LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1204, 12 January 1878, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the Board was held at 2 p.m. yesterday, at the Government Buildings. Present Messrs Richardson (chairman), Cunningham, Turner, Murray-Aynsley, Allwright, Sawtell, and Wright. CTlairman’s statement. The chairman made the following statement : - Since our last meeting I have received a certificate under the hand of tho Chairman of tho Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, notifying the election of Mr Peter Cunningham as a member of this Board, in the place of Mr John Anderson resigned. The following sums have been paid into the Board's account since our last meeting—Wharfage for two weeks, £485 Os (3d ; pilot age, &c., £361 0s 8d ; warps, £ls ; total, £B6l Is 2cl. A number ol accounts will be laid before you to day for payment. The Peacock wharf property, recently purchased by the Board, was taken over on the Ist inst., and the purchase of town sections 313 and part of 311, was concluded on the 24th December, and the purchase-money paid on that date. 1 think the Government should be communicated with as to the portion of this property they require for railway purposes. Arrangements were made with the railway authorities for collecting the wharfage dues on Peacock’s wharf in common with the other wharves. As regards the general question of the charge for collection of wharluges by the railway, I may say that I saw the Superintending Engineer upon the subject, and he communicated the result of our interview to the Government, and it is probable the matter will be definitely settled upon the return of the Hon. Minister for Public Works from the South, which will be in the course of a few days, when I will endeavour to see him on the subject. I am advised that the Board in the meantime will be safe in allowing the collection to remaiu in the hands of the railway authorities, as it is probable the matter will be placed on a basis such as the Board Mill bo

able to accept. A letter will be read from the General Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, covering copy of a telegram from London respecting the steam tug required by the Board, and it is necessary that the Board should decide upon a reply to-day. As directed by the Board, the tenders for stores were referred to the secretary, the harbor master, and Mr Turpin for a report, and Mr Forbes’s tender being the lowest, I authorised its acceptance. The contract has been signed, but it is necessary that the Board in order to complete it should order the affixing of their seal to it, as well as to Mr R. Wood’s for the supply of coal. The fire prevention plant, which the Board ordered from Dunedin in November last, is now to hand, and I propose, with the Board’s concurrence, to place it in charge of the Lyttelton Fire Brigade. The plant (o be kept, ready for use upon the wharves, and not to be used for any other purpose than for tire protection of the Board’s property, except by their permission. I am informed that the plant is of a firstclass description. A letter will be read from the committee of the County Chamber of Commerce, covering a resolution as to the issuing of a railway regulation on the subject of Sunday work. This subject, as you will probably remember, came under the Board’s consideration in July last, when they passed a resolution recording their disapproval of the initiation of the practice of Sunday work in the port of Lyttelton. A copy of the resolution was forwarded to Wellington at the time, and a reply was received from the then Commissioner of Customs “that the Government do not approve of such a practice, nor intend to allow it except in special cases of necessity or for a steamer carrying the English mails.” Under these circumstances I do not think the matter calls for any further action by the Board unless this understanding is departed from, I think it right to again direct the Board’s attention to the continued scarcity of narrow gauge trucks in Lyttelton, During the past week this has caused the vessels lying at the wharves to remain idle a large portion of their time, and consequently the existing wharf accommodation is not so fully utilised as it should be. It is not right that while the Board are using their best efforts to supply the required wharf accommodation, and to improve the general facilities for the quick despatch of vessels visiting Lyttelton, their efforts should be counteracted by the absence of the railway rolling stock to meet the requirements of the shipping lying at the wharves and jetties. There can bo no doubt that the delays to vessels from this cause is seriously tending to bring the Port of Lyttelton into disfavour with the vessels hitherto trading with it. The Board wrote to the Government in June, and again in August last, strongly urging the necessities of the case, and of the injury being done to the Port of Lyttebon by these repeated delays to vessels, and although the Under-Secretary for Public Works replied on November 13th last “ that the Minister has given the matter his consideration, with a view to remedy in the future the evils complained of,” the evil still continues. Delays are also caused by not having the narrow gauge laid on to the tunnel mouth jetty, vessels having frequently in consequence to be removed. The return of dredging done during the month of December is on the table. It shows the number of barge loads to have been 119, equal to 21,420 cubic yards, or 29,750 tons. This is comparatively smaller than the previous returns, but is accounted for by the Christmas holidays, and also by the fact that the dredge was off work a week, putting in the new bow winch. With reference to placing the dredge on the slip, I visited Mr Grubb’s slip at Baker’s Bay, and I inspected it in company with Mr Turpin and Captain McLellan, and they concurred with mo in the opinion that with additional strengthening the slip could bo made suitable and safe for placing the dredge upon it. An offer from Mr Grubb on the subject will be laid before you. It will be noted that the Board will, in the event of the acceptance of Mr Grubb’s offer, have to purchase four large iron blocks and furnish the additional timber, &c., for specially strengthening the slip for the reception of the dredge. This additional plant will remain the property of the Board, and be available for their future use when required. The time I think has now arrived when the Board should take some action in regard to the construction of a graving dock, and I think it would be desirable to appoint a sub-committee to consider and report upon the question. In connection with this and other proposed works, I am of opinion that the time has also now come when it is necessary that the appointment of an Engineer to the Board should be made. Should the Board concur with me in this opinion, it will be necessary that the subcommittee should determine upon the duties, salary, Ac., of such office.—l received by last mail a letter from Messrs Clark, St and field and Co., of London, enclosing sketch plans, and particulars relating to the floating and depositing dock, recently constructed by them. The documents are on the table. —The question of imposing a harbour improvement rate on coal hulks occupying berths within the inner harbour is a point which the Board should consider. ACCOUNTS, Accounts amounting to £422 12s were submitted and passed for payment. HARBOUR* TUG. A letter was road from the manager of the Now Zealand Shipping Company, covering telegram received from London, saying that tenders had been received as follows : —Single screw tug, £7000; paddle boat, £BOOO to £9000; Houden’s patent, £O6OO. Captain Fox strongly recommended the paddle boat, and a reply was desired. Mr Cunningham said it was understood at the time that the New Zealand Shipping Company should take some responsibility, and he thought the company should now be asked to select a boat, and not throw that responsibility on the Board. Mr Wright moved-“ That the New Zealand Shipping Company be informed that the Board elects to have a paddle tug boat, the company to select the most suitable tender.” Mr Allwright seconded the motion, which was agreed to. CONTRACTS. On the motion of Mr Cunningham, the seal of the Board was affixed to Mr Wood’s contract for the supply of coals, and to Mr Forbes’s for supplylof stores for the year 1878. FIRE PLANT. The Chairman said the next business would be to consider what should he done with the fire prevention plant recently imported. Mr Aynsley moved—“ That the Lyttelton Borough Council be requested to take charge of the fire prevention plant recently purchased by the Board for use on tho wharves.” Mr Turner seconded the motion. Mr Cunningham would like to know whether the plant was to be handed oyer to the

Borough Council and removed by them, or whether the hydrants were to be fixed in boxes at intervals on the wharves. The Chairman said he supposed the hydrant s would bo kept on the wharves with the hose. He understood that the Lyttelton fire brigade were independent of the Borough Council, that was why ho made the recommendation to hand the plant over to the charge of the brigade. Air Allwright could not see why the Borough Council should bo asked to take charge of plant on the wharves. After further remarks the resolution was agreed to. WANT OF TRUCKS. The Chairman said the question of short supply of (.rucks on the narrow gauge came up at last meeting. If the Board desired to move a. special resolution ho would forward it to the Government. Mr Turner said he had occasion to send in a formal complaint on the same matter some few days ago, and he knew the department were doing everything possible to remedy the grievance. Perhaps it would be as well to wait a few days and sec what was done. Mr Aynelcy thought they ought to formally record the circumstance that very general complaints were being made of the delay caused in discharging vessels through the scarcity of narrow gauge trucks. He would move—“ That a letter be addressed to the Minister of Public Works on the subject of delays in discharging vessels in Lyttelton, owing to the want of narrow gauge trucks, and urging the necessity of pressing on the completion of the plant already ordered, so that they may be available for use during the coming grain season.” Mr Turner seconded the motion, which was agreed to. CLEANING THE DREDGE. On the motion of Mr Turner, seconded by Mr Wright, it was resolved to accept Mr Grubb's tender of £l3O for putting the dredge on his slip in Baker’s Bay. GRAVING DOCK. The Chairman said he thought the time had come when the Board should, at an early date, deal with the construction of a dock at the port, and also about the appointment of an engineer. He (the chairman) would be willing to give every assistance with the works that he could, but he hardly thought he ought to take the responsibility of the construction of the important works the Board would soon be required to undertake. A committee might be appointed to consider the whole matter and appoint some professional gentleman, who would not at present require to give his whole time to the Board. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Cunningham, to refer the whole matter as to the advisableness of constructing a dry dock or slip and breastworks to the harbour improvement committee, appointed on 22nd Juno last, and the name of Mr Wright was added to that committee. The committee to report at an early date. DEFENCE OF THE POET. Mr Cunningham said he would like to ask whether the Harbour Board would think it came within their scope to take any action with respect to the defence of the Port. He and Mr Harman had had some long conversations on this matter, and it was their opinion that it came quite within the functions of the Harbour Board to take some steps in this direction. War might or might not come upon them, but he thought they must all regret that through the action of the Government the colony was not in possession of the valuable report on defence of the various ports that they might have had. It was his opinion that they would only be troubled with a fourth rate vessel, although it had been said that vessels might be sent which could throw shells from the outer bar, and if the Government would not assist them with guns, powder, and torpedoes (as if they even wanted to fight they could not in the absence of guns and material do so), then ho thought they ought to make an application to the Home Government to assist them in the matter, and an officer might also be possibly sent. He would move —" That the chairman and Messrs Harman and Craig be a committee to report as to the best mode of defence for Lyttelton Harbor during a time of war,” Mr Cunningham here read a letter from Mr Harman, endorsing the views he had expressed and offering to assist to canvass the feelings of the citizens as to whether they did not consider it desirable that immediate action should be taken in the matter. The Chairman said he was afraid that under the rules a notice of motion would have to be given. Mr Turner said he was afraid that such a work could not come within the scope of the Board, although he admitted the necessity of it. The Chairman said he would take the resolution as a notice of (notion, and in the meantime would consult the Board’s solicitor as to the powers of the Board to deal with the matter. Mr Cunningham gave notice that he would move his resolution at the next meeting. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Wright gave notice of his intention to move at next meeting the reduction of (.he wharfage rate from two shillings to one shilling and fourpeiicc per ton.