GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2101, 29 January 1908, Page 1

GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD.

The Harbor Board met yesterday ai'tornoon. Present: —His Worship the iMayor (in the chair), and Messrs. D. Hepburn, W. Sicvwright, W. D. Lysnar, F. Harris, J. Clark, G. Matthewson, J. Whinray, and the Hon. Captain Tucker. CORRESPON DENCE.

Sir Robert Stout and Mr. A. T. Nga.ta, A1.,P., Native Land Commissioners, wrote referring to a .statement that the arrangement in writing and by deed between, the Native owners of the AVaiohiliarore block and' the Board was at an end, and asking if this was the view of the Board. .A reply was sent stating that the .Board was advised bv their solicitors that us the House, on the application, of the lion. Jus. Carroll, refused to pass a Bill validating the arrangement which was made by deed with the Natives, that the matter was at an end so tar as any clajm ftp- pecuniary compensation is Incurred. The secretary of the Union >j.S. Company Superannuation Association wrote stating, that the Association had purchased l ton Gisborne Harbor Board debentures, part of loan 1885, for £200,000. The principal and interest was payable at the Union Bank, London, or Gisborne, and ho asked if it could not bo made payable at Dunedin, to suvo the exchange. It was decided to inquire on the point. Sir Robert Stout telegraphed l an inquiry as to what area of the Board’s Tawliareparao endowment was m the Waiapu County. A repl- was sent that it amounted to 14,787 acres. A letter was received from Chas. Bailey, jun., thanking the Board for prompt settlement of account for the launch, and trusting that it would give every satisfaction. Messrs. J. R. Redstone and Sons wrote complaining of the serious delay and expense they had been put to owing to the Whan gape recently passing this port. The loss amounted to £l6, and the Union Co. stated that it was now impossible for the cargo steamers to call at Gisborne owing to the very heavy dues now charged. It was hoped that the Board would take early steps to remove the difficulty. Mr. Lysnar said that it was in the hands of Mr. Redstone and the Union Company. If the oats were to come here, they should not have been aboard a boat passing through. Mr. Whinray said that the company used the matter against the Board. It was only a question of time when the_ people, would 1 get steamers of their own, and do without the Union Co. Air. Lysnar moved that a reply bo sent to the effect that the Board could not take any notice of the complaint. Air. Clark stated that the Union Co. must have known that their boat was not calling here, and ho seconded Air. Lysnar’s motion. The Chairman said that Air. Redstone must have known that the oats would be transhipped. The boat did not call' because the cargo offering here was not sufficient to pay expenses. Air. Lysnar’s motion read:— ! ‘Tho Board regrets that Air. Redstone should have been inconvenienced in the shipment of his oats, and the Board desired to point out that this was a consequence of shipping the oats by a boat not intending to call at this port.” HARBOR DUES. ■Mr. J. W. J. Preston, of the Union Co., wrote as follows: —“Harbor dues: I observe from the press report of the Board meeting yesterday that the letter from this company in connection with the question of dues has been referred to a special committee for consideration. As I have necessarily had to go very closely into this matter, I am taking the liberty of submitting by way of suggestion a possible basis for a more satisfactory and equitable method of charging the vessels coming to Gisborne roadstead l . I think that taking a maximum six trips in any half-year the following would bo found less oppressive than the present scale: —Home vessels and passenger steamers 2d per ton port charges and |-d per ton harbor master’s feo. Cargo steamers and colliers half these rates, i.e.. Id per ton port charges, and -fd harbor master’s fee. Whilst the fee for regular passenger steamers under the suggested scale is slightly less than at present, it is still on the high side when the frequent changes, of vessels are taken into consideration. This phase would not, however, affect the Home traders. The suggested basis for cargo, steamers and for colliers would be very fair, and allow those vessels which are now prohibited from calling with small cargoes to resume so doing. This fact is obviously in the interests of the port and the Harbor Board. The cargo carried by the produco steamer Whangape runs from 40 to 60 tons. This averages for dues from 12s to 8s per ton out of a freight of 15s, which includes practically 5s per ton for lighterage. Even assuming that •the cargo reached the excessive quantity of 100 tons, the average would The 'ratio of passenger vessels is much in the same degree, and even more so, when the frequent changes of steamers 'rendered necessary by exigencies are taken into, consideration. The number of passengers carried, however, tends to lighten this burden somewhat. - The dues on the vessel entering the river could be increased without any difficulty, as benefits are 'received by them for what is paid. The foregoing facts are indisputable and the position obvious. Further comment is needless, as the strain'imposed cannot long stand. The suggestions made are with a vie}v to assisting the committee :ih their deliberations, and I trust that they will be received in the spirit in which they aro tendered. No special or “favored l nation” treatment is desired by this or any other company, as the scalo of dues will apply equally to all.” WOOL CHARGES. The special committee set up at last meeting met on Alonday afternoon, and considered 1 the application of the agenf of the Union C 0.., and recommended that the matter remain in abeyance • until 1 the-''3oth June. A Vi th regard to an application from Messrs’, .Williani" ’ Kett.G and ouners in respect to the alteration of tariff in coast .wool, the committee recommended' that the wharfage on. wool dumped and lambed in Gisborne for transhipment in the harbor, waterborne, 3d per bale, be increased to Is per bale. In respect to the new waiting-room, it was recommended that Air. HE. E. Johnstone take charge of same. Air. Lysnar said the Union Co. had been met in a very fair way, and they had received considerable concessions. There was now no rate,

and they should bo careful of more concessions. Ho moved that the first portion of the report be adopted. Air. Alatthewson agreed that no further concessions should be granted. One aspect of the question of boats passing was that they could not got in. The tariff should have a twelve months’ trial before anything was done. Mr. Siovwright thought also that tlio tariff should l have a fair trial, lie remarked that the Union Co. was paying four times what they did formerly. This port should be made as nearly free as possible. The Chairman stated that the shipping companies wero given ample notice of tlio changes, but they entered no objections, and later they felt the pinch. The motion was carried. AVith regard to the wool, Captain Tucker pointed out that the committee’s report did not accede to tlio request. After discussion, the paragraph was adopted. Air Lysnar moved formally that the by-laws be altered to give effect to the report.—Carried. REPORTS. Tho Harbormaster (Captain Gumming) reported as follows: —“There h is boon an increase of 26 vessels in the shipping of the port during the past year. Tho moorages collected for 1907 wore: —At the old rate £215 10s, extra lay days at new rate £l7 lie 2d; total, £233 4s 2d. Tho steamer and lighter licenses for 190 S totalled £SB 15s, and the lighter dues for January of this year £ll 7s Gd. Moorages for the same month amounted to £1 Is Bd. The shipping since last meeting included the arrival of 55 steamers and 11 sailing vessels, constituting a busy month. Soundings taken in the channel with new tide gauge at zero: End of breakwater lift, third bollaixl Oft, Snark’s landing Bft, big crane Bft Gin, AALiikanae Bft Gin, new wharf 7 ft to Bft, town wharf Gft to Oft, Haiti wharf sft to Bft. He stated that tho new launch was giving satisfaction, and that the services of Captain Martin were of great assistance in supervising tho shipping of the port.” The Oversoer (Air. D. A. AloLeod) reported that the suction dredge hid been steadily at work this month, having removed about 1500 yards of spoil. About 3000 yards more would, ho estimated', exhaust the amount of spoil overlaying tho papa rook within reach of the present length- of pipes. After that it would be necessary to obtain additional piping to reach across the channel, where he might find sufficient spoil to complete tho present reclamation area. AVork on the .Haiti wharf extension was discontinued on the 6tli inst., three of the hands being engaged on the John Townley, putting down the decking. The other three men were engaged painting and tarring piles. Steam was got up on the pile-driv-ing engine on. Wednesday last to resume pile-driving, when the boiler tube blew out. The boiler has since been: dismantled and sent to Niven and Co.’s for a. new set, of tubes. The John Townley was still oil the slip, and ufill be "launched as soon as the deck is finished, about Thursday or Friday next. The small dredge had 1 lifted 395 yards of rock, 740 yards of silt, and 320 yards of gravel; total, 1455 yards. Air. E, Idabgood began his contract for delivery of broken metal on the 13th inst., and on Saturday last 191 yards had come to hand, Gravel removed from the Haiti beach last month, 111 loads. Tho overseer stated that George Alurtagh, an employee of the Board’s for over nine years, was in the hospital, and had lost 55 days through illness since October 16th. Or. Lysnar asked how it was that the wages had increased after discontinuing tho blasting in the channel. The Overseer replied that tho men were temporarily employed at tho dredgo John Townley. It was decided to inquire into Air. Alurtagh’s circumstances. FINANCE. The following statement of ac-' counts was presented:—Receipts: Union Bank balance, 31st December, 1906, £4213 10s; wharfages and moorages to 30th June, 1907, £4628 16s lid; port charges and pilotages to 30th June, 1907, £1033 3s Gel; port charges and pilotages and harbormaster’s fees to 31st December, 1907, £2978 17s 7d; John Townley, towages, £3; weighbridge fees, £l2O 7s; water, £4O lls'3d; licenses, £99 7s 6d'; .royalty on gravel, £3B 17s 6d; sale of material, £ll 8s 4d; hire of plant, £4B Is 6d; slip charges, £29; storage, £7B 14s 9d; election, sale of rolls, £1 2s; wages 'account, landing explosives, £1 10s; rents, Tauwhareparao, £457 9s; Gisborne Freezing Works, '£33S ‘ Is; pilot’s house, £>. 12s; wharf, £SO; rates collected, 1906, £5947 Is 4d; 1905, £136 8s; 1904, £23 14s 6d; arrears of former years, £l9 12s; additional charge, £32 15s; grand, total, .£28,212 17s lid. Expenditure: Interest account, interest on £200,000 loan in London, £10,000; bank commission, exchanges, in London, £ll7 18s 6d; harbor improvements, 1907, salaries £418; wages, John Townley, £lOlO 0s 3d; wages, small dredge, blasting reclamation, etc., £3374 4s; materials, £6216 2s; cartage of stone and gravel, '£7? : 14s;' accident insurance premiums, £45 Is lOd; reports on works, etc., £528 18s 9<l; sand pump, £1000; harbor maintenance account, salaries, £1221 I4s 2d; gas, kerosene, buoys, timber, harbormaster’s assistants, £772 13s 4d; office expenses, stationery, telephones, and auditfees, £lO4 0s Sd; advertising and printing, £IBB 7s; Borough Council, maintenance o.f bridges, £BB 2s; stamps, telegrams, night watchman, etc,, £43; Government revision of valuation rolls, £100; property account, insurance, rates, repairs, etc., £73 4s; architect and surveyor’s fees, £33 ss; legal expen-sps, ordinary, £SO 18s'; subscfipHoh'S, ’ 'donations, etc., under Public Revenues Act, 1893, section 3, £l7 2s 3d; oil launch, £514 os; rent of spying, £26; election expenses, £B2 16s; Gisborne Harbor Board Empowering Bill, expenses, ovidence before Committee and House, etc., £73 6s 6d; legal expenses, Chrisp and .Coleman, £63 Is; Union Bank balance to credit 31st December, 1907, £1948 3s Bd'; grand total, £28,212 17s lid.