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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2039, 26 March 1907, Page 1

GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD Tl lO monthly mooting of tlio Harboi- Hom'd was hold nt tlio Hoard’s offices yesterday afternoon. Present: Mr J. Townley (in the chair), and Messrs. Hepburn, Alatthewson, Whinrav, Sievwriglit, Harding, and the Hon. Captain Tucker. OUT Kit 11 AH BOH PLANS. Under date, March Sth, i\!r Marchant wrote that lie would visit Auckland to meet Mr AYilson, and that he had posted to him the set of plans he had and copies of his report. He asked about getting a set of plans to replace those taken to England by Air AYilson. He could make a copy of those the Board had for £ls. He had the original photos of the plans on hand, hut the tracings would he easier to work from in making a copy. Tlie Chairman suggested that they should wait until it was known it Mr. AA'ilson wanted any modifications before getting more plans. It was not necessary to deal with the matter at once. On the motion of Air. AA’hinray, the letter was allowed to stand over till next meeting at least. The Chairman said, in ansu’er to an objection by Air. Harding, that Air. Alarchant's charge for the tracing was too high, said he would enquire if the tracing could be done in Gisborne and the probable cost. H OLID A YLEAVE. Air Carroll applied for a moutli’s leave. He had been working on the "John Townley” for live years, lie and Air Frazer were all that were left of the original crew. Air. Alatthewson said the general habit was to give a fortnight’s leave on full pay. Air. Harding moved that the request he granted. The proposition was seconded by Air. Hepburn and carried without dissent. On the motion of Air. Harding, the Overseer was granted three weeks’ holiday leave. AIISCELLANEOUS. Afessrs. Townley and Sievwrigbt were authorised to attach the Board’s seal to the contract with the Westport Coal Company for the supply of coal. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The Overseer reported, for the month ending Alarch 23rd: Owing to the rough sea last week 1 have not had sufficient time to obtain the information asked for by your.. Board with regard to the river channel, but will Imve same ready for next meeting. According to your instructions I went with Air Devery to examine the position of bis proposed breastwork, and find that what he asks permission to do is to construct a breast work with a uniform curve from the breastwork constructed by his neighbor on the one side to the breastwork constructed by the neighbor on the other, which in the one case is an encroachment on the foreshore endowment of 40ft. and in the atlfer loft. The stockyard authorised at your last meetjng has been constructed, and is now ready for use. Our progress with the renewal of old portion of wharf is very much hampered for the want of tim-

iieu-.. .u.r^-u-^-i..i.i— -" rrrp7rl ; t has left the mill nt Ngunguru with the balance of our timber) If this is so, the work will be pushed on with all speed when timber comes to hand. Meantime, the lengthening of No. 2 shed and the erection of new crane will be proceeded with. I have prepared a list of all the timber required for Kaiti wharf and retaining wall, plans of which are being prepared in duplicate by Air Grant. To save any more loss of time I would therefore recommend that tenders be at once called for supply of same. The

“John Townley” has taken 42 loads of spoil tQ _sea this month. The small dredge has lifted 568 yards of pajia

rock and 340 yards of silt this month, which has been trucked on lq Kaiti reclamation. I have knocked off No. 2 blasting-punt and have started No. 1 punt at outer end of the channel, to remove all rock to a depth at low water of 12ft., and a clean Jwidth of 50ft. in a straight line from thereto the bond at No. 2 shed. No. 3 blasting-punt is at work between slip and new wharf.

The Chairman stated in answer to I a question that the Harbormaster had power to move vessels as required. The busy season was over for this year. T]ie dredge had been used in tlio lower reach of late a ini that work having been done the dredge could bo used further up the river. The Secretary stated that 85,000 ft. of timber would be required for the Kaiti breastwork and 214,000 feet for the wharf. Mr. Harding moved that Mr Devery he allowed to make his breastwork on the survey line. —The Chairman said that he thought the Board-could not stop him doing so.—Mr. Sievwrigbt moved that Mr. Devery he refused permission to make his breastwork as requested, and that all persons whose brpastworks encroach should be given

notice to remove them. Afr. Alatthewson said certainly more encroachment should not he allowed, but those who bad already encroached should not be troubled, They bad improved the river in various places, especially from a sanitary

view-point. Mr. AA’hinray thought the Board

should be firm on the matter. They might compromise later by allowing the enci-Qaehees to occupy the land at a certain rent until the Harbor Board required the land. Air. Alatthewson moved as an amendment that the last clause of tlio motion should lie cut out. Mr. Sievwrigbt said they would have to answer for this encroachment in the future.

Air. Hepburn : allowed Nelson Bros, to take in a large slice. Air. Sievwrigbt: I did my best to

stop that. Mr. Whim-ay said that what they were doing was quite illegal. Captain Tucker proposed that Mr Devcr.v be allowed to do as he requested. but that it be brought under his notice that he had no title to the laud. Mr Dever.v was beautifying the place to a certain extent. Mr. Sievwriglit said such an arrangement was nonsense. Mr. Whinray said he thought they were going on the wrong lines. There was a motion on the minute-book put there by Mr. Sievwriglit. and that should be looked up, and notice of motion should he given on this matter. Captain Tucker withdrew his amendment.

It was finally decided to inform Mr. Devery that the permission be asked for could not be given.

It was decided to call tenders foi 85,000 feet of timber for the Knit breastwork.

A few wheels for the small crane are to he procured from England. The. wheels were wearing out and might give way at any timeThe Overseer said lie thought-plans for the Kaiti breastwork would be ready within a fortnight. The Chairman said it would he well to have the plans and tenders before them at the next meeting. The opinion was expressed that if

the timber was received in three mouths th<> Board would bo lucky.

Air Hepburn: It was six months last time. The Chairman: 11 has not all been received .vet.

•TUAII INK POINT LIGHTHOUSE - The Chairman said that while in AVellington he had seen the Almister of Marine regarding the Point light. The Alinister said that the light was not a coastal one, the reef was only dangerous to vessels coming into Gisborne. He said he would supply a light if the Board would maintain it. Air. Sievwrigbt said he doubled if they could spend money outside the harbor. The Chairman said the Government would supply a tower and a third-power light, capable of being seen for twelve miles. Air. Alatthewson said that ninefenths of the vessels going up and down the Coast passed • inside the reef. Tin* Harbormaster said if would he well to have a man at the Point who could signal to town the arrival of steamers, and to steamers the stnto of the tides. He thought such a mail was required by law. It was decided to accept the Alinister’s offer. The Chairman said the erection of the light would proceed immediately. HAR.BOR.AI ASTER’S REPORT. The Harbormaster reported : 1 beg to call the Board’s attention to the necessity for deepening and widening the channel along the upper part of the wharf. AYo want a channel about 00 feet wide with Bft. at low water right up to the bridge. This would enable us to use the whole of the wharf, and is very much needed during the busy season. A breastwork on the Haiti side from the bridge to the creek would be a great benefit. AVe could then moor the empty lighters and fishing boats there, leaving the town wharf clear for shipping. AVe have 18 lighters and nearly as many fishing boats, and they all want to make fast along the town wharf. I can only say that we have not got the accommodation to do this, and if it is ton much trouble for them to shift when required they should moor in the stream on the Kaiti side of the channel when not working, until we have a place for them. Soundings taken this day (Afarch 25th) with new tide gunge at low water are as follows: End'of breastwork 14ft; from the third bollard from end of breakwater to the beacon 9 feet: from the beacon to mouth of AA'aikanae week S ft.; from AA'aikanae to top end of new wharf Sft. Gin. There Is one spot off the top end of now wharf with about 7ft. Gin. rock. This should be removed as soon as possible. Along town wharf soundings vary from 7ft. Gin. to 9ft. up to abreast of Childers road. From there on from 7ft. to dry at low water. Since last report -10 steamers had arrived, and 39 had departed, and 7 sailing vessels had arrived and 11 departed. A 1 lthe vessels occupied 111 days at the wharf and G2 days’ work was done, the revenue derived being £56 12s fid, I)REDGEAIASTER'S REPORT. The Dredgemaster reported:—l ha ve the honm^do^-^reiipr^^that^fli^.-

employment since your last meeting, and lias been - dredging in various places. The amount of spoil taken out is as follows: —1700 yards clay and mud from between new wharf and slip; 1300 yards clay and mud from abreast of the town wharf; 300 yards of sand and 100 yards of rock from along the breakwater; and 600 yards of mud from along the Kaiti wharf —in qll 4000 cubic yards. FINANCIAL POSITION.

The monthly statement of accounts showed that the ordinary account was in credit to the amount of £8073 19s Gd. The subtraction of £1565 15s 4d (the debit on the Harbor improvement account) loft an actual credit of £6508 4s 2d. The credit of £6508 4s 2d at the bank is represented by £7509 4s 2d on the current account pass book less £lOOl, unprosented cheques. Outstanding accounts wore as follows : —Arrears ol rates 1906, £3231 14s fid : arrears of rates 1905, £309 2s sd; wharfages current, £64 6s lid; rent, £ll 11s Bd.