THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3854, 1 July 1875, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

The usual statutory meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs Reid, Davie, MTCiunon, Thomson, M‘Neil, Tewsley, Reeves, and Cargill. In the absence of his Honor the Superintendent, the Mayor of Port Chalmers, Mr M l Kinuon, took the chair. The Harbor-Master wrote requesting an increase of salaries for the pilot, and the DeputyHarbor Master also wrote requesting that he should have an increase of salary. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee to report on. The Chief Harbor-Master wrote intimating that the steamer Samson, when proceeding on her outward voyage last week, ran foul of the lower red beacon, placing it in jeopardy should a gale of wind take place. The matter was referred to the Harbor Master and Inspector of Works. 4 A telegram frona John M‘Laren, Harbor Master at Rakanui, was read, asking whe« ther the small dredge machinery was for sale. Remitted to Engineer to report at next meeting.

The Chairman read a communication from the Chamber of Commerce, intimating the election of Mr Hugh M'Neil as one of its representatives on the Harbor Board, and the Town Clerk also sent a letter intimating that the City Corporation had re elected Mr A. Mercer as its representative.

Mr Reives moved, and Mr M'Neil seconded— ‘ ‘ That the Engineer be requested tq furnish to the Board, at its next meeting* a report of the progress and survey of harbor, &p,, stating when he will be prepared to submit his scheme for dredging operations, docks, reclamation, &e.”—Carried, The accounts for June, amounting to L 1,658, were passed. The large increase during the month was owing to repairs to the dredge, working tho side dredge, and expense of gauging the tide at four different stations in the harbor.

i : S Capt. Thomson, the Harbor Master, enclosed the following letter from Captain Nicholson, of the Rosebud, who complained of the unsatisfactory way in which the tug service of the Port was conducted:—“My vessel, the Rosebud, 190 tons register, lay-to on the evening of the 3rd inst., when the pilot came on board at the Heads and said I could not get in unless 1 took a steamer. The Geelong came in in about an hour and took me up to Port Chalmers, for which her charge was Lll. The pilot at Port Chalmers refused to come on board unless I lightened the vessel to 10ft Gin, my draft being 12ft, and would not take charge of her without a ■ tug, for which a further charge of Ll2 is made for bringing the vessel to Dunedin wharf. On Saturday I engaged the tug to take me down on the evening tide, I suppose it did not suit the master to bring the Geelong to town, as I received a telegram to the effect that he would be up at five o’clock this morning. My crew were turned out at that hour, and everything in readiness, but no tug was forthcoming. I think it time that these matters were looked into, and the tug service placed under responsible control, otherwise such charges and. delays as are incurred here are sufficient to deter owners from sending vessels to Otago.” A statement of charges was appended as follows : ’Tonnage from Heads to Dunedin, L 23 ; do from Dunedin to port, L 8; lighterage of cargo at Port Chalmers Ll4 91s : Light Dues, Pilotage, &c., L 9 10s; Total, L 55 6s. To Captain Nicholson’s letter the Harbor Master made the following reply ; “On inquiry I find that he has no cause to complain of the detention at the Heads, an hour being about the usual interval between tho signal made for a tug and her .arrival from Port Chalmers at the vessel He has, however, cause to complain of nonattendance of the steamer on Monday morning, according to promise by telegram. Foxsuch neglect the master gives the following explanation :—His fireman was on the spree, and failed to have steam up in time to save the tide, but did attend upon the vessel, and towei her to Port Chalmers the following morning, the evening tide of Monday being too late to have daylight for the work. I may say, however, that the ship Lochnagar was towed to sea on the Monday in question; and lam satisfied that when there is work towing large vessels in tho Lower Harbor, the master and owners of the tug will give them a preference, being much more remunerative. In order, therefore, that the Upper Harbor shipping should not suffer loss by I would respectfully recommend that a small-size tug of fifty horse-power be -pro-* cured by the Board, as the service does not appear to be sufficiently remunerative for private enterprise to engage in. At the same time, I am of opinion that such service would be selfsupporting. This appears to me to be the best way for the Board to have control over the service referred to, and the shipping trade to this Port now demands that such facilities should be given.