HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3733, 9 February 1875, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The adjourned meeting of the Board this afternoon was attended by the Superintendent (in the chair), Messrs Tewsley, Mercer, Reeves, Thomson, M‘Neil, Ramsay, and M ‘Dermid. The following communication from the engineer was read : I have to acknowledge receipt of a memorandum from the secretary, in which I am requested ‘ ‘ to furnish a short report of the system to be generally adopted in dredging, the manner of using the dredge, and the disposal of the silt, and, in reply, have to state that to answers to these three questions, which taken collectively, affect the entire subject of permanent harbor improvement, would bo committing myself to a general expression of opinion not based on sufficient data—a course I certainly do not feel justified in adopting at this stage of my survey operations. The second question, however, relating to “the manner of using the dredge,” and which may embrace a general description of its dimensions capacity, and power, can be answered by a reference to the conditions drawn up at the request of the Works Committee. These conditions enumerate in sufficient' detail the general features _of a dredge which, in mv opinion, is well adapted to answer all requirements, independently of the mode of harbor improvements which may hereafter be resolved upon by the Board. In explanation of the principal feature of the proposed new dredge, and the only one which probably requires alluding to, viz., the height of the discharge point above the level of the water, I may state that the object to be gained by giving the elevation of 25ffc is to admit of the telescopic side-shoots receiving the material from the buckets at a height sufficient to afford a working angle of descent for the material into the barges. It will be evident that the angle formed with the vertical by the line of the descending buckets will not admit of the receiving end of the shoot approaching closer to it in elevation than about 7lt, and as the working angle (depending upon the nature of the material to be dredged) may possibly reach 45 deg, equal to 12ft, we have 19ft absorbed of the 25 leaving only 6ft above the water level, so that the height is not excessive. The barges will be placed alongside the dredge to receive the material from the shoots. This is an improvement upon the present mode of end discharge as exemphfied in the case of the dredge New Era which involves considerable loss of time in the removal and replacement of punts. The disend of shoots can be accommodated to any height that null be required, and that irrespective of the species of barge to be employed in the removal of material. As to the advisability or otherwise of proceeding with the construction of a new dredge at once, that is a question for the Board to consider : but for the information of the Board I may state that ru dredge that will conform with the condition submitted and approved of will be required under any circumstances attending the improvement of the harbor to the extent of admitting of access to Dunedin by the larger class of ves°sels that frequent the Port,—l am, &c. D L Simpson, engineer. ’’

, letter wa9 read from Messrs Kincaid and M Queen, agreeing to accept modifications of their plans for a dredge, as suggested by the hngmeer. The Works Committee were empowered to accept the tender on such modi“cations being made. Mr M’Dermid protesting, on the ground that a letter from the General Government should be first dealt with. The Secretary reported that the General Government had paid into the Board’s account the last month’s pilotage and port charges, amounting to L 513 6s, f . The Colonial Secretary wrote that the Engineer-in-thief ha£ brought under the notice of the Government the necessity that existed for the Government being made acquamted with the nature of the proposed harbor works, with the view of securing the necessary lands for connecting the railay3, in ..m^ go « with such works, and added The Government are not aware whether any plans have been decided upon, but they take this early opportunity of bringing the subject under your Honor’s notice in order that when laying out the reclaimed land in the neighborhood of the present terminus a matter of so much importance may not be overlooked.' 1 ’ It was resolved to inform the General Government that as soon as plans were prepared they would be laid before the Government for their information. [Left sitting.]