HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2206, 2 June 1908, Page 1

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Gisbonio Ilnrhor Board' was held yesterday. Present: The Mayor (Mr. W. J). Lysnar), Alessrs Soivwright, Clark, Alattliowson. lliiris, Whinray, Hepburn, and thoOLm. Captain Tucker. Mr. John . Toysiley, who retired last .meeting, bin was ro-olected to represent the Ce'Ov County, took his seat. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The Secretary (Mr. J. Witty) took the chair to. alioiy. the Hoard to elect a chairman. Captain Tucker proposed that Mr. Townley be .elected chairman. Air. Townley had the .confidence of the Board and (ho confidence of the electors. 110 had filled tho position for many years, and had always shown great fairness in tho conduct of tho Board. Ho could add no higher testimony than to congratulate him on his re-election! Mr. Seivweight seconded Captain Tucker’s proposition. Air. lMatthewson moved that the Mayor (Mr. W. J). Lysnar) he elected chairman. Mr. Townley had been chairman for a long term of years, aiid it was only right the position should go round. Mr. Lysnar was a young man, and had always shown great interest in the affairs of the Board. They all kne.w tho position Air. Lysnar.had taken.up in regard to an outer harbor, and ho was opposed to useless expenditure on the river works, lie did not wish to bring personalities into tho election except to say that lie believed Mr. Lysnar would make quite as efficient chairman as Air. Townley. Air. F. Harris seconded Air. Lysliar’s nomination. Ho .(Mr. Harris) differed with Air. Townley on tho question of river works, and opposed him chiefly on that question. He did not think Air. Townley was sincere on providing an outer harbor, which Air. Lysnar. had always advocated, and on that account lie was worthy of support. Air Whinray said that both candidates had proved hard workers on tho Board. Air. Townley was not opposed to an outer-harbor, but was opposed to risking money on a. scheme until it was shown to bo practicable. He congratulated. Air. Townley on the confidence shown by tho County electors in his work oil the Board. Air. John Clark supported Air. Townloy’s nomination. It was not right to have a mail as chairman of tlie Board who was interested in nil other public bodies in the district. Air. Hepburn supported Air. Alat-t----howson’s nomination of Air. Lysnar. Air. Seivwright said he was sorry the question of the outer-harbor had come into the question. For himself he had often thought younger men should take up tho work of the Board, hut until, capable young men should come forward, ho would voto for Air. Townley as Air. Lysnar was inclined to go too fast and too far. Air. Alatthewson rose to reply, and asked if ho could do so. Captain Tucker: You can reply and so can I, hut it is exceedingly bad taste.. 5 This discussion should have been kept to the fitness to fill the chair, and should not have gone beyond that. Air. Alatthewson: Air. Lysnar is the best fitted. Air. Townley lias been chairman too long. Tho vote was then taken and Air. Townley was elected. Alessrs. Alattliewson, Hepburn, and Harris voting for Air. Lysnar, and Captain Tucker, Messrs. AVhinray, Clark, and Seivwright for Air. Townley. Air. Townley briefly returned thanks lor his election, and hoped during his term the work of the Board would go on smoothly and/ho would ho ablo to show that he was for progress in providing harbor accommodation for ocean going ships. CORRESPONDENCE. The Alanager of the Union Bank, Air. Parker, informed tho Board that the bankratc had been raised to 51 per cent.—Received. The Harbor Association asked that delegates be appointed to, and remits sent for the annual meeting. Air. Lysnar said it. was necessary for the Board to be well represented at the conference. Tho Hon. James Carroll, Hon. Captain Tucker, and Air. AV. D. Lysnar were appointed delegates. Air. Lysnar said a matter that should bo discussed at the conference was the abolition of Government nominees on Harbor Boards. . The Government contributed nothing to the revenue of the Board, but used.tho port free of charge, while the wliolo of the b'urden fell on tho ratepayers. He held that- all members of , the Board should bo elected. Mr. Clark said he could not agree to such a remit. . ' Air. Lysnar gave notice to move at the next meeting of the Board, that such remit be sent to the conference. A NEAV DREDGE. A number of letters were received in reply to the advertisement inserted in the “Times” for a bucket dredge. Air. F. AA 7 . Blakely, engineer of Auckland, wrote stating lie would. be pleased to receive particulars of requirements and should, tho Board see its wav to open up negotiations with his principals (Alessrs. AA 7 . Simons and Co.) ho was convinced they would be satisfied with the results. Alessrs. Drummond and Co.. -aic.cland (agents for Jas. Pollock, Sons, and Co.), wrote offering to submit prices aticl particulars of new and second hand dredges delivered in New, Zealand. .... Messrs. Sligo Bros, mining cxpeits, Dunedin, advised that they hod ,cvcral gold dredges for sale cheap. lpon a later date they forwarded particulars of a river dredge, built in America , and similar to the one sold to tho AVanganui River Board a kw rears ago. The main engine vas 16 h.p. (nominal) and the ladder would enable it to work to 32f1. It was fitted with a powerful electric light plant. The buckets showed considerable wear, and a number wouic. acquire repairs. Fitted with a large .involving screen and t*levator it could stack tailings to loft, above nater. Tbs dredge is moored on her claim-, and the cartage to .Totara Hat milway station would-be 20s per lon, railago to Greymcuth 10s per ion Ihe price of the dredge as she lies, with all tools, and equipment was .f'/00. Mr E. Roberts, consulting engineer, Dunedin, wrote offering to act for the Board in inspecting and reporting upon any gold dredges offered to them, and to superintend a torations, etc., as he was commissioned by the AA r anganui Board recently. The Otago Foundry telegraphed offering to supply very cheap, delivered in Gisborne, a 33.4 eu iie loot bucket dredge with a wooden liutl. Tlio Switzers Dredging Co., Dunedin, advised that their chirm v as to ho closed down at an early eile. and they would he pleased to disp iso of tlioir dredge to the Board.

Mr. J. B. Brugh, agent, Lunulin, offered to supply a dredge Jung oil tho'Alolyneaux River, near p.<u hi'ugii, which he was prepared ’o place complete, in good working order, m vJ|ibornn harbor for £4215. The Auckland Harbor Board, hi response to an inquiry, advised thatthey had not any barges for cat eying spoil for sale. Tho letters were let er red .o the Public Works Committee for report. - REP'ORTo. ££ The Harbormaster, Captain „er •' Cumming, reported a great implement in tho river channel sine'/ lAd meeting. Soundings were: End -ol breakwater 131 t, 4th bollard -Bit, Smirk’s landing Bft Din, lug crime 811., AA’nikanae 7ft Gin, now wharf Cift to Bft, town wharf Gl't to 9ft, Kaiti whirl' sft to Bft. Shipping: Arri-vals—-Steamers 'JO, sailing vessels 41. Moorages, extra lay days, £3 JOs 3d, light dues £l3 2s Gd. The buoys m the hay have been overhauled, etc,, and the leading light lowers pniijicd. Alasters of vessels using complain that the belting "op/-' their ships catch on the stringer atoi/g the whnrf, and ask that some alteration might he made t 0 prevent CJa. The Overseer, Mr D. A..o' YLeed, reported that the John ’Smi'tpy had taken 74 loads of spoil to 1 oJa, and worked 5G hours overtime during, the. month, also overhauling the buoys. Good progress was being made With the Kaiti wharf extension, 200 ft of, main piling had been 'added this month. Stone and gravel -ff'enipKed from Kaiti beach this month-amount-ed +o 359 yards. The dredge-master, Captain Solvauder, reported that the John Townley, since last meeting, had taken 7300 cubic yards of mud and stone to sea, besides overhauling the buoys in the bay. \ The reports wore adopted. COST OF RECLAMATION. The dredge overseer In a supplementary report gave an estimate of the work done by Die suction dredge at the Kaiti reclamation up to May 29. The cubic measurement of the area to bo reclamed (to the level of the top of tho breastwork) was, after making allowance for 400 yards put in the small grab dredge, 9300 cubic yards. He estimated ■ that threefourths of this space was full on the (Into mentioned, comprising G 975 yards. Tho number of days worked was 173 (including 30 days undergoing repairs, and 10 days on the slip), or 133 clays on which tho pump was in operation. Two thirds of this tim'o was lost through the repeated choking of the pump, thus leaving only 14 l-3rd days actual pumping. The result, he worked out as follows: G 975 cubic yards, 173 (lays worked, quantity per day 40) yards, Is Gd cost per iyard; G 975 cubic yards, 133 days worked, quantity per. day 944 yards, 44 l-3rd days worked, quantity per day 159 yards, 4i<l cost per yard.' The cost per yard was based on the working expenses of the dredge, being GOs per day (comprising wages 40s, coal, oil. etc. 20s). The Chairman said the report was very satisfactory. Tile overseer added that the wider the river, tho more danger of it silting up. Air Lysnar said lie was glad to hear that statement. It was quite unnecessary to have a wide channel. ; Tho Chairman said, no harbor could bo kept in use without a dredge Dredges were employed in Napier, Lyttelton, and AA’ellington harbors where there were no rivers to carry MitAir Lysnar: The Kaiti wharf is only intended for ljglit craft, and ; f we keep on deepening we will have to keep dredging. Tho report was then adopted. } It was decided to obtain prices for a bell-bony, to be placed near the anchorage. - ' r ' Air Lysnar moved: “That the Harbor Master he instructed: to take steps to have tho extended portion of the outer-harbor -site, as suggested by Messrs Sir John Coqde and Sons, swept so as to ascertain if there is any foul ground there.” Air AVhinray seconded the motion and said lie would like to see the position of tho breakwater lined out by floating oil drums. The motion was carried. Air AA 7 . D. Lysnar moved that tho plans-and specifications of the pro>osed outer-harbor be sent to Air. Lesie Reynolds for liis professional opinion, provided Air Reynolds was able to visit the. site. Air AA 7 hinraiy seconded the motion. Captain Tucker suggested.that notico of motion should bo given and the matter discussed at a special meeting. Air Lysnar agreed to this provided there was no delay in deciding the question. It. was decided to meat again next Alonday when . tho motion will he considered, - and the Board then adjourned.