HARBOR-BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1961, 18 December 1906, Page 3

HARBOR-BOARD.

Tho ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held yesterday afsorooon. Present : Messrs Townley (chairman), Hepburn, Sievwrigbt, Lysnar, Maithewson, Hatding, Whinray, and Captain Tucker, Correspondence was road as follows : From C. A- Cranby and Co., Napier, offering further consignment of Tasmanian hardwood timber at 15s per 100 sup. feet* landed at wharf or 20s 0.i.f,, Gisborne.— I Referred to Overseer.

From Seoretnry of Harbor Board’s Association of New Zealand stating that under rule 8 the two years’ term of office of the present members of tbo Exeoutive had expired, and asking tbe Board their opinion as to whether it is advisable to hold a Speoial Oonferenoa to elect fresh members.

The opinion of tbe Board was that the old officers oould well continue until it was found convenient to Hoii tho Conference.

The Board dealt with Mr Blakey’s account, held over from isst meeting, amounting to £l2 12s, with reference to tbo purohase of dredge filter, and on the motion of Mr Lysnar, deoided that same be paid on receipt of plans. The following reports were read : HARBORMASTER’S REPORT.

Captain Gumming, Harbormaster, reported that the soundirgi in tho ohannel were keeping good ana were about the same as in his last report. The soundings along tho wharf wore much better, the dredge having removed a lot of mud and silt. Lowest soundings taken ou 15th in*t. with new tide gauge at Z3ro were as follows :—End of breskwater, Ilf, 6io ; 3.d boilard from end, 9fs 6 n ; Bnark’d landing, Bft ; big orano, Bft ; Waikanae, 7it 6in ; off stockyard, B't ; along wharf, from Cailder's road so stockyard, 7t'« to 8 ft, Skipping Bieca last meeting; Steamers, arrivals 89, departures 39 ; sailing vessels, arrivals 10, departures 10. The aiateaieas as to moorage showed tbe number of days at wotk by vessels totalled 51, amouut paid £43 6s. Tbe dajs put in a! the whatf by the vessels were 76. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

Mr McLeod, overscor, repottod :—" I have tho honor to report on Gisborne harbor works for the month ending 14th December, as follows: Tho John Townloy has takon 31 loads of spoil to sea this minth and lifted 320 yards into punt?. She gors on tho slip next Saturday, and at least half iba hinges on hopper doors will be removed. All the hinges will be ready, but only those most needed will be put on this time. Toe small dredger was iakea on to the slip on tbe 7sh of this month, and launched on the 14th ; during She 12 days that she ba? been at work this month she lifted 250 yards of papa rosk. Wider wharf extension: 100 ft of this wharf is finished ; also the foundation of new shed, and the building of same is well in hond. As white pine for flooring could net bo obtained in time, I deoided after consulting with your chairman to put in a ooocrete floor, whioh, though mono oostly, will make a very much more substantial job, Tbe line of wharf and retaining wall from big bridge to Kaiti wharf has been fhggsd as directed by your Board, and I beg to point out that tho oarved portion 340 ft in length will be rendered useless fir berthing vessels exoept for vessels less than 90ft iu length, a vessel say of 150 ft moored at any part of tbis curve would be 4ft away amidships from tbe wharf and the whole strain of such vessel would eome on two of tho fendßr piles fore and ait, with the result that the fender piles would in a short time bo wranohsd off. I need hardly point out that tho adoption of this line would necessitate the lifting up of 200 ft of the wharf now in position, and also that it would reduce the width of tbe swinging basin shown on Mr Reynolds’ {>hn by 75 feet. As the turpentine piles for wave traps now on hand require to bo oharred and served with hot tar and cement before being used I would like to be instructed by your Board whether (his will be the next work to be undertaken after the present work is finished, as if so the work of preparing those piles should be put in hand at onee to avoid any unnecessary delay; 179£ yards of stone and sand was received from tho carters this month,” DREDGE JOHN TOWNLEY.

Captain Solvander, master, reported “ Since your last meeting tho dredge John Townloy has been constantly employed. Tho amount of spoil taken out is 700 yards

from abreast of the new wharf at the end of steak yard, in all 3000 oabio yards of mud aud olay, also 330 yards into pants. I must also state that the dredge is to be plaoed on the slip on the 220 d of this month for annual overhaul.”

Mr Msokie, onginoor, reported that tbe dredge would go on tho slip on Dsoember 22nd for the half-yearly overhaul, and that a good deal of repair work and cleaning was neejssary, Tho whole of tho msohiaery end after part of tbo ship abaft the hopper bulkhead would receive a proper ovr rhnul.

Referring to the overseer’s report on the flooring of wharf, Captain Tucker said it was a mistake to do more than Was necessary with such work as recommended by Mr McLeod. The Board did not want to undertake too much work of a permanent character, as they did not know what alterations would have to be made. Mr Hepburn said ho had seen rat holes in tho asphalt floor, and would sooner see

boards used, Mr McLeod said ho had made a solid foundation, and there was now a good

concrete floor as white pine flooring could not be obtained.

Captain Tucker said if they had to shift it at any time in the future they would re grot {jutting in go solid a work,