HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 252, 1 November 1901, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

' The monthly meeting of the Board took | place yesterday, there being present: Messrs Town ley (Chairman), Whinray, j Cooper, Matthewson, Hepburn, Clark, and : Captain Tucker. 1 Correspondence was received from the I Marine .Department as to the buoys ; and ! it was stated that a notification would be 1 made in the Gazette as to buoys shifted. ! The Public Trustee sent advice of the I placing of a further instalment of loan, I X'dOOO, to the credit of the Board. A letter was received from the Marine Department with reference to a survey of the Bay, stating that the Penguin would undertake the work, but asking the Board to provide accommodation for two officers and Id men. Mr Matthewson : Nothing for nothing in this world. The Chairman said that probably the men would be detached from the vessel for some time and would do the work quicker by being on the land. lie could not sav what the cost would be. but he thought it might be advisable to accede to the request. Mr Whinray: It means board and lodgings for Id men. I think it is a work that should bo done by the Government. The Chairman said that the work was rc-ry desirable, and it was better to have t done in an authoritative way. The men voulil perhaps be hero for a week. The Engineer said that if the survey vas properly done it would take month: o complete. Captain Tucker said they should gladly ccept the terms of having the work done t the cost of board and lodgings. The arty would not take longer than neces

It was decided to accept the offer. Captain Chrisp, agent fur the Public Trustee, wrote:—“Re Public Trustee and Borough Council: At the settlement the Public Trustee made certain concessions to the Council in the way of rebate of interest and charges, particulars of which are known to the Chairman of the Harbor Board. These concessions were made

subject to the approval of the Harbor Board, and 1 would feel obliged if the Board would [if they approve of the scheme) pass a resolution to that eflect, so tiiat the amount may be refunded to the Council.” On the motion of the Chairman, who said the request was formal, the request

j was acceded to. I A telegram was received from Air MacI farlane as follows: " Captain Tlipgravc complains leading lights not visible last night, and will not come to an anchorage until lights arc provided. Were the lights bad last night Mr Whinray said that on Wednesday night the boat came in in daylight. .Mr Hepburn said that the captain was tuu ready in making complaint. The Chairman said it was all very well to say that, but the captain of such a vessel had a grave responsibility. However, the work was so well in hand that the trouble would soon be remedied. Some members thought that the captain's complaint was not justified: tlio steamer came in at daylight, and the night was clear.

The following letter was received from Messrs Nelson Bros., under date of October nth, I'JO I : —“ Referring to a conversation between yourself and Mr Sunderland one day last week on the subject of dredging the river between the port and our works, 1 new beg to make a suggestion as to dealing with the difficulty. First, you doubtless recognise the gravity of the position, which is so serious that probably heavy claims will be made on us this season by the steamers for demurrage, ns it is clear we shall not be able to load more tinm half the quantity every day which we have led the Tyscr line to expect, having built a third barge with tho view of dealing with the increased output from your district. I need not dwell oil the hardship to the farming community should their stock be prevented from getting away in due course, or on the ground of increased expense, all of which must eventually fall on the 'sheep.' Secondly, it. appears to mo that the dredging power of the class of dredge owned by your Hoard is simply incapable of dealing with so great a length of river in a sufficiently short time : lienee my proposal which I now make, that Messrs Nelson Bros, should undertake to keep the river navigable from their works down to the first bridge. The writer's experience ol' dredging in tho Napier swamp satisfies him that he can accomplish the work cheaply, quickly, and well so soon as the machinery is on the ground. Thirdly, I now make a firm offer to take the whole responsibility of keeping the Taruhoru river sufficiently navigable to meet our own requirements, from our works to the first bridge below the works, for the sum of X'fiOO per annum for three years (a fresh arrangement to be made at tho end of that term), dating from the Ist October. l*li)2. The first payment to be made on the Ist April, 1902, and the last on the Ist April. 190.1. I would respectfully ask your Board not to delay a day in dealing with my proposal, as it will take at least nine months to get tho machinery to work : then leaving very little time to rr C t the work done for next season. I would also point out to you that every ton of silt taken out by us means a considerable reduction in the quantity to be removed by you lower down, as we shall be making a complete silt-trap, and shall be saddled with its removal from time to time. I need scarcely remind you that we pay your Board a very largo sum in rates, and at the same time construct our own wharves. Please give this fact due consideration."

Mr Whinray said it was simply a mud estuary : he did not think the Board could undertake the work.

Mr Ilepbuvu said that as far as he could see it was proposed to get machinery nt a cost of about £2OOO. for which the Board would have to pay iu a few years without owning the machinery. It was proposed to throw the mud and sand along the* bank, but directly a flood came it would be carried back into the river.

Captain Tucker said that the material was sand : the damage had really all been done in three mouths, and was not continuing to a great extent.

The Chairman said that Nelson Bros, paid a great deal to the revenue, and it was only right that the interests of the industry should be considered, and he would propose that the letter be handed to the Engineer to report on the matter. They might consider the matter a week lienee. There was no doubt that the river was bad. and that the firm was under great difficulties. What the proposal meant was really that the Board would be contributing £6OO a year, and Nelson Bros, would do the work and own the machinery.

la reply to Mr Clark, tlio Chairman j sai»i t’: -.- there would be no sand pump | wit'.; t'v "- v fired;;-:. The Board; ecu d ; get a sand pump, attach it to 'phe dredge ! maj’-j; at leas erst than offered. Of j corthere were also the barges. j Cajitaia Tucker: Sorely we can get the \ river kept open far less than J.VJU per \ car Tho Chairman : That will be for tue Engineer to say. _ < In reply to Mr Clark the Chrarmiui said that in the ordering of the dredge it had been stipulated that provision could be male for a sand pump if required. The | Board had had a sand pump that couid ; have done ail this work and had foolishly ; sold it for dilO'J. _ _ | Mr Matthowson said the position really j was whether the Board or the company 1 should do the work. The motion was carried. Mr Whiuray said that it would perhaps ; be cheaper to lay down a tram line. _ ; Mr Hepburn ; That would mean a. j second handling. The Harbormaster i Captain Thomson) reported:—" By soundings taken this day it will be sec i i that the channel all along; the line of breakwater, and also up the j ] old stockyard mid old wharf, is very good. ; j The sandspit at the stockyard is creeping j j out to the eastward, thus narrowing the 1 channel at that place. When convenient j the dredge should be employed here, and j also along the line of the new wharf, as i lighters lay aground here at low water, j This is often the cause of delay in getting | them away from it. I had a hard heave J yesterday with the s.s. M cka at three- , quarter Hood at this place. The tides ] I have for some time been very high, and j consequently go down very low at low i water: some days they have been one foot below zero. " I have given Mr King j (the Engineer) all details about the Hag- j stall, chains and anchors mentioned in i my last report. The new code of signals ’ and book I have received. Soundings j taken this day at high-water (spring j tides) : :500ft out in line of breakwater, 23ft; 290 ft ditto, 22ft: 100 ft ditto, 22ft: end of breakwater, 10ft; 100 ft up from end. 12ft; 200 ft up, 12ft; s.s. Snark's landing, 12ft bin; large* tjerono lift: mouth of Waikanne, lift ; stockyard, 50ft off, lift Cin.; half-way up old wharf, 20ft off, lift Gin ; half-way up new wharf, 20ft off, Oft JOin ; top end of new wharf, 20ft off, Oft Gin. Shipping: Sailing vessels, arrivals :!0, departures ill; steamers, arrivals 9, departures 7.” Mr Cooper said that the record of depths showed a good average. Mr King, Harbor Engineer, reported loosening the papa rock by blasting and dredging. Tue loosened material lias been proceeded with throughout the month, generally on the bar rock between the beacon in the river and the Snark’s landing. Tiic erection of the towers for the lending lights is being proceeded with. Nearly all the material required is on the ground, and the framing of both towers is erected. The lamp; required for these towers have been ordered from the Marine Department. 197,012 ft, b.ui, of timber required for the extension of the training wall is delivered —110,70414, ban., of heart wood of lotara, and 26,S7Hi't of heart wood of kauri, all of which is good, sound timber. The plans and specifications for this work are ready, and tenders lor the supply of the other necessary materials and the construction of the works may ho advertised for forthwith. The additional land required for the leading lights has been surveyed and a plan of same made. The land taken is part of ■section 103 and le, Yvaiohiharore block, flans for the extension of the Gisborne wharf to the Haiti bridge are now almost completed, and tenders for the execution of the works and the supply of other necessary materials may be advertised for immediately on the arrival of the limber, none of which has yet conic to band. . f lagstaff: To attempt to repair this would be injudicious, ft is rotten in several places. I would recommend the erection of a new one, which should be a little higher and stouter than the present one. Some of the wire rigging of the old Hagstaff could be used in erecting the new one. The cost of the now staff and appurtenances would bo approximately Ada. The concrete buoy anchors and mooring chain required would cost about £24 Is. These can be got ready forthwith. Messrs Anderson, of Christchurch, report the near completion of the new dredge. It should he ready for testing as to speed and dredging capacity about the middle of November, and it should bo delivered at Gisborne early in December.'’ A report attached from Messrs Anderson showed the progress of work on the dredge. The Chairman said ho thought it would be advisable to eal! for tenders for the extension of the groyne. Mr Hepburn advocated that in the extension of the wharf, there should be provision made for landing for ship’s boats. In reply to the Chairman, the Engineer said that provision could be made under the bridge, independent of the main wharf work. It was agreed to include in tho contract the making of provision for a boat’s landing. Tho Engineer was authorised to have the necessary work done to the flagstaff’; also to have tho necessary work done in connection with tho buoy. The payments inclu led a cheque for interest—£.3o7s.

Applications were opened for the positions of master and eng'necr. Tlicre were five for the position of master :—Arthur Robinson (Gisborne), T. W. Fisher (Napier), A. Dowell (Napier), F. Knowles (Gisborne), and Captain William Cummings (Gisborne). The Chairman said that the Board had not fixed a salary, but at Napier the amount was ,£lb each for master and engineer. The applicants they had to select from had excellent qualifications. Mr Matthcwson moved and Mr Cooper seconded, that Captain Cummings he appointed. Members spoke highly of that applicant's qualifications. Mr Whim-ay thought it was inconsistent that the master and engineer should not have overtime beyond a certain time. The Chairman said they would be monthly officers, and would be paid if the dredge were tied up. Captain Cummings was unanimously appointed. For the position of engineer six applications were received W. G. Bell (Canterbury), W. L. Mitchell (Gisborne), T. W. Rose (Christchurch). A. Bean (Napier), G. R. Banks (Dunedin), and J. 1L Wright (Napier). Captain Tucker proposed that Mr Mitchell he appointed, and spoke very highly of that applicant, and said that ho was a Gisborne lad who had excellent testimonials from Messrs J. R, Jones. Humphreys and Davys, and others well known to the Board. Mr Matthcwson seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to.

Tiie Chairman said lie believed they had got two good men who would give them every satisfaction. The Chairman moved, and Hr Hepburn seconded, that the Board call for tenders for the* extension of the groyne. Mr Cooper moved that the Board carry out the work by day labor, but the amendment was not seconded. Captain Tucker said that if they only received tenders that did not come within the Engineer’s estimate, it would bo time enough for the Board to consider whether they would carry on the work. Mr Cooper said that contractors all went in for making money. Mr Hepburn : They do not all do so. He favored Captain Tucker's suggestion. Mr Whinra.v'considered that it would lead to the economical use of the timber if they sold it to the contractor at cost price and not simply hand it over. The Chairman did not think there would he anything to gain by doing this. The Engineer said that the pieces were ordered at the proper length. Mr Wbinray said that a contractor would not bother sorting out the pieces ; he would cut the first piece that came to hand. The resolution to call for tenders was agreed to, the tenders to be in in six weeks’ time.