HARBOR BOARD

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 813, 30 January 1903, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Board was held yestorday, there being presont: — Messrs Townloy (Chairman), Hepburn, Cooper, Matthewson, Whinray, Sievwright, and Captain Tucker. Tlio Chairman of the Gisborno Froezing Works wrote, asking if the Board was willing to let to the Company a piece of ground that had formorly been offered to Mr Shelton. Ho asked for a speedy

answer. Tho Chairman said that the ground ( J ( acre) had been levelled sinco then. The Board had no other land for workshops ; the section was at the beach end of the bioekyard. The Engineer, in reply to tho Chairman, said that if the works were to be proceeded with it would be unwise to part with tho land. Tho Chairman moved that tho Works

Committee be asked to report on it. Captain Tucker said a speedy answer was asked for, and they should make up their minds without a month’s delay. He moved that it bo approved of. Mr Cooper seconded. Captain Tucker said tho Board was not making any use of tho land, and it would bo valuable to the Company, which was a benefactor to the place. Thoy might make some stipulation as to notice. The Chairman said that if the Company took tho section they would want to build on it.

Captain Tucker: It is an additional inducement if they will put up valuable buildings. Mr Whinray considered they should keep the section ; as after what the Engineer said, it was necessary for storage purposes. They had no place now to put timber.

Mr Sievwright said they might make a condition as to resumption if the Board required it. Captain Tucker said if buildings were to bo put on it that made a difference. The Engineer said that the Board’s shed was on the public road, and they might at any time have to remove that. Mr Sievwright raised tho point that the Board could not grant a lease except by submitting tho matter to public tender. A reply to that effect was decided upon.

BATHS. Mr C. H. Ferris applied for tho right to erect swimming baths in tho Turanganui rivor, on a site to be decided by the Engineer. He had bad nine years’ experience in the working of swimming baths with Mr Cavill at the Lavender Bay baths, New South Wales, and hoped in consideration of the smallness of Gisborne the rental would be as reasonable as possible. Mr Cooper: It would be a very good thing for the town. The Engineer said the only site he could see was between the stockyard and the slip, and that would have to be dredged

out. Captain Tucker thought Mr Ferris should be asked for further particulars, Mr Whinray said an idea had been mooted to have swimming baths of a different kind, such as to have salt water pumped into baths about the locality ef Grey street. A good place would be near the railway Btation, where they would have safety, and also salt water. The place suggested could be only used at high tide.

Mr Sievwright said it was not for them to deal with that question now. He seconded the motion that the matter be referred to the Engineer for a report.— Carried.

RESIGNATION. Mr H. D. Parker wrote giving a month’s notice of his resignation, and asked to be relioved of his duties as soon as possible, as ho had obtained an appointment at Masterton. It was resolved that the resignation be accepted, and the vacancy filled as soon as possible ; a committee meeting of tho Board to bo held that day fortnight.

FINANCE. The Committee’s report was presented and adopted. DREDGEMASTER’S REPORT. The Dredgomaster, Mr J. N. Fisher, roported“ Since last meeting tho dredgo John Townley has taken out and deposited on the usual dumping ground 730yds silt from along the wharves, 420 yards papa from the slip, and 2230yds rock from lower end of the channel; total, 3380 cubic yards. Three days boilers blown down, cleaned out, and engines overhauled, also the crane, and outside of dredge painted ; one day overhauling rock grab, which will have to be plated, as it is too open between the teeth—a piece of rook 20in by Bin can fall through. A wharf for the dredge is a necessity, where we can work at our grabs, and take in coal and water, without inconvenience and loss of time. The most suitable place is on the Kaiti side.” Tho Chairman said that it had been found that the rook-grab, though quite suitable for rook, did not do good work with the smaller stuff, and had been replaced by the sand-grab. A question as to price per yard came up. The Engineer said that a comparison of figures showed that they were able to do the work, including blasting and discharging, at no greater cost than in othor places. The question of the grab was left to tho Engineer to deal with. As to the mooring of the dredgo, Messrs Whinray and Hepburn considered that good mooring piles would be sufficient. The Chairman said mooring piles would not be sufficient. Mr Hepburn : The dredge does not require a jetty the length of herself. After some discussion, the Chairman moved that the Engineer prepare a report on the subject. Mr Whinray said they had a report ou a wharf, which they opposed, but not for the mooring of the dredge. In reply to a question, Captain Cumming thought that mooring piles and a 20ft stretch of wharf would be sufficient, and that oould be used when the dredge was away, Mr Hepburn said they had now simply to consider what to do about the dredge. The Engineer said if they simply put in temporary piles they should not have it in tho way of an extension of tho wharf, which he considered would soon be required. On tho motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Sievwright, the matter was referred to tho Engineer to report on. HARBORMASTER’S REPORT.

Captain Cummin g, the Harbormaster, reported :—The soundings in the channel are keeping good. The bank at the entrance has silted up a little. The lowest soundings are 7ft 6in abreast of the third bollard and near the mouth of theWaikanae. There is nothing less than Bft. in other parts of the channel with the tide gauge at zero. For several days this month the tidos havo boon exceptionally low. On the 19th the tide gauge showed 2ft 6in below zero. Herewith please find copies of two letters, one sent- to Captain Davidson for publication in the New Zealand Pilot and one to Captain Blackburne pointing out errors in reference to .Gisborne harbor published in the new „almanac issued by tho Government. Messrs Kennedy and Evans have written asking that the Luna rook near the end of the breakwater be buoyed (please see letter). Arrivals and departures since last meeting are as follows : Steamers, arrivals 43, departures 43; sailing ships, arrivals 13, dopartures 16. , . As to tho rock the Chairman said that the late Harbormaster had considered a buoy was not necessary ; they did have a buoy one time, but it often got washed away, and was a lot of expense. Mr Whinray : Cannot we pub a charge of dynamite in'? Tho Chairman they might try and blast tho pinnacle. The Harbormaster said that tho chart showed that there was 12ft on the rock, but he understood there was a good deal less. When the boat was supposed to have struck—that was not certain—there was an exceptionally low tide. Mr Hepburn said there could not be much water on it if it was struck by a lighter. The Engineor said he had it, from hearsay only, that there was only 6ft of water on tho rock. It was agreed that in fine weather the Engineer and Harbormaster should try and looato the rock, and have a few shots put in.

ENGINEERS REPORT. Mr King, Engineer, reported for the paoath ending 28th January, 1903

“ Blasting and removing rock from the channel by dredging waa resumed on the 2nd inst., and has been carried on continuously since then. The dredger John Townloy, with the clay grab attached, removes the rock very well. A trial was recently made with the rock grab, but as a large proportion of the loosened rock was small a considerable quantity of it escaped from between the teeth of the grab before reaching the hopper. To make the grab work successfully in this material some alterations will be necessary. Slip : The slip ways are being laid down to the permanent alignment and grade, and bedded in concrete. I submitted particulars of the chairs, wheels, attaching bolts, and other details required for the cradle to Mr James Niven and Co., of Napier (castings are not made in Gisborne), and have their offer for the supply of same, which pleaso hnd herewith. As was proposed, the locomotive engine has been converted into a stationary engine to drivo the stone-crusher. The engine and stone-crusher were erected and put into working order by Messrs Davys and Third. Both machines are working satisfactorily. Protective works at corner opposite stock-yard : The fascines aro put in and part of the filling is done. The whole of the work will be completed shortly The email dredger returned from the Taruheru Freezing Works on the 16th inst., and was since employed for a few days on the reclamation at the new section of the Gisborne wharf. I have been obliged to discontinue this work for the present, as all the hands are required on the other works. Continued on page 4.