LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1023, 5 October 1877, Page 2

LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of tlie Lyttelton Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Mr Harman (in the chair), and Messrs Wright, J. Anderson, Craig, and P. Cunningham. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The chairman read the following statement— Since our meeting on Friday last I hare caused a letter to be sent to the Hew Zealand Shipping Company, requesting it to order a steam-tug for the port of Lyttelton, in terms of the resolution of the Board passed on the subject. Having ascertained that Captain Fox will bo settled in England wben the order for the tug arrives there, X think it would be very desirable that the Board should modify the letter already written to the Hew Zealand Shipping Company, to the effect that the Board desire that the selection of the steamtug be left entirely in his hands, and that, if possible, he be appointed to supervise the building of the tug. The Board agreeing, if necessary, to pay him a special fee for the service; the amount to be left to the Hew Zealand Shipping Company’s agents in London to determine. The return of the dredging done during the past month is now on the table. It will be seen that 1-47 barges have been loaded and discharged during that period. The quantity of mud raised was 26,460 cubic yards, or 66,750 tons, or an average of 1150 cubic yards per working day. This is very satisfactory. It will probably be necessary to stop the dredge working for a few days during the current month for the purpose of putting in a new top tumbler; the present one is much worn, and needs constant repair. Tho new one which was ordered through Mr Thornton, in February lust, is, I understand, now completed. A telegram has been received from a committee of enquiry, in Wellington, asking whether the Harbor Department could undertake to deliver stores to the lighthouses at Q-odley Head and Akaroa. The

Harbour-master’s remarks on the question will be read. I received a telegram yesterday from Messrs Kincaid, M'Queen and Co, stating that they would be glad to give an offer to build a tug steamer if the Board would furnish them with particulars to size and power. A further report from Captain M'Lellan on the subject of the red light on the end of Officers’ Point Breakwater will be x’ead. Several accounts will be submitted to the Board to-day for payment. The following sums:—£289 13s 4d being wharfages for the week ending Ist September, 1877; pilotage, &c., for September, £244 8s 4d; interest on credit balance, £7O 4s Bd, have been paid into the Board’s credit since our last meeting. I caused enquiry to be made as to the cost of the hydrants and hose for protecting the Lyttelton wharves from fire. The result will be laid before you, so that the Board may determine in what manner this plant shall be ordered. The chairman added that since the report had been drawn up a verbal communication had been received from the General Government with reference to that portion of the harbor which they wish to reclaim near the route of the Gladstone Breakwater. Reference had already been made to the subject by the officers of the department. The Government seemed to be anxious to begin the work without waiting till such time as the reclamation had been effected by the Harbor Board. In fact they were evidently in a great hurry, and he thought that a communication should be made to the Government on the subject. accounts. Accounts amounting to £204 3s [9d were passed. A STEAM TUG. The chairman read a letter which he had caused to be written, in pursuance to the Board’s instructions, to the Hew Zealand Shipping Company in reference to procuring, through the company’s agents in Britain, subject to consultation with Captain Fox or Captain Adair, one of Messrs Hawden and Co.’s patent screw tug steamers, the successful use of which on the Clyde and elsewhere had so recently been highly spoken of. The Chairman stated that he had ascertained that Captain Fox was on the eve of settling in England, and that it might be desirable to secure his services in the selection of a tug, inasmuch as Captain Adair would not be in England perhaps for some considerable time. Captain Fox was thoroughly well acquainted with the nature of the harbor, and would be likely to make a more satisfactory selection than any agent. After some conversation it was resolved that the Board’s previous decision on the matter should not be interfered with. LANDING stoees. The Chairman read a telegram received by the Harbor-Master from the chairman of a Parliamentary committee, inquiring whether the Board would tender for the landing of stores at Godley Head. The Chairman read the draft of a telegram to be sent in reply, inquiring whether it would be sufficient to deliver the stores on the beach, and the Board left the matter to the Chairman’s discretion. miscellaneous. It was resolved that Messrs Kincaid and McQueen, Dunedin, should be informed that the Board had decided to obtain the steamtug from Britain. A communication was received from the Harbor-Master in reference to the red light at Officer’s Point, and it was resolved that steps should be taken to effect such alterations as would prevent boys from interfering with it. Mr Wright moved, and Mr Cunningham seconded —“That 400 yards of hose of the best description for fire engine service be ordered from London by the next outgoing mail, and that 400 yards of hose for immediate service be obtained in Christchurch, either of leather or canvass ; also, that seven hydrants and connecting pipes be ordered in Christchurch if not to be obtained ready made in Dunedin or any other city in Hew Zealand.”

Mr Wright obtained permission to postpone till next meeting the consideration of the notices of motion given by him at the last meeting. Mr Wright moved, and Mr Anderson seconded —‘ * That the solicitor to the Board he instructed to draft a resolution relative to the creation of £IOO,OOO worth of debentures, for the consideration of the Board at its next meeting, in pursuance of the notice of motion given at the last meeting.” Mr Thomson, contractor, Lyttelton, wrote applying for an extension of time in his contract for the Breastwork, on account of the non-arrival of material from Sydney. Referred to the Board’s engineer. Mr Wright referred to some undesirable clauses in the Harbors and Navigation Bill now on the table of the House. The members agreed that the chairman should communicate with the Hon. Mr Richardson to ascertain whether, in view of the state of Parliamentary business, it would he worth the Board’s while to go through the Bill at next meeting. The Board then adjourned till Friday, the 12th inst.