HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4095, 11 April 1876, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The Harbor Board met at 2.30 p.m. today, when there were present his Honor the Superintendent (in the chair), Messrs Tewsley, Ritchie, Turnbull, Reeves, M‘Kinnon, D. Reid, and Davie.

The following report was read from the Engineer respecting the depth of water on the bar.

I have the honor to report that, under somewhat adverse circumstances, I took four lines of soundings across the outer bar, id and about the, present Bailin'? directions, and find the depth corrected to low water (average spring tides) to vary from 17ft to 18ft 6in. This is equivalent to a depth of from V4ft to 25ft 6in at high-water "springtides, according to Stokes, and at low neaptides, i according to information snnplied b.v Pilot Kelly, ft«n 21ft to 22ft 6in, The weather was very unfavorable, otherwise I contemplated taking soundings of the North Channel, as well as of the btw northwards along its entire ridge. With tne Board's approval I will institute a series of sounding!) at the next favorable opportunity, with the view of testing whether or not a more northerly channel cannot be found, having a great! >r depth than that experienced in the ordinary track of vessels approaching in the Auction indicated by the leading beac >u». Lost week I sounded the inner bar, and the least depth of water then ascertained was 21ft at low water; spring tides being sft more than the minimum ttapth shown on Stokes's map. It was resolved that the Engineer be requested to take the necessary soundings in both north and south channels. Mr < Gordon’s report was read, as well as the Engineer’s comment upon it, but they are,too long {or insertion to-night. A short discussion followed the reading of Mr Sihtpson’s report, when Mr Reid said he thought the Board was wasting a great de <1 of time in considering matters that need not be disonsrod at present. Whatever engineers n right say, to construct extensive wharves entail considerable outlay of money, on which interest

would have to be paid, but which would do no good to the country. He considered chief attention should be given to providing a deep water channel and other matters might follow. If the endowment of the Harbor Board led to plans of reclamation on speculation of remising revenue it would prove a curse to the Port. In his opinion the plan proposed by Mr Thomson was the best and should be followed, as ho regarded it more within our present means than those proposed either by the Engineer or Mr Gordon.

An irregular discussion followed, but no resolution was proposed. Mr Reeves said it would be absolutely necessary to provide necessary wharf accommodation. He had been in favor of a concrete wharf until he tested it by calculation, when he found the difference between that and timber would be a saving of L3O, which would amount to L6O in twelve years, and in eighteen years’ time would enable the Board, if needful, to construct concrete wharves out of the saving.

It was ultimately resolved, on Mr Reeves’s motion, to receive Mr Simpson’s report, and that it be printed.