THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3904, 28 August 1875, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

A social meeting of the Harbor Board wa» held yesterday; present—Messrs John D&vie (in the chair), H. M'Neil, A. M'Kinnon, Heeves, H. Tewsley, and J. L. Gillies (Hecre tiry). Captain Thomson and Messrs Goldie aud A. Thomson also attended. THE RECLAIMED LAND. Vhe Secretary repnrt-d ihat he had not received any answer from the Government to tha B card's application to v.-st in the Board tha lands mentioned in the 31st clause of the Harbor Board Ordinance, 1b74. 'l'ho CHAIRMAN said the Executive had met to-day, and it was resolved to again postpone the matter for further consideration. PAYMENT Or LICENSES. The Secretary explained that Mr Goldie had ]>&kl l.is licence under the Marine Act, but declined to pay the beithago .rate. Captain Thomson cmplained that * r Goldie refused to pay the old charge that he bad been paying annuallv. The berthage rate should be paid to the collector of jetty dues. Mr Goldie said he wis asked to pay whether he wmVto the wharf or not. He did not say he would not pay, but he wanted to see the Board previous to paying. Ho was willing to withdraw his complaint against the offic >rs of the Board, provided Ga;itain Thomson did something to remove the stain on his character. Captain Thomson Baid Mr Goldie had systematically refused to pay his dues. Ho (Oa' tain Thomson) was open to ensure for not collecting these dues, but Mr Goldie did not g.ve him credit for his leniency. Mr A. Thomson said the lightermen felt the berthage dues to be excessively grievous. The greatest hardship the lightermen had to contend with was the opposition of the railway, especially in conveying stone. Mr M'Neil s.ud the charges were calculated to drive the lightermen off the water, but the Hoard's charge di', not affect them, as it only came to one penny per ton. If the £Board could influence the Government with regard t« this stone traffic, that would meet the case. Mr Tewsley moveu—"That the Board, having heard Messrs Goldie and Thomson, resolve that the lightermen be requested to m ake their complaint the subject ot a memorial to the Board," which was carried unanimously.

. THE RECENT COLLISION. The Committee appointed to inquire Into Paton's case reported that they had taken evidence as to the collision between the barque Waratah and the lighter Agnes. They found that the lighter took up a verv inconvenient berth, and without authority from the Harbor Master ; that her crew was employed coiling up rope 3 at the time of the collision ; that there was not a cork fender on board; and that the person in charge contended that the burden of fending off /alls exclusively on the vessel under way. The Committee were ot opinion that thero was no mismanagement on the part of the pilot, but that the ere v of the lighter contributed to their own damage in not selecting a more out-of-the-way berth, in not obeying the pilot's order, in being slack moored, thereby beiufct free to range ahead w aste /' n wlien tne tu S w. is passing with the Waratah, and in not following the ordinary practice of seamen to stand by when another vessel is passing, and use eve ry means to avoid a collision, though the othei • vessel may be in the wrong. •cru ter , some discuss ioa it was resolved—lhat the Board having hep rtd the report of Captain Thomson and Mr MM Ciiuioii, exoneratng Pilot Paton from all blai ue, deems it expedient to return; the mon-.v p aid by the pilot as damages in the matter of th. I collision of the Waratah.'

. REPORTS. ;he Finance Committee reoi »n lmended inter alia that Captain Robertson's application for mcresise of salary as Signahna ster at Port Chalmers bo remitted to the C, hitf Harbormaster with a request that in vi« wof the contemplated erection of telegraphic communioation witn the Heads, he eh ould report on the whole qneßtion of ailing; that an increase of L 26 per annum be mads to the salary .f the of the keeper 1 imaru lightship ; that the Roard ** solicitor be instructed to prosecute for non -payment of rates ; and that intimation be giv ta to parties refusing to pay in future that ben fos for their vessel will be refns d; tint 1,4,000 worth of debentures H e handed over to Messrs L 'awkinsand

• o. in connection witb the connectio t» with the extension of Rattray street wharf, a- a progress payment, i n accordance with the eng ineer'a. certicate ; and that the Board instruct i the Coloninl Bank of Jvew Zealand (o witl ulraw the debentmes sent to Melbourne and Syi inoy. The rei ort was adopted. Mr . D - L> 'Simpson, the Boavd's 1 Sngicteer, submitted the following propositi■ »n : That the main channel between '. Kilgour's Point and Dunedin, be dredged, to sifford a minimum depth of 12 feet at low water, so as to leave access to Dunedin for intercok arial and mterprovincial steamers, and vessels of draught not exceeding 17 feet. 2nd. that the width of the channel be 300 feet, whieh he believed to be the minimum width of safety. ?frd. That an extension of wharfage accommodation be niffde, to commence at the terminal podnt of the pr- Bent contraci, and follow tke proposed water limit to the south-west corner; of the o m « ort dock * This will ' <JWslo!,e an » rea of about -JOO acres, which, when reclaimed, can at once be utilised for building or otlur i .urposee at the option of the Board. 4th. T hat a deeD water channel, fronting this wharf extension Sf <Mm M V n ? <n»t to. a width of 300 feet, and depth of 15 feet at iToo?e e t r, of Wb b h r fh Will - ad , mit of aboSt o,iw ieet or bi-rthage, ludenendonflt *t of over 1,300 ft available fir th P £fiVj of coasters, alongside the cross and the imnlr part of the Kattray street wharves sth Thai Docks 6th on.-* *i lm l lort »»d Export preliminary w»rl™ i. «iV. h i Coßt of these detaKwhTrff a. V lM ?t. U s°? Ll3 «.000 (the eVtim»t2 re f . urni « h ed in an appended them Sn t Dd toe ft J°«W" compktlon.iofVthe above works, Mr Simpson would propose that

the deepening of the main channel to the pro* posed ultimate depth, and the ereotion of wharves, other works, and reclamation be proceeded with gradually, and in the manner most likely to facilitate and best meet the requirements of trade. THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE HABBOR BOABD BILL. The following clause, submitted by the City Council as terms for withdrawing their opposition to the Otago Harbor Board Empowering Act, was agreed to :—" Nothing in this Act contained shall bo deemed or taken to destroy, alter, abridge, or in any manner to interfere or conflict with any of the rights, powers, or interests givcr_ to or conferred upon the Corporation of the city of Dunedin in and by a certain Ordinance of the Provincial Council of the Province of Otago intituled the Dunedin Keßtrves Management Ordinance, 1867." MR B. B. CABGILL AT WELLINGTON. The Secretary read a telegram from Mr Cargill, stating that on the 2ith inst. he had an interview with the Government, and was very euccessful, and advising that the Secretary be immediately sent to Wellington with the plans and all needful papers. Mr Tkwslst thought the Secretary and the Engineer should proceed to Wellington to facilitate matters that were required. The Engineer would be able to give any information that Mr Blaokett might require. It was eventually decided that the Secretary should proceed to Wellington on Mon day, and if necessary, telegraph for the Engineer. BTHLAWS. The Skcritaet submitted a copy of additional regulations required for the management of wharves, and it was resolved—" That the Secretary be authorised to get the Governor's sanction to the bye-lawß."