THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4223, 8 September 1876, Page 4

THE HARBOR BOARD.

she fortnightly meeting of the Board -feat held yesterday. Present—His Honor th* Deputy-Superintendent (in the chair), MwffiO Tewaley, M'Kinnon, Davie, M'Neil, Swtm, Ritchie, and Gillies (secretary). Qapi. Thomson wrote asking the Board to Auction the issuing of an annual railway paws "between Dnnedin and Peliohet Bay for tkpt. Orkney, this officer's presence at the latter place being frequently required, and «s hj« found it too far to walk The applioaftai was refused. Tfca' question of the reserves, which are feeing reolaimed between Rattray and Jetty gtreats and about which a difference arose as t» the actual area, was further oonsidered.— Mr Davib argued that there had been no VMMnrement of the ground, and asked that Iff Blair or Mr Barr measure 't.—lt was firmed, that the amount agreed upon— LC, 87ft—be paid to the Government oh their jiving a conveyance of the land.—Mr DAVOI desired to enter his protest against fea deoision arrived at, till the measurement Vjnaa actually determined. Mr A. Hyslop asked for lease of a site for Jlndlay and Co., on which to build rolling •Wok. It was resolved that the Board was Aot in a position to lease the land, inasmuch m they had not got a conveyance from the Provincial Government, noaniro of wharves andimfrovemlkkt ot APPROACHES TO RATTRAY STREET.

The special committee reported that the Ifkarf would be lighted with gas in three week*, and in reference to putting into order *nd metalling Rattray street continuation that they had done their best, but without tuecess, to get either the Corporation or the . Provincial Government to undertake this fluty. The committee was unable to recommend the Board to proceed with the work, because the making and metalling of streets was not one of the purposes' to which the money borrowed by the Board can be.applied, neither can the dues ; it levies be so applied. The committee expressed the clear opinion that the obligation to make and metal all street 1 nee within the boundaries of the City rests with and pertains to the City Corporation alone. The Harbor Board's endowment is.by the Municipal Aot included within such boundaries, and the Council has already asserted its right to exeroise authority over the reclaimed land by requiring th%t the Harbor Board should obtain permission from the Council before proceeding with the erection of its •feeds. i Mr Reeves said that there was an impression out of doors that the reason the Government had not done anything to this road was that one of the principal purchasers of a portion of it, Mr Proudfoot, had never paid for his land. The reason of this was ..that the Government had not fulfilled its Conditions of sale. Mr Davib replied that the Government had fulfilled its stipulations as far back as December. The purchasers wero thoroughly Satisfied. Mr Reeves moved, "That tenders be at once called for the metalling and forming of the Rattray street wharf from the -approaches.'of Driver's store downwards to the end of the new wharf." The whole thing was now a wharf. Mr M'Neil moved that the committee's report be received, and in seconding this Mr Tbwslbv mentioned that the Board's solicitor had been consulted, and he was elearly of opinion that the Board had no power to do anything beyond the wharves and'quays. Mr Reeves, looking at the matter from a Corporation point of view, said he believed the Corporation would not' do anything in the matter. They had streets enough of. their own to form. There being-no seconder to Mr Reeves's motion, it-lapsed. Mr M'Neil's motion was then put and carried. ,T THE GOODS SHEDS. Mr H. Reid, contractor for the Goods Sheds, forwarded a communication from the .City. Surveyor to the effect _tbat althon#h a modification of the buildings regulations had been allowed in favor of the. Harbor Board, it did not obviate the necessity of applying at the Council. Chambers for the ordinary ..'"permission to build," and stating that" unless.the Corporation immediately received the amount of- the building fees—viz., L2 the Council had-, instruct..d him to take legal proceedings against -the contractor forthwith. To this was attached a memo by the Secretary,/ 'The Secretary was advised by the Board's-' solicitor that the Boardhad power by Ordinance to erect the sheds without obtaining the sanction of the Corporation. See Clause 37 of Otago Har--~borr:Board Ordinance, 1874. The Act of asking permission at the time was a mere act of courtedy, and'stated to be without preju,j dice. . The Corporation now asks to be paid for the courtesy shown to it by the Harbor Board."

.Mx TEWSMrr considered it very unfortunate that a wrong feeling existed between the Corporation and the Harbor Board. The fcdoner they got to amicable terms the better. 'He moved that the L2 be not paid, which was agreed to.

THE FOG GONG. Tire Harbor master and Mr M'Kinnon tttged reasons for the establishment of the tfong.'aignal, and Capt. Urquhart, of the s.s. Matan, gave the following testimony to its usefulness:—

"While oa a voyage from Port Molyneux to Dun*fiin, when off Cape Saunders, the weather became , ffinseiy thick. Came along under easy steam. When about two or three miles off the Heads • ££? -. *£K. *i ne ao ? nd ot the * on * ni *o distinctly! The night being calm. I was able to guide my vessel . Jnto the anchorage with perfeot safety. Any ship, paster could take his vessel inside the Heads in ttiick weather if the gong is kept going. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. • The Engineer wrote that he hoped to be able, before the end of the month, to report as to the most favorable means of keeping clear the inner and outer bars at the Heads, either by harrowing, dredging, or otherwise; and in reference to the suggestion that a member of the Engineer's staff should be appointed to supervise the erection of the machinery of the new dredge, that **h*> Could.net consistently—apart from the question of special fitness—recommend the - adoption of Such a course, believing that the departmental staff will not admit of curtailr r ittentr without impairing its efficiency. He :i. urged-the appointment of the engineer of the '.present.dredge, as he had every opportunity ;<rf becoming thoroughly conversant with the '' arrangement and details of the machinery. And in respect to: his scheme of harbor improvement, the Engineer wrote : \ . I. shall be glad to. remit any points upon which ~ inay be entertained by members to an inde*etulent'autb.ority. if the interests of the Board will b? advanoed. Mr-Blaotfett, Colonial _ Marine Bnglneei>"beiM« adviser to the Colonial Goyornment npon questions that arise and relate t • ■ projeotea harbor improvetnenfs, to" whom I presume all delays of works proposed to be carried out ! ) mast,-in accordance with the Harbor Works Act „ 187 V be rtbraitted for approval, would, probably! .. »• the beet authorL y to coi snlt. At any rate. Mould the Board desire to have an additional ~ ©p*laton,:aud elect to take-Mr Blaokettf s, Inm pro- : parad.to lay beforo tbat > entleriian the drawings re- ,.. presenting my, mode of re«lamation, and the character of ihe wharves I recommend, and to afford web. explanations thereon as may- place him in a ■ position to furnish the Board with his advice. ~ .-'\ It was decided to. hold a' special meeting '... on Monday to consider ,the last suggestion ; 'and' in speaking to the second, Mr M'Neil r the opinion Jkhat fa^flraughtsman jas : i&*sigm*J!&. tfej»>ie %meei&, a mejjlfefo &W ufltmh TOeless. The (tytizmx: That ? is rather strong lanffoaae.-wrThe reports were' -~iKiopted. , - , '' ; -' ,r^'*i?n;., .-;.

~*~v~ THE HARBQB. __. ... A committee, consisting of Mr M'Kinnon, the Harbor master, and .secretary, w»b appointed to examine shipmasters and others, with a view to making such representations to the Marine Department, as may lead to redressing what is wrong in regard to the present arrangements for lighting Dnnedin harbor.