LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1252, 23 March 1878, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Friday, March 22. A meeting of the Harbor Board was held at the Government Buildings at 2 p.m. Present— Hon. E. Richardson (chairman), Hon. John Hall, Messrs Harman, Craig, Aynsley, Cunningham, Turner, and H. Allwright. chairman's statement. The Chairman made his usual statement, as follows :—The following amounts have been paid in to the Board's credit since our last ordinary meeting: wharfage dues for two weeks ending 9th March, 1878, -£9-10 43 4d; proceeds of sale of two steam cranps to Railway department, .£750; total, ,£1690 4s 4d. I have now to report that Mr 0. N. Bell's warrant of appointment has been signed and sealed, and he entered upon the duties of his office yesterday. I have received a letter from him recommending the appointment of Mr Louis Neville as draughtsman, and as it was of the utmost importance that some of the harbor works plans should be put in hand at once, I authorised Mr Bell to secure bis services, and I will ask the Board to confirm his appointment. With regard to the harbor works most needed, I would point out the necessity of proceeding with the preparation of plans of the new jetty on the site of the present Lighterage Jetty; also of the breastwork from it westward to the Tunnel Jetty. As Mr Neville's services are available to the Board from Monday next, I propose to instruct the engineer to have the plans for these works put in hand forthwith. The plans will have to be submitted to the General Government for approval, and under our by-laws, unless otherwise ordered, the plans would have to be deposited for inspection in the office of the Board at six days prior to being considered and ordered upon. As it is desirable that the least possible delay should ensue 1 will ask the Board to approve of these works being tendered for as soon m the plans are approved by the Government. I propose to instruct the engineer to prepare plans for this jetty in conformity with the proposals of the Government as already agreed to by the Board, and that the jetty shull be 43ft. 6in. wide, and 400 ft. long. And further, on completion of the plans and specifications for this jetty, to prepare the same for the breastwork between it and the Tunnel Mouth Jetty. I propose that the engineer should furnish the Board, at the earliest possible date, with a report on the Btite of Peacock's Wharf and of the repairs necessary to be carried out to it. I received a letter from Messrs Clark, Standfield and Co., of London, forwarding for the consideration of the Harbour Board paper*. and plans relating to their patent dry and asking the Board, before coming to a decision to construct an ordinary dock, to examine into the advantages of their docks. Messrs Clark and Standfield state that if they are furnished with a statement as to the requirements to be fulfilled by any proposed dry docks for Lyttolton

they would carefully go into the matter and furnish a well'Conß.idered reply, with an estimate for the necessdry dockihg accommodation. The Board will Hdub*teso Uirelit What action they; wish should be taken in this matter. A letter from Messrs Chance Bros, will be read, advising that the harbour light ordered > by the Board in November laßt, is in hand, and will be sent out, Jt is desirable that the Board , should authorise • the proparation here of the plan of the understructure in order that the light may be erected immediately on irs arrival. Some slight damage was done to the buildings in the rear of Pea Pock's Wharf by the gale last Saturday, attd t have ordered them to be repaired at tt cost of about .£B. I think the Board should entteaYor to pet some revenue for the use of these buildings till sites of them are required by the Board. In obedience with the wiih expressed by the Board at their last meeting, I met Sir George. Grey in Lyttelton previous to his departure. Th*» onljr matter whidh transpired of interest to the Hoard- -at ortr interview was that Sir G. Grey asked whether the Board would be willing to pay rateable proportion of Sir John Coode's visit to New Zealand. I stated that I would bring the matter before the Board, but at the same time I informed Sir G. Grey that judging from the opinions already expressed by the Board, I thought that the Board would not care to seek Sir John Coode's services, and therefore I thought they Wou d not be prepared to pay a proportion of his expenses. A ith reference to the proposal to open the outlet through Naval Point Breakwater, I have ascertained that it will cost at least £35 to do so." In order to meet the case I propose to let the harbor-master amend the previous notice in regard to the anchoring Of vessels to the westward of a line drawn between Peacock's Wharf and a given point on the Naval Point Breakwater. ENGINEERS REPORT. Mr Turpin'B report for February was laid on the table and read by the secretary. DRAUGHTSMAN. Mr Haraan moved —" That the Board ap» prove of the appointment of Mr L. Neville at a salary of £25 per month." Mr Craig seconded the motion, which was agreed to. NEW JETTY. Mr Turner moved—" That the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for a new jetty 400 ft. long by 43ft. 6in., to be placed between the Tunnel-mouth Jetty and intermediate jtty, and also for a breastwork be. tWeen the two 'j ettieg." Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was carried , Hon. John Hall moved—" That the Engineer and Harbormaster be instructed to report to the Board the best position for the proposed new jetty, and upon the best means of utilising the space between the intermediate and Tunnelmouth Jetty." , Mr Craig seconded the motion, which was agreed to. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Clark, Statidfield and Co., forwarding a description of a patent dock which they had invented, and asking that they might be furnisht d with a statement of the requirements of the Port of Lyttelton as to docking accommodation, so that they could furnish an estimate of the cost of the dock. They would be prepared to give an estimate, and be at work in nine months, and the whole dock would be completed in two years from signing the contract. Hon. John Hall moved—" That the letter of Messrs Clark and Standfield be referred to the Engineer." Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was carried. HARBOR LIGHT. The Chairman read a letter relative to the completion of the harbor light. Mr Allwright moved—" That the understructure for the harbor light be proceeded with, and the engineer be requested to call for tenders for the erection of the same." The Chairman said that notice had been given to the Admiralty, and it had been inserted on the chart as visible for one mile. Hon. John Hall pointed out that it would be necessary to have the light raised above the sheds so as to be visible at sea. The Chairman said that he would see that the light was raised above the sheds, should they be carried beyond the bend in the wharf. Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was agreed to. peacock's wharf. The Chairman said that he had called attention in his opening statement to the necessity which existed for making some arrangement lor letting the stores on Peacock's Wharf. He Would now ask the Board to decide what was to be done in the matter. Mr Aynsley moved—" That pending any further arrangements the chairman be authorised to advertise for tenders for leasing the stores on Peacock's Wharf at a tenure of three months notice." Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was carried. SIR JOHN COODE'S VISIT. The Chairman said it had been suggested to him that it would be as well to ask Sir John Coode to pay them a visit irrespective of the Government visit, to give a report upon the dry docks, which had been brought before the Board under the head of correspondence. Mr Aynsley pointed out that -Sir John Coode was engaged by the Government to report upon all the harbors, and whether they wanted two words or more from him as regarded their harbor, they would have to pay 'tluir bhare of the general expenditure. Mr Harman moved —" That the Board concur in the reply made by the chairman to Sir George Grey in reference to his proposal that they should pay a rateable proportion of the expense of Sir John Coode's approaching visit, viz : " I t-tated that I would bring the matter before the Board ; but, at the same time, I informed Sir George Grey that, judging from what the Board had already expressed, they would not care to seek Sir John Coode's services, and, therefore, I thought they would not be prepared to pay a proportion of his expenses." Mr Craig seconded the motion, which was agreed to. DEBENTURES. On the motion of Mr Harman, it was resolved that the National Bank of New Zealand be empowered to sign the debentures, instead of, as formerly, the chairman and two members of the Board. Mr Craig moved —"That the seal of the Board be affixed to the debentures in the presence of three members of the Board, and tt at material evidence of such sealing bo sent to the National Bank."