HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 567, 23 July 1909, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

TENDER FOR SEA-WALL, HUH CANAL SCHEME. At iho monthly mooting of tho Harbour IJoanl yestorday thoro wcro prceont; Messrs. T. M. Wilford, M.P. (chairman), J. G. Hiirkncw, J, W. M'Bwon, P. G. Bolton, M. CoJieii, C. W. Jones, ,11, Fletcher, and C. E. Daniel'lg, Leave of absonco was granted to Dr. Newman.. / Ac<»unts wore shown as follow:—Bank J.'aofl Hooks;— Current' account, credit balance, £34,(356 .10b. lid.; imprest'.account, credit balance, £768 ss. lOd. j on fixed "doposit, £70,000. Payments:—For accounts, interest and wages, £29,804 7s. 9d.; for progross payments on contracts, £1717 4s, 3d.; for salaries for July. £775 ISs. 2d.; total. £32,357 ,10s, 2d. • '; •' ' V ''fenders. •• • Tho chairman. rep6rted : that tho tender of Mr. C. F.'Pulley.for £35,610 7s; had been, accepted for the construction of a'.concrete, sea-wall and culvert • extensions, • Waterloo Quay Reclamation North'.'Ho.nwvcd. that the Bcal of the board boaffixed. to the agreement of contract, and this .w.as\'agreed to. ; ; • ' The chairman also reported that after consultation with representatives of the employees, the tender of tho To' Aro House Drapery Co., Ltd., had been accepted for uniforms for the twelve" months ending Juno 30,' 1910, and' the' tender 'of Messrs. Charles Hall and Sons, had .beeiujaccepted for Uniform caps for tho same period. On the recommendation of the Wharves and Accounts Committee, it was .decided that tho bqard-B sealhe affixed ;tq the' foreshore license to : the City Council'for 1 a bathing' shod at'-Kilbirnie; and that tho Harbour Boards' Conference be held durirfg, and not, as proposed by the Timaru Harbour Board, prior to'the. next session of Parliament. ■ <■'■ proposed Hutt Canal.'-

[ A 'deputation from the Hutt River Board, consisting of Mr. Orton Stevona (chairman), Mr. Laiiig-Meason (engineer),' and Mr! Cuif (secretary) waited on the board in rogard to Mr. Laing-Meason's. scheme for the} con. struction of a canal 'and b'tfiw Worts in the Hutt River. •.■Jin 'Stevens' outlined tba scheme, > which* lias ■', been described .'at length' in Thej Dominion:-; Briefly'; .the\proposal-. ii to form a basik about threo-qnarfers of- a milo longjn the ehytnoff western',branch of the river, and to construct a canal' t 'fjom tho harbour, the object being to utilise 110 acres belonging _to the board on Gear Islaad, together 1 with adjacont' land, for' industrial purposes. • The basin' would bo' capable of indefinite expansion' by ~ nicans ■of dredging. Mr. Stevens stated fha't-it was-belicved that tho ,schemo would undoubtedly, confer great benefits oh the Hutt Valley, if: it was carried out; Part l of the scheme'provided'fdr a seawall running into the' harbour for a considerable distance, and that work'; of .course, could not.be undertaken withdut .'.lhft'; Harbour Board's consent, 1 though' the 'Rivet Board ■mightbb ablo was convinced that tlw sohemV would, provo i payable concern; it would,pay:;,thoHarbour Board'from-the' dues :;tm : shipping. ■~: It was estimated; that 20,000 tons.ef coal passed between Wellington, aiid: the'Hutt; annually, and l 'if : this schemo : were carriodVout . the coal: as well as timber,.: wouldv, be' handled: much.' more; .cheaply."'' Thb deputation "asked •that the scheme snduld be thoroughly investigated by: the Harbour Board's onginipcr, Mr. Marchbahks,'and that he should report on: its 1 v advisablenoss.' ': There ) were no '.coal boats coming' to the harbour which could not bo •taken> up the canal. If, the scHenio wore carried v out/ there would bo a'- great, expansion of this'trade, which would make it a very paying concern. '•■"•'/•'•'■,..''''■"'"■ < ■'>'■'' ■ 'Mr; Laing-Measori explainbdHko schemo further 1 with the aid of a plan'.' The estimated cost : of ■ the'. ; scheuto, . he-" said, was £70,000. r Ho Was preparing a report on the project,' and would send a copy to' Mr. March-, banks/- '■''.""'' ;,v ..';', •- .:'',;'.''.[ ''.'. '■ ■<■,

'~ ./Proposed Visit of Inspection. The chairman ;thaiked the'deputation for their explanation; He thought that an op- \ portunity (should begiven.to.those members ' of.'-:th^"; : -b6ardf''whoi : w'eM. 1 -iioi{.-''lßo i ' , opaverßant with tho scheme 'as ho 'was to. know exactly ; what 1 was' Wanted.'*"He: suggested that Mr. .., Mafchbanfcs: report -on V the 'scheme, rand' .that' the'Vmombenr of tho j Harbour ; Board should,'then visit;tho locality .-':, with tho engineer of- the River; Board. Tho * Subject, could thus-;be- 1 , considered';on the - ground with: tho .estimates of both engineora before members,, and the; board. would. then ; be able to give an intelligent answer to the '■■■< scheme. Personally, he had bis ( opinion, bo- .'V cause bo knew, the .locality;.well;- but he did not:think the boardvshould bo asked-to oxpress an opinion' aUtljat: stago. Every consideration would'be-given to the scheme. _ Mr. Stevens, said- that ho was fully satisfied with tho chairman's proposal.; <' A motion was subsequently adopted that < the engineer be asked: to report on tho , 'scheme. •■■::''■' ■';. '• ",. ■-■,'-■ ' Other Matters, .-•>. ; iTho board then wont into committee for a .; couple of hours. ,' ■• ■■ ■■; : -.:.'., ':■. .. ■" J '. '.•■•'■•' ) On resuming,' it 'was reported!;that, tho Ocean' Accident Insurance Company' had been „ given the accident insnranoe of thd board's casual employees at the" tariff rate of '385. 1 6d.-per cent, ■',•' V--- . -\ : P\--.'"{■ '.■ ,■ '■•', '•-■'' Plans wore approved of the sea-wall and reclam'atibn at Miramar, and'tho secretary was instructed' to send, them forward for ■ tlio approval of the Govern'or : in-Council, and to call for tenders. : '■;i'\' [ ;: ''.' : ';. : ''.:'':;; *