HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2362, 1 December 1908, Page 6

HARBOR BOARD.

MON’fHIA’ MEETING.

The ordinary monthly nieeang of the Gisborne Harbor Boar-ir was held yesterday. Present: —Mr J. Townley (Chairman), Messrs '> . D. Lystaar, F- Harris, G. Matthewson, and the Hon. Capt. Tucker. The Chairman stated that he hart interviewed a number of residents on the bank of the Taruheru river and found that there were no objections to the Poverty Bay Rowing Club erecting a new shed near Bright streot. Permission I*> erect the shed was given to the Club. The Board confirmed the special order reducing tho port charges on intercolonial and coastal steamers. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Secretary to the Marine department wrote directing that in iinturc the Collector of Customs would mot collect tho Harbor Master’s and port dues, but that the Board would havo to collect the dues. Mr Lysnar said tho collecting of the charges would place .a. good deal of extra work on the staff. He would suggest that Mr Barton coiloct the charges and his salary be in.creascd hj r about £35 a year. Mr Barton would also be expected to keep up his ordinary work. Miss Witty could also be paid £l-5 a year increase. Mr Matthewson said ho.would support Mr Lysnar’s proposition and' the proposal was adopted. REVISION OF SALARIES.

Tho following salaries were increased :—Captain Martin 'from £156 to £lßl, Mr D. A. McLeod from £250 to £275, Mr G. McLachlan from £36 to ■ £4O, iand Mr W. Maekie from £IBO to £2OO. THE OUTER HARBOR. A letter from Mr F. W. Mar-chant dealing with the outer harbor and already published in the ‘‘'Times” was then read. Mr Lysnar said die would liko to see the question of building an outer harbor thresh yd out by the ratepayers. The Board had spent quite enough time in discussing the various proposals. If the ratepayers did not want an outer harbor they had their remedy. The letter was received, Mr. Matthewson remarking that the attendance was too small to continue the discussion. In reference to the discussion on the financial aspect of the outer harbor, which took place at the last meeting of the- Board, Mr T. A. Coleman wrote -as follows: —“I notice that in the minority report of your committee, submitted to the Board on the 27th tilt, Members Matthewson and Lysnar stated : ‘(3) We also consider on the statement of Mr Coleman that his admission that by the alterations of the tariffs there is an increase of wharfages and port charges, i:e., on the new as compared to the old tariffs, this item should be added to the £IOOO per -annum for the annual average increase, -and that tin increased tariff together with the natural increase should be shown as at least £2OOO- ’ To this I take exception. In my replies to Member Lysnar at the meeting of your committeeheld on the 24th ult, I stated that 1 estimated tho annual receipts for port charges and- pilotage under the present tariff at £5500, as against under tho old tariff £li00; showing an increase of £4IOO, from which is to he deducted the deficiency under the new wharfage tariff -as- compared with the old of, say, £3OOO, leaving a met increase of both tariffs of £llOO. But although there was an increase as between the new tariff and- the old for the year when the change wax made, it is not to he expected that there will he an annual increase of revenue by .this amount in addition to the normal increase of £IOO0 —allowed for in the estimates submitted by Mr Witty and myself. This sum oi £lloo' represents what may be termed tlio arbitrary or fixed difference -between the rates of the old tariff and the new, -after taking into consideration the further alterations in the port charges' shortly to ho made by your Board; there cannot be another increase of this nature unless -and until the rates of one or other or both, of the tariffs are again increased. Excluding rents, which -are treated separately in our statement and in which, except in regard to Tauwhareparae, there can -bo no further increase during the period dealt with, the normal annual increase in all items of revenue cannot fairly lie estimated at more than the £IOOO, -at which Mr Witty and I -have assessed at. On full consideration of the whole matter, I am unable to alter our

statement of the 24th ult., which shows -an estimated deficit a» at Ist , January, 1906, of £14,790. I -also take exception to Alessrs Alattheweon and Lysnar’s remarks regarding the Tauwhareparae -rents. The matter is somewhat complex, and must bo viewed from more than one aspect. But here again, having regard to -a-11 the circumstances, 1 am unable at the present time to alter my assessment of these -rentals. I have to -request that you will be- good enough to place this letter on file with the other papers on the matter.” Air. Lysnar was surprised at such a letter from Air. Coleman, who was simply eating his words by trying to compromise the statements he had made. Air. Coleman had not correctly estimated the normal increase of revenue. It the Board was to swallow Air. Coleman’s idea- it would ho an -absurd position, ’for it would mean that the revenue was -going backward to tho amount of over £2OOO a year. It was not for Air. Coleman to dictate to the Board, but simply to give an opinion when he w-as asked for it, and the members of the Board could attach what weight -.they chose to that opinion. Mr. Coleman had not taken into cosideration the -alteration in the tariff. Air. Matthewson said Mr. Coleman had evidently conceived the idea that the revenue of tho Board was fixed, and ha a 1 pot allowed for tih-e normal increase in the port receipts. The whole of tho letters -against the outer harbor were only crying “stinking fish.”

The Chairman said Air. Coleman was not challenging the outer harbor proposals, but the statements made h\ Air. Lysnar at the last meeting.., Hie tariff -had been- reduced, and it could, not be expected there would bo tho same rate of increase on. the -revised tariff as on the old tariff. Air. Coleman was asked for an opinion; he had given .it, and the-letter now showed that that opinion was correct. It w-a s evident there would he a loss

co tile Board in tariff revenue this year. Mr. Lysnar: There will not be -any oss. The Board will have an increasrd revenue of £II,OOO. The Chairmain: The Board can’t bell what tho revenue will -be until the end of the year. __ Mr. Lysnar : 1 can’t see the reason for all this dust-throwing. Air. Harris: It is to throw a wet blanket over the outer harbor. The Chairman: We will know all about the revenue at the end of tin' year.

MISCELLANEOUS. Mr. J. B. Brugh wrote offering a •hopper dredge for sale. " It was decided to reply that the Board did. not require a hopper dredge. Tho Marine Department forwarded x draft of proposed regulations for observance by motor boats in harbors. The letter was -referred to the Harbormaster, Captain Camming stating chat the regulations would,be of great use iit the controlling of the river.

Messrs Hawkins and Rowe wrote tffering to supply two acetone lighted buoys for the anchorage at a cost of £375 each. Tho Harbormaster said such buoys would be very useful to -give vessels a safe auchorago on dark nights. The letter was received, -and no action was taken. REPORTS.

Tho Harbormaster (Captain V Gumming) reported: “The ch-anne! has improved since last meeting. Soundings taken in the channel on ohe 28th inst. with the new tide gu-ago at zero are as follows: -End ol breakwater, 3.3 ft; third and fourth bollard from end, Bft Gin; Smirk's landing, 7ft Gin; -big crane, 71't; Wai kanae, 6ft Gin ; along new wharf, 7fl to Sf; three-parts along town wharf, 3ft to 9ft; top end of town wharf, dry at low water; Kaiti wharf, lower part sft to Bft. The anchorage beacons on -S.-4Y. side of the Bay have been placed in position, and the bearings sent tojhe Marino Department. The beacons An lino bear S. 70deg E. and the point of Young Nick’s lie-art 3. by ,E.; anchor in 9 fathoms of water, about 1] miles off shore ; all bearings magnetic. -Shipping since last meeting: -Steamers, arrivals 40, departures 40; sailing vessels, arrivals LO, departures 9; moorages, extra lay days £1 11s 4d; lighter dues, 61 at 2s 6d, £7 12s 6d.”

The Overseer (Air. D. McLeod) reported : “The beacons authorised «t your last meeting have been placed on the line pointed out- by the Harbormaster, at P-akirikiri, ~ near the mouth of the AVaipaoa river. The dredge John Townlev has taken- 47 loads of spoil to sea this month. The steel plates, angle and chain -pieces necessary for lengthening tho jib. have come to hand,_ and tho work of fitting and drilling i. s being proceeded with, which will.enable the .job -being done more expeditiously when she goes on the slip. The‘small dredge has been steadily -at work this month dredging spoil over the breakwater, with the exception of four days last week, owing to the spoil within itr reach being exhausted, as the result of ten days of smooth sea; but a heavy ground swell coming up on Wednesday and Thursday last enabled work to he resumed. The suction dredge has been steadily -at work this month, and -is doing fairly good work. The Ivaiti wharf extension hnearly completed. There is still a imall -balance to come to hand of the timber required. The repairs to the old Kaiti wharf are at -a standstill pending the arrival of timber. Stone and gravel removed this month from Kaiti beach, 290 loads.” In a supplementary report, Air. AlcLeod stated : “Re my statement to your Board re Wa ih ire re quarry, I have much pleasure in now substantiating in writing what I then stated, namely, that had I the management of this quarry, the material for the construction of the breakwater would be supplied well within Air. Alarchant’s estimate; and, furthermore, in the event of your Board calling for tenders for the supply of stone from the AVnihirere quarry, for the construction of a -breakwater, either on the lines proposed by Air. Alarchant, Alessrs Goode, Son, and Matthews, or Mr. Leslie .Reynolds, I will havo much pleasure in still further substantiating iny statement by submitting to your Board -a tender that will be jn accord therewith.”

Captain G. P. Solvander, master of the John Townlev, reported that the dredge had been constantly employe! since last meeting. Tho amount of spoil taken out- was as follows: 2075 yards sand ’from along breakwater, 2500 yard s mud from various places abreast of town wharves; in all 4575 cubic yards-. "Air. AV. B. Alackie, engineer on the John Townley, reported that everything was going on satisfactorily in the engine-room department of the John Townley. All the reports were adopted without -discussion.

The following was the monthly financial statement submitted: Harbor improvements, 1908, dr. £7791 30s 3d; ordinary account, cr., £4365 9s 2d; dr. £3426 Is IU. Bank: Current account, -a s per bank book, dr. £3424 15s 7d; -add unpresented cheques, £1 5s 6d; debit balance £3426 Is Id. Outstanding: Arrears of rates, XGo6, £156 4s 3d; 1905, £143 4s sd; wharfages current £29 14s; rent, ,£49 11s 8d; total, £378 14s 4d.

PORT RETURNS SEPTEAIBER.

The following return of the trade of the port fpr the past two months was laid on the table:

Imports: Timber 271,607 super ft, posts and strainers 2325, bricks 1000, lime 264 tons, cement 375 casks and 975 bags, coal 3855 tons, horses and cattle 31, sheep 7, coastal wool 3 bales, grass seed 108 sacks, -potatoes 3.919 sacks, oats 2187 sacks, chaff 2445 sacks, wheat 29 sacks, malt 80 sacks, bran and pollard 368 sacks, oatmeal 8£ tons, flour 155 tons, sugar 763tons, salt 16J- toms, kerosene and benzine 1673 cases fruit, 42 tons {measurement), beer and stout -47 hogsheads, 277 ca-ses 3 kilderkins and l 15 barrels, wine s 14 eases and 10 quarter casks, spirits 260 cases, 28 quarter casks and 35 octaves, houseblocks 31370 lineal feet, motor cars 1, wire 79 tons, miscellaneous 2291 tons measurement. Exports : Butter 309 boxes, preserved meats 43 cases, hides 501, manure 25 tons, horses 6, grass seed 118 sacks, maize 1420 sacks, barley 251 sacks, chaff 12 sacks, potatoes 24 sacks, motor cans 1, miscellaneous 410 tons measurement. OCTOBER. Imports: Timber 459;373 super, ft l ,

posts and strainers 2767, bricks 3700, lime 14J tons, cement 55 casks and 522 bags, coal 1342 tons, horses -and cattle 39, -sheep 37, coastal wool 152 bales, -grass seed 44l sacks, potatoes 1739 sacks, oats 1938 sacks, chaff 5752 sacks, wheat 110 sacks, malt 200 sacks, bran and pollara 137 sacks, oatmeal 71 tons, flour 1364 tons, sugar 52 tons, salt 31 tons,., kerosene and benzine G 62 cases, fruit 61 tons meat> •urement, beer and stout 73 hogsheads 403 cases, 12 kilderkins 23 barrels and 2 kegs, wines 45 cases and 1 quarter-cask, spirits 236 cases and 6 quarter-casks, house blocks 513 lineal feet, motor cars 4, wire 55 tons, miscellaneous 1612 tons measurement. Exports: Butter 1055 boxes, mutton 10,915 carcases, meat sundries 105 tons, preserved meats 35 cases, pelts 10 tons 7.cwt, tallow 60 tons liewt, hides 514, sheepskins 3950, wool 471 bales, horses 8, grass seed 117 sacks, maize 1765 sacks, barley 245 sacks, -honey 4cwi>, fruit 1 ton measurement, miscellaneous 229 tons measurement.