THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4295, 1 December 1876, Page 3

THE HARBOR BOARD.

The special meeting cf the above to-day was attended by Messrs Reeves (in the cha rj Reid, 51‘Zinnon, Tewsley, Davie, and Ritchie. In forwarding drawings and specifications of ihe proposed Upper Harbor improvements, for contract purposes, the Engineer wrote “ In doing so I feel it to be my duty to point out that the difference between two of the schemes of improvement provided for in signification and the one already sanctioned by the Governor in Council is so material, that I apprehend it will be necessary to submit them for approval before a contract can be accepted for their execution.” Mr M'Kinnon : Did that como with the spccifications ? The Secretary : Yes. Mr Tewsley : It is a good feature that Mr f-’irap. sou comes at last to recognise that, seeing he ignored for so long the necessity for referring the plans to the Government Engineer. Mr M’Kinnon : If Mr Simpson did not recognise that, the Board did the whole time. I trust the Board is going to recognise the same thing now. Lengthy specifications vr>ri nex‘ veer], the following being their main points .—The channel will be common to the four methods of deposit. It shall be cut to a depth at low water of 18ft, and to a bottom width of 70f», with side slopes of not less than three horizontal to quo vertical. Method No. 1 pi ovides for the material dredged being deposited a distance from the south side of the channel not less than 100 ft, except where shown otherwise at the lower end of the channel; and retained in position there by a temporary retaining wall—the top or sheet piling of which shall be proportioned to the height of the material deposited behind it, but in no case shall it be below half-tide level, or bo carried up to a greater height than 2ft above high water. The entire erection is to be further braced and strengthened, if necessary, so that the material deposited behind shall not under any circumstances ]u the Engineer’s opinion be washed by tidal action or .other means into the harbor. All material exposed Rud liable to be blown away, above high water level, iRUSt be protected by a substantial artificial covering. Method No. 2 is, in every respect, similar to No. 1, except tbi'.t instead of timber the retaining wall shall be of rOflky materia), the wall to have a top width of at least 3ft, with side slopes of 2 to I. Method No, 3 provides for the dredged material being deposited three miles outside the Heads, and the erection of a half-tide wall of stone extending the whole length of the channel from Kilgour’s Point to the terminal point. The wall to be 6ft wide on top with side slopes of 2 to 1, and to be placed 200 ft distant from the south side of the channel.

Method No. 4 provides that the dredged material is to be deposited in such parts of the reclamation area as the Engineer may direct. The height of the reclamation level is to be sft. about high-water level. This method likewise includes the erection of a half-tide wall similar in extent, height, dimension'', and position to that specified in method No. 3.

The work is to he finished within twenty-one months from March 1, 1877; and must be main tained by the contractor for six nnnfiis after lie receives the Engineer's certificate of completion. A bonus of L 25 per day is allowed for every day the work is completed in advance of contract time, and a penalty of a similar amount is imposed for every day the contract time is exceeded. The Chairman ; Mr M'Neil, who was a member of the committee, and who took considerable interest. in perfecting these specifications, fully approves and thoroughly endorses them. Mr M'Kinnon : Are you aware whether M'Neil saw the specifications were approved by the" committee ? The Chairman : He did. Mr M'Kinnon : Do I understand that the committee drew the specifications ? The Chairman ; lu conference with the Engineer. After some discussion the following additions to the specifications were made: —“ 18 feet from a fixed datum line of low water to be determined by Engineer and stated in , the specifications. In 11 e event of any unforeseen accident occurring to the machinery, an extension of time will be allowed, provided that every diligence bo used by contractor to have repairs executed. That the new dredge Vulcan be taken over on terms of contract with the builders, and so soon as her capabilities Lave been tested.”

Mr Eeid moved that the Engineer he requested to make the above additions to the conditions, and to exhibit them to the contractors. Mr M'Kinnon : ‘When ? To-morrow ? Mr Eeid : Of course. The motion having been seconded by Mr Eitchie was put and declared carried, Mi M'Kimion’s being the only voice in the negative, the only voice in the negative. Immediately afterwords, Mr M'Kxnnon intimated his desire to say a few words about calling for tenders. Seeing that they hod not asked the consent of the Governor in Council, they ought not to submit them to the contractors. It was the Engineer’s opinion that they ought to he submitted. At the lest meeting the specifications were run through, and now at the last moment a dozen amendments were put in them. The Chairman could only see three amendments. Mr M'Kinnon : Why leave details to the lost moment to be settled ? If the committee sat another day over the specifications another dozen alterations would be made in them. It was said the dredge was to be handed over to the contractor on March 1, but it would be three months before she turned a wheel according to the rate the Board got its work done, and she was supposed to go to Port Chalmers for six weeks. These matters had not been taken into consideration by the committee when drawing up the specifications. By calling ; or tenders upon them, the Board would be holding themselves up to ridicule. He moved that tenders be not called for. The matter should stand over till the new Board was elected. No contractor would be justified in tendering in so short a time for a w' rk, the magnitude of which required great consideration from intending contractors. The Board knew very well they could not go on with it: they had'not the money. The Chairman thought Mr M'Kiunon quite wrong in what he had just stated. In the first instance, it was quite possible the specifications would not require to go before the Governor in Council, because if either of two of the systems proposed—and certainly the one of depositing the dredged material for reclamation —were adopted, there was no reason for going to Wellington. Mr Eeid : So with carrying it out to sea. The Chairman : Certainly not in that case either. The only alteration from the original scheme was in depositing the material in the harbor, half way between here and Port Chalmers. Mr M'Kinnon was wholly wrong in saying that the Board would not accept tenders. That was a matter within the discretion of members, but be believtdtho majority would, if the tenders were any way reasonable, accept oueof them.—(Mr Eitchie : Hear.) —Hehoped contractors outside would In ar in mind that it was the determination of a majority of the Board to accept a tender—if the tenders were reasonable. Mr M'Kinnon : My impression is that if the specifications were sent np to the Governor in Council he would send them hack and recommend us to go through the operation Mr M'Neil mentioned—viz., of having our heads shaved. I hope yon heard that, Mr Chairman ?

The Chairman: No. Mr M'Kinnon : If you do not hear, I Lad better leave.

Mr Tewsley did not think it rieht that Mr M'Kinnon’s statement that the Board had not money to goon with the work should go forth uncontradicted. They had fully as much as would be required ; they had something like L80,000t« their credit. Mr M'Kinnon : That is a matter of opinion. At your present rate of expenditure’ you will never have enough to make a start. Mr Eeid ; We never will, if we follow your advice. But we intend to make a start now, and to pay on'' onr money as we get the work done. In answer to a remark by MrD.vvu;, it was stated that the Committee had {akeu into consideration the Board’s resolution to employ the Yu’can for seven weeks at Port Chalmers, winch would be done. The Chairman : They could dredge out half Port Chalmers in tint time. Mr M'Kinnon: A whisper has gone round iho table that she will be ready in tin days; but 'she wiU not be ready in lea weeks. Mr Eeid did not think either of the plans now proposed interfered with the law. He wished to add hisicontradiction, and to express his disapproval of Mr M'Kinnon’s statement that the work was not likely to he gone on with. Mr M'Kinnon : I may add that I do not believe one legitimate tender w 11 De sent in, Mr Eitchie moved —"That the committee be empowered to take sue’ l advice, up to the expense of LIOO. as they may think advisable as to the general terms of the specifications, to ensure that the position of the Board is rendered safe in closing with the contractors upon it.” This wai c Tried, Hr M'Kinnon opposing, and saying that it was monstrous to pay an engineer L 1,906 a-year, and to spend money in obtaining another engineer’s opinion on a specification. It was also decided to advertise in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland fer tenders.

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