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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1991, 29 January 1907, Page 2

Mails despatched from Auckland via San Francisco on 22ml December arrived in London on 27th January.

Tho Auckland Salvation Army Band will give a programme of music at the Hospital at about 3 this afternoon. The Gisborne Racing Club’s acceptances, first day, and entries for minor events (both days) close with the Secretary, Mr M. G. Nasmith, at 9 o’clock to-night. It is stated that Mr J. M. Gouldsmith lias been offered and has refused £ISOO for his racer Pink ’TJn, which has been doing exceptionally well lately on the turf. At a meeting of shareholders in the Gisborne Building Society to be held this evening, loans totalling £I4OO will be disposed of, as follows: £GOO for sale in No. 1 issue, £3OO for ballot in No. 1 issuo and £SOO for ballot in No. 2 issue. The next stock sales at Matawhero will take place on Thursday, when Messrs Williams and Kettle will offer 2250 sheop and 50 head of cattle. Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. and Messrs Dalget.v and Co. will submit for sale 4500 sheep and 30 head of cattle.

An important clearing sale will take place at Wliatatutu to-dav. when Messrs Dalgoty and Co. will dispose of tho wholo of the live and dead stock of Mr William nay, who lias disposed of the lease of his farm. Coach will meet the train before and after tho sale. The Kia Ora Co-operative Dairy Company and the proprietor of the Okitu factory notify that from February Ist a easli discount will bo allowed only if.paid before tho stipulated day of the following month, and that' no further discounts trade or cash will he allowed. At the Salvation Band entertainment last night Brigadier Albiston announced tho promotion to Captain of Lieutenant Church, who has ably assisted Ensign Slattery at Gisborne. Captain Church has been appointed to, tho charge of Tailiapc, and will leave for there on February 6tli. One of the finest residences in tho district, that of Mr J. T. Evans, has been offered for sale. The property comprises an acre of laud near the Whataupoko bridge, the dwelling having 14 rooms and there being all necessary buildings and conveniences. Further*particulars may be obtained from Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. The Government has appointed Mr C. P. Skerrott to represent the Native interests before the Native Jlands Commission. It is understood Mr A. L. D. Fraser, M.H.R., will assist Mr Skerrott. The Commission will formally open at Christchurch on Thursday', when tho Chief Justice, the President, will give a general outline of the course ho .proposes to take, and the Attorney-General, for the Government, and Sir Skerrott. will bo asked to make any statements they desire on behalf of their respective interests.

Tho Auckland Salvation Apny Band gave an; entertainment in His Majesty’.!*’ Theatre last night, when a choice programme of ' musical selections was given and received with pleasure. Several of the selections were played by special request, including “Ora Pro Nobis” and “Peace 1/e still.” Bandmaster Sheppard, of the local band, gave a fine drumstick exhibition. Deputy Bandmaster Colley, of'the Auckland Band, gave an excellent imitation of the bagpipes on the' soprano cornet. Another entertainment will be given tonight, at the Barracks, and to-mor-row evening the Band leave for Christchurch. , At the Police Court yesterday morning, ljofore Mr. Ihirton, S.M., John Burns'Miller was charged with drunkenness. He pleaded guilty and was fined 10s and costs, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. —Frank Rich was brought up on the charge of sleeping out ant( being without visible means of support. Defendant, when arrested, told the police he could get no work, and had been sleeping out for about a week. For the last fifteen years, lie said. Captain Edwin would not lot him work. The Magistrate said he was quite satisfied there was plenty of work to be had, and he .sentenced prisoner to one month’s inipi isonmefit' with hard labor. —-Joseph Hart, an elderly man, pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkeness, and was fined 10s and • costs, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. Defendant asked for time to pay. The Magistrate refused to grant the request. Defendant next asked for a prohibition order to be made out against him, which was done. Tho defendant was further charged with making use or obscene language in a public place. In answer to the <4large lie said lie did not kiiow whether to plead guilty or not. Evidence having been given in support of the charge, defendant said be was very sorry. His "Worship said the language used by the accused was very filthy, and wliat made the ease worse was that the language was used in a very public part of the town. Defendant would be fined —2 and costs, in default seven clays imprisonment.—A settler was accused by liis wife af assauting her. On tlio application of Mr. Stock the case was adjourned for a week,

GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD The monthly mooting of tho Gisborne Harbor Board was held at the offices of tho Board yesterday afternoon. Present: Tho Chairman (Mr. J. Townloy), Hon. Captain Tucker, M.L.0., Messrs \V. Siovwright, I). Hepburn, J. Clark, Geo. Mattliowson, W. D. Lysnnr, J. A. Harding, and J. AV. AA’hinray. Tho minutes of the last meeting wore read and confirmed. Tho Clerk then i end tho outward correspondence, which was approved. A NEW ROAD ASKED FOR. A letter was read from Mr J. King Spencer, one of the Board’s tenants, asking for a road through Fitzgerald’s run to liis section at Tauwharopurn'o. The Chairman suggested that they should make enquiries at tlie Land Office before doing anything in tbo matter. The Board accepted the suggestion. THE LATE MR T. J. DICKSON. Mrs. Dickson wi;oto acknowledging the Board’s letter and condolence in regard to the death of her husband, tho late Mr. T. J. Dickson. TUAHINE LIGHT.

Tho Clerk read .the following correspondence:— Tho Under-Secretary, Marino Department, wrote acknowledging receipt of tbo Board’s letter of 12th inst., asking for information as to tho AVigham light, offered by the Department for Tuahine oint. In reply, the Department stated:—“(l) The light is self-acting, and docs not require n resident attendant. (2) I.lie ran go of visibility is about ten miles, the light being about 32 feet above sea-level. (3) It is a fixed white light. (4) Ordinary best quality kerosene oil is used. (5) Tlio consumption of oil in the case of tho Wellington Harbor Board’s Pencarrow light is about four tins, or say 10 gallons, per month. Of tins a good percentage runs to waste, but can, if desired, be caught and used either for the light, or for any other purpose for which such oil is used provided it is carefully drained. I may add that the Harbor Board has another AVigham light oil the Iwloon shoal in AVeilington harbor, one of tho ono-wick pattern . whjc has been found to work satisfaotoi dv . J JiC Poncarrow, a throe-wick lamp, has not been long m use, and h. snot worked as satisfactorily as tin onewick one, but tlie secretary informed me that by experimenting with it, improvements have been made. At present tlie Poncarrow light has been visited once a week, and sometimes oftener, and it is at ail times under supervision by means of a telescope, and is observed and reported on every day. The trouble with it is that there is a tendency to smoke tlie chimney, supposed to be caused by a poor quality of wick, and the wick sometimes sticks, and this causes it to burn, when the wick has to be replaced. The Pencarrow light cost, delivered in AA r ellington, £219 18s 6d, and you will thus see the balance of the amount voted, £350, would be £l3O Is 6d.” , . xl Mr AV. Ferguson, secretary to tlio AA r ellington Harbor Board, also wrote giving similar information as to the Wigham light. The cost of the Pencarrow low-level light was as follows: AVigham light and accessories delivered at AVeilington £219 18s 6cL Tho labor, materials, and all other costs incidental to tho. erection and fitting up of the lamp brought the total cost up to £748 13s 3d. Air AVliinvav said it appeared to him that the light would require a great deal of looking after. Mr Lysnar said ho thought they should find out of what strength the llS Mr'\vhinray said they ‘hd not want to embark on a sinnlai thing to what they had before. They should be very careful .in accepting such a problematical thing. , ~ Mr Lvsnar read a description of the light anil remarked that the description did not give the strength of the l!S The Hon. Captain Tucker said lie thought it would be better to appoint a small committee to make enquiries as to the cost and strength of the light. Mr Matthowson said he was in favor of a committee’s report. The Chairman moved that a committee be appointed to enquire and IG Tliis was seconded and carried. ACCOUNTS,

The Public Trustee wrote forwarding the accounts for the past year. THE SAND PUMP. A letter was read from Mr. Nelson stating that he would hand over the sand pump when required, but it was not advisable to put the pump up on Nelson Bros.’ slip, as it was too heavy on one side. He had given instructions that the Government certificate as. to the boiler should be handed over to the Board s secretary. Tlio Board ordered that the machinery be inspected and put in firstclass working order. THE FREEZING AVORKS DRAINAGE. Mr. AV. F. Coder wall, manager of tho Gisborne Slieepfarmers’ Frozen Meat Company, wrote:—“Dear Sir, — Some time ago the Board indicated that it would require tho. Gisborne Freezing AVorks to carry its drainage to the sea oust of the breakwater. It is now convenient to have tins work put in hand, and I would be obliged if vour Board would confirm its previous authority. The work will bo carried out in accordance with tho approval of your overseer.” Tho Hon. Capt. Tucker: They have had permission to do it, and now they ask us to confirm the permission. After some discussion, Hon. Capt. Tucker moved that permission to do the work be given in accordance with the clause in the lease. This was seconded, and carried. IRONS ARK TIMBER.

Messrs. Slade and Jackson, Sydney, wrote, offering to supply ironbark timber. —Received, THE WHARF ON THE HAITI SIDE Mr. E. G. A.' Reynolds wrote as follows:—‘ ‘Gentlemen, —Seeing that at your monthly meeting this afternoon you are going to decide on the lino of the training wall of wharf on the Haiti side, anti being deeply interested in the harbor works, I respectfully ask you to keep the harbor as wide as possible, right on to the edge of the road. Any land reclaimed there by narrowing tile harboi, even down to low water mark, will be of little or no value at all, it being so small, but by keeping the harbor as wide as possible, about 500 feet, you can put all the spoil behind the breakwater, thereby reclaiming land worth from £50,000 to £IOO,OOO, according to the amount you reclaim; and by keeping the. harbor right on to the edge of the road you are preparing room for larger steamers which most certainly will moor at ihe Gisborne and Haiti wharves in the near future; and I look upon, it as your bounden duty and great' privilege to provide for such progress. Some time ago, when you got Mr. Leslie Reynolds tb report on harbor affairs, he recommended you to provide for the s.s. “Moura,'! but there is every chance and possibility of the ocean liners loading at the Gisborne Freezing Works, and with such realisations our rich district would progress byleaps and bounds until it was one of the foremost places in New Zealand With these few remarks gentlemen, I hope that you will decide to keep the harbor quite 500 feet clear between the town and Haiti wharves.” It was decided that tlm letter lie on the table to be referred to later on if necessary. Mr. B. Hire! wrote making complaint that on Friday last he had a load of butter in his cart which kept shifting ,and although he called for assistance .Mr. ft. E. Johnston, one of the Harbor Board’s staff, who was sitting in the shed smoking, did not pay any heed. If others had not given their help, there might have been great trouble. Ho was sorry to make such a report, but considered lie had every justification.

It was stated that when Johnston was appointed he was given to understand that ho was to render such assistance when required. A resolution was adopted asking Johnston to send in an explanation of the matter to the Board.* HARBOR MASTER’S REPORT. Captain Gumming, harbormaster, reported:—“There has been a big increase of shipping to this port during the past 12 months ending December 31st, 1906. The total number of vessels was 581, with a not tonnage of 620,158 tons, an increase of 01 vessels, with a nett tonnage of 52,939 tons. The amount of moorages collected by • me to December 31st, 1906, totalled £5lO 12s Gd. There is a great improvement in the lower part of the channel, it being wider and deeper, Soundings taken on the 2Gth inst., with the tide gauge at zero, are as follows End of breakwater 12ft, 3rd and 4th bollard from end Oft Gin, Snnrk’s landing Bft Gin, big crane Bft, Waikauae Bft, off stockyard Bft Gin. along lower part of wharf Sft. Shipping since last meeting: Steamers, arrivals 48, departures 47; sailing ships, arrivals 14, departures 7 Vessels used the wharf during the month for a total of 43 days, and

stayed at the wharf 83. The amount of moorages collected was £3l 10s.” The chairman remarked that, there was a great improvement in the channel.

TJUO OVERSEER’S REPORT. Mr. 1). M. McLeod, overseer, reported:—“The John Townley has taken eight loads of spoil to sea, and lifted 00 yards into punts before being taken on to the slip on the 122nd of December, 1900. Whilst on the slip, in addition to the usual overhaul, she had all her hopper door hinges renewed, and two patches rivettod on her bottom under the forefoot. She was launched on the 22nd of this month, and after replacing her grab chains with wire ropes, was engaged on Friday lifting out piles of old stockyard and wharf. On Saturday a start was made dredging with the new wire ropes, hut 1 am sorry to say that they were not a success. The small dredger has lifted 1300 yards of rock and 100 yards of silt, all of which has been trucked on to reclamation, less 120 yards, carted into yard at the hack of new shed. Nos. 1 and 2 blasting punt's have been at work all this month below the slip, and No. 3 blasting punt above this point. As the very much improved condition of the river has done away with the necessity of constructing the wave traps it would he as well to remove the gantry which was placed there for their construction, also to have the rails lifted and stacked. The new shed is finished. I would _ ask your permission to have it painted with one or two coats of hematite. One coat would cost about £lO, and two coats would cost £2O. Wharf extension : All the main piles in this work, as far as its intersection with the. line of old wharf, are driven, being a distance of 200 ft. The wharf will bo finished to this point in about eight days. As soon as this portion is available for traffic, I would suggest that 40ft he added to the length of No. 2 shed during the timo it is closed for traffic. The front down stream corner of this shed is the most suitable place to erect a small crane. I would suggest that it be constructed somewhat similar to the one higher up the wharf, but only about half the size. 1 have most of the ironwork that would ho required for such a crane on hand. One of the back legs of the crane would lie close along the front of the shed, whilst the other would lie close along the end of same. It. would thus be clear of all traffic. To do this the front door would require to he shifted, if the shed is not added to; hut. if lengthened as I suggest, no alteration in door would he required. The addition of 40ft to the down stream end of the shed, wiuld bring it square with the angle in wharf, and would still have a clear space of 130 ft between it and the new shed, which would be ample space for dray traffic: this being so, I would recommend that this work bo authorised. Received from the carters this month, stone, gravel, sand, and papa r■ uk as per schedule.”

The chairman said that the who rope might answer for a time. air. Whinny moved that they '.ccedo to the overseer’s request as to the wave aprons not being removed. Mr. Lysnar seconded. It lvas ultimately decided to leave the wave aprons as they are for a month or two. The Mayor proposed that the shed bo extended as suggested. Mr. Sievwright seconded, and the motion was carried. DREDGE JOHN TOWNEY. Captain G. P. Solvander, master, reported that since last meeting the dredge John Townley, before going on the slip, took out 800 cubic yards of clay and mud, and 120 yards into punt. On December 22nd the dredge was placed on the slip for the halfyearly overhaul, and had two coats of paint outside and inboards. The watertight compartments have been chiped and painted. All the hinges on the liopor doors have been removed and replaced with lien' ones. The chaffing plate under the bottom forward has also been put on. The vessel was launched again on the 22nd, and was ready for dredging on the 26th.

WAGES FOR HOLIDAYS. Mr. Wliinray called attention to the practice of the Board paying some of the men for their holidays and refusing to pay other servants for holidays. It seemed to him to be very unfair, especially as the men who were not paid for holidays did the harder work. He proposed that tlieir whole staff be treated alike. The chairman said it was a question of engagement. Some, were paid by the month and others were paid oy the hour. In the case of those paid by the hour there was no permanent engagement. Mr. Sievwright asked Mr. Wliinray what holidays he referred to. Mr. Wliinray replied that lie referred to tlio Xmas holidays. He proposed that the men be paid for these enforced holidays. Tlie men regarded tlio present practice as a slight 1 as well as ail injustice. He thought it was only right that tlie men should all be paid for enforced holidays. The chairman asked whether any complaint had been made. The overseer said the men were in favor of tlie holiday by two to one.

The Hon. Capt. Tucker said the men should be paid for the time they worked. If they did not work they should not be paid. Mr. Sievwright- said lie would be inclined to let the men have the pay for the holidays. Mr. Lysnar said the men who were on by the day had not' been working for the Board for a considerable time and therefore he thought they should be paid for holidays. That was what members of the Board did in the ease of their own hands. In the case of men who had been working for the Board three months and upwards, those men should be paid for the holidays. Mr. Harding: What about Easter? The chairman said Easter would be the same. If they paid for Xmas holidays they must pay for Easter holidays. The Mayor moved that the matter bo referred to the overseer to report. Mr. Harding asked why should Xmas be picked put from the rest 1 . If they adopted such a resolution, it should apply to all the holidays. Mr. Wliim-ay said Mr. Harding gave poor people a feed at Xmas, but not at Easter and other times. In the same way ho (tho speaker) proposed that the Xmas holidays he paid for. .Most of the men were permanent hands and had been in the Board’s employ for years. . Tho Mayor’s amendment was carried.

WHISTLING. Tho Mayor said ho hoped the Board would give tho captain authority to whistlo when he thought necessary. The motion was seconded and adopted. PASSENGERS AND THE PUBLIC. Mr. Harding, moved that tho harbormaster be instructed to have a railing put down to keep the public off from tlie passengers’ luggage. Passengers had complained that they could not get their luggage. The resolution was adopted. RECEIPTS. Tho chairman, in presenting receipts for the year, said that those amounted to £2OOO more than in the previous year . f Mr. Lysnar remarked that tho basis of the Board’s charges was entirely wrong. The port charges amount was a mere pittance compared with what they ought to get. Mr. Clark moved that the matter be gone into at next meeting. The Mayor seconded, and it was carried. Mr. Lysnar asked that the clerk should got the charges on cargoes made at Napier. He quoted some of the port charges made at Napier. Mr. Seivwright: Can we get this from the Tariff Commissioner > Mr. Lysnar: No, we cannot get the information from him. GRAVEL FOR SPECIAL CONCRETE WORK. Mr. Lysnar moved in accordance with notice given that when Haiti gravel was prepared for special concrete work such as engine beds, ere., the overseer be authorised to allow it to be used when a few loads only were required. He said they knew that tho only good gravel was the Haiti gravel. lie did not suggest that it should be used for roads. Mr. Harding seconded. Mr. Chirk opposed tho motion. They were marching uphill and marching down again. The Hon. Capt. Tucker said he should oppose any motion to allow an officer of the Board to ride over a resolution of the Board. Mr. Sievwrigljt agreed with Capt. Tucker that it would he better not to let the engineer have any discretion. Mr. Lysnar said that people should not be required to wait a month in such trivial matters. Tho Hon. Capt. Tucker proposed that all spell matters come before the Board, was put as an amendment and carried. Mr. Harding moved as an amendment that, all such matters _ should go to tho Public "Works Committee.— Carried. . "

THE PROPOSED BREASTWORK AND WHARF ON Tv AIT I SIDE. Mr. Lysnar proposed, in pursuance of notice given at the last' meeting: “That the lino decided upon tor constructing a breastwork and w.nrr on ICaiti side bo varied by taking a straight 1 line, starting from ten yards from the buttress of Turanganm luidge on tbo Kniti side towards the town side, and continuing the straight-lino to the second white. flag nearest the Kaiti wharf in the river, and 'then continue this lino .until it strikes the present' wharf, in order to do away with the corner and icclaim an additional area of about thirty foot right' along.” The object of his motion was, he said, to reclaim more land, and that the curve the Board had decided on at tlieir last meeting he avoided. There would be about 15 feet of reclaimed land. The engineers had told them that they could not look for more than 9 feet in tho river. It was desirable on the whole to make a change in the very ugly curve. Mr. Lysnar accepted the suggestion that his motion he altered to the effect that the resolution of the Board touching this matter lie rescinded. The Chairman seconded tho motion as amended, and it was adopted. After examination of plans, the Chairman moved the following: That'in order to preserve the best use of the present river harbor and to meet tho necessary demand for further berthage, a wharf he erected from the present wharf and continuing to tho Kaiti bridge, and that such wharf be extended into the river no further than is required for wharf purposes only. He hoped they would not narrow the river any more than they could possibly help. They should, like other |)orts, give as much room as possible for shipping, ft was worth the money to keep tho river wide. The river harbor was a splendid harbor. They did not yet know the possibilities of their liarhor, and he hoped they would not throw away their chances. They must have a broad river. Captains had told him that they could not conceive of anyone wishing to narrow the river. He spoke of the result of dredging operaLons ill other places. What had been done by dredging in other places could he done here, and their harbor made suitable for tho larger vessels. This was going to he a great district, and they must look ahead, and make the most of their harMr. Sievwriglit seconded the Mayor’s motion. Ho thought it, would be & big mistaKe to narrow tlie river. , Mr Harding said if he were returned at the approaching election lie should support tlie outer harbor scheme. Mr Mattliewson said Mr Bell had assured him that they would never make a harbor in tlie river. Mr Whinray said lie thought they should make the present harbor available for ships for eight or nine years; but lie was sure tlie outer harbor would have to come. A deeji harbor would cost £SO,OUU. The water was very shallow for a mile out. He was surprised at a man with so practical a mind as tho Mayor making a jiroposal so impracticable. Mr Hepburn supported Mr Lysnar s motion. The Hon. Captain Tucker said itseemed ter him that such places as Liverpool, Manchester, and- Melbourne were not parallel cases. He had been making enquiries for years from seafaring men respecting the conditions of this port. He had asked the captain of the ’ Mararoa whether it would ever be possible for such vessels as that to come in, and his answer was that it would not come in if they had a depth of 40 feet. To get in, he said, was like getting into the neck of a bottle, and was atended with dangers. They could make the port into a very nice little harbor for vessels drawing 12 or 13 feet. Where was the necessity for their going beyond that?. It was quite unnecessary in his opinion to provide for vesels of greater draught, for the expense would be far too great and they would not be repaid for the cost. He thought they could make a very sensible reclamation on the lines of Mr Harding. He suggested that they should adjourn further discussion of the subject until after the election. Mr Lysuar said he had a seat on the Board to-day; he might not have the seat after the election; therefore he wanted a vote on the matter that day. For the larger ships they wanted a 40-foob harbor. Therefore they must go for the outer harbor. They had a bay of shifting sand. The Overseer: There is no shifting sand beyond the breakwater. Mr Lysnar quoted from the report of Mr Napier Bell in support of his view that they must go in for an outer harbor. The. amendment was declared lost and the resolution carried. Mr Lysnar said that the port was losing from £IOO to £l5O per week by insufficient charges on ship cargoes. The shipmasters had to pay two-thirds more on cargoes at Napier. The Board adjourned for a week.