LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1264, 6 April 1878, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the Board was held at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon. Present—Hon. E. Richardson (chairman), Hon. John HaU, Messrs R. J. S. Harman, P. Cunningham, D. Craig, C. W. Turner, H. Allwright, 11. P. Murray-Aynsley, and H. Sawtell. chairman's report. The Chairman made the following statement : I have to report that the following amounts have been paid to the Board's credit since our last meeting : Wharfage for fortnight ending 16th March, 1878 £llOB 0 6 Pilotage and Port charges for month of March, 1878 ... 416 11 4 £1524 11 10 A number of accounts will be submitted for payment to-day. A report from Mr Bell, our engineer, will be read on the following subjects :—lst. Rppairs to Peacock's Wharf; 2nd. Regarding Clark and Standfield's dry docks; re new jetty, and space for two jetties. I also received to-day from the Commissioner of Railways, plans showing the proposed additions to the Screw-pile, Intermediate, and Tunnel-mouth Jetties. This, taken in connection with Mr Bell's report, will enable the Board to approve of the plan for the new lighter jetty. I lay on the table a report from Mr Turp'in, the superintending engineer of the dredge and barges, showing the amount of dredging carried out during the month of March, 1878. It will be seen that a very largo amount of work has been done, namely, 165 barges loaded and discharged, the quantity of material removed being 29,700 cubic yards, or 41,250 tons. The Lyttelton Harbour Board debentures were forwarded to London through the National Bank of New Zealand by the San Francisco mail, which left here on the 29th ultimo. The debentures having previously been duly sealed in the presence of Messrs Harman, Craig, and Sawtell. The letters to the bank, giving instructions as to their sale, will be road. I received a letter from the Resident Railway Engineer, requesting the Board's sanction to extend the reclamation now in hand over a portion of the boatjjstage. A tracing which accompanied his letter shows the portion referred to. As the work was part of the reclamation contemplated in the Board's plans, and as the resident engineer was anxious to proceed with the work, I sanctioned his doing so, and will ask the .Board to confirm my action. Since our last meeting, a question arose in reference to the berthing the Trevelyan, a large ship with a .full cargo of some 1300 tons of coal, at the Gladstone Wharf. Upon enquiry I found that the late Provincial Government had made it a rule not to allow coal vessels to discharge at thafc wharf. After consulting such members of the Board as I could on the subject, I instructed the Harbor Master that the tale could not be relaxed in the present case, especially as the wharf was fully occupied by ■vessek loading grain and others discharging general cargo. The Trevelyan is now berthed at the Intermediate Jetty. As it now appears thafc large vessels of the Trevelyan class are Sikely to trade with full cargoes of coal to this port, their berthage requirements will be met by the erection of the new jetty which the Board has ordered to be built. It will be remembered that when the Timeball additions were authorised by the Board, the question arose of applying a remedy to the dampness in the inside wall; it was determined that the matter should remain in abeyance. ZMr- Strouts now recommends the application of the four coats of the transparent silica [Bolutiotl to the outside walls. He states it scarcely alter their appearance. Messrs E. B. and F. A. Bishop, the agents for the silica, state their- willingness not to charge for the material unless it proves effective. I am of opinion the Board should authorise the trial to be made. The cost, if successful, would with labor added, amount to about £2O. Mr Rich, the mate of the popper barge Heathcote, has sent in his resignation, and liis successor will have to be appointed. J. William** one of the crew of the inward pilot boat, bas resigned, a boatman to fill bis place will ailso have to be appointed. I think it right to refer to two letters from a member pi this Board which have recently appeared in the Press on the subject of harbor defences, and especially to that of the port of liytteiton. In the first of theae letters a statement appears to the effect that the writer hoped " until recently that in considers- i tion of their intimate connection with the iport and town of Lyttelton, the Lyttelton Harbor Board would have felt it their duty to stir themselves in the matter of defence; but as it is now evident that the majority of the members do not feel themselves called «n to move in the matter, a* one of the minority of the Board I venture to appeal to the public through your columns." A* this statement might lead to the inference that the B< ard had taken no action, or did not fully xccognise the imporfcane» of this question, I think it as well to refer to wfcftt was done by the Board in the matter. Jt w;lj be remembered that the question wasf uliy by the Board and a report of a committee wae I adopted, urging upon the Government the I necessity of taking some active steps towards the defence of the harbor of Lyttelton. I would point out that previous to adopting this course the Board ascertained ihat they bad no power to expend any of their funds in •erecting works or providing appliances for the •defence of the harbor of Lyttelton. The views •of the Board on this matter were embodied in . •a letter addressed to the Hon. Colonial Secretary, on the 12th of February last, but a reply to it hoe not, as yet, been received from the I am .qufto .sure the Board are fuliy alive to the importance o£ this subject, and would, doubtless, be fully prepared to take a prominent part in any action A-h?t j •might be taken by the public in the matter. | la reference to this subject £ may state that, At the suggestion of some of the members of this Board, Messrs Harman and Cunningham, I telegraphed to the Government, asking] whether they had received official intimation Irora the British Government, warning the . Colonies that it is necessary for them to take ' zXL available defensive measures for all outlying territory, and if th*f had received such an intimation, and intended taking action thereon, I was sure the Board wenJJd. cheerfully lend their assistance to further the intentions of the Colonial Government, I have not' yet reeeired a reply. Yesterday afternoon I received a ietter from fche New Zealand Shipping Company, dated the Ist April, in reference to the berthing of some of their ships at the Gladstone Wharf. As this letter contains serious allegations the Harbor Master, and as the letter was received too Slate yesterday to obtain a. report from ihiju* for to-day'js meeting, I would suggest that it- be referred to a sub-commiteee to inquire into •and report an the matter, and also generally ■on the existing berthing regulations. Mr Harman said that when he wrote the Hotter hi question it waa his conviction that the majority of the Board were not in favour of constructing harbour defence* for Lyttelton. He was led to think thif> by th/» fapt that*during the late visit of Sir George Grey it had been mooted that a deputation fromthe Board should wait upon him regarding this subject, and so I'ttle interest had been shown that the matter htf dropped through. As the Chairman had received a telegram, ihc might state hejhad also telegraphed the Government, and received the following answer •. —" Ministers have received no warning from the Britiah Government to prepare . if or war."

Mr 3D. Craig had read the letter, and did ®o v ' agree in the statement the* there were sc4j a aiaoßty d£ the Bmd in imw 9f

harbour defences. He had always understood that the whole Board were in favour of steps being taken, but- found they could not do it, as there were no funis at their disposal for that purpose. He thought they had done their duty in pointing out the matter to the Government. [Hear, hear.] The Hon. John Hall and Mr Aynsley expressed similar opinions. They had intended to show no lukewarmness in the matter, but they understood that it was impossible for the Board to do more than urge the matter upon the Government.

Mr Cunningham thought a certain amount of lukewarmness had been shown in the matter from the first. He had telegraphed on the matter of the interview with Sir G. Grey to the Board, but had received no answer. The Chairman explained the action he had taken in the matter. The resolution respecting the interview with Sir George Grey had laps d for want of a seconder, so he had taken no further notice of the matter.

MR hell's report. A report from the Board's engineer, Mr C. Napier Bell, was read respecting Peacock's Wharf repairs, dry dock, and new jetties. The report was of considerable lengt'.i, giving full details regarding state of Peacock's Wharf, Standfield, Clark, and Co.'s patent floating dock, and new site for jetties. It was proposed by Hon. J. Hall, seconded by Mr C. W. Turner, and carried—" That the Board approve of the site of the proposed jetty ibetween the intermediate and tunnel mouth jetties as indicated in the plan proposed by their engineer; also that they approve of the proposed reclamation and additions to the jetties about to be undertaken by the Government and set forth in the same plan, with the modifications shown thereon in red, and that tenders for the new jetties be called for as soon as possible." ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £247 19a 8d were passed for payment. DEBENTURES. Correspondence re forwarding debentures to England by last San Francisco mail was road. Mr P. Cunningham moved, and the Hon. John Hall seconded—" That the Board approve of the action taken by the committee in the matter of despatching the Harbjr Board debentures via San Francisco to London, and of the letters addressed to the National Bank of New Zealand of the 28th and 29th March on the subject." Carried. Mr Harman moved—" That the Board authorise the application of the petrifying silica liquid to the outside walls of the Time Ball Building, as recommended in Mr Strouts' report of the 27th March, 1878, and authorise the expenditure of the sum of £2O for the purpose if ound necessary." Seconded by Mr Cunningham, and carried. A discussion then took place respecting the appointment of a mate in the place of Mr Rich, of the Heathcote, resigned, and it was eventually moved by Hon. J. Hall, seconded by Mr Murray-Aynsley, and carried—" That the resignation of Mr J. Rich, mate of the Heathcote, be accepted, and that Mr James Wyman be promoted to the vacancy, and the Board order the seal of the Board to be affixed to Mr Wyman's appointment, subject to his receiving a certificate from the master of the barge or harbormaster that he is competent to undertake the duty." The letter of the manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company respecting berthing of vessels was read, and after a discussion of some length, Mr Sawtell moved—" That the Board refer the letter of the New Zealand Shipping Company, dated April Ist, re berthing their ships at the Gladstone Pier, to a subcommittee coKsisting of Messrs Harman, Allwright, and the Chairman, to inquire into and report on the matter." . Seconded by Mr Craig, and carried. NOTICE OP MOTION. Mr C. W. Turner to move at next meeting —" That a committee be appointed to consider what changes, if any, should be made in wharfage rates, harbor dyes, and pilotage fees, and also in the rules regulating the berthing of vessels and the time the vessels may be permitted to occupy berths alongside the wharves." The Board then adjourned to Friday, April 19th, at Christchurch.