Shipping.

Evening Star, Issue 3133, 5 March 1873, Page 2

Shipping.

HIGH WAT MU. To-MORU <W. 'H-APe J PORT CHALMERS | I»UN rtl)IC. B,3ip.m. 1 9.4 n.ni. 1 9.49 p.m. PORT CHALMERS. ARRIVED. Feb. 5.- - Glencoe, 159 tons, Lewis, from Hobart Town. Passengers ; Messrs W. Sly, Goodman, Coleman, and Norman. SAILED. Feb. 5. —Anne, 29 tons, Haswell, for Moeraki and Kakanui. CUSTOM HOUSE, DUNEDIN. Tins Day. INWARDS. Pretty Jane, 101 tons, Christian, from Molyneux. Glencoe, 159 tons, Lewis, from Hobart Town. OUTWARDS. Maid of Otago, 50 tons, Bain, for Shag Point, Warrior Queen, 989 tons, Wilson, for London Flying Squirrel, 19 tons, Hughes, for Kaitaugata. PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Awarua, for Bluff, early Alhambra, for Northern Ports, March 8 Beautiful Star, for Lyttelton, March 7 Chattanooga, for Hong Kong, ApiillO Christian M‘Ausland, for London, March 10 Dakota, for San Francisco, March 13 Harriet Armitage, for Hong Kong, March 14 Pretty Jane, for Port Molyncux, March 8 Samson, for Oaniaru, March 7 Tararua, for Melbourne, March 7 Waratah, for Hobart Town, early Wellington, for Northern Ports, March 8

Vessels in Port Chalmers Bay this day Ships : Agnes Muir, Margaret Galbraith, Christian M‘Ausland, Oily of Dunedin. Barque : Glencoe. At the Railway Pier Ships : Charlotte Gladstone, Beautiful Star, Warrior Queen, Zealandia. Barque : Chattanooga.

The ketch Anne, for Moeraki and Kakanui, sailed out this morning.

The Stranger, for Newcastle, sails this evening. The Mariner, topsail schooner, came down from Dunedin this morning. She sails tomorrow for Auckland.

DUNEDIN HARBOR TRUST BOARD.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in the establishment of a Harbor Trust Board for the Dunedin Harbor, was held in the office of Messrs Briscoe and Co. yesterday afternoon. There were present Messrs E. B. Cargill (in the chair), P.C. Neill, R. B. Martin, A. ,T. Burns, H. Tewsley, M'Ncill, Keith Ramsay, G. F. Reid, Tolmie, Houghton, Walcott, M'Dermid, J. S. Webb, Turnbull, Mills, G. G. Russell, Secular, kc. Mr M'Neill said that the business to be brought before the meeting had already been discussed to some extent before the Chamber of Commerce. A sub-committee was appointed by that body to enquire into the amount of revenue derived from jetty charges, harbor dues, and other sources connected with the port ; also the present condition of the harbor, with the view of establishing some data on which to urge on the Government the necessity there was for establishing a Harbor Trust. The committee brought up their report early in January, and the matter was then laid before the Superintendent, and received by him with approval. Since that time, however, ho, Mr Tewsley, and another gentleman had frequently met and talked the matter over, but no scheme or plan of action was the result. They, therefore, resolved to call the present meeting, with the idea of having the subject more fully discuasctl.

Mr Tewsi.eY then said that the main object to be kept in view was to devise some means whereby the harbor may be improved, and the coasting trade with Dunedin fostered. At present merchants had to pay an extra charge of 0s per ton on goods coming into or leaving the place, while most of the coasting vessels were unable to come up the harbor. Mr M‘Neill suggested that the meeting should have necess try statistics placed before it, ami requested Mr Webb to read the report of the sub-committee of the Chamber of Commerce

Mr AVkuh then read the report and other papers, which have already been published in the trans tetions of the Chamber.

Mr Tewslkv thought that the time had fully arrived when the harbor should pass from under the control of the Executive to a properly constituted Hoard, with certain jmwers, which wmdd enable it not only to lessen the working expenses of the harbor, but so deepen the channels that steamers would be enabled to come up to the wharves. Mr Mills concurred in the remarks of the last speaker, and said that the harbor was becoming of less use to the community every day. There was a silting-up process going on, which, if not stopped, would ultimately lock up our wharves from being of further use. Mr 11. 15. Maktin had given some attention and consideration to the matter, and affirmed the desirability of having a Hoard established. The obstructions in the way to its establishment were few, and easily removed. The Harbor Hoards Act, 1870, provided for the constitution of Harbor Hoards, and now only required an Act of the Provincial Council to establish such a Hoard for the Dunedin harbor. The Governor might then delegate any or all the powers vested in him by the Marine Act, ISU7, to that Hoard. Such Board should have the management and control of all matters relating to the port of Dunedin, including the railway, lighters, and jetty, the graving dock, piers, and all jetties and landing-places. It should also have power to dredge the harbor, control the harbor lights, harbor-master, and pilots, and any other works which may be necessary or expedient for the accommodation of the shipping. The Hoard should have power to borrow money to such an extent as would enable it to purchase the existing railway and graving-dock, and for the extension and improvement of the same. The harbor lands and all future reclaimed pro]>erties connected therewith, and all rates and dues, should he the revenue of the Hoard, and would he security ou which to borrow money The purchase of the railway may appear too far-fetched, but there was little doubt hut the pier at Port Chalmers was simply an extension of the harbor works, and desirable for the Board to possess. He could not assign a solid reason why the Government should not form the Board.

Mr Walcott agreed with the views expressed by Mr Martin, and thought that the harbor would not be of great service to Dunedin, until it was placed under other control. Last year the condition of the harbor was brought under the notice of the Government. It was then shown that the harbor was gradually silting up, and that steamers of light draught were frequently sticking in the neighborhood of the wharves, but nothing was done to remedy the evil. The result was, that a trade which might be fostered was sacrificed. The existence of the railway might be put forth as a reason for not expending money on harbor improvements, but when it was found that the railway did not answer the requirements of the community, the objection must be taken for what it is worth. What was required was the deepening of the channel so that vessels drawing fourteen or fifteen feet might come up to the City, discharge, and take in cargo. In Melbourne, where two railways extend from the City to Hobson’s Day, it was found necessary to expend large sums of money in deepening the Yarra Kiver, and lowering the bar at its mouth. When he left that City, eight years ago, the greatest depth of water’ on the bar was thirteen feet, but now there was a depth of fourteen feet. If such a course was adopted here the merchants would be enabled to ship goods from their doors, and a saving thereby would be effected of at least 1 Os per ton. Mr M'Neill remarked that the annoyance arising from having frequently to put goods on board steamers going coastwise, without their being entered in the manifests was great, while the disappointment occasioned thereby to customers was vexing. Mr Mills stated that the water at the wharf was becoming so shallow that his company fouad it impossible to fully Joed one of fyeif

small coasting steamers, namely, the Beautiful Star. A short time ago she was fully loaded, but she stuck in the mud while clearing from the wharf, and since that time they had to dispatch her partially laden, Mr Keith Ha ms ay reminded the meeting that for some time past coasting vessels had to be lightered, thus putting shippers to considerable extra expense. The Chat KM an condemned the manner in which the jetty dues had been pledged to the railway, and thought that there was not sut.icient wharf accommodation at Port Chalmers for ocean-going and coasting vessels. But before this meeting could take further action in the matter, it would be necessary to show what means there wore for obtaining funds for the use of tbe proposed Board, seeing that the jetty dues had already been alienated. Some figures must be put forward before the matter could again be brought under the notice of the GoMr M'Nf.iM. suggested that a committee be appointed to collect information, to be submitted to a future meeting. „ Mr M‘Dermid said be would like to say a lew words on the subject from a Port Chalmers point of view. He did not dispute the advmbility of deepening the harbor, but the money required for that purpose should be provided by those most interested. It was not right to take tbe trade from Port Chalmers or from people who had invested their capital there, and make them pay a portion of the cost of providing the means for taking it away. If the upper part of the harbor required to be reclaimed or improved, let an additional tax be put on vessels coming up to Dunedin. , Mr Dench .agreed with the suggestions made by Mr Martin, and held that whatever scheme benefited the harbor, benefited the Province and country, and therefore tbe community should participate in the cost of such works when found liecessaiy. ihe railway was even now not sufficient to meet the requirements of the people, and what would it be when the lines now in course of construction were joined to itt. Why, either additional lines would have to be laid down, or the harbor would have to be so dredged that large vessels could come up to Mr P. C. Neill then said, in order to test the feeling of the meeting, he would move, That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to conserve and improve the upper and lower harbors.” The motion was agreed to. Mr M‘Dermid moved, “For tbe carrying out of these purposes a Harbor Trust Board should be formed, and that the following gentlemen form a Committee to enquire into the whole matter, and devise a plan for providing the necessary endowment for a Harbor Trust, and report to a future meeting, namely, Messrs H. M'Neill, Mills, Fish junr. (Mayor of Dunedin) Dench (Mayor of Port Chalmers), L. hj. Cargill, Walcott, Rattray, Tewsley, G. G. Russell, and P. C. Neill.”--Carried. This concluded the business, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chahmaii.