NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3776, 22 August 1883, Page 4

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Tuesday, August 21

Tho Board met at 2.30 p.m. Present— Messrs J. D. Ormond (chairman), P. Dulbol, J. AY. Ncal, J. A. Smith, J. ii. Vautier, A. AVardrop, J. N. Williams, 11. AVilliams, and His AVorship the Mayor.

coniiEsroN ur.xc n. Tho following iuAvard correspondence Avnsrcad :— From tho 31arine Department, stating that tho master of tho Stella Avould search for the sunken rock off tho Napier Bluff. From the same, notifying there-appoint-ment of Messrs J. H. Vautier, A. AVardrop, and the Hon. J. N. AVilson as members of tho Board. From the secretary to tho Board, stating ho had an application from Thomas Boyd to lease oue of the harbor reserves not disposed of at the auction salo on tho 2-1 th instant.—lt was decided that the leases oi tho reserves not disposed of be offered lor disposal by public tender at au early date From 3lr Boatson, lessee of the Whare-o-niaranui reserve, requesting that some AvilloAV fascines be laid doAvn at ono corner of the reserve to prevent the encroachment of the river.—Agreed to. From the Harbor-master, reporting that there is at present a depth of 12ft Gin on tho bar at high water slack. '.:;..:_!;,. From the Standard SeAving 3lachinc Company, applying for a refund of 2s Gd •wharfage paid on four cases short shipped per Tarawera.—Refund granted. the wreck of the transit. Tho following report Avas read from the Harbor-master on tho subject of the Transit: — Referring to the letter from the agent of the South British Insurance Company in which ho refers to a portion of the evidence given by me at the enquiry regarding tho loss of the Transit, viz., " I do not think I have poAver to compel the master to bring his vessel inside even AA'hen I do not consider it safe for the vessel to remain outside," I beg to call your attention to section 87 of the Harbor Act, 1878, Avhich reads as folloAvs:—"All vessels of not more than 100 tons registered tonnage shall bo exempted fromcompulsory pilotage, "and as the Transit was under that tonnage I could not force my services upon the captain, nor could I compel him to bring the vessel in Avithout a pilot at the risk of his insurance. Before going out to board the Transit I arranged with the steamer Sir Donald to come out to toAV the vessel inside if I signalled for him. As the Sir Donald had steam up the captain came after me to offer toAvage on his own account. On seeing the steamer comingout I distinctly asked the captain if 1 would wait and take him inside. He declined and said he would lie towed to the anchorage. This fact was brought out by confirmatory evidence at the enquiry. In conclusion I beg to refer you to my report of 17th July, ■where 1 state that I have seen vessels riding out a heavier sea Avith perfect safety. lam still of that opinion, and iioav consider that had the Transit been properly looked after she Avould not have gone ashore. In examining the Avreck after the enquiry I found about 30 fathoms of cable in the locker. At the enquiry it Avas stated that the cables had been paid out to the end. I think therefore proper use had not been made of the ground tackle. The opinion of 3lessrs Sainsbury and Logan as to the poAver of the harbor-master to order a vessel into tho inner harbor avus read as folloAvs:—" AYe are of opinion that clause 20 of tho harbor by-laws for tho port of Napier gives poAver to the harbormaster to order any vessel iv the roadstead fo come into the inner harbor Avhen he thinks that from tho state of the Aveather it is necessary or expedient. Clause 20 gives extensive discretionary poAvers to the harbor master, and we think that his poYver to order in any vessel is quite in accordance with a fair and reasonable construction of .such clause if ho chooses to exercise it. Vessels under 100 tons register are exempt from compulsory pilotage If they conic in Avithout a pilot of course it is at their oyvii risk, but if a pilot's services are used, pilotage must be paid." It was decided that a copy of the solicitors' opinion be furnished to the harbormaster for his guidance, and that a copy of the harbor-master's report be fonvarded to 3lr Kirker.

EXai:-"El"l''s ItEPOKT. The folloAving report from the engineer svas read: —■ Dredging.—AVork has been carried on at the AVest-quay, part of the material raised being used for forming the iioav road. Tho dredge avus delayed for a few days through the driving shaft breaking. The damage lias since been repaired, ami tbe engine is now Avorking as usual. A I'cav necessary repairs have also been mode to the punt. The nt-AY contractor for discharging the dredge stuff has signed the contract and commenced Avork.

Boulders. —The bank inside tho eastern pier head having increased during the southerly Aveather a feAV Aveeks ago, I IntA-c bad tAvo men engaged removing the boulders in order to allow tho current a chance of scouring invay tho shingle A large number of boulders have been removed, and the bank is iioav considerably reduced in size.

Roads. —The contractor has signed the contract for supplying rubble and shingle for metalling the road at the now breastwork, and a portion of the material has been delivered and spread. AVith regard to this work I Avould respectfully suggest to the Board the advisability of not using shingle on the road at present as it is quite evident that material of,'a more binding nature is required to cover the light sand of which this road is formed I Avould recommend that in place of the shingle an extra quantity of limestone be used; the difference iv cost will only amount to ,C 7 10s in the avliolo work. The hard metal obtained from the barque Electra has been spread on the northern part of AVest-quay, Avhere the traffic is greatest,

The BreaslAvork. — Referring to my ■former report on improving the landing at the breastwork, dated June lilth, 1880, in which I recommended the Board to have tlio road broken up fur a width of 12 feet from the edge of tho quay, and to pack solid bcloAV Avith largo rubble, I beg to hiiggcst the advisability of carrying out this Avork, omitting the concrete and aspluilte, as it is impossible to keep this part of the quay in good order unless the bottom is made secure. The cost of the work Avould bo about ,€l5O.

Sheds.—The additions to the oflices in tho Customs sheds have been made as authorised by the Board. The contractor for tho breastwork extension has a very convenient shed erected alongside the road at AVest-quay, Avhich he has offered for the sum of £13. The Board are in Avant of a shed for stores, kc, and as one of the size could not be erected for that sum, I Avould suggest that the Board purchase the shed •from 3lr Glendinning.

Tho several recommendations of tho report Avere adopted, with the exception of that having reference to the breastwork. lIAIIBOE I.AIP.nOVE.AIEXTS. Tavo reports Avere received on harbor improvements—one from Mr John M'Gregor, Dunedin, and tho other from Mr William Clihnour, Waikari. Mr M'Gregor's report Avas accompanied by a sketch plan showing the position of his proposed Avorks »t the Blulf. The secretary was directed to reply that tho reports ou tho designs sent to England not having been yet received the Board Avere not taking any action iv tho matter. It Avas decided that in the event of the reports from England arriving by the incoining mail, a special meeting of the Board be held on Friday afternoon. FIXAXCK. Accounts to the amount of £'ibl on 7d were passed for payment. The Secretary reported tho balanco at the bank to be £270 Bs, besides £bW)U on fixed deposit. The Board then adjourned.