six montlia of office have so quickly passed. However, I have'every reason to hope that tin? members of the Chamber of Commerce, recognising the nineteen years of active service that I have given to that institution, and also my career on this Board, will return me as one of their members on Monday next, and if so, I trust the new Board will honour me with the direction of their affairs for the usual full term of chairmanship. I am proudi and glad this day, that the question of Greater Christchurch is pracU-

cally settled, as I have long been convinced tbat such a consummation must tend to materially benefit the immediate districts as a whole, and that we inny reasonably look for increased population, with its attendant commercial advantages, following cloedy in ite wake. I make no, apology <or introducing this subject, feeing that we have representatives on this Board elected by the ratepayers of the city and the surrounding boroughs, shortly to be incorporated with Greater Christchurch. Nature may not Lave made Lyttelton harbour as generously in expanse as the ports of Wellington and Auckland, but there are sufficient natural advantages which need only to be understood and worked by modern skill and appliances to render our port in every detail a first-class port, equal to all the needs of modern steam requirements on the largest scale. That the port does labour under cerain disadvantages all must admit, but theee mostly •come from the landward side. One is the relatively high railway rates charged between Ghristehnrch and Lyttelton, about which, as a representative of the Chamber of Commerce and also this Board, I have, on an average of about twice in every year for yeans past, interviewed the Minister of Railways, who seems to be adamantine on this question; and another is the single line of rails through the tunnel, constitu-

ting delays and also dangers; a third drawback* is the power conferred by Act of Parliament, previously referred to, that takes the privilege of the working of the wharves entirely out of the control of the Board, and constitutes a dual authority at Lyttelton, wtecb is quite against the loading and discharging of vessels being done in the smartest and most economical manner. All these things constitute drawbacks, but as commercial men, and in the interests of Canterbury as a whole, we should not rest till our tunnel is enlarged to twice ita present size, railway rates Ifejusted, if not by thie administration, then by the next, and , our Canterbury members al Parliament urged to get these legalised restrictions regarding working removed. I consider it our doty, gentlemen, to prepare [or such a time, ana to spare neither thought, trouble, nor expense in doing your level beet to such ends. As our engineer formulates and^eende^JnJbuLrepgrt^n.the^

! tion, I trust this Board will be stirred into increased activity and u> prosecuting greater works than have ever yet bsen attempted, so that a time may speedily come when the steamers afloat may be able, without hesitancy, to make Lyttelton their first and kwt port of call. I trust I may long be permitted to assist in vigorously prosecuting the many and important mea-suree waiting to be put in hand. I desire to express my sincere appreciation of the able manner in which th-e Harbour Board officials have carried out respective duties during the past year. The present sound financial position «>f the Lyttekon Harbour Board is in a large measure due to the foresight and business ability of our secre-tary-tieasurer. Mr C. Ho.M Williams,. The vt-iy tact tliat'the Board have, without levying excessive wharfage and other tliames. been able during tlu> past twenty-f-ix yt-ai" to expend out of the .surplus ordinary revenue a sum of over £200,000 in

liarb'jur works and dredging, thus saving interest on borrowed money, speaks volumes, and reflects gTeat credit upon that officer. The management of our wharves lias been well looked after by our harbourmaster, Captain Ciark. The fact that the outwaid tonnage aggregated to over one-and-a-half million tons will illustrate the amount of work supervised by him and his staff. The upkeep of the wharves has also been very well looked after by -Mr Derbidge, our inspector, and the splendid diedging returns evidence the care, assiduity and attention displayed by Captain Morris and Mr Raymond in that deprrtment of harbour works. A word ol recognition is also due to our pilots, who, though deprived for the greater portion of the year of the services of the tug, and having an unusual number of large oceangoing steamers to handle in circumscribed

waters, yet have done their duties in a most efficient and capable manner, and the electric lighting and cool storage arrangements have been well supervised by Mr Milne, the engineer in charge. My thanks are due to the railway otticials tor the kindly way in which they met any suggestions I* have ventured to make. During the past year there have been held 16 meetings of the Board, and 13 meetings of committees, and I heartily thank those members who have so cordially and , consistently supported me whilst 1 have occupied the chair. I now beg to move—"That the accounts of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, as ballanced and audited to the 31st December, 1902, be allowed and passed by the Board; also the assets and liabilities of the Board on the 31st December, 1902; also the Lyttelton Harbour Board Sinking Fund Commissioners' Account for the year ISO 2, and the Sailors' Home Account ior

tlio year 1902, and that the whole of the aforesaid accounts be allowed and certified under the hand of the Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board.' , Mr Laurenson seconded the motion, and said that if the Board carried out the works proposed they would bring Lyttelton to the forefront of the harbours of the colony. He called attention to the large itcrease of the tonnage visiting the port, which accentuated the necessity for increased harbour accommodation. He thought they should congratulate themselves on the work of the year, and also the secretary and treasurer for the work done by him.

Mr Lamibie congratulated the Chairman on the success which iuid attended their openaltd'ons during the year. If the Board followed out th© policy mapped out by the Chairman they would pkce the Lrtteliton port in the forefront. Mr Buddb said fliofc the difficulty of dealing with the increased size of the vessela nowadiayg was one which was perplexing all harbour boards. They had not, as Wellington had, a mud bank at the entrance of their harbour, and he confidently stated that Lyttelton was one of the ibest harbours in the colony. Speaking of the changes which might be necessary I owing to Greater Christohurch he thought thai the city memlbers should be cut down, and the country members increased, and he should 1 tote up a dbrang attitude in this connection. The Board would have, to recognise by the great increase of produce the netotesity -which existed for considerably increasing their accommodation in the harbour. (He only, hoped thait the very able • and comprehensive report of the Chairman would ioe puolished. Mt Oonnal coragratulaited the Chairman on the report which he ihad given to the Board. He had looked through the accountei, and he found that the Harbour Board was one of the soundest and moat successful financially of any of the public bodies of New Zealand He desired to emphasise the poirJb made by the Chairman in bis address that the Port, of Lyttelton was as compared with other parts of the colony the most favourable for merchants and shipping. This was amply shown by the return pSbKshed in the accounts. Beferring to 'Mr Buddo's remarks as to the interests of t(he farmers, he would point out that .the agricultural interests were far more studied in Ljititeliton, than in ether ports of the colony. The motion was then put and carried!. ] This concluded the business of the annual meeting.