HARBOUR BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19146, 1 November 1927, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Lytteltou Harbour Board met at Lyttelton yesterday. Present: Messrs R. Galbraith (chairman), H. Monro, E. Howard, M.P., H. Holland," M.P., W. J. Walter, F. Horrell, W. G. Gallagher, J. Storry, W. K. McAlpine, M. J. Miller, J. B. Hayward, W. T. Lester, Hon. K. Moore, M.L.C. Chairman's Report. In bis report the chairman (Mr 'it. Galbraith) reported that, on behalf of the Board, he had the pleasure of welcoming to Lyttelton on October 11th Commodore G. T. 0. P. Swabey, who. has recently taken command of the New Zealand Naval Squadron, with his officers and meu, in H.M.S. Diomede. Unfortunately, H.M.S. Duno'din was unexpectedly, ordered to Auckland, and therefore did not visit Lyttelton. Engineer's Report. The acting-engineer (Mr P. W. Fryor) reported at follows: During October the suction dredge' Canterbury lifted 53,440 tons of spoil, of which 51,620 tons were taken from the outer channel and 1820 from the inner harbour. Of the above quantity. 8190 tons were deposited in Little Port Cooper and the balance at sea. On the 11th inst. five hopper door chains parted, and on the 14th it became necessary to remove a blockage from the- port ladder pipe. During the sanis period the grub dredge Tewhaka removed 3080 tons of spoil from No. 5 W., No. 6 E., No. 7 W., and the dredge wharf. During the month the wharf construction gang was engaged in ringing, pointing, and charring, piles and preparing beams and corbels in readiness for commencing work on the reconstruction of No. 3 jetty. Two lamp-posts had been erected on No. 6 jetty and two on No. 7 jetty,, to carry lamps for extra lighting. Minor repairs had been carried out to No. 3 jetty, No. 1 breastwork, and No. 7 breastwork. The bracing of the dredge wharf had been thoroughly overhauled, and stays and bolts renewed where necessary. On the 18th insti the oil-tanker Lincoln Ellsworth arrived on charter to the Vacuum/' Oil Co., Ltd., to discharge 980,000 gallons of bulk oil./ The pipe connexions on this vessel, being amidships, did not correspond with those on the wharf, the latter being designed for use with the company's own vessels, whose connexions are fore and aft. In spite of this, however, the operation was carried out without a hitch, and as it is anticipated that the company's ships will take up the running in future, this difficulty is not likely to recur. The regulations of the company require that, during discharge of bulk oil, no unauthorised person shall be allowed to approach within 100 feet of the pipe couplings on the ship. To give effect to this, it would appear advisable that the approaches to the wharf should be fenced off. A galvanised iron fence with the necessary traffic gates would cost about £IOO. Another matter which might require attention in the. future was the lighting of the road leading to this wharf, although it was understood that no actual pumping would bo done except between sunrise and j-unset.

It was decided thiit the matter of increasing tie safety of the wharf used for benzine discharge be left to the chairman, engineer, and harbourmaster, and the report ■was adopted. Harbourmaster's Beport. In his monthly report tin harbourmaster (Captain T. 31.. Hunter) said that during the month of October 112 . trading vessels, aggregating 114,820 tons net register, entered the Port of Lyttelton, as compared with 127 trading vessels, aggregating 139,50.j tons, in October, 1926. Ko oversea vessel arrived or left direct from or to a foreign or United Kingdom port. One oversea vessel arrived direct from Sydney. No vessel was delayed through shortage of men or trucks, and only two hours' delay was caused through rain in a working day. Some anxiety was felt for a small motor vessel,'the Kotiti, on a passage of five days from Kaikoura under sail and in adverse weather. She was sighted from the Heads anchored off Waikuku in a southerly gale, and was safely brought in by the tug. The signalman at the Heads had reported that the dredge Canterbury had been depositing spoil in Little Port Cooper. He had no knowledge officially that this was intended, and he pointed out that the cable might have to be lifted some time, and; aUo that it was advisable to keep a channel clear for the tug or other fair draught vessel calling at the wharf there. In regard to the berthing of the oil-tanker Lincoln Ellsworth, the harbourmaster reported that the vessel was-berthed .at the jetty at the western breakwater, and "overhung" the wharf about 80 feet. For the safety of vessels working this wharf in adverse weather, he would advise that it be either lengthened or dolphins erected'to

prevent a vessel touching the stoneß on.the breakwater. ' The report was referred to the Harbour Improvement Committee. Tho British Imperial Oil Company wrote in regard to conditions for laying their pipe line. The conditions, as submitted by tho company, were approved by the Board. The Vacuum Oil Company was granted •permission to install firorhose boxes at the lank-steamer wharf, and also to erect a telephone line between tho tanks and the wharf at the pleasure of- the Board. General. A petition . from residents of Governor's Biiy was forwarded by the Mt. Herbert County Council. Tho petition asked for a better waterway to the Bay, as the Bay was . filling up rapidly. The matter was referred to the engineer for a report. ■ The matter of tho renovation of the Lytteiton offices of the Board was referred, to the Harbour. Improvement Committee. The special committee appointed for the purpose of considering the lease of the site of Bell's. Baths, Sumner, recommended that the lease be renewed with the present lessee. The report was adopted. A memorandum, as asked for by the Board, on the proposed coaling-crane, waR furnished by the acting-secretary, and referred to. the Harbour Improvement Committee. The act-ing-engineer (Mr. P. W. Fryor) presented' a lengthy report on dredging. It was decided that the reading the, report should be deferred, and the report referred to the Harbour Improvement Committee. A memorandum from the harbourmaster (Captain T. M. Hmfter)', asking ..for reconsideration of the dimensions approved by the Board for the reconstruction of No. 8 ietty, and other policy matters of the Board, was referred to the Harbour Improvement Committee. The secretary reported that he had arranged for the.Board's staff to collect the wharfage charges on bulk oil and spirits landed at Lyttelton direct from the consignees, instead of through the Railway Department, as is the case with general cargo. This would save the Department's charge of 2J per cent, for collection. Tho secretary's action was approved.