HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 167, 26 July 1901, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The Board met yesterday afternoon, there being present: Messrs Townley (Chairman), Matthewson, Hepburn, Wbinray, Cooper, Sievwright, and Capt. Tucker. A special meeting was first held for the striking of the usual rate. The Chairman proposed that the same rate as last year be struck. The motion was seconded by Mr Sievwright and carried. The ordinary business was then gone on with. The Marine Department notified that Messrs Sievwright, Clark, and Matthewson had been reappointed Government nominees. A circular from the

Timaru Harbor Board was read, asking co-operation towards obtaining legislation allowing investment trust funds in harbor board securities.

Mr Cooper thought it would lead to all sorts of Harbor Board extravagance. For instance in Gisborne there would probably be a move for an outer harbor. Captain Tucker: Why not, if we can get the money cheap ? Mr Cooper: It leads to a dangerous precedent. Captain Tucker said that the lenders would see that the security was sufficient. The Chairman supported the proposal, there being no reason to except Harbor Boards.

Mr Cooper: There ought to be some check on the extravagance of Harbor Boards.

The Chairman : If you try to raise a harbor loan you will soon find that you will have trouble. Mr Hepburn : Are Harbor Boards more extravagant than County Councils ? (Laughter.)

Mr Cooper said that they could not go beyond a limit.

On the suggestion of Mr Sievwright it was agreed that it was not necessary to do further in regard to tho circular than had already been done.

The following report from the Harbormaster was then read :

The late rain which has been almost continuous for about three weeks, has brought down a considerable amount of silt, and as these small freshets do more harm than good, for want of sufficient strength to carry the silt out to sea, we havo suffered a bit in our depth of water, but not so much as I thought, which you will see by soundings taken this day at high-water neap tides. The places that have suffered most are near the end of the breakwater (this has been attendod to), also close in along the line of wharf, but as the weather has been unsettled and the wharf has been blocked up from end to end with shipping, there has not been any chance of the dredge getting to work at this place, but the first opportunity after

fi risking at the enhance I would like (o see her at the wharf. The allotted tune of two years expires on Septcmbor first for the overhauling of buoys, chains, and anchors in the bay, and I am confident that if let run any longer it will be a very expensive thing for the Board. I would suggest that if the Government steamer cannot come up to time, prices should be got from local people, and we could almost settle the day, weather permitting, for this work. As the new code of international signals becomes compulsory on January Ist, 1902, the signal station must be provided with them, and also a book, and as there is a great improvement in marine binocular glasses since I got my last, and at a small advance in price, I trust the Board will supply the signal station with a set of good glasses, along with the new signals. Soundings this day at high-water, neap tides : 100 ft up from end of breakwater, loft off, 10ft lOin ; 300 ft, 10ft 6in ; -100 ft, 10ft 4in ; Snark’s landing, 10ft 6in; mouth ! of Waikanac, lift 9in ; stockyard, 40ft off, 10ft lOin ; half-way up old wharf, 20ft off, 10ft lOin ; top end of old wharf, 20ft off, lift ; half-way up new wharf, 20ft off, Oft ; top end new wharf, 15ft off', 10ft. Bough weather prevented me from gettings]j“outsido soundings. Shipping: Steamers, arrivals 22, departures 21 ; sailing vessels, arrivals 5, departures 5.” The Chairman and Cr Hepburn said the soundings were very satisfactory after the fresh. As to the buoys, the Chairman said the Board would bo able to do it with thenown steamer, but the question was whether it would bo safoto wait until that time. It might be better to get prices as

suggested for this occasion, and he made a proposal accordingly, which was agreed to. As to the now code of signals and marine glasses, it was agreed to get them. The Engineer reported as follows : The .dredger has been employed from time to time during the month, as weather permitted, on the rock at the bar, and in removing silt from the channel. The accumulation of silt which occurs in the channel during southerly weather, and also when the river is in a Hooded state, is much less since the last section of the

training-wall was completed than it was before that work was done. When the wall is extended, and the mudbanks on the eastern side of the inner harbor dredged out, loss trouble from this source will bo experienced, as then the velocity and scour will be much greater. Early in the month, the macadamising of the reclamation at tho Gisborne wharf was completed, 421'5 cubic yards of stone and gravel being used, at a cost of £BB 9s lOd. Dredger contract —Messrs Anderson reported on tho 22nd inst. that all plating is now finished, and that tho work is being pushed on rapidly, and that they hope to launch the boat at an early date. Plans and specifications for the towers to be erected for the new leading-lights have been prepared, and tenders invited for their erection. These tenders will bo submitted to you for consideration to-day. Mr Kapier Bell when last here to report on the harbor works advised tho Board to prohibit the taking of sand for ballast and other purposes from tho reclamation near the viaduct at Kaiti, and that such ballast should be taken from tho beach between high and low water marks. I have frequently spoken to tho carters on this matter, but without effect. An order from the Board will be necessary. Your instructions to put 30 loads of gravel on the bad places of tho Kaiti road near the Gisborne Freezing Works have not yet been attended to, as the road-bed, in my opinion, has not been in a fit state to receive tho metal. As soon as the road-bed is sufficiently dry the work will be done. I beg to direct your attention to tho fact that this road is now in a very bad state, and that tho carting of gravel and stone goes on as brisk as ever.”—A telegram was enclosed from Messrs Anderson, dated July 22, stating with regard to tho dredge : “ All plating finished. Pushing on rapidly now. Plope launch early.” Tho Chairman said that the Engineer should inspect tho dredge before she went into the water, a view with which the Engineer agreed. It was agreed, on tho suggestion of tho Chairman, that Messrs Anderson and Co. be asked to give a week’s notice when the dredge was ready to go into the water, so that the Engineer could go down and inspect it. Mr Cooper suggested that tho Engineer should stay in Christchurch for a fortnight, which was agreed to, if tho Enginor judged that it was necessary. As to carting sand, the Chairman said that mncli sand was being taken from tho end of Grey street. A place should bo defined for taking sand for ballast; they might take shingle from anywhere, but should not take made ground. It was agreed that sand should not bo taken from west of Custom House street. Mr Wliinray asked why tho taking of drift wood had been stopped. The Chairman: Simply to conserve the beach. Captain Tucker: A very wise provision, which should never have been relaxed. They saw that land that had been made had been left open again to the ravages of the sea, where tho drift wood had been taken from tho bank. The following tenders were received for the erection of leading light towers: — Maekrell and Colley, £338; Haisman, £472; Sellar and Sons, 11280 14s 4d. The Engineer said that the lowest tender was aoout his estimate, and was a reasonable price. On the motion of Captain Tucker, seconded by Mr Hepburn, Messrs Sellar and Son’s tender was accepted. The Engineer was instructed to arrange for the ladders being of iron. The Chairman said he had got the agents to make enquiries from the captains as to whether they would prefer a red or a clear light, and all had asked for a clear light. In that case they should explain the matter to the Marine Department, and have a change to a clear light arranged for. When in Wellington the Engineer should be authorised to order the lamps. Mr Matthowson said that if they could got a 250 candle power jet for little more than another light they should get it. Tho Chairman said that the lamps would bo oil lamps, but he believed that any light could be used in them. The Engineer said that experiments had recently been made by Germany at an expense of ,£9OOO as to tho comparative benefits of oil, electricity, etc., and oil had been preferred. Of course an improvement in burners might make a difference. In regard to the tenders for the year’s supplies tho Engineer said that Clayton Bros, were the lowest for coal and timber, and Humphreys and Davys for ironwork, but for stores Messrs Williams and Kettle, Common, Shelton, and Co., and W. A. O’Meara were about equal in prices. Captain Tucker said that if there was only a difference of a straw the Board’s tenant, Messrs Common, Shelton, and Co. should got it. Mr Cooper raised objection to the weighing of coal on the premises of the contractor. The Engineer said that on some things Messrs Williams and Kettle gave a discount, but it was very difficult to say which was the lowest. They might give the tenderers four months about. Tho Chairman said that tho tenders were for a twelve months’ supply. Supposing one objected to an alternate contract ? Captain Tucker : Then give the others a fair division. If there was still further objection, give it to the Board’s tenant. That was agreed to, and for the other supplies the lowest tenders were ac-

cepted. A discussion arose as to the question of insuring tbo men on the contract just let. The Chairman said they must insist on having extra insurance for this work. The Secretary : The solicitor says that you cannot contract yourself out of a liability. Captain Tucker said it would be sufficient to insist on the contractor insuring. It was agreed that the contract only be let on that condition. On the • motion of Captain Tucker, seconded by Mr Cooper, it was resolved that Messrs Anderson and Co. again be written to, giving them notice that the Board intended to enforce the penalty of .£5 a day. Capiain Tucker suggested that the metal'at the approach to tho wharf be blinded with road scrapings to make it set. The suggestion was left to the Engineer,