THE NEW DREDGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 356, 5 March 1902, Page 3

THE NEW DREDGE.

5 SEVEItAL ALTERATIONS - REQUIRED. ‘ SHOULD THE BOARD TAKE IT ; OVER ? A special meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon to consider several matters of importance in connection with the new dredge. There were ; present: Messrs J. Townley (in the chair), Hepburn, Mattbewson. Sievwright, Clark, Cooper, and Captain Tucker. The Chairman said that tho reason of the meeting was to consider several matters of importance in connection with the new dredge, which had arrived the previous Wednesday week. After being several days in the hands of Messrs Anderson’s workmen, the steamer was taken out for a trial. On Saturday last she had been loaded and taken out to try the doors, and appeared to be answering very well, hut on her being moored Captain Cummings complained of tho steering, and said he would not undertake the responsibility of taking her out again without an alteration to the steering gear. He (the Chairman) had asked Captain Cummings to put in writing what requirements he thought wore necessary. Captain Cummings had written forwarding a list of alterations to bo carried out before the dredge was in a fit state to work in the river. These were as follows: Rudder to bo lengthened and protected, telegraph shifted to fore part i of bridge, speaking tube to engine-room, i spoke on wheel, comings on bunker holes, - more ventilation in stokehole, forward scuttlo cut down, large fenders for bows l and quarters, four mooring posts, leak in s after compartment stopped. - The Chairman (continuing) said that \ Messrs Anderson had been communicated i with, and had consented to have plate 3 put on the rudder, as suggested by the captain. This work was in hand. The other items were works for the Board to consider whether they were necessary. Mr Turpin, Messrs Anderson’s representative, considered the telegraph was in the j right place, and a speaking tube seemed to be unneccessary. More ventilation for the stokehole was for the Board to consider, also large fenders. Four mooring s posts might be necessary. \ Mr Sievwright: Would it not be the c best thing to leave the whole of these matters in the hands of tho Works Com- c mittee ? i The Chairman : The time will soon ex- s tpire, and the Board will have to take over B be vessel. Captain Gumming will not c give tho vessel further trial. He suggests that an expert examination of the boat be r made by some independent captain. Whe- { ther that is advisable or not is a ques- a tion for the Board. a

Mr Whinray : It seems to me that this is a most vital question. There is no doubt that the channel is a difficult place to navigate. Before the boat is taken over we should see that it answers its helm.

Mr Clark: Surely it must be part of tho duty of the contractor to give us a boat that will steer.

The Chairman : They have agreed to do that.

Captain Tucker : I am beginning to wonder when the fortnight begins to run from. They agreed to deliver the boat here and have her in perfect working order for a fortnight before landing her over.

The Engineer : That is my understanding. The vessel has to give a sa.tisfaetory trial for a fortnight. She was getting on fairly well when this difficult cropped up. They were getting tho machinery in fair working order. We took out one hundred and thirty tons and discharged it fairly well.

Mr Macfarlane : How long was the vessel taking the load out. Mr King : Going and coining she was one hour and twenty minutes, but she ought to do it in half an hour. Captain Cumming arrived at this stage and was informed of what had taken place. The Chairman : Are all the things mentioned by you absolutely necessary ? Captain Cumming : Not all of them. The rudder must be attended to, and the telegraph must bo shifted. I cannot see

ihrough tho funnel. It is also necessary to have a speaking tube. In such narrow water as wo have here, you have not time to pass the word along. The mooring posts were also necessary. Mr Sievwright : The matter should he referred to tho Works Committee, who should see that the specifications have been complied with. Mr King : So far there has been no demur on the part of the contractors to put things in order. Mr Sievwright : Four-fifths of the purchase money has been paid. The balance must bo held by the Hoard until the Engineer gives his certificate. Mr Clark : Yes, we must stick like grim death to the remainder. (Laughter.) Mr Sievwright : The Committee might meet the representative of the contractors to arrange matters. Capt-. Gumming : With tho build of the vessel and the heavy quarter she has there will always be a diflicuity in coming round the breakwater. I think that it is my duty to point that out to the Board. The vessel is very full aft. The Chairman : It is impossible to alter tbc construction of the vessel.

Capt. Camming: Is she built according ;o the model '!

Mr King : I do not know. Tho plans are hero. Tho Chairman ; Did the contractors make the moc c ?

Mr King: Yes, they made tho model and sent it up. Tho Secretary : Wo have the plans of the vessc-l hero. Mr Clark: The boat is here now, and we have parted with four-fifths of the purchase money. Tho only real point that is of importance to us now is to have a boat that will steer. I admire the stand Capt. Gumming has taken. Ho should bo satisfied that the vessel is in good orderbefore he takes command. If he runs that boat on tho rocks I shall bo one of the first to blame him. lio is quite right to satisfy himself as to the vessel’s steering capabilities. The other matters are small, and not worth making much bother about.

Captain Tinker: We must bo very cautious not to do anything that will cause them to say we have taken tho vessel over.

Mr Clark asked who was in charge of tho boat—who tied her up at night ? The Engineer said the Board’s men tied her up, but Mr Turpin was on board, representing the contractors, and in charge of the vessel. He (tho Engineer) had not taken her over. The Chairman said they had been careful not to do anything that could be construed into their taking her over. They had only been testing her to satisfy themselves whether she was complete. Captain Tucker said they should require the contractors to do all that was required, lie did not. like the idea of the Board’s men being at work on board. The Engineer mentioned several matters in regard to the dredge that would also require attention. One serious defect that lie observed was that tho crane was supported on columns, instead of being braced. There was also a deflection on the floor of the dredgo that would have to he attended to. The Sievwright: The Engineer must bo satisfied with everything before we take the vessel over. Sir King: I had an idea that Jong before this the dredge would have been taking out her maximum load. The expense all the time is very great. Captain Cumming : It is too great forme to take her out of the river before she will steer properly. I do not think you will find any seaman who will do it. Mr King : It was only at tho last moment that I noticed the deflection on the floor plates. The pressure instead of being distributed over the whole base of the machine acts on one points. Simply taking a cursory look it was dillieult to detect anything. Mr Sievwright moved the following motion, “ That the matter of completing any operations or work required to be done by the contract before tho Board takes delivery of the dredge be referred to tho Works Committee of the Board to meet the representatives of the contractor and tho Engineer, and to take delivery upon the Engineer advising that the work has been completed.”

Mr Clark did not think tho matter was one for the Works Committee. He preferred to seo tho whole Board deal with the matter. Other members were also of this opinion. Mr Matthewson said that the Board should call upon tho contractors to deliver the vessel in accordance with tho specifications. Mr Clark said that tho Engineer and Captain Cumming must both bo satisfied before the vessel was taken over. The Engineer should give Messrs Anderson’s representative notice of what would bo required to bo done. Mr Sievwright was also of that opinion. The Engineer: That is what I have been doing. So far tho contractors have done everything to remedy the defects of the dredge. Tho motion was carried. On tho motion of Captain Tucker it was resolved “ That the Engineer notify 'in writing Messrs Anderson’s representative in charge of the dredge of tho defects and deficiencies so far discovered, and request him to remedy and supply tho same as speedily as possible.” It was also agreed that tho Board should allow their employees to assist Messrs Anderson in obtaining a satisfactory trial before tho dredgo was taken over.