HARBOUR BOARD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17991, 7 February 1924, Page 14

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Lytteii-on Harbour Board met at Lyttelton yesterday. Present—Messrs F. J. Horrcll (chainr.an;. M. J. MiKer, H. H. Holland, H. Munro, R. Galbraiih, R. Macartney, "VT. J. . Walter, G. Scott, VT. K. McAipir.e, H. T. Armstrong, M.P.. J. Stony, and Dr. H. T. J. Thacker. Before the business of the meeting commenced, the chairman said he wished to welcome bach the members after the vacation, particularly Dr.' Thacker, after his trip Home. He hoped Dr. Thacker had como back renewed in health, and that he and Mrs Thacker had enjoyed their holiday. At a later stage of the meeting Dr. Thacker returned, thanks. Mr Galbiaith said he wished to apologise for' the absence of Mr T. A. Biackley, who had been rather seriously indisposed. The chairman said that a former colleague of theirs, Mr hi. J. Howard, M.P., was also seriously ill. On the motion cf Dr. Thacker, seconded by Mr Miller, it was decided to send' letters of sympathy to both gentlemen. Finance. The treasurer reported that since the last meeting of the Board arid up to January 3ist, the sum of £19,G24 13s 7d had been paid into the Harbour ' Fund Account, as compared with £22,456 8s Cd for the corresponding period of 1922-23, which did riot include hire of the dredge Canterbury to Oamaru, but included £3572 3s for harbour improvement rate. Engineer's Report. In the course of his report, the engineer said the motor for driving one of the pumps at the. dock had arrived, with the necessary switch gear, etc., and intermediate post-3 Were being erected to support the suppiy mains. Piles in the Gladstone Pier had been driven for a distance of 468 ft, caps laid for 45Gft, deck beams put in place and bolted down for 420 ft. and lower decking laid for 252 ft. The Railway Department had been advised (hat the work was ready for rail-laying to be commenced. The concrete rat. proof retaining wall behind the wharf now extended for. 200 ft. Minor repairs had been carried out to No. G jetty, No. 1 breastwork, No. 7 breastwork, and. Purait jetty. All the wharve3 except No. 3 had been tarred and sanded. A contract had been let for the construction of four halfton crates for Ihe outlying jetties, one crane had been completed and tested under load, and the whole four would be. delivered this month. A , floating stage for the Lyttelton Bowing Club had been bruM near the, end of .the low level breastwork. A contract had been let for the supply of.-. 25- ne.w .-capstans, and tenders had been invited for the supply of cable conductors. Tho secretary also reported on the model of the harbour made-for exhibition at-AVemb-ley, and a motion of thanks to the members of the Board's staff engaged on the work was passed unanimously.

New Boilers for Dredge. 'Arising out of a report 'by the engineer 021 the unsatisfactory state of the boilers in the dredge Canterbury, it was. decided to call', tenders for two new boilers and for installing' them in the ship. The estimated cost of the work is £DOOO.. Dr. Tha'cker moved that the engineer ho asked to report on the question of converting the dredge to an oil-burner. The motion . was carried. Mr Macartney: I have a strong objection to converting the ship to an ' oil-burner. A railway line is now open to the West Coast, where there are huge deposits of coal aa ;yet untouched.' There is no oil in New" Zealand. We are'dependent on other countries for it. I Bay we should leave the' dredge as lit ib, a coal burner. The chairman:: Wo are ' only asking for a report. • Mr Macartney': Well, I am just giving you a auiet' intimation that I will be dead against it. • Heavy Lift Crane. ' The question of a fixed crane or a floating one for the taking of heavy lifts was again discussed. Tho engineer reported that the new boilers for the dredge Canterbury would weigh over 40" tonß each! When. the previous' boilers were ordered provision 'was made for handling them by means of a new 50-ton crane, which wa-8, however, lost in the wreck of the Rangitira. The foundations for tho crane were'still in position on the Gladstone pier. Without Borne such provision for lift-, i.ng them it would not be easy to handle, the. boilers in Lyttclton, and it"' would be. good policy for the' Board to replace the lost crane before the boilers arrived in Lyttelton. The estimated cost of replacing the crane was £II,OOO. Such amount would be provided by the sale of further debentures in the-Board's £150,000 loan, of which there was an amount of £59,650 still avail-"' able. An alternative to replacing the lost 50-ton crane would be the provision of a •high powered floating crane. In this event it would not be wise to limit the power to 50 tons, and he would suggest that such a crane should have the same lifting capacity as at Auckland and Port Chalmers, viz., 80 tons. The Auckland floating crane cost about £29,000 in 1912, and would coat to-day about £62,250.

Dr. H. T, J. Thackcr moved that the matter be held over ■until a tender had been accepted for the boilers. 'Mr M. J.- Miiler'said that Lyttelton should have a 50-ton fixed crane on Gladstone''pier. Of course, the crane would not be needed very often, but it would' be used perhaps 20 times a-year for smaller lifts. The crane might be a loss, but it was an equipment which the port should have. He moved, as an amendment, that the Board call tende'ra for the supply' of such a crane. Mr R. Macartney seconded the motion. ' Mr H. Holland .said that more consideration should be given the advisability of having a. floating crane. The whole question was one' of .port efficiency. The only argument in favour of a fixed crane was the first cost and subsequent upkeep. He submitted that the arguments for a, floating crane so vastly outweighed those for the fixed crane that the question ,of cost need not be considored. .The floating crane would lift 80 tons, or 30 tons more than the fia>d one. He reminded members that. port' efficiency should come-before the question of whether a work would be revenue producing, lie suggested that alternative'tenders be invited for a fixed crane • and a floating crane. Mr ■ Holland's suggestion was incorporated in "the amendment, which was carried by seven votes'to four.

Mr Williams's proposal that the floating CTane should "be of 80 tons capacity, selfpropelled, and of deep draught, was agreed to. Miscellaneous. On. the "recommendation of the Harbourmaster, it was decided'to appoint-J. Hardwicke' a probationary member of the "crew of. the tug Lyttelton, a permanent member. A grant of £ls was made to the Lyttelton Branch of the Plunket Society. It was decided that on. the next occasion when the Board made its annual inspection of the harbour and harbour works, two representatives of each local body in the Harbour. Board area and also two representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Progress League, the Canterbury Industrial Association, the Port Chrisichurch League, and kindred bodies should be. invited' to be present.