OTAGO HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4181, 21 July 1876, Page 2

OTAGO HARBOR BOARD.

At {yesterday’s meeting of the Harbor Board Captain Thomson reported that he had amicably settled the misunderstanding between Pilot Louden and Mr Monkaann, the former having apologised. A memorial was read from twenty*one lightermen and 'others interested in the ballast trade, re* questing the Board to take into consideration the present depressed condition of the industry, with the View of either remitting or lowering the e*. oeeaire berthage rates at present levied. There are, at present twenty. two lighters in the trade, representing a tonnage of over 1,184 tons, and employing about thirty men. Since the opening of the railway pier, their trade had steadily declined, while the harbor rates been largely increased. The following state* ment of work done by the lighters for the last three months would show their inability to pay the wharfage dues: —Ballast, 8,706 tons—average per month, 902; coal, 583'tona—average per month, 197f: average net rate, ballast, 4s per ton; average - net rate,.ooal, 3s 6d. The cost of carrying stone 1» od>’ p«v ton, leaving average net rate " of; 2s 6d per ton to cover lightering,- loading, and' discharging. They therefore earnestly re* quested the Board to grant them relief.' —Mr M'Kxjthoh trusted that the Board would look ' favorably on this petition, as these men weretaot . making eneugh to keep them living.—Mr M‘Kbi& ■' said the Board could only, sympathise with the me* mdrialists, sis they had previously made unsuccessfnl efforts to have the rates reduced.—Mr Bitcbib > We cannot legislate for special cases. This Just Shows the elasticity of our trade. It was thought that when the railway was started, these lighter* men would be driven off the water, hut they have recently done better than they ever did before.— Mr TxWslxt: After going into' . the matter thoroughly it was felt that any relief the Board could give (was so infinitesimal that it, was no use dealing with It.—The memorial was referred to the Finance Committee to report at the next meeting of the Board. . •

: The Engineer was requested to tarnish starther report on the question of the proposed wharf extension.