THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4270, 2 November 1876, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

At this body’s fortnightly meeting this afternoon there were &MT«s iin tbs ohsir), Davie, Tewsley, Eeid, M’Neil. and M'Kinnon. The principal business Was the following s Ilio Town' Clerk wrote, r# forming the upper portion of Battray' street wharf, that the Connell declined admitting any liability beyond the' omits of present rateable property. ' * In the discussion that followed it was explained that the Government declined to allow Mr Blackett to offer an opinion os to the proposed mode .of carrying on» the work in respect tO dredged material. The CkaibKAK - * remarked : that • the Board was in the peculiar position of having provided itself with .a pretty expensive" _j3arriage and bavin* no horse to' draw it. They would shortly have a dredge thkt cost L 90,000 lying idle for want of ptmU into which to put the dredged material. Cer ainly soma action should be taken.— Mr TKWflUer understood It would bo mouth s before pants Would be required.—Mr M‘Knrnon thought it extraordinary that the Board should build a dredge, and coll for tenders for building pours, and yet leave the latter work in abeyance.— 0T Eeid had not yet heard it satisfactorily- explained why the dredged material could not be Shot over the dredge’s ride, and, with the assistance of fascines and brnshware facings, form a training wall along the length of the prtpoSed channel.—Mr M'Nxit would liko to elicit the Board’s opinion, before the Board expired, whether it would, not be wls£ to consider if they were- taking the right course ta» constructing steam punts, 'or if tenders' should be called for digging the proposed channel, payment to be made by results ; the contractor to adopt his own plans and appliances; the Bowl to-retain the control of their dredges, and to lend or hire them to the contractor. He thought it would be * mistake on the part of the Board to do otherwise; as tney could not do the work so well, efficiently, or half so cheaply as a contractor:—Mr M'Kxn.-'ON :It is a pity that was not proposed twelve months ago, instead of wasting time in this way.—The C*Ain* kan reminded the Board that the Engineer, in his report, had proved by figures that by reclaiming the foreshore with the dredged staff the 00>t weald be repaid by the value of the land so reclaimed.—Mr Tewslkt was convinced that the Board’s duty was to complete the proposed channel; when that was done, they ooold go on with the construction of wharves.

The General Manager of Bail ways offered to fit tip the Board’s locomotive, now bn board the ship Timani; and asked to be allowed to use it for shunting purposes until the Board required it. The Hurbor-Master 're ported, in reference to the French barque Tvonne uot coming to Dunedin, that her master was not willing to bring her up, os hia vessel would touch the ground at Dunedin at low water; and because his charter-party did not require him to go further than Port Chalmers. The Secretary-w.is appointed Beturning Officer at the election next month for members .of the Boird. •

By the casting vote of the Chairman, meut of Mr Scott as engineer of the dredge New Era was confirmed.