REPORTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 903, 29 May 1903, Page 4

REPORTS.

Captain Cuinming, harbormaster, reported The channel is keeping good. The s.s. Balmain, drawing XOi't Gin, berthed at the wharf without the least trouble. Soundings in the channel taken on May 25th, with the tide gauge at zero, are as follows : End of breakwater loft, fourth bollard from end 7ft Gin, Snark's landing 7ft Gin, big crane Bft, Waikanae 7ft Gin, end of stockyard Bft 2in, soundings along wharf vary from 7ft to bit. A number of masters of vessels trading to tho port have complained to mo that they have difficulty in picking up the leading beacons in the daytime, and suggest that they should be faced with timber ou tho seaward side and painted white. I strongly recommend that this bu done as soon as possible. Arrivals since last meeting : Steamers ‘27, sailing ships 8 ; departures, steamers 27, sailing ships 8.” Accompanying the report was a letter from the Union Company and Dalgety and Co. (representing Huddart Parker Co.) They also suggested that something should bo done in tho way of signalling steamers, or giving advice when they neared port. Discontent was caused amongst the travelling public while waiting for the launch at not knowing tho time o£ arrival, as it could not be announced in tho case of tho northern steamers until the vossels woro at anchor. It was decided to have tho painting done.

Captain Solvander, dredgemaster, reported “ I took charge of tho dredge John T'ownley on Monday, May 25th ; dredged two clays at the big slip and took out iS7S cubic yards sand. I also forward you reports from the late master (Mr Fisher) as follows : ' Dredged rock 710 yards, sand 18-10 ; dredged lour days and a half by new wharf.’ ” Mr John King, Harbor Enginoor, re-

ported : “ I have tho honor to report on the Gisborne harbor works for the month ending May 27, 1900. “ The reclamation at the now section of

tho Gisborne whaif is being pushed forward as rapidly as stuff can he got from ths harbor by tho small dredger. A considerable amount of blasting, adjacent to the wharf, lias been done for the purpose of securing a greater depth of water at tho wharf, and the loosened material has been used for reclamation. It is proposed to eonliuue blustiug as opportunity offers near the wharf, as thcro is a considerable

space of comparatively shallow water, tho boUom being papa rock, which cannot ho removed without blasting. “ Tho hopper dredger has been at work during tho month at the Haiti wharf, the Gisborne wharf, and in tho channel near the slip. Tho dredgiug near the_ slip should be continued with as littlo interruption as possible, until a sufficient depth is obtained immediately in front of tho slip. A large amount of papa rock will have to be loosened by blasting and removed before the slip is available for use. Tho large rock grab, belonging to tho hopper dredger, has been altered, so that it may ho used for lifting ordinary material when the clay grab is undergoing repairs. The clay grab has been in constant use in all kinds of material ever since the dredger arrived at Gisborne, and it is now very much crippod ; somewhat oxtensivo repairs are absolutely necessary. Tho altered rook grab is now in use, and is doing good work. “ Kaiti Wharf : Three of tho front row of piles of this wharf woro fractured aud others damaged ; all tho fonder pieces wore gone. Additional piles, strapped and bolted to the old ones, have boon put in, and new fender pieces havo been bolted on to the main piles throughout. “ Slipway : The rails are fastened to the ways, and the hauling machinery is bedded in concrete. The concrete is brought up to the required level for the floor of the engine house and workshop. The construction of tho engine houso will at once bo proceeded with. The cradle is being built, hut all tho chairs and rollers have not yet arrived. We have received 128 out of tho 200 ordered. Eleven of these are defective. No douDt tho balance of the order will shortly arrive, “ Messrs Humphreys and Sons’ contract for tho removal, repairing, and erection of the hauling machinery at the slipway is nearly completed. Tho work so far has been done in a satisfactory mannor. Steam was got up and a trial run given to the machinery on tho 27th inst. All parts worked well. “ Tho steam crane and boiler used at the slip works for removing excavated material and bailing out, etc., is dismantled, aud is being removed to tho Kaiti side of tho channel. I intended using this engine and boilor on tho Gisborne wharf for reclamation purposes, but the job is so near completion now that it is not worth while erecting it there. “ Since the last meeting of your Board I received an offer from Mr James Trounson, timber merchant, of Auckland, to supply tho necessary timber for the proposed Kaiti wharf. This offer was submitted to a committee of your Board on the sth inst., and I had instructions to accept Mr Trounson’s offer. I accordingly wrote on tho sth to Mr Trounson accepting his offer, and requesting that ho would have the timbor delivered at tho earliest possible date. “ An additional water closet at the Gisborne wharf will bo built forthwith. The timber used for mixing boards at the slip will be utilised for that purpose. ;

“ It is proposed to door 12ft ;it cadi end of the new poods shed for the better storing of perishable goods. This would still leave the centre part of the shed available for cart traffic and goods not so easily damaged. 11 The reclamation at the Gisborne wharf and tho work at the slipway being now well advanced towards completion, some of the hands employed will have to be discharged unless other works are commenced.

“Agreeably with the instructions of a committee of your Board I appointed Mr Charles DeThierry clerk of works and overseer to the Gisborne Harbor Board. Please find herewith a copy of my letter to Mr DeThierry. I am of the opinion that any governing body who had works to execute would be fortunate in securing the services of such a thoroughly competent and trustworthy officer. The success of the contract work undertaken by the Gisborne Harbor Board during the last five years has to a considerable extent been owing to the advice and assistance rendered to contractors by Mr DeThierry.” Captain Tucker moved the motion of which he had given notice, as to the Board completing the purchase of Tuamotu Island and exchanging the road line. After some discussion, in which members favored the purchase of the island, it was resolved that the Public Works Committee report on the subject. The offer of Messrs Davys and Third, for repairs to the dredge grab was accepted. The Board adjourned until '2 p.m. on Thursday next.