HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1737, 1 May 1906, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Harbor Board was held yes'erday afternoon. Present : Messrs Townley (chairman), Harding, Hepburn, Clark, Malthewson, Sievwrigbt, and Captain Tucker.

MR REYNOLDS’ REPORT. Tho report furnished by Mr Leslie Bey" nolds on the harbor and dredge was rubmitted ; also his report advising fchet Mr Nelson's sand pump, used at Taruheru, would be useless for harbor dredging, as it did not possess the power or stability required. Mr Claik said a reply should be made at once to Mr Nf bon.

Captain Tucker’s suggestion fo forward Mr Reynolds’ opinicD, was adopted. In regard to the main rfport, a motion by Mr Ma'thewson, that it lie oa the table, was agreed to. The question then arose as to whether this would block fulure disoussion or whether it could be brought up without notice.

The Chairman ruled that the report oould be brought up at any meeting, and dealt with oq the usual notioe of motion. In reply to questions as to engineers’ fee, the. Secretary stated that no hing was fixed. It might be anything from £IOO to £SOO. At a later stage Mr Lysnar, who had been at another meeting, attended, and gave notice to move that the report be considered at next mo ting. HARBORMASTER’S REPORT. .

Captain Cummiog, harbormaster, reported : Tho soundings in the channel taken on the 20th inet, with tide gauge at zsro, are—End of broakwaler 10ft Bin, seoond to third bollard from end 7ft 2in, Snark’s landing 6ft 6in, big crane 6ft Bin, Waikanae 7f e , c£E stockyard and half-way

along wharf 7ft. The e.s. Toroa oamo up to the wharf od 23rd inst, drawing lift 6in. This is the first fine this Chip has oorne up to tbo wharf with a full load of coal. I should Ike to have one of the pilot boats Bt the groyne, if the Board will grant pormission for davits to be erected there. Is would be handy in oase of aooident9, as the entranoe to the river at times is dangerous to navigation. Something should be dono at the ond of the breakwater to break the foroe of the seas before a riking the groyne (see rough sketch attached). You will notioe from my moorage list that this month has been a record one for shipping, and the want of more whatf acc'mmodation has been

felt, 13 vessels working at the whatf at one time. Shipping sines last meeting, not counting lighters: Steamers, arrivals 41, departures 41; sail ng ships, arrivals 18, departures 18. The monthly statement as to moorages showed that the various vessels put in 85 days’ work at the wharf, 120 days altogether, and £63 Oa was collected. Mr Harding and the Chairman approved of tho suggestion as to a bca*, which was agreed to. Disoussion ensued on the suggeet’on to place piles beyond tbs breakwater. The Harbormaster explained that at present there was risk of vtssils getting out of hand when a heavy sea was running id, and the piles, he thought, wonld supply a remedy. It would be quite a different construction to tho dolphin shape proposed by Me Leslie Reynolds. The piles should be of ferro ooccrete. Mr Matthewson said they were only getting the result they knew would

I happen, whioh would bo an easy tbiDg to I get rid of. Tho Chaiiman sa d it was another irn I provemont report oa tho top of that of Mr I Reynolds’. „ , . , Captain Tuokor said tho Harbormaster s I idea was to place a construction on tbo south side of tbo rivor, beyond tbe bieakwater. Mr Mattbewson would have tbo I end of the groyne blown up, whilst Mr I Leelio Reynolds advised that tho wall bo I out down. Ho was iuoliuod to favor tho I Harbormaster's sobomo. Ho did not doI sire to foron any eohruio on tbo Board, I but wou'd give notioe that tho report bo I considered It would bo a pity to destroy work dono in face of tho advico of would happen, but they certainly should do something to lesson tho danger. _ I It was agreed that wharf extoneion I should also be considered at next moetiDg. I Tho suggestion for improving tho river I ontranee was subsequently brought np. M. - Harding proposod that the sugges- I tion be roferrod to the Overseer for a I report. Oontinuod on page 4.