HARBOR BOARD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3086, 18 May 1881, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

Tuesday, May 17. The Board met at 2.30 p.m. Present: Messrs Ormond (chairman), Smith, Vautier, Miller, Lambert, Gleadow, Kinross, Tanner, and Wardrop. CORRESPONDENCE. From the General Manager of Railways, Wellington, in reference to the proposed parcel post scheme, suggesting that the Board should charge twopence per parcel, aud requesting to be informed of the views of the Board.—The Chairman stated that the letter was received immediately after the last meeting of the Board, and seeing that the matter was one of public convenience, he had authorised the secretary to reply that the Board would afford every facility for carrying out the scheme, and would accept the suggestion of making a charge of twopence per parcel wharfage. From James Macintosh, engineer of the steamer Rosina, tendering his services for erecting the engines and machinery for driving and working the dredge. from the Harbor-master, stating that the greatest dep'h of water at which he could bring in a vessel at present was 13ft., providing it was a good tide, for, although tho channel on the western side was over 13ft. in depth, the easterly tendency of the tide and tbe curve in the channel necessitated a vesssel passing ! over the tail of the bank at the entrance of the channel on the eastern side.

From tbe Inspector of Works, reporting that tbe framing for carrying out the new port light itself would be fixed as soon as tbe Gas Company completed laying the gas pipes. From Mr Macalister, asking for authority to inspect tbe Board's books, the secretary having refused to permit the inspection wit' out authority. Tbe Chairman considered that the secretary was quite right in refusing to allow tbe books to be inspected. After some discussion the matter was allotved to drop. OAMARU AND TIMARU BREAKWATER. In accordance with a promise given at the last meeting of the Board, Mr J. A. Smith gave the following information about the Oamaru and Timaru breakwaters:— Oamaru Breakwater. —Tho present length of the breakwater is 1406 feet; and its breadth 40 feet. The cost of construction to date is about £100,000, and the probable cost before completion £125,000. Shingle has no effect on the breakwater, and is no impediment to shipping or otherwise. Tho present wharfage accommodation for shipping is 1200 feet; the future accommodation will be GO acres enclosed with wharves or quays. The depth at the wharves afc low water afc present is 18 feet, but it ia to be dredged to 25 feet. The

revenue from all sources at present is £13,0>0 per annum, bub it is expected to increase with the aeeommodatio' The rise and fall of the tide is 6to 7 feet. The breakwater was commenced in 1871.

Timaru Breakwater. —The present length of the breakwator is 150 foot of approach and 750 feeb of concrete work. The broalfch is 36 feet afc base and 30 feeb on top. The cost to date is £02,000, and the probable cost before completion about £100,000 more. At first shingle accumulated against the breakwater, hub for a year past it has ceased and the accumulation is now tending south. The shingle has been no impediment to shipping. With regard to si lipping accommodation, vessels are already protected from heavy seas in 17 feet of water. Wharves arc being built, and when completed with the breakwater there will be accommodation for five large vessels and seven or eight small ones. The depth at low water over ten acres is from 10 to 20 feet. There is no revenue derived at present from the breakwater, but a considerable revenue is expected. The rise and fall of tide is spring 7 feet, ordinary 5 feet. It is two years and six months since the commencement of the breakwater. Exposure. — Napier, E.N.E. to S.E. 67deg.; Timaru, N.E. to S., 135deg.; Oamaru, N.E. to S.E., 90deg. DREDGING THE INNER HARBOUR. The Inspector of Woiks reported on dredging the inner harbour as follows : — I have the honor to submit to the Board the plans and specifications of the dredging and discharging punts, tenders for the construction of which were called for on the 30th ult., to be sent in before noon on the 17th instant. In this contract I have not included decking of the dredging punt, as it will be advisable to leave this part until the arrival of the machine, when it can be put in to suit the bed of the crane. With regard to the cost of the removal of the various banks by dredging, I beg to submit the following estimates : —Breastwork, from ferry landing to corner of Iron Pot, £1233 j above ferry landing to cross beacon, £701; cattle wharf, £101; old boulder bank on east side, £278; part of old boulder bank on west side, £556 j boulder bank between piers afc entrance, £926; in Iron Pot, near Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co.'s store £92 ; in Iron Pot, near Messrs Dransfield and Co.'s store, £486 ; total, £4373. In the plan accompanying this report tho portions to be dredged are tinted red, and ultimate depths are marked in red figures. F. E. Sat/xdees, Inspector of Works. TENDERS FOR FONTS. The following tenders for the construction of punts for dredging operations were opened :— Mr Stock, punt for dredging, £261; punt for discharging, £345 10s; total, £606 10s. Mr North, punt for dredging, £319 15s 3d; punt for discharging, £322 0s 2d; total, £641 15s sd. J. Briggs and Co., punt for dredging. £183 16s 3d ; punt for discharging £295 lis; total, £470 7s 3d. Mr Saunders, in reply to questions, gave an explanation in reference to tbe punts, in the course of which he said that his reason for suggesting to have six discharging punts was in order to obtain sufficient discharging power to keep the dredging machine going, and so save expense. With six discharging punts he considered he could discharge 300 tons each tide. After discussion, Mr Miller moved that one dredging punt and three discharging punts be ordered, and that the lowest tender be accepted. Agreed to. The tender of Messrs Briggs and Co. was then accepted. BALANCE AT BANK. The Secretary stated that the balance at the bank to the credit of the Board was £858 133 Id. ACCOUNTS. The month's accounts were passed for payment. The Board then adjourned.