LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1216, 26 January 1878, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held yesterday afternoon, at Lyttelton; present —Hon. E. Eichardson in the chair, Hon. John Hall, Messrs Cunningham, Craig, Allwright, Harman, Sawtell, Turner, and H. P. Murray Aynsley. chaieman's bepobt. The Chairman made the following statement : A letter has been received from the Government, intimating that the Railway Department will collect the wharfage dues on a percentage of 2k. The letter will be read. I addressed a letter to the Government since our last meeting, asking them to inform the Board what portion of the Peacock Wharf property they will require to occupy for railway purposes, under section 8 of the Harbor Board Lands Act, 1877. Notices have been served upon the occupiers of buildings on the Board's property along the foreshore to Naval Point, to the effect that their occupancy is subject to the Board's approval. I think the present occupiers should be allowed to hold them at a nominal rental, and subject to a short notice. A list of the properties is on the table. The fire prevention plant for the wharves is in course of being placed in the charge of the Lyttelton Borougli Council, in terms of the Board's resolution on the subject. It will be necessary to purchase three boxes to hold the plant on the wharves. A report has been received from the Harbormaster, stating that the five-ton crane on the Breastwork was blown down during the recent gale, and that he does not advise its re-erection. He, however, points out the benefit which would accrue to the shipping if a fifteen or twentyton travelling or fixed crane were supplied. As the working of the cranes is at present in the hands of the railway, I think their attention should be directed to the Harbormaster's recommendation. Tenders have been received for supplying the four iron blocks for hoisting the dredge, and I accepted the lowest, namely, Scott Brothers, £32. I have also authorised tenders being called for rivets, fire-bars, flange rollers, &c, which Mr Turpin reported as being required for the repairs about to be carried out to the dredge and barges, and as the tenders are to be sent in on Wednesday next I will ask the Board to authorise me to accept the lowest tender. Mr Turpin also reports that it will be necessary to employ the following extra labour during the repairs :—Two boiler makers and mate, two engine fitters, and two rivetters. As it was necessary that the barges should go on the slip while the dredge was being dismantled, I obtained an offer from Messrs Grubb and Co. for the work, and they offered to slip the two barges for £6O, and as it was important that one of them should be placed on the slip on Monday next, I accepted Messrs Grubb's offer, and will ask the Board to confirm my action. A letter has been received from the New Zealand Shipping Company, stilting that their London manager had been instructed, by cable, to yrooure a paddle tug-boat, as decided on by the Board. Particulars of the accepted tenders will be furnished as soon as the Shipping Company recive them. Mr P. Strouts, the architect for the additions to the Time-ball building, reports the necessity of doing some additional fencing. The report will be read. The Chairman also recommended the reduction of the watermens' licenses from £1 to 10s per annum. The following report was next read:—

The Harbor improvement committee beg, in accordance witli the instructions of the Board, to report upon the question of a graving dock for the Port of Lyttelton.

Yonr committee beg to report that the want of a graving dock has been felt as a serious disadvantage by the owners of ships frequenting this port, and especially of large ocean going vessels. The impossibility of having important repair* effected to large vessels in Lyttelton must to a matter serious consideration to all owners contemplating sending their ships to that port. If a suitable graving dock were provided, your committee find that during the past year at least twenty large ocean going ships would bave'been put into it, and if it were generally known that a dock of large dimensions existed in this part of the oolony, no doubt many vessels which are now compelled to proceed to Australia and other porta for repairs, would be docked here.

Your committee have reason to believe that vessels already have proceeded to other ports for the purpose of being docked ; this will probably be the case to aa increasing extent unless a remedy is provided. Under the instructions of the late Provincial Government an inquiry was made by Mr WhUtely Elliot, C.E., who had been sent out by Sir John Coode, as to the practicability of a good dock being constructed in this harbor. After personal investigation and consideration of the data supplied to him, Mr Elliott reported that in his opinion the best site which could be obtained for a graving dock within the limits of Lyttelton Harbor was at the southern side of Dampior's Bay, and that in this locality a good dock could be provided 420 ft. long, by 100 ft. wide at the top, and having a depth of 20ft. oyer tfee sill at low water j and that the locality

offered very considerable facilities for the construction of the work. Mr Elliot's report did not include any estimate of the cost, hut rough estimates have been made that it would not exceed .£60,000, exclusive of the pumping apparatus. . Your committee beg further to report their opinion that a patent slip would not at present be required in addition to a graving dock, and that if a choice has to be made between the two works, the graving dock would afford greater facilities to trade, and would be preferred by owners of vessels. Your committee are not aware that further information on this subject can be obtained unless it is investigated in detail by a properly qualified engineer. If, therefore, the Hoard should be of opinion that it is its duty to take steps for providing a graving dock, then the time has arrived when it is necessary that it should have the assistance of competent engineering advice.

Edward Elcuabdson, Chairman Lyttelton Harbor Improvement Committee.

Lyttelton, January 25th, 1878._ After some discussion regarding whether or not this question should be postponed, Mr Cunningham moved, aud the Hon. John Hall seconded —'"That the report of the harbor improvement committee be received." Agreed to.

The Hon. John Hall moved—" That in the opinion of this Board the time has arrived for the construction of a graving dock in the port of Lyttelton, and that an engineer be engoged to prepare the necessary plans, specifications, aud estimates for the work." In doing so he spoke at some length regarding the great advantage of at once constructing the eraving dock, thinking there would be no financial difficulty, the income of the Board being over £20,000, and the ordinary expenditure £13,000. Mr Murray-Aynsley seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. Mr Murray-Aynsley then moved —" That the harbor improvement committee be requested to define the duties of an engineer to the Board with a view of enabling the Board to obtain applications for the office." Seconded by Mr Harman, and carried. Accounts amounting to £717 9s 2d were passed for payment. The Hon. John Hall moved, and Mr Harman seconded—" That the Board approve of the present occupiers of the buildings along the foreshore in Dampier's Bay being allowed to continue in occupation at a nominal rental, and subject to a short notice, and also by their entering into a distinct agreement to vacate their present holdings at any time the Board may require them to do so, without making any claim for compensation." Agreed to. Mr D. Craig moved, and Mr Harman seconded —" That Mr Cunningham be a member of the harbor improvement committee." Carried.

Mr Harruan moved, and Mr Turner seconded, " That the attention of the Government be called to the necessity of providing a twenty ton crane for use on the wharves." Carried.

Mr Cunningham moved—" That the action of the chairman in accepting Messrs Scott Bros, tender of £32 for four iron blocks be confirmed, and that he be authorised to accept the lowest tender for the rivets and other material for repairs of dredge, also Messrs Grubb and Co.'s offer to slip the two barges for £60." Seconded by Mr Aynsley, and carried. Mr Craig moved, and Mr Allwright seconded—" That the fencing of the Time Ball Tower, recommended ia Mr Strouts' report of January 25th, be carried out at a cost not exceeding £25." Carried. Mr Cunningham moved—" That the Hon. E. Richardson, Messrs Harman, Craig, and the mover be appointed a committee to report on the question of defending Lyttelton harbour." Ho would not enlarge on the matter, but was of opinion that, with the immense amount of property in Ljttelton (which he understood was worth a million), some steps were necessary. He had a solicitor's opinion before him, stating that none of the Board's funds were available for the defence of the harbour, but he did not think that mattered, as some arrangement might be made. Mr Harman seconded the resolution, and, after short addresses from several members of the Board, the general tendency of which appeared to be that it was within the province of the Board to recommend the defence of Lyttelton to the Government and make certain suggestions thereon, but it was not competent on them to take any active steps in the matter, the resolution was carried. Mr Cunningham moved, and the Hon. John Hall seconded—" That leave bo granted to postpone Mr B. G-. Wright's motion re reduction of wharfage to this day fortnight, and that tho next meeting of the Board be hold at Ghristohuroh on that day." This having been agreed to, the Board adjourned.