HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 905, 19 May 1877, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board was held at the Government Buildings. Present Hon. E. Richardson (chairman), Hon. John Hall, Messrs. P. Cunningham, J. Anderson, R. J- Harman, H. P. MurrayAynsley, and Dr. Rouse. CHAIRMAN'S bTATEMENT. Tho Chairman said that it was satisfactory to know that the recent earthquake wave had done no damage in Lyttelton to the wharves, &c. A surrey bad been held, aj}& & e w W*s

had been found to be in a sound condition. Letters had been written to the Minister for Public Works relative to the piling at the end of the Breakwater, and also requesting him to forward to the Board for its information copies of papers relative to the Harbor Eeserve and the shed on the Gladstone Wharf. To these communications, however, no replies had yet been received. With regard to the re-adjustment of the harbor staff, Mr Keid, the harbor pilot, having been offered the appointment of inward pilot at £250 per annum, decided to retain the office of harbor pilot at the reduced salary of £225. Captain Q-albraith was accordingly informed of his appointment as inward pilot at £250 per annum. The alteration in the salaries to date from the Ist of June next. The auditor had made a preliminary audit of the accounts, and would finally audit them as soon as a statement of the assets and liabilities had been completed. This would be done in the course of a few days. A letter from the Collector of Customs, in reply to one from the Board respecting pilotage exemption fees, would be laid before the members ; also a letter from the Board of Education, offering to lease the pilot station site at the Heads, twenty acres, at Is per acre per annum for twenty-one years. A resolution would have to be passed instructing the solicitor to prepare the necessary lease. He had telegraphed to Wellington asking that the harbor map might be handed over to the Board, and a reply had been received that the engineer had been requested to accede to the request. With regard to laying on gas to the end of Officers' Point Breakwater, the Harbor Master had reported that the red lamp belonging to the dredge would do admirably for the purpose. The cost of laying down liin. pipe from the end of the finished portion of the Gladstone Wharf would cost about £SO. The lamp would have to be erected on a 15ft. post, and the lamp framing might be done by the dredge smith. The tenders for stores had been reported upon by the secretary, the harbor master, and the superintending engineer of the dredge and barges, to the effect that the tender of Mr R. Forbes was by far the lowest. He had therefore directed the secretary to accept it, and now asked the Board to confirm the action. Tenders for fencing the site of the time ball would be submitted for the consideration of the Board. The General Q-overnment had paid into the Board's account the balance of the vote for that purpose, viz., £92 10s Id. The warrants of appointment of the Dredge and Harbour staff as decided on at last meeting would be ready for sealing at next meeting of the Board. A report as to the accident to the hopper Heathcote, caused by her striking on a rock in Old Camp Bay, would be read. The case, he thought, on this occasion would be met by fining the master in charge, and informing him that a repetition of such negligence woidd be followed by instant dismissal. The dredging operations between the works were commenced on the 16th instant; notice of it having been previously given by gazette and newspaper notice, and by posters distributed through the Customs department, and also by posters handed by the harbor master to the masters of all vessels visiting Lyttelton. A report from Mr Turpin as to the holding capacity of the hopper-barges would be read. This was in reply to an enquiry made at the last meeting of the Board. A report from Captain M'Lellan relative to the damage clone to the narbour pilot boat in taking the Opawa to sea would be read. He would ask the Board to confirm the action he had taken in having the boat repaired at a cost of £2 3s. The accident did not happen while the men were in the boat, but while she was made fast to the ship's stern while she was lying at anchor. A report from Mr Joyce relative to the variations in the time ball clock had been received. He might state that in accordance with the previous resolution of the Board, a flagstaff had been erected on the tower for the purpose of floating a flag when the time ball does not drop. A list of accounts for payment would be submitted to the Board. The question upon dredging by day labor in the corner near the Screw-pile jetty, where the drain pipe empties itself, is a matter for consideration. ACCOUNTS. Several accounts were passed for payment. PILOTAGE BX.EMPTION PEES. A letter was read from the Customs Department stating that the fees for pilotage exemption did not form revenue of the Board, as it came under section 6 of the Marine Act, and not under the Harbor Board Act. The fees therefore belonged to the Customs department, and not to the Board. The Chairman said that as there did not appear to have been any delegation of the fees to the Harbor Board they would have to put up with the loss. After all the matter was a small one. It was resolved, on the motion of the hon. John Hall —" That no further action be taken in the matter." THE PILOT STATION. A letter was read from the secretary to the Board of Education offering twenty acres of the Education Reserve upon winch the pilot station was situate, at a nominal rental of £1 per annum. Mr Harman moved—" That the offer of the Board of Education be accepted." Hon. John Hall seconded the motion, which was agreed to. OFFICERS' POINT PIEB. A letter was read from the harbour master, recommending that a permanent red light, showing red all round, should be erected on the extreme end of the Officers' Point breakwater. The Chairman 6aid that he had made enquiries as to the cost of laying gas on to the lamp as suggested wculd be about £SO. Messrs Hawkins and Martindale would have to keep a light for some three months, and perhaps a small contribution might be received from them towards the cost. Hon. John Hall thought that thp gas company ought tq lay the pipe down at a reduced rate, as this would only be a beginning of gas lamps on the wharf, which would ultimately yield a good revenue to the company. He would suggest that the chairman might see the company on the mutter. The Chairman explained that the amount being over £25 they would have to call for tenders. Hon. John Hall moved—" That the chairman be authorised to take the necessary steps for the extension of the gas mains to the end of the Officers' Point Breakwater, and also for the erection of two gas lamps on the new section of the G-ladstone Wharf." Mr Cunningham seconded the motion, which was agreed to. THE STEAJI DREDGES, A report was read from Mr Turpin, the engineer in charge of dredges and barges, giving then- carrying capacity at 250 tons. STORES TO DREDGE. On the motion, of Mr Cunningham, the

tender of Mr Forbes was accepted for supply of stores to the dredge. TENDERS. Three tenders were opened for fencing the time ball site, and that of J. Kilburn for £2 9s 8d per chain accepted. ACCIDENT TO BARGE HEATHCOTE. A report on the accident occurring to the barge Heathcote near Camp Bay, by striking on a rock, was read. The Engineer reported having examined the barge, and found that a slight leak existed under the officers' cabin. A report was read from Captain Macey, the officer in command of the Heathcote, giving an explanation of the cause which led to the accident. The Chairman said he thought that the captain should be fined £5, with an intimation that a repetition of the matter woidd lead to instant dismissal. There was no doubt, from the report of Mr Turpin, that the captain was too close in shore, and must have gone through kelp. To go as near as 150 feet from the shore was neglect. Hon. John Hall moved —"That Captain Macey be fined one week's pay as a punishment for the neglect which led to the injury to the barge Heathcote." Mr Harman seeonded the motion, which was agreed to. DREDGING NEAR OXFORD STREET SEWER. The chairman, on the motion of the Hon. John Hall, was authorised to have some dredging done near the mouth of the Oxford street sewer, where a considerable quantify of silt had accumulated. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. A statement of accounts of the Board up to April 30th last was laid on the table. It showed the receipts during that period to have been £2105, and the expenditure £1564, leaving a credit balance of £541. The Board then adjourned.