HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1568, 26 September 1905, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

Tho monthly mooting of tho Harbor Board, hold yostorday afternoon, was attended by the fohairman (Mr J. Townley), Messrs Clark, Hepburn, Whlnray, Seivwright, Harding, Matthowson, and Captain Tucker. CORRESPONDENCE!.

A loiter was roooivod from tho Welling, ton Board explaining tho notion of the Board in regard to tho application made by the Gisborne Board for their engineer's services. The Chairman said the reply of tho Wellington Board disposed of the matter. Tho Liberal Assooiatiou wrote asking tho Board to assist in urging tho Governmem to aoquire lands along the Karaka-i Motu railway for olo9or settlement.—No aotion was taken in tho matter, members dooming it advisable that more information should be available as to what parti- I oular blocks it was desired to acquire. I Roplying to a lettor from the Depart- I cnent of Boards, similar to that rooeived

by tho Borough Council, upon the question of tho maintenance of tho Turanganui and Tatuhorn bridges, tho Board decided that Messrs Matthowson, Sievwrigbi, Clark, and Hepburn reprosont the Board at tho commission, they to object to the ioolusion of tho Harbor Board in the local bodies paying for maintenance. The Executive of tho New Zealand Harbor Boards’ Association wrote stating that the letter of the Gisborne Board re Tua hino lighthouse was considered, but the Executive found themselves in a difficulty in dealing with tho matter, and deoidod to go into the matter at a later meeting, I further information as to tho lighthouse to I be sought from the Gisborne Board. . I Mr Matthewson said in sending tho in* I formation it should be pointed out to the Government that the work was of colonial I importance. It was decided to send the information, I and strongly urge the importanco of the I work.

THE RIVER WORKS. In a letter to the seoretary of the Board Mr Napier Belli writiog from Launoeston, Tasmania, stated that he was in very poor health by reason of a distended weak heart, which made him liable to dropsy and inoapable of exertion. Ho could not say when he would be in New Zealand, although if well, enough he intended to come to the colony and possibly stay at Napier. Owing to his health, he did not believe he could possibly come toGisborno, even if he arrived safe in Napier. lil as he was he managed to prepare plans, reports and specifications for works that were sent him to do. It ocourred to him that as he knew Gisborne intimately it should not be I neosssary for him to again visit the locality j in order to be able to advise the Board, and if the Chairman and members would agree on a statement of the points on which they wished his opinion, they could send the statement to him, with the plans, tracings, reports, etc., and he would give it bis best consideration. There was nothing new in such a proceeding to make the Board distrust the result, and Mr Bell referred to the many oases in whioh Sir John Ooode’s opinion was sought after his return to London. In any case, he did not think he could oomo to Gisborne in his weak state of health. Mr Clark said the Board wanted a man to come here. Mr Whinray was also of opinion that, according to Mr Bell’s own letter, the Board would have to look in another direction for an engineer. No decision was arrived at. SOUNDINGS IN CHANNEL. The Harbormaster reported as follows—- “ The soundings in the channel taken this day are as follow, with the tide gauge at zero n End of breakwater 12ft, third bollard from end 7ft „6id, Snark's landing 7ft 6in, abreast of big crane Bft, Waikanae Bft 6in, ofi store Bft 6in, 20ft oS wharf from stockyard Bft, half way aloDg from stockyard Bft. Shipping Bines last meeting, steamers—arrivals 29, departures 30 ing ships—arrivals 10, departures 11. The liso of shipping at the wharf for the month showed that 15 vessels were using the wharves for a total period of 145 days, the revenue derived for moortigo fees being M3Q 10s.” , , Mr Whinray: There is not that depth of water at low tide. The Karoro and Waihi both bumped the other day and if there was the water that is statod in the report they could not have done so. There must bo*something wroDg with the soundings taken. Captain Cumming said that the mark zero was the mean of high and low water. bometimßs the tide ran down for a foot below zero. Thß tides were never the same. Sometimes they were a foot above zero. Mr Whinray had always understood that the soundings were taken at the lowest water mark. Captain Camming said that they must have a standard to go upon. The Chairman : I saw a steamer stuck the other day. . Mr Harding : The Waihi wsb in that position recently. Captain Cumming : A vessel when feeling the bottom will sometimes draw down a foot. I think it would bo better if our low water mark waß fixed a foot lower. It ought really to be the very lowest low water reading. . The Chairman : lam sorry to say that we are Dot getting much better in depth. At a later stage it was decided, on the motion of Mr Whinray, that the official gauge should be that fixed by the Penguin, being the very lowest water mark. The Chairman : This will do a lot of good. It will make us chop the rock out and get the river deepened. OVERSEER’S REPORT. Mr D- McLeod, Overseer, reported: “ The John Townley has taken 41 loads of spoil to sea during the month, four loads of whioh was rook. The blaßtiog punt has keen kepi steadily at work on the rock from abreast of the big crane and outwards, with the oxoeption of four days at work higher up the river, .through the sea being too heavy, and one day eff work. Work on the training wall was hindered in the beginning of the month by rough weather, but is now progressing favorably. All the main piles are driven, and the 40ft seotion 1 of oonorete now in hand will, with favor--1 ablo weathor, be finished in about 11 days, and the last sect’oa of 50ft should be well in hand by the end of the cotniDg month. The pilo-driving plant will thon be available for any other work that your Board may decide upon. Up to the present 1128 yards of concrete have been used.” DREDGEMASTER’S REPORT. Captain Solvander, master of the dredge, reported Since last meetiQg the John Townley has been constantly employed, The amount of spoil taken out ie as follows : From the slip 400yda eaud and mud, from between the beacon and the big crane 400yds rock, from a'ong new wharf on Kaiti side 1000yds, iu mid channel opposite the goods sheds 1500yds mud; total, 4100 cubic yards.” Mr W. B. Mackie, engineer, reported that two of the bevellod wheels under the crane of the dredge bad split, and the remaining two were very much worn, A new eet bad bean obtained, aud would be put in. The now condenser tube plates and all the machinery down bolow were working well. The Overseer spoke in favor of acquiring t a pile driving plant to deal with the rooks. Mr HardiDg thought a committee of the whole Board should bo appoined to deal j with the whole question. They would no doubt find that they would have to obtain a now aredge. The present dredge was not compensating the Board. They were only wasting their funds, and it was time they realised their position and got to work with the main idea of keeping the river open. Thoy would not be able to face an outer harbor for many years to oome. The anplisnoes they had were not sufficient and it was necessary to faoo the matter and gel an up-to-date plant. Mr Clark tboeght everythmg should be left in abeyance until the completion of W °Tbe {urged that the recommendation of the overseer should be 9 The Overseer said that the idea he held that the rook should be chopped was not a new one. He had suggested it to Mr O'Connor when he was in Gisborne, and ?hc lSe "had used it with success m Auckland.' It would tend to greatly cheapen the work, and the oori.would not exceed *2OO. She engines they were

using for tho piles would bo suitable, and I soiuo of tho present plant would bo brought into uso. Mr Matthowsou submitted that things should rcunnin ns they woro UDtd tho groyne wns finishod. Tho Chairman rnovod, "That tho Overseer bo authorised to chop tho rook iu-

stood of blasting it." Tho money spont on tho additional plant would soon bo savod in blasting materials. Ho hoped tho Board would agreo to tho proposal. Mr Siovwright said that as tho amount involved was small thoy might givo it a

trial. Mr Clark said that tho Ovorsaor’s recommendation at tho previous mooting was the better of tho two, and although tho cost was muoh moro excessive, he I would prefer it. At tho same timo ho desired to 800 nothing douo until they bad an ongineor to inßpeot tho works. This was tho decision previously arrived at, nod should not bo dopartod from. Thorc had boon too muoh pottering in the paet, and too muoh departing from a definite ooutßO. Ho was entirely opposed to anything fnrther being done at tho present time. Tho Chairman : Ths oost is not groat.

Mr Clark : We are only wasting our timo in coming hero. One day you decide to do one thing, and the next you turn round and do another. The Board should have a mind and stick to it.

Mr Matthewson It is another experi rnent.

Mr Clark: It is another waste of money. After further discussion, tho Overseer s recommendation was adopted, Messrs Clark, Harding, and Matthewson voting against it.