HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4124, 16 May 1876, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of tho Harbor Board was held this afternoon; present— The Superintendent (in the chair), Messrs Tewsley, Davie, Turnbull, M‘Kinnon, Reeves, and M'Neil.

A letter from Mr Stout suggesting the abandoning of the appeal in Houghton and Co.’s cases was approved. The Secretary again drew the Board’s attention to the urgent necessity of lighting Rattray street wharf. Messrs Tewsley and l-avie were appointed to arrange with the Corporation. The Engineer reported as follows: “ Having consulted the Chief Harbormaster and the Collector of Jetty Dues in the matter of shed accommodation for the import and export traffic of Rattray street wharf, I have prepared and now enclose tracing showing the result of their suggestions combined with my own, from which it will be seen that three sheds, each 100 ft. by 21ft., and two sheds each 150 ft. by 21ft., disconnected by roadways, are proposed to meet the existing necessities of trade. The estimated cost is L 5 per running foot, equal to L 3,000 for the entire buildings.” The following communication was read:— Dunedin, May 15,1875. To his Honor the Superintendent, Chairman of the Otago Habor Board. 1 hereby offer to provide and keep maintained, for ten years after completion, a deop-water channel of sufficient width and depth to accommodate the largest ships, for the sum of L 250.00 0; and I hereby gua; autee to import my own countrymen in sufficient numbers so as tol complete the works within three years, by the aid of Chiuesepatent appliances, which I am prepared to explain to the Board should they feel disposed to entertain my offer. The foregoing amount will include such deposit for reclamation purposes as the material arising from the excavation will admit. Also included in my offer is provision for one mile of extra wharfage, and the deepening of channels alongside same and Rattray street wharf to berth the largest vessels. As a guarantee of the genuineness of my offer I am prepared to deposit any reasonable security should the Board require it. I may add that I have taken a great interest in the Board’s proposed wortiugs, and it is purely from a strong desire to help my fellow-citizens out of the dilemma in which they are placed, that I have come forward with a tangible offer, which I am ready to carry out for the money, and within the time stated, to the satisfaction of the Board and the public.—l hove, &c.,

Ti. Ket, Care of Goon, Cum, Sin, and Co. Mr Tewsley : That’s a skit. Mr Davie : I think it is below the dignity of the Board to receive it. His Honor : Put it under the table. It’s hardly worth putting it on the minutes. Mi H, Houghton again wrote on the subject of dredging the harbor. For L 6,000 he proposed to bring up alongside Rattray street wharf the steamers Taupo and Hawea, or other vessels drawing 15ft of water. Mr M‘N t eil :If the teat is to be the bringing up the Hawea or Taupo, I can tell you a man who will bring them up to-mor-row for LIOO each. That is myself. Mr Tewsley said it was only a matter of L 250 as regarded these two steamers. They only required to be furnished with waterbunks. If the Board were to consider all these crude things, they would require to meet daily. It was decided to proceed with the other business.

Mr D. Ross wrote submitting a scheme for a direct ocean canal from Tomahawk Bay, which Mr Peyman, builder of the Oamaru Breakwater and Docks, was willing to carry out at his own risk and expense in consideration of the Board agreeing to the same, and giving up to him the land proposed to be reclaimed at the upper end of the harbor.

Mr Tewsley thought the Board were indebted to a gi’eat extent to Messrs Proudfoot and Smyth for these offers. They were entirely out of place, and were never asked for.

His Honor said that as this was probably the last time he would have the privilege of appearing there, for there was no knowing what change the political wheel might make next month, he would like to leave his opinion before the Board. Mr Houghton’s original proposal had always commended itself to his judgment, and he believed the matter worthy of consideration. Mr M'Neil moved and Mr Davie seconded—“ That the proposals of Mr Houghton are deserving of consideration, and in order to enable the Board to determine thereon, the Engineer be requested to furnish his opinion on the proposals ; and that a committee of the Harbor Board, consisting of Messrs M'Kinnon, Reeves, Ritchie, and the mover, be appointed to take evidence on the subject, and report to the next meeting ” •—•which was carried, Mr Simpson, engineer, reported—

I Lave the honor to hand in the usual record of work done by the dredges and Peninsula for the month of April; also the Inspector's report on account of the periodical overhaul having been made of the dredges, and the tempestuous weather that prevailed, the cost of dredging has been greatly increased beyond the average. I have to comment the remarks made by the Inspector, and more particularly that suggestion respecting the desirability of providing a fixed crane of sufficient power to lift heavy weights up to thirty tons. The necessity of improving the street adjoining the Rattray street' wharf is gradually becoming apparent, and unless something is done soon, I fear that the roadway will be impassable. The question is—upon whom devolves the responsibility of metalling and maintaining the street ? The Government formed it to the required level adjoining the sections last named, hut the formation did not include the supply and spreading of the metal. Probably the Corporation may be the responsible body. I trust the Boa’d will give the matter early consideration, in order to avoid impediment ts traffic. The contract for the erection of the dolphins off the Rattray street wharf is now completed, and the final payment voucher has been duly forwarded. Messrs Kincaid, McQueen, End Co.’s contract for the construction of tne new dredge cannot be completed within two or three months of the contract time. I think it necessary to draw the Board’s attention to the conditions having preference to this.

The Inspector of Works, Mr Stephens, reported that the amount of dredging for April was much less than usual, mainly in consequence of the stormy weather. The cost of dredging in the case of the JV ew Era was Is 2fd per cubic yard, and in that of the side dredge, which was employed in dredging close alongside Rattray street wharf, 2s B|d. Portions of the rails on the Rattray street wharf were so decayed as to render their renewal necessary. [Left sitting,]