HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 531, 26 September 1902, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

' The monthly meeting of the Boar tvaa held yesterday, there being pr sent Messrs Townley (.Chairman Hutchinson, Sievwright, Clark, Ma I thewson, Whinray, and Captain Tuc 't cr. ”, MR ELL’S CIRCULAR, A circular letter from Mr Eli, as! g ing for information as to amount pai on overdrafts was received.—lnform: tion to be supplied If" BAND ROTUNDA, to The Town Clerk wrote, applying fo: the Board’s share of the Coronatioi memorial, for which tenders had beer called.—Deferred. MORE EXTRAS, ;t Messrs Anderson forwarded a state' ie ment of dredge accounts, on which they claimed there was a balance o! £9O ss. . The Chairman said the extras for boat, etc., had been necessitated by the Customs ; the stores were the balance on hand on arrival. But the £55 for fire pump was an item ol which he had no knowledge. He assumed that was in the original cost. “ The Engineer produced a letter, showing that a change was made in the placing of the pump to suit the convenience of the contractors. In reply to Mr Sievwright, the .. Chairman said that he did not see any [I necessity to refer the matter to the Finance Committee, as .the Board could deal with it. A letter of March, 1902, was pro- . duced, showing that Anderson’s had then made a claim for the cost. Mr Whinray said it seemed to him like ringing in an extra charge. He thought the original price was to , cover all the expenses. Captain Tucker : There is never an end to the extra claims. The Chairman said that was the only extra. The provisions, life belts, ete., were all right. Captain Tucker : We paid £2OO extra for the pump. The Chairman ; But tho Board agreed to that. Captain Tucker : They are algo trying to ring in this cost of certificate again. The Engineer Baid that a place was agreed upon to fix tho pump on deck. They evidently found it was not convenient to put it there, and desired to put it oolow, which would suit just as well. But there was no mention of any oxtra charge. In reply to Mr Sievwright tho Enginoer said that ho believed the specifications provided for tho pump to be put on deck. That was clearly understood. Mr Matthewson said if they got tho pump they must pay for it. Tho Chairman : That was in the original cost of £2OO. Tho Engineer said that amount would have covered everything on deck. They had evidently taken into after consideration tho extra cost of fitting tho largor pump. In roply to Mr Hutchinson tho Chairman said that tho letter was received after tho work was done. It was simply impossible for thorn to put tho largo pump on deck. Mr Sievwright thought tho matter wbb ono that should bo carefully looked into. Mr Matthewson said all the committee could do would be to look .into the correspondence. Tho Chairman : Thero wero only those ■ two letters. Mr Siovwrighfe said they might be able to say that thero wore oxtra charges in connection with tho larger pump. Thero

was apparently a tendency to put in all the charges they could. Mr Hutchinson said an oxtra valve would not cost £55. Captain Tucker: Porhaps it is a mistake for shillings. They had better put it off for a month, as they would tooth-drawing, they did not liko tho forceps. (Laughter.) Tho matter was left to tho consideration of tho Finance Committee. Bhpohts. Captain Cumming, harbormaster, reported “ The channel is keeping fairly good. Thero has been a fresh in tho rivor this month, but the channel has not silted up much. The lowest soundings taken in tho channel at high water this day are as follows End of breakwater 13ft, Snark’s landing lift 4in, big crane lift, mouth of Wuikanae lift 6in, end of stockyard 12ft 6in, half-way aloDg wharf 12ft. I beg to ”011 tho attention of the Board to tho necessity for telephone connection to my house, as ships may Bhow urgent signals or get away from their moorings at any time, or a tire might break out cn a ship at tho wharf at night. A fire did occur on one of the small vessels at the wharf this week. The harbormaster's house is connected by telephono at most ports. It is more necessary here, as I live some distance from the wharf. Arrivals and departures : - Steamers : Arrivals 26, departures 26. Sailing ships: Arrrivals 5, departures 5.” Mr Siovwright said that a telephone was necessary unless tho harbormaster lived near. On his motion it was decided to put tho harbormaster in telephonic communication. Tho Chairman stated that tho rent of former harbormaster's house wont to the Board, and Captain Cumming lived in his own. . “ Fairly satisfactory ” was tho Chairman’s remark in regard to the aoundings. After some discussion it was agreed, on the motion of Mr Siovwright, seconded by the Chairman, that the telephone connection be approved. It was pointod out that the Board was getting the rent of tho Board's house, the Harbormaster having his own residence. Mr John King, Harbor Engineer, presented tho following report" I have the honor to report on the Gisborne harbot works for tho month ending 24th September, 1902. Dredging in the channel and at the Gisborne wharf has been stoadjly prosecuted throughout tho month, principally in removing accumulations of sill which were deposited during tho recent small freshes and southerly weather. The dredger has boon doing excellent work and tho machinery generally has beer working smoothly and satisfactorily. Tc obtain a groater velocity and bettor scout in tho channol near tho inner end of the breakwater and opposite the big crane more of tho rock from tho beacon upwardi should he removed. An accumulation o silt frequently occurs in the channe between the Snark’s landing and th beacon, which makes the removal of th' loosened rock difficult and tedious. Th accomplishment of this work would scour a greater inflow of tidal waters, with in croa6od velocity and scour, which woub probably leave the rock at the bar quit clear of silt; its removal by blastingani drodging would then bo much less difficul and inexpensive, while tho channel woul bo “traightened, and tho traffio, which i rapidly increasing, would bo better pre

j vided for. Goods Shed : It was found that, owing ! to tho iron on the roof of the goods shed , (especially on tho south-west side) not .' having sufficient lap at tho ends, and the ■. ridging being plain, not load-edged, the 1, rain, during southerly weathor with wind, i- was driven into tho shed under the end- , laps, and also under the ridging. Tbo i, goods stored in tho shed wero liable to i- be damaged, so repairs had to bo made □ and defects remedied. The necessary work has been done in a satisfactory mannor, and as economically as possible, bearing in mind tho fact that it is tho intention of the Board to havo the shod re-

moved at an early dato. . Gisborno Wharf Extension : Owing principally to unfavorable weather, progress on this contract, until within the last few days, was slow ; howevor, much better progress is now being mado, and tho works are being carried out in a satisfactory manner. Slip : Tho side walls of tho coffer-dam enclosing tho site for tho slip are now well advanced towards completion ; both walls are lined up and the necessary claypuddle put in. Unsettled weather and tho laying up of the small drodgor for repairs to its boiler has somewhat retarded progress on this work. The repairs to tho boiler ordered to bo done by the Inspector of Machinery, Mr McGregor, have been executed in a satisfactory manner by Messrs Davys and Third, and tho machine is now ready for work again. Herewith please find tenders for tho supply of stores for tho ensuing twelve months, and a comparative schedule prepared as directed, showing prices, etc. Applications for the post of ohief engi- ' msi oa boaid tbs diedgsr, Joba Townlsy,

will bo submitted to-day for your consideration. I take this opportunity, of saying that I am sorry the Board is losing tho services of Mr Mitchell, who is a competent and painstaking officer.” Tho dredgemaster, Mr Jas. Fiahor, reported “ Since last Board meeting tho dredger John Townley has taken out -and deposited on the usual dumping ground from breakwater ,520yds of sand ; from rocky bar 460yds of rock and Band, prim cipally sand ; from town wharf 2150yds of silt ; and dredged into;punts 540yds of blue clay for the slip ; total d67oyda. Bad weather prevented dredging for five days. We require one coil of Manila ropo (4|in), and 35 fathoms coir rope (6m)." The Engineer was instructed to procure the necersary ropes. The Chairman said that the most important question was as to tho romovtl of more rock. In reply to Captain Tucker, tho Engineer said he would like to get the channel within thirty or forty feet of the viaduct. Captain Tucker : Give us an idea of tho quantity you propose. Mr Whinray : The lot, 1 suppose. Captain Tucker: Oh, no, that has been discussed here before, and we decided not to go too near the viaduct. Mr Matthewson ; It is the depth wc want, not, breadth. Coutmued on page 4.