HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1955, 11 December 1906, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

Tho adjourned mooting of tho Gisborno Harbor Board was hold yesterday afternoon. Present : Messrs Townloy (chairman), Whinray, Matthowson, llopburn, Clark, Captain Tuokor. An apology was road from Dir Siovwright, who was prevented from being present on account of a prior engagement. Dir Siovwright also stated that ho strongly deprecated any reclamation work being undertaken if tho lino of wharf was taken at low tide, as ho considered tho river should be kept as wido as possible. Mr Clark said that ho had interviewed the manager of tho Breezing Works, and had arranged for Captain Sowell, tho marine superintendent of tho works, to I give a report to tho Board on the reclamation. lie (Mr Clark) had asked Captain Sewell to come in as far as possible, and that gentleman had made a plan which he now handed in. The Chairman comparod Captain

I Sewell's plun with that marked by the Harbormaster, and pointed out that thoro was not a great deal of difference botweon the two plans. Mr Clark said the plan lie put in (Captain Sewell's) was only for the guidance of I the .Board, and not in any way competing I with the plan of tho Harbormaster. On the motion of Captain Tucker tho i Board went into connuittoo to allow freos dom of discussion. Mr Whinray said the amount of papa rock to be shifted should guide the Board to come to a decision. He thought tho reclamation would be more valuablo than wharves. If the papa was dug out it would not be done till the outer harbor was built, and not in their time. Tho Chairman read a report from tho overseer, Mr McLeod, submitting inform-

ation in regard to retaining wall, stating that ho had taken soundings at every -Ift in a straight lino between tho end of tho Kaiti wharf and tho east end abutment of the big bridge from the surface of the mud to the papa rock. Ho estimated tho cost of building a wharf similar to tho ono in hand at j£s per running foot, and a retaining wall A'S 17s. The soundings mentioned were as follows, from abutment of bridge to 1000 foot below, the creek being crossed at 532 foot4oft, 12ft Gin ; 80ft, Sffc ; 120 ft, Bft 7in ; IGOft, sft Gin ; 200 ft, oft Gin ; 210 ft, 3ft lOin ; 280 ft, sft; 320 ft, sft 2in ; 300 ft, 7ft : 400 ft, Gft 2in ; 440 ft, I Sft 4in ; 480 ft, 3ft Sin; 520 ft, 4ft Sin; 560 ft. oft Gin : 600 ft, -Ift lOin ; 640 ft, 4ft lOin : 680 ft, sft Sin ; 720 ft, 4ft Sin ; 7GOf t, 4fc bin ; SiOft, oft 9in ; 840 ft, sft 7in ; SSOft, 9fc lOin ; 920 ft, 13ft Sin; 900 ft, 14ft ; luOOft, ISft, Tho end of Kaiti wharf is 1017 ft to tho bridge,

Too Ohairmau sold that a wharf would bo more useful than a retaining wall Tae Harbormaster, ia reply to a question, said there should be room to ‘am a I vessel at aoy point. At present d ffioulty was experienced in turning vrssels. L was not an advantage So havo to bring vessels to ena particular plaoe. Csp ain Tuokor said one turning basin was enough, in his opinion. If they wero going to miko the whole river a surnmg basin they had better drop tho mattsr altogether, He moved that the line be between 250 to 300 ft distant from and pn-ellel lo wharf on the west side of line ‘ G ” on Mr Grant’s plan. Seconded by Mr Harding. The Chairman moved as an amendment that the line of reclamation shown on She Harborma-t3r’s plan ho agreed to. Ssoondad by Mr Hepburn. Toe Chairman thought tho Harbormaster had gone into the river too far as it wa-, but be was not going to ask him to change fais mind. They wero proposing ro spoil the river by narrowing it. He hoped they would carry the amendment. Toe improvement of tho last ten years w>ald continue. He had seen in his .detains the Aihccio moored alongside tho wiiarf near (be Turangauai Hotel, He gave throe cheers, and than woke np. Mr Whinray : That was Pilgrim’s Progress, your Worship.

The Chaitm in was sure that it would be a retrograde movement to rmko the river narrower. It would be better to leave the work alone than spoil the river.

The amendment wa3 lost, only the mover and stcoudor voting for it. Tho Chairman : I’m sorry, end sure you will regret it. Mr Whinray said Captain Tucker's resolution did not meet with his approval altogether, as is left aa incomplete work. He hoped in another five years the harbor would bo comp eted. Ha thought they would never get rid of the papa rook. He thought tho line should be taken at a curve, and not at so acute aa angle. So long as thoro was plenty of swinging ground it was all they wanted. He thought She members should in-peot she plane at low .wafer and they would then get a fattier idea than from n plan. Mr Clark moved that a line for a training wall or wharf bo taken as shown on Captain Sewell’s plan. This was seconded by the Chairman. Mr Whinray thought this the most suits able suggestion yet offered. Mr Mutthswson ; Another red herring across the track. Mr Clark: No. He added that the plan was doS his, but had baen drawn by CLpt. Bewail at his rfquoat for a plan showing distances vessels could be towed in ; but ha did not expeot Oapt. Sawell to go to so much trouble in the matter. He thought tho pLn submitted by Oapt. Sewell showed She best lino on which to put the wall or wharf. Captain Tucker could not ss9 the differs enoe between tho Harbormaster’s plan and Oapt. Sewell’s, and Mr Whinray had voted Bgaiost the former. He was with ihese who did not want to narrow the rivor, and his proposition did not propose to do this. There was nothing to gain by curtailing the size of the swinging basin. Capt. Sewell’s plan looked betrer, but they would not get tho reclamation recesaary. Mr Mattbewson said thoy should not depart from the straight line of the current, and Oap’.ain Tucker’s line showed a corner, This would have to be dredged

gat. Mr Clark's amenclmsnt was pat and carried, Messrs Waioray, Sievwrlghf, Hopburn and Clark voting for, and Captain Tacker and Messrs Hardiog and Matthew son against, Mr Matthewson moved that the line to be taken be at low water mark, as on Mr Reynolds’ plan, but the Chairman ruled the motion out of order. TQe Board resumed, and the Corn* mittee’s report and Mr Ciark’e resolution were adopted, Mr Harding moved tbat the position of lino be flagged out. It might help members to ohaoge their opinion. Mr Clark said that it was not his opinion—it was the opinion of Caps. Sowell. Mr Hepburn moved tbab a training wall be built aid not a wharf, as thoy had plenty of wharf spaoe, very nonr 1000 ft not being in use; He moved tbat a irtiniug wall be constructed, Mr Clark said there was evidently not much difference between the oost oi a

training wall and a wharf; this surprised him somewhat.

The Oversser explained that the wall had to ba made sufficiently strong to tio up vessels to, and Mr Reynolds had only allowed for a wa'l to keep baok material* The Chairman said that as there was so little difference betweon the co3t the wharf should be carried as far as the creek, and a wall beyond that. The whaif was much better for landing goods than a training wall. He moved that a breastwork bo built from the bridge to tho creek. This was carried. Tho Chairman then further moved that, from the creek to the junction of the Kaiti wharf—a wharf be built.

This was seconded by Mr Whinray and carried, Messrs Hepburn and Matthewson voting against same. Mr Matthewson asked that Mr Leslie Reynolds’ plan be found and produced at next mooting to allow members to comparo same. Tho plan had been mislaid.

Tho Secretary was instructed to obtain tho plan, Mr VV, Nelson wrote on November 30th : “Ra sand pump. Replying to your letter dated ‘2BSh ins's., I accept your cfLr of igIGOO for dredge, notwithstondirg the fact that I consider myacli entitled to the fall amount of claim, via.. i£ 1193, and in doing fo I ask you, in fairness to myself and my firm, and before the dredge is removed from the upp.r part of ihe river, to remove all ohoala in the Tarubern channel between Lytton road (where my contract ends) and tho port, as all our expondituro, £I6OO in excess of the amount

paid by yon, io prnotioully rendered usolosa, owing to shallow water bolow Lytton road. Tbo moat important plaoo in tbo river, whom at present navigation ia very diflioult, and oxoept at a period nearing high wator, impossible, is betwoon the brewery and the town footbridgo. Thiß proposition scorns only oounnon joatioo, considering the largo snma wo pay your Board annually, wbilo making praosioally no use whatever of thoir wharvos or properly, and I suggest that tbo difference between tbo sum noooplod from you (£ 1000) anti tlm olalm (J3lloid) for tho pump, bo looked upon as a contribution by us towards removing tho shoals roforrod to by us.” Mr Clark said Messrs Nelson Bros, had statod they woro paying largo sums, but this was not right. Tho farmers of tho district woro paying enormous sums which they were being charged lor. Supposing freezing works woro startod further up tho river, tho Board could not be expected to keep tho rivor Ho .noved that tho Finance Connuittoo’s ro_iort ho adopted. With rogard to clearing tho shallows ho did not want, howovor, any implied condition added as in tho letter with roforonco to Board cloariug tho rivor. After fouio disou»siou on this matter, it was decided lo write to Messrs Nelson Bros, and point out their further request with irgard io keeping tho rivor open would bo a matter of further consideration. Discussion took place wish reference to tho new Wigam light proposed to bo ‘■r.-e'ed at Tnsbine Point, and Osptaiu Tucker thought more information should bo obtained by the Board before tbo light whs elected, The Government! had offered to spend £SSO on this light if tho Board erected tho building and provided for tho ocs' of maintenance. Bofore this money was spout or anything dono at all further information should bo obtained. Tiio Board decided to got ail information on tho matter beforo dealing with tho question. ~ Tbo Finance Committed reported bolding a meeting nn November 26ib to consider Mr W. Nelson’s olaira of iG1193 for sand pump and ficsings. After disousaing the matter the Committee iristrooted tbo secretary o ( tbo Board to write nod offer Mr Nelson £IOOO for the sand pump complete, subject to tho samo being handed over in good working order, with a Government inspector's certificate of tin boiler, an l to tne satisfaction of the Board's •• irseor. Captain Gumming, harbormaster, reported : “In accordance with your instructions to report on tho best lino for tho proposed new wharf and training wall on the Kaiti side, I have carefully considered tho matter, both with referonco to the necessity of keeping tho wharf as far back as possiblo for tho benefit of shipping, and providing sufficient room to swing a vessel say 200 ft long, about the size of the Haupiri, and also in view of any heavy freshes running down tho rivor. To swing a vessel 200 ft long it is necessary to have at least 400 ft clear between vessels lying at either side. On tho accompanying plan I have pencilled off where I consider the best lino would be, From the present Kaiti wharf to the creek, a distance of 600 ft, it is proposed to construct a wharf, filling in behind level to ' the crown of tho road. From the creek to the bridge, a distanco of 400 ft, a breastwork only, dumping in spoil behind. This should be carried out 25ft further than the line of wharf, and would form a protection for vessels at the wharf in times of flood, as it would throw the flood water clear of them. The channel proposed would be 470 ft in the widest part, and this would allow vessels going up or down a clear channel when swinging a .vessel, and also to clear vessels moored on either side. It allows a vessel to sail in and drop her anchor near the middle, and 'swing round clear cf the vessels moored on either side. Having regard to the increasing number and size of vessels visiting this port, and the future extension of the samo, I cannot recommend making the channel any narrower than I have shown on plan.”

'i'he owner of iks scow May (Vis P. Bryans) wrote to the Beard asking them so consider its charge of jBIO for sbippiog the scow May, which charge, he said, was far iu exeeis of Auckland rate?. The dia> advantages under which the man worked caused a great loss of time to him, owing to their not being able to work fail time to effect repairs. Those worn his grounds for asking the Board to consider his case, which was an exceptionally hard one oil

through. Too Board decided that the obargea were reasonable. This concluded the business.