HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1392, 1 March 1905, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

MR TOWNDEY RE-EDECTED •' CHAIRMAN. The annual meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon, when the following members wore present: Messrs Townley, Harding, Whinray, Clark, Matthewson, Sievwrigbt, and Captain Tucker, EDECTION OF CHAIRMAN.

The secretary, Mr J. W. Witty, took the chair whilst tho election of chairman was proceeded with. Mr Harding proposed that Mr Townley be re-elected to the position of ohairman, and in doing so paid a high tribute-to tbo work done by him. He was sure that they could not find a better chairman. Captain Tucker supported the nomina-

tion of Mr Townley, pointing out that as Mr Townley was the originator of the present scheme of works he desired to see him allowed to carry it through. Mr Matthewson also spoke in favor of

the appointment of Mr Townley, although he preferred to see the present scheme of works very much modified. There was no other nomination, and Mr Townley was unanimously elected. In returning thanks, Mr Townley acknowledged the kind remarks made about himself. He had tried to do his best on behalf of the port, aDd would continue to dtfso. In regard to tho works how being undertaken, ail were being done out of current revenue, and ho hoped to see the river so improved that they would be able to get in vessels of a muoh larger draught than at present. > REMUNERATION OF CHAIRMAN.'

Mr Whinray spoke at some length in regard to the services performed by Mr Townley as ohairman of the Board, and proposed that be should be granted the sum of £IOO a year. Mr Townley said that would be illegal, nor would ho accept it. He did the work as a iaber of love, and would not take as muoh interest in it if he were paid! He would) at all times bo pleased to do his utmost', to forward the interests of the port. TUAHINE BIGHT. The Board passed a vote of thanks to Mr W. Cooper for his generosity in donating a piece of land at Tuahine Foint for the purposes of a lighthouse. . REVISION OF ACTS. The Under-Secretary of the Department of Justice wrote asking for the revision of the Acts of the Gisborne Harbor Board. Mr Sievwright said the Board should take steps to comply with the request, There were many Acts, and advantage would be gained by consolidation. The matter was referred to the Board’s solicitor.

BATHING FACILITIES. Mr Rowley, headmaster of the Gisborne sohool, wrote in support of Mr Stafford’s application for bathing facilities in the Taruheru river. The Chairman stated that the mutter had been referred to a committee, but no report bad yet been forwarded. The Board’s plant waa of no use, and efforts would he made to secure Messrs Nelson Bros.’ sand pump. Mr Si9vwright doubted whether the Harbor Board had the right ?o devote their funds to such a purpose. Mr Clark was of the same opinion. MrWhinray: It is simply a matter of clearing the river. The Chairman was in favor of spending tho sum of £2O in the direction mentioned.* The Board in 1802 had agreed to give assistance. It, was decided to await the report of the committee 'appointed to consider the matter. 1

Captain Tucker: That means that nothing will be done daring the present year ‘ A COAT; DEPOT. , The Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Association wrote applying for a lease of a section of land adjoining the tram line at Haiti for the purposes of a coal dopot. The application was referred to the Public Works Committee.

HARBOR MASTER’S REPORT. The Harbor Master submitted the followiog report:— The light supplied by the Government forTuahine Point came safely to hand last week. We gave it a trial and found it worked well and gave a.good bright light, and used one gallon of oil in three days, burning day and night. Mr Town.'ey aud Mr Wbinray saw the lamp burning. I' think it will prove a great benefit to shipmasters trading to this port, Please see plans and specifications for lighthouse. Soundings in the channel taken on 27th inst. are as follows Tide gauge at zero, end of breakwater 13ft 6iD, 4th bollard from end 9ft, Shark’s landing Bft 6in, big crane'Bft, Waikanae 8.0, off stockyard 9ft, half-way along wharf Bft. The tides have been running very, low daring the last week, from 12in to 18in below zero. Ship, ping since last meeting as follows; — Steamers: Arrivals 42, departures 40. Sailing ships : Arrivals 8, departures 9. •

OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer reported as follow :—The John Townloy has token 40 loads of spoil to sea during tho month of 28 working days, four days of which she was laid up cleaning boilers. The small dredge has worked 25 days daring the month, and has deposited 24 loads of rock on tho Waikanae reclamation, obtained from the channel between coal depot aud big orano on breakwater. Three days not at work. The blasting punt has been at work 26 days during the month and two days not at work. The Karoro was taken on the slip'on the 16th and launched on tho 18th. Good progress is being made with western groyne extension. Thirty six main piles have been driven this month, making 360 feet of main piling. The sheet piles ordered have come to band and are of fair quality. I expect to be ready to begin the first section of concrete by the endof April if the weather is favorable. The rubble filling is now going on Ba|isfaptorily, In order to do away with tbq risir of damage to the work from heavy seas while in pro-

gress of construction, 1 am having 400 ft. of small piping laid out from the end of the breakwater, along tho bottom, to intercept tho line of the wave with the end of the groyne, for the purpose of ponyoyipg oil pa thp waves, a sufficient distance out to prevent the waves from curling up, I am satisfied if wo can keep the curl off the waves there will be no danger. The cement shed is ajl ready for receiving the first cargo of cement. By tho end of the coming month the coal heap will be pretty low. Accounts to hand for the month are as follows—Groyne extension, £238 16s 7d ; John Townloy, £s3' 14s 6d ; blasting punt, £2l 16s 2d; small dredger, £1 13a

6d ; blacksmith's shop, 10s ; maintenance, £3 7s 2d ; gravol town wharf, £sa 8s; oarliug, 14s; total £325 19s 9d. THE DREDGE.

Tho drodgomuster reported ns follows : I have tho honor to report that sinoo your last meeting tho dredge (John Townloy) has boon oonstuntly employed, with the exception of one day, bad weather, and four days for quarterly overhaul to boilers, eta. Tho amount dredged is os follows: —Botweon tho now wharf and good sheds 800 yards, along town wharf near tho bridge 700 yards, between i the groyne and slip 900 yards, along tho breakwater 1550, in all 8950 oubio yards. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

I Tho onginoer reported : The boilers of tho s.s. John Townloy I wore blown down on tho 10th Fobruary I for tho quarterly oloan out. Thoro was a lai'go quautity'of silt to remove, ohielly owing to tbo bad stato of tho oondonser | tube plates. It will bo a good thing when the new ones are fittod. I was ready to fill tho boilers on Tuosday, tho 14tb, but water was short, so I did not got them filled till Wednesday. One or two small jobs were done during tho timo we wore blown down. Tho crane and all the machinery is working well. v I

TENDERS. An offer from Messrs Allan and Jones to supply all material and labor required, and to erect the light at Tuahine Point for the sum of £47 was aooeptod.

[ The following tenders were reoeived for fencing:—W. Robson £BS, F. Stafford -1 £74, Clayton Bros. £7O. Tbo lattor tender I was accepted. I Eight tenders were reoeived for supplyI ing four condenser tubes and 100 spare I glands as follows:—Stevenson and Cook I £llß 4s, Duke and .Co., Te Aro foundry, j I £l2O, W. Cable and Co., Wellington, £l2l I 10s, Humphreys and Sons £l3O, James I Brown £l3O, Feasor and Sons £lB9, I I Niven and Co., £142 10s, A. and G. Prioe I I £IBO. The tender of Messrs Stevenson j I and Cook was accepted. I WEIGHBRIDGE KEEPER. I A number of applications were reoeived I for the posiiion of weighbridgo keeper at a I salary of £l4O. Tho applications were I declined, and tho question of calling for I fresh' applications was referred to tho I finance committee, who were requested to I; see if the duties could not be done at a I cheaper rate. I