HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3758, 10 March 1875, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

At the Board’s monthly meeeting yesterday afternoon there were present—Messrs Ramsay (in the chair), Cargill, M‘Neil, Mercer, M'Kin-: non, M‘Dermid, Reid, Tewsley, and Thomson. Among the miscellaneous matters were the following :—The Harbor Master at Melbourne wrote that the cranes in general use there were from two to ten tons, were worked by hand, and their cost ranged from Ll5O to L 230, The Provincial Secietary wrote that the Government considered the Board should have the control of the powder magazine at Port Chalmers. The Board confirmed the action of the Harbor Master in dismissing the master and engine driver of the launch Result for neglect of duty and improper conduct. Applications from the keeper of Stuart street jetty and his assistant and the pilot, for increase of salary, were referred to the Finance Committee. It was reported by the Secretary that Ll,loo worth of debentures had been taken up during the month. A return was laid on the table showing the amount of work done by the dredge New Era and the steamer Peninsula. It was stated that there was considerable difficulty in finding a suitable spot on which to place the stuff dredged. The necessary improvements hnd been completed in the cross channel. The dredge would soon be at work off Grant’s Braes, for the purpuse of deepening the channel. From an analysis of the table made by the Secretary, it appeared that in January 276 punts had been loaded, equal to 3,864 cubic yards ; and in February, 260 punts, equal to 4,075 yards. The. wages for the month of January for the removal of this stuff were L 224, and for the month of February L 292 9s 4d. The cost of the labor was at the rate of 2s per yard. This did not include the cost of plant, or wear and tear. Four-fifths of the delay arose from the fact that the Peninsula was not of sufficient power to haul the punts to and fro in bad leather.

In moving "That the Board is of opinion that the time has arrived when the Secretary should resign all his political appointments, viz. as representative for Waikouaiti in the General Assembly, as representative for Milton in the Provincial Council, and of course the Speakership of the Provincial Council.” Mr M‘Debmid said he had no intention of throwing blame on Mr Gillies for holding his political appointments, which he was justified in doing until a new Speaker of tne Provincial Council was elected, but when appointed Secretary to the Board Mr Gillies had distinctly promised to resign as M.H.R., for Waikouaiti. He did not regard it as very objectionable that Mr Gillies should represent Milton in the Council, but he thought it was a mistake to have a political man as their Secretary, because politicians had .a perpetual tendency to indulge in a fling at their opponents ; and hence Mr Gillies, and the Board through him, were always liable to be attacked. Further, in bringing before the Provincial Council any new proposal, it would be said that the Board had a paid agent in the Council to look after their interests. The motion, which was opposed by every member of the Board that spoke, and condemned by them as wholly uncalled for, found no seconder, and as its mover flatly declined to withdraw it, it lapsed. The position of the Board was the subject of a discussion raised by Mr CaboiLL, who considered the Board had no information to guide them is to the course they were pursuing, and the Engineer’s report on the subject to be far from satisfactory. The dredging of a deep water channel was only a small portion of the Board’s duties ; and as necessary as it were

the construction of a proper water frontage to the City, and the forming of sea walls, docks, and wharves. Mr M'Neil sa ; d the present expenditure was to give effect to the Board’s determination to dredge a deep channel to Dunedin, and they had been told they could not get all the information required u.itil the survey of the Harbor was completed, which would be in about six months. Mr REtD thought too much was being made by Mr ; -' Cargill of the question of wharves, which, aft.r ap. wjb not an engineering matter. Tlrv Engineer had only to be consulted as to the exact angle of docks and wharves, so as to suit tidal cmrents; and it was for the Board to determine where those works should be. Mr Gabgill could not conceive why the whole energy of the Board should be devoted, in the first instance, to the reclamation of one piece of land that could not in any way be useful for the wharves, except it was for the purpose of wrenching away the trade from its present position and taking it down to Pelichet Bay, which would be a very unsatisfactory position. Mr M'Kinnon declared that at present they were merely scratching at one side of the bar-; bor, and engaged on a work that would effect no good; and Mr Tewseet said that; after the survey was completedJthejEnguieer would prepare his plan, which might be submitted to a consulting engineer.