HARBOUR CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20081, 30 October 1939, Page 12

HARBOUR CONTROL

MAINTENANCE REPORT DAMAGE AT WAIKANAE PURCHASE OF TIMBER The monthly meeting of the Gisborne Harbour Board, held to-day, was not protracted, there being only small amount of business 10 be dealt with in open meeting. There were present Messrs. A. J. Nicol. chairman, T. Corson, I. J. Quigley, J. j. Macdonald. ,J. B. Broadhurst, H. J. F. Tombleson. M. Doyle. R. D. Dvmock. C. 11 Williams, and W. T. Veiteh.

The only letter included on the agenda was a communication from the Harbours’ Association regarding the postponement of the annual conference to a date to be intimated inter.

The works committee reported having authorised the purchase of 1344 super feet of Oregon timber, in sizes suitable for tiic board's purposes, at 35s per 100 ft. The timber was the remainder of a contractors’ stock, and the chairman, enlarging on the report, stated that the purchase would prove a money-saving proposition.

“Its picking money up," remarked Mr. Macdonald.

Messrs. Williams and Quigley, also ammended the purchase.

The committee also leporled on the dismantling of the dredge Korua, now well advanced and an inspection of protection work at the mouth of the diversion cut on the Wuikanae Beach. A recommendation that clay and stone filling be used to repair damage lone by recent heavy weather, together with- the replacement of the concrete slab apron, was adopted.

The tariff committee recommended an amendment of the by-law relating o inward charges on draught beer, the effect being to reduce the wharfage rate from ltd per gallon to 5s per ton measurement, the new rate" to be subject to the 10 per cent surcharge. The recommendation was adopted, the chairman remarking that '.he change was well overdue.

Reports of Officers

Tlie secretary-manager, Mr. H. A Barton, reported that during the five weeks ended. October 24. the dredge A-C lifted and deposited 36 loads of spoil, principally from along the diversion wall and in the narrow part of the channel

In 87', hours dredging time and 411 hours dumping time, 5280 tons of sand and 7620 tons of silt, a total of 12.900 ions, were lifted and transported to the dumping ground in the bay. Tile dredging at times was slow owing to the scattered nature of the spoil and to it holding lo the grabs, also owing to hard sand being encountered opposite the board's workshops. Dredging delays were occasioned bybad weather. 31 hours, obstructions m the hopper doors, repairs to crane wires, transporting water softener to .he Kaiti wharf, and 11 hours waiting while the launch was occupied in towing lighters.

The report, which also covered general maintenance work and details of slipway employment, was adopted. The harbourmaster, Captain G. McK. Smart, reported that seas in the roadstead had been moderate to imoo'.h during October, the weather being generally fine. Soundings in the channel showed little variation, and the depth was beitlg maintained. During the period 28 ships worked the port, ‘he net tonnage being 25,389, and the gross tonnage 43,887. The report added that during waiting periods, the crew of the launch Takitimu had been engaged in a variety of small jobs ashore, about the blockyard and on the buoys ; nd navigation lights. The report was adopted