LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 964, 28 July 1877, Page 2

LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

A meeting of the Board took place yesterday at Lyttelton, at 3 p.m. Present—Messrs R J. S. Harman (in the chair), John Anderson, Sawtell, E. Gr. Wright, P. Cunningham, D. Craig, and J. T. Rouse. The chairman made the following statement In consequence of there not being a quorum ot the Board on last Friday, an adjournment had to take place till to-day. Since our last meeting on the 6th July, a voucher, for the wharfage dues for June, amounting to <£1484 2s 2d, has been forwarded to Wellington for payment. Several small sums for warps and fines amounting to .£l4 13s 6d have been paid into the Board’s credit. A list of accounts for payment will be submitted to the Board to-day. Telegrams and letters have now been received from the Government replying to those_ from the Harbour Board on the following subjects Sunday work in Lyttelton, time for Time Ball, detention of vessels by want of trucks, and proposed resumption of Peacock’s wharf. With regard to the latter, I presume the matter will be refei’red to the committee, of the appointment of which notice was given at our meeting on the 6th instant. Previous to leaving for Wellington, the chairman placed himself in communication with the New Zealand Shipping Company with a view of ascertaining the terms upon which the company would be prepared to undertake the ordering of a steam tug for the Harbor Board. An otter has since been received from the New Zealand Shipping Company, also a letter from Mr J. Anderson, junr. Before giving any order for a steam tug it will be necessary that the Board should define the precise description of the vessel they require, and the work it is intended she should undertake, and also as to the tonnage, cabin space, &c, but more_ especially as regards the description of her engines, whether compound or surface condensing. In the case of the former I am informed that, although the consumption of coal is less than in the latter, the wear and tear on the compound engine boilers would be greater, as the fires of the tug would have to be kept coustantly banked, and it also takes a longer time to get up steam. In view of this I think it would be well to consult the harbor master and Mr Turpin as to the engines which in their opinion will be most suitable for the the Board’s requirements. I am further informed that two new tug steamers of 80 and 90 horse power have been recently sent out to Melbourne, having all the most recent improvements as to machinery, &c., and I have thought it well to write to Melbourne making the necessary enquiries regarding them. A reply may be expected before the departure of the next Bnn Francisco mail in August. I °t opinion jjlH H vfQuJ;] hr* 'vise ia posipOHS !,j i

order Lome until then. A reply has been received from the railway department with refc ence to charging for the proportion of the ga consumed on the railway premises in Lyttelton. I am of opinion that the proposal made by the railway would not work satisfactorily, but that the case would best be met by the railway department putting in separate meters at the points where the pipes branch into the railway sheds and offices. The Harbir Board would then have a meter of their own, and their pipes which are laid along the outer edge of the breastwork and wharves, from the Tunnel mouth jetty to the end of the Officer’s Point breakwater, would be euentirely disconnected from those of the railway. A resolution to that effect should, if agreed to, be passed by the Board. Farther correspondence has taken place on the subject of trucks being allowed to remain on the; wharves at night on the line of rails next to the ships. The correspondence will be read, and it will be necessary that the Board should decide what is to be done in the matter. An application has been received from Hawkins and Co., asking the Board whether they intend to take into consi-, deration the question of ballasting of ships from the wharves. This is a matter which the Board could not decide upon without reference to the railway department, as their lines of rails would have to be used. There is also another application which has already been before the Board, from Mr J. L. Wilson, asking for a reduction of the wharfage charge on shingle ballast. In considering these questions the effect upon the vessels recently licensed by the Board should not be lost sight of. Mr John Thompson, the successful tenderer for the repairs to the breastwork, has paid over to the Board the deposit necessary under the contract, and the Board’s solicitor has been instructed to have the contract signed as soon as possible. When signed, the work will proceed under _ the supervision of the resident railway engineer. Mr Turpin reported the completion of the repairs to the Erskine’s boiler on the 15th instant, also the repairs to the bow winch and main framing and shoot-flap, and bottom tumbler, &c. He recommends the purchase of a water tank boat, pointing out that there would be a saving thereby of 30 cwt. of coal a week. I am of opinion that the Board would do well to favourably consider his recommendation in this matter. I understand that a suitable boat and tank could be obtained for less than =£2o. Mr Turpin’s report on the subject will be read. The dredge, after completing her repairs, was for a week employed in improving the channel between the transporting buoy and the Screw-pile Jetty. On Monday last I authorised her removal to a position parallel with the Gladstone Pier, in order that advantage might be taken of the “absence of ocean ships from that wharf, to remove the bank raised by the vessels previously lying there. If this were left to a later season of the year the work would be interfered with by the arrival of a number of large ships. The dredge will probably finish this work at the Gladstone Wharf by the middle of next week, when she will return to her work in the vicinity of the Screw-pile Jetty. I have to report that the Harbor Master has been obliged to take proceedings against the chief officer of the brig Emily for a breach of the Harbor Regulations, resulting in the chief officer being fined. However unpleasant it may be to take proceedings of this nature, it is the only means of checking a laxity which has grown up in complyingwith the Harbor Regulations. The fine and expenses havebecn paidintothe Board’s credit. As no action appeared to have been taken by the Government in the matter of the Board’s recommendation re fire prevention in Lyttelton, I communicated with the Government and the Railway Department on the matter, and I am advised by the general manager that the superintending engineer has recommended the Government to approve of the removal of the steam fire engine to Lyttelton. In referring to the matter, the superintending engineer reports that he is informed by Mr Lowe [that the water service is available with a large pressure, so that in fact the engine is not required there. I may say that no reply has been received from the General Government to the (Board's request asking to be supplied with papers relating to the Lyttelton water supply, and until now I was not aware that the water supply was available for the purpose named above. The Screw-pile Jetty extension is proceeding, and it is likely that it will be completed within three weeks. A number of trees have been obtained from the Christchurch Domain Board for planting the Timeball site and the Pilot Station at Little Port Cooper. Spoon dredging has been completed. Accounts amounting to £64 10s were passed, for payment. Correspondence from the N.Z. Shipping Company regarding tug was read. Mr E. G. Wright said they could do no better than take the chairman’s suggestion regarding information from Melbourne respecting the tugs they had recently imported. He thought that particulars should be also ascertained as to the Dunedin tug, which he heard could be purchased. A letter bearing on this matter from ;Mr John Anderson, jun., describing new twinscrew tugs in use at Glasgow, having been read, and, after further consideration, during which Messrs Cunningham and Sawtell pointed out the advisableness of getting information from Sydney, Newcastle, and other places on the subject, Mr E. G. Wright proposed—“ That the order for the steam tug from England be postponed, and that a committee consisting of the chairman and Mr Cunningham be appointed to obtain further information from Melbourne, Dunedin, and other colonial port s, as to the cost and character of the steam tugs in use at those ports ; that the opinion of the Harbor-master and Mr Turpin be obtained as to the most suitable engines for the tug, and that the Board will defray the cost of a telegram from Glasgow to ascertain the price of a tug of similar design to that submitted by Mr J. Anderson, jun.” This was seconded by Mr Craig and carried. A letter from the General Manager of Railways was then read, respecting special meter for gas lamps belonging to the Harbor Board. After long discussion, the matter was left in the hands of the chairman, who undertook to ascertain on what terms the Lytt elton Gas Company woidd supply the gas required. A letter was read from the general manager of railway, regarding truck left on the wharves at night near the edge, and also report of the harbor master on the subject; and Mr D. Craig moved “ That, with a view to preventing accidents to persons passing to and from vessels during the night, no waggons shoidd be left opposite the gangways of vessels after dark.” Seconded by Mr Wright, and carried. Messrs. Hawkins and Co.’s application respecting wharfage rates for ballast was next considered, and it was moved by Mr Wright, “ That the wharfage rates on stone and clay ballast, supplied over the railway for ships’ use, be reduced from 2s to Is per ton, and that application be made to the Governor in Council to sanction the alteration.” Seconded by Mr Anderson and carried. A letter was read from Mr Turpin, engineer of the dredge, recommending that a tank boat for the dredge be obtained. The Board approved the purchase, the cost not to exceed £2O. Regarding the dredge, Mr E. G. Wright suggested that this slack season of the year was the best Ibr dredging near the Gladstone ihe;-, uicJi tLai the dredge should, therefore,.

be employed there. Mr Cunningham said that, as English ships came alongside at high water, and there was already sufficient room for two tiers of ships, he thought the work at the Screwpile Jetty most necessary, as steamers had to come in and go out at all times of the tide. Only a day or two ago the Wakatipu was delayed several hours through there not being sufficient water. The matter then dropped, it being determined to abide by the original plan. The Board expressed an opinion that it was necessary to have the steam fire-engine through from Christchurch and it was determined to write to the Government to that effect. . . With regard to an application from Mr Joyce, Te kitchen for Time Ball Tower, it w as resolved ho be informed it should bo acceded to. It was resolved — u That the Harbor-master be requested to sec that nettings should be placed at ships’ gangways as previously agreed to.” Mr D. Craig said that they would remember that at a former meeting Mr H. P. Murray - Aynsley had given notice of a motion. That "entleman, being absent, had given him authority to move the resolution, which ran as follows “ That a committee be appointed to open negotiations with the owners _of Peacock’s Wharf, for the purpose of getting the whole of the wharf property and all rights and interests therewith placed iincler offer to the Harbor Board; such committee to consist of Messrs Harman, Wright, and Anderson.” This was seconded by Mr Sawtell, and carried. After some further discussion on various subiects it was resolved that the Board should adjourn to that day three weeks, August 17th, the meeting to be held at Christchurch.