LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1376, 13 July 1878, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board was held at 2 p.m. yesterday. Present—Hon. E. Richardson (chairman), Messrs Harman, Cunningham, Allwright, Turner, Wright, and Hon. J. Hall. chaibjian's statement.

The Chairman said—Tho following sums have been paid into the Board's credit since our last meeting :—Wharfage for fortnight ending 22nd June, £7OB 7s 8d ; by Customs, pilotage, &c., for June, £368 15s 2d ; total, £1077 2s lOd; and tho railway department advise that the wharfage for tho week ending 291 h June amounts to £lO4 18s sd, which sum will be paid by a cheque from Welling, ton shortly. Several accounts for payment will be laid before you to-day. A report from our engineer will be read, and I Bliall ask the Board to authorise me to obtain the pump and engine he recommends, to enable some trial pits to bo excavated on the proposed dock site. Upon the table will be found a return of the dredging done during the month of June. It will be noted that 143 barges have been loaded and discharged, amounting to 25,740 cubic yards or 35,750 tons. I may stale that the Harbormaster has since our last meeting taken soundings across the entrance between the moles, and finds that no silting up whatever has taken placo since his previous soundings taken some six months ago. Tho clerk of works reports that the contractor for the removal of the native hostelry to the Orphanage grounds has completed the work. In reference to the authority given me by the Board to negociate for the purchase of land for the Board, I have to report that I have been in communication with tho several owners upon tho subject, and, with one exception, all t,he owners appear to imagine that the works of the Board will compel them to take this land, and have accordingly asked most exorbitant prices. This being the case, I have instructed our engineer to make other provision for carry out the works. A letter will be read from the Commissioner of Railways, relative to the order sent home for additional trucks for the next grain season, as. also my reply to same. I have had the

moorings within the inner harhor examined, and the result is embodied in a report on the subject, which is on the table. With regard to the plans for the Breastwork and intermediate jetty No. 3, I have to report that, after furnishing the Commissioner with some further information ho required, I received to-dcy a telegram intimating that the plans had been upproved by his Excellency the Governor, and that the question of the land n quired for the railway station had been referred to the Public Works Department. Tenders for those works will now be called for. As the question of berthing large coal vessels at the Gladstone Pier was brought under the notice of the Board by the arrival of the Bulwark on the date of our last meeting, I think it proper to report that that vessel was berthed at the intermediate jetty early on the morning of the 2nd inst. She arrived and was anchored off Camp Bay late on Friday afternoon, the 28th ultimo, and it will therefore be seen that no unnecessary delay took place in berthing her. I also think it right that the fact should be made public that a vessel of the Bulwark's tonnage, 1332 tons, and drawing as Bhe did on arrival with a cargo of over 1600 tons of coal, 20ft. lOin. depth of water (which I am informed is within ten inches of the largest depth of water drawn by vessels leaving the Port of Newcastle) can be berthed at the intermediate jetty, and the other two jetties which the Board are about to erect to the westward of it, and which will doubtless be ready for use before the next busy season sets in. It will be desirable that, as 1 shall be leaving for Wellington to attend the meeting of the Assembly before our next meeting, I should hand over the seal keys to Mr Harman, as I presume the Board will desire that the arrangement of last year—that he should act as deputy chairman in my absence -should be continued. It will be necessary that the Board should grant leave of absence to those members who have to attend the General Assembly. Mr Cunningham said that he desired to make a few remarks upon the chairman's statement. He had said that the Bulwark had been towed into the jetty without difficulty. Now the fact remained that Borne considerable quantity of coal had to be lightened from her, that she had to be towed in by the steam tug and barges, and that she stuck several times. Besides this, the Bulwark was put bow on, and her stern was exposed to the S.W. The Chairman said that the facts were these, that tho Harbor Master had told him that the vessel had in coming in struck upon the cross-ridges which had been left. Tho Harbor Master, however, had told him that the vessel was in perfect safely in the way she had been brought in, and that so soon as she had discharged a portion of the cargo she would bo turned round.

Mr Turner said that he failed to see why the Gladstone Pier should be reserved especially for certain vessels. What he wanted to point out was that some fifty-ton lighters were allowed to come alongside the Gladstone Pier and discharge whilst a large vessel like the Bulwark had to discharge under disadvantageous circumstances. HABBOR BOAED ACT. The report of the committee on the Harbor Board Act was read, recommending that it is not advisable to apply for any further amendments in their Acts than those which may be found necessary to give the Lyttelton Harbor Board power to borrow an additional £IOO,OOO as recommended by the harbor improvement committee in their report of June 27th, 1878. Mr Wright moved the adoption of the report. He would move—" That the Board adopt the report of the committee appointed to consider on the amendments necessary in the Lyttelton Harbor Board Acta, and that their solicitor bo instructed to draft the necessary Bill to give effect to the same." The Hon. John Hall seconded the motion, which was carried. HABBOE LIGHT. A letter was read from the engineer, forwarding the plana for the tower for the harbor light, and also detailing the steps which had been taken with respect to the boring for the .raving dock. Hon. John Hall moved—" That the Board approve of the plan forwarded by the engineer for the harbor light, and that the same be sent to the Government for their approval." Mr Wright seconded the motion, which was agreed to. ACCOUNTS. Several accounts were passed for payment. SUPPLY OF TRUCKS. The Chairman said that he had written a letter to Mr Oonyers, as regarded the shortness of trucks, and had received the following reply:— Christchurch, July 2nd, 1878. Sir, —Adverting to my letter of the 6th ult, addressed to you on the subject of the short supply of trucks on the Christchurch section of constructed railways. I am now to acquaint you in reply that the Government have telegraphed to Kngland for the full supply of waggon material and locomotives, which I recounnended should be procured in time to meet the lai'go increase to the traffic expected next season.

I have, &c, W. CONYERS, Commissioner of Railways. Chairman Lyttelton Harbor Board. He might say that about 1000 trucks had been ordered from England for this section of the line, and would be in use by the next grain season. To the letter of Mr Conyers he had replied as follows: Christchurch, sth July.

Sir, —I am directed by the chairman of the Lyttelton Harbor Board to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, and to state that the Board are mueh pleased to hear that the Government have cable'! to ' ngland for the 600 additional waggons and four extra engines recommended by you for farther increasing the supply of rolling stock on the Christchurch section of the New Zealand Railways before next grain season. lam now directed to state that, without wishing in the slightest degree to raise any doubt as to your taking steps to have these waggons put together immediately on their arrival, the Board venture to express a hope that you will call for tenders for putting them up at an early date. I have. Ac, C. H. Williams, Secretary. W. Conyers, Esq., Commis?ioner of Railways. LEAVE OE ABSENCE.

Leave of absence for the session of the General Assembly was granted to the non. John Hall, Mr Murray-Aynsley, and the Chairman.

ADJOURNMENT. The Board then adjourned for four weeks.