HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1400, 10 August 1878, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon in the Provincial Council Chamber. Present—Messrs Harman (in the chair), Turner, Allwright, Craig, Sawtell, and Cunningham. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman then read the following statement Since our last meeting, the following sums have been paid in to the Board’s credit: —Wharfage, week ending 29th June, £404 18s sd; warps and licenses, £23 ; pilotage and port charges for July, 1878, £512 Os fid; total, £949 18s lid. I have also advices that the wharfages for the three weeks ending 20th July, 1878, amount to £IOOG Os 3d. I will submit a number of accounts for payment to-day. Among them is one for £328 13s 7d for the harbor light ordered from Chance Brothers. The apparatus has been slapped in the Langstone, and may bo expected to arrive here by the end of next month. The plan of the basement for it has hepn sent up to Wellington for approval. A report from our engineer will bo laid before the Board for consideration. The dredging return for the month of July is on the table. It shows that 112 barge loads of mud have been removed, amounting to 20,160 cubic yards or 28,000 tons. I regret to have to report that an accident happened to a portion of the dredge’s machinery on the 30th of last month, by which »h© was

obliged to stop work. A report will be read from Mr Turpin accounting for it. In order to save time instructions were at once given for the necessary repairs, namely, the recasting of two large wheels, and two were sent in ; one of them, however, had to be rejected as 'it was informal, and the other, Mr J. Anderson’s, for £lB9 10s, was accepted. The work is now at an advanced stage, and the dredge will probably be at work again within ten days from this time. I will ask the Board to confirm the action which has been taken in this case. It is a great pity that duplicates or the larger parts of the dredge’s machinery were not supplied at the time she was built; had this been done such delays as the present one would have been avoided. The Government have arranged to carry out the reclamation between the lighter and tunnel n outn jetties, and expect the work to be completed in two months. Our engineer has been asked to consider the question of proceeding with timber breastwork, and the No. 3 intermediate jetty. The latter, if possible, while the reclamation in question is going on, it being of the greatest importance that this breastwork should bo ready for use by the next grain season, I would also suggest that the Board order the immediate preparation of the plans for the extension of the screwpile, the intermediate, and the tunnelmouth jetties, also the plan for the Gladstone Wharf extension. As it is understood that the Government _ are about to write, requesting that our engineer may be placed in communication with Mr Lowe, the resident engineer, with a view to their furnishing a joint report as to the rearrangement of the lines of road and rails connecting with the Peacock’s Wharf property, and also in regard to the portion of it required bv the railway, under the Bth section of the Lyttelton Harbor Board Lands Act, 1877, I will ask the Board to consider this matter. The engineer and harbor master, acting under instructions from the chairman, have taken soundings from the Heads up the harbor to opposite the moles, and the result is most satisfactory, setting at rest as it does any doubts which may have arisen as to whether the depth of the harbor was being lessened by the disposal of the dredged material in Camp Bay, or by the harbor works which have been carried out up to the present time. A reference to their report, and the chart which accompanies it, shows that an increase rather than a decrease on the Admiralty soundings of 1849 has taken place. Mr Bell and Capt. McLellan have also furnished a joint recommendation in regard to the moorings within the inner harbor. They do not consider any of the chains require renewal, except that attached to the transporting buoy. A report in reference to the progress which has been made with the building of our steam tug will be read. I have also received a letter from the National Bank, advising the payment of the second instalment of £2250 on account of the contract for the tug. I will ask the Board to decide as to the naming of the tug. The general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company desires instructions upon this point, as he will have to cable the name decided upon. A letter from the Hon. Minister for Public Works in reference to the increase of trucks for the next grain season will be read, also a letter from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce in reference to the pilotage and port charges. Messrs Talbot and M'Clatchie have applied for leave to erect a small 8 x 10ft. moveable building on the Breakwater to store the block falls, &c., used by them in their stevedoring business. I see no objection to granting their request. I have arranged with the railway for the removal of the meter from its present site on the boat jetties, and also for the removal of the gas pipes and lamps which have been carried inland by the recent reclamation between the boat stage and Gladstone Pier to the outer edge of the reclamation in question, the work being done at the cost of the railway. Upon further enquiry I find that the delay in the completion of Messrs Hollis and Williams’ contract for the time-ball building additions was mainly due to the prison labour not being available for the excavation work which had to be done, and I therefore advise the Board not to enforce the penalty for overtime in this case. An application will be read from Mr Joyce for an alteration in one of the chimneys in the time ball building. Captain M'Lellan reports the work as being absolutely necessary.

ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The following was read: — To the Secretary of the Lyttelton Harbor Board.

Sir, —According to your instructions I have caused a number ot borings to be takeu, with the object of ascertaining the depth from low water to the rock along the shore from Peacock’s Wharf to Dampier’s Bay. Tho tracing attached shows a line of reclamation which would give good berthage to ships drawing 9ft. to 10ft., and one or two berths to ships of 12ft. to 13ft. draught. _ This reclamation would require about 200,000 cubic yards of material to fill it, and when finished would give 6£ acres of land. [ This is exclusive of tho space between Peacock’s Wharf and Tunnel Jetty.] The tracing also shows a space of reclamation on the S.W. of the dock required to give room for a roadway round to tho Naval Point Breakwater, but which would be reclaimed from material excavated from the dock. I have shown on the tracing a proposed limit of excavation on Naval Point Hill, but this will not give enough for the reclamation, as shown on the plan. When plans for the dock are completed I shall report more fully on this subject, and will consider the feasibility or otherwise of utilising the mud dredged out of the harbor to reclaim the foreshore. I have let a contract to sink a trial pit ou the side of the dock, to test the rock and the quantity of water in it. Some difficulty is experienced on account of the flow of water, as the men have no good pumps. The Government has undertaken the work of reclaiming the space from the end of the breastwork to the Tunnel jetty. I should not recommend the erection of the timber work before the work has thoroughly settled down in the mud; the timber work would be certainly displaced if erected while settlement was going on. On account of the shortening of tho screw pile jetty by tho works to be undertaken by the Government, I am advised by the harbormaster of tho urgent necessity for lengthening this wharf, which is used for the large class of steamers. In reply to a memorandum from the secretary dated Bth August, I would recommend that the contract for No. 3 intermediate jetty and adjoining breastwork be let immediately after the Government commence work, provide the Government can finish the earthwork in two months, us stated in the memorandum. I am, &c., C. Napier Bell, Engineer. WHARFAGE COMMITTEE.

The interim report of the wharfage, berthage, and harbor dues committee was read and received, as follows : The committee appointed to consider what changes, if any, should bo made in the wharfage rates, harbor dues, and pilotage fees, also in the rules regulating the berthing of vessels, and the time vessels may be permitted to occupy berths alongide the wharves, beg to submit the following recommendations : —Wharfage.—Ist.—In view of the additional borrowing power sought for by the Board, your committee are of opinion that no alteration should be made in the present wharfage rates, with the exception of the charge upon goods for transhipment. Your Committee recommend that inward wharfage ouly be charged upon goods brought in and declared for transhipment at the time of passing entries. Pilotage and tug charges.—Your committee recommend a reduction in the present pilotage charges to vessels using a steam tng, and that such reduction shall take the form of a discount off the tug charges. Berthing Vessels.— Your committee recommend that a special regulation lie made providing for the discharge of foreign vessels into the Gladstone shed, as soon as the railway arrangements now pending between the railway and customs authorities are completed. Your committee would also recommend that all inward cargo be so discharged at a rate of not less than 100 tons per working day, and that any vessel not complying with such regulation be liable to a penalty of .£lO per day, or be liable to be removed from the wharf by order of the harbor and pieminster. That the berth book be continued to be kept as at present, provision having been made in it for booking the time when vessels come to an anchor when entering inwards. Your committee recommend that no restrictions be placed upon the harbormaster ia the matter of berthing vessels, so long as he continues to hold the joint offices of harbor and piermaster. .PILOTAGE AND HARBOR DUES. The following letter from Mr 8, Carroll, Secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Com-

merce, was read, and referred to the committee on port charges : The Chamber has drawn the attention of the Government to the great inequalities in the rates of pilotage and harbor dues charged in the various ports of New Zealand. It is at Auckland that the greatest difference exists in these charges, the rates levied there being very much below those imposed at Ly'.telton and Wellington. In Dunedin, also, the rates for these dues are lighter than at the two ports named. The high rates charged at Lyttelton and Wellington have undoubtedly an injurious effect on the commerce of those places, and put them at an unfair disadvantage, and this Chamber has brought the matter under the attention of the Government with the view of getting this inequality removed lam instructed to suggest that your Board saould follow up the action of this Chamber by addressing the Government on tho subject, or in such other way as you may think fit. FINANCE. Accounts to the amount of £575 10s 7d were passed for payment. DREDGE. Two reports from Mr Turpin on the repairs to the dredge wore read and received. EEPATHS TO TUG. The action of the chairman in accepting Mr John Anderson’s contract for £lB9 10s was approved of, and tho seal of the Board ordered to bo attached to it, on the motion of Mr Sawtell, seconded by Mr Cunningham. NEW WORKS. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Turner, seconded by Mr Craig, that the secretary ask the engineer to prepare plans and specifications for tho following works: —1. Tho extension of tho screw pile jetty to 400 ft.; 2. The Gladstone wharf extension to 500 ft.; 3. The intermediate jetty, No. 1, extension to 400 ft.; 4, The tunnel mouth jetty extension to 400 ft. RENEWAL OF CHAIN. Authority was granted for the renewal of tho chain of tho transporting buoy, as recommended by Mr Bell and Oapt. McLellen. NAME OF NEW TtTG. It was resolved that the new steam-tug should be named “ The Lyttelton,” and that the name be telegraphed by cable to London.

TRUCKS. The following was read : Working Railway Department, July 23rd, 1878. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 15th June last, covering a resolution passed by the Lyttelton Harbor Board re'ative to tho necessity for increasing the supply of trucks and engine power on the Canterbury section of the New Zealand Railways before the next grain season. In reply, I have to inform you that an additional order has recently been sent to England for a very considerable quantity of waggon iron work and more locomotive power, which the Government confidently expect will meet the requirements of the district during the ensuing grain season. Yours, &c., J. Macandrew. peacock’s wharf. The matter of the Peacock Wharf property was left to the Chairman to deal with as soon as a letter from Government, of which Mr Richardson had advised the Board, shall arrive. SOUNDINGS IN PORT COOPER. The following was read: — August 6, 1878. The Secretary Lyttelton Harbor Board. Sir, —Acting under your instructions, we have aken a number of soundings in Port Cooper, extending from the Heads up to the breakwater. We have also examined Camp Bay, where dredgings from the Harbor are being deposited, with the view of ascertaining if possible whether the mud there deposited showed any tendency to spread over the navigable channel. The result of the soundings is seen in the plan attached hereto, from which it would appear that there is no appreciable difference between the soundings now taken and those shown on the Admiralty Chart made previous to 1819. Tho bottom varies from very fine sand to blue mud ; the most decided indications of mud appear on the north side of Port Cooper, and the sand appears to give place to mud gradually towards the head of the bay. Several soundings taken just outside Camp Bay give very decided indications of a sandy bottom, and mud was not traceable until well within this bay ; at 300 ft. from the shore and in about 24ft. of water the sounding lead was buried in mud. This would appear to be good evidence that tho mud from the hopper barges has not spread to the entrance of the small bay where it is deposited. We think that such waves as enter this bay can have little influence in disturbing the mud at depths of 10ft. and 12ft.. and the dredgings are not likely to fill up this bay to a less depth. The current caused by the ebb and flow of the tide would be the most likely agent in disturbing the mud, but the bay seems to be sheltered from the main current in Port Cooper, we think sufficiently so to prevent any disturbance of the bottom. This can only be tested by floats, but the result of soundings just taken seem to be sufficient evidence that no deposit is taking_ place in any part of Port Cooper. At the same time we think it advisable at intervals of say six months, to repeat the observations upon which this report is founded. We are, sir, Tour obedient servants, H. McLellan, Harbormaster. C. Napier Bell, Engineer. On tho motion of Mr Cunningham, seconded by Mr Sawtell, the engineer was instructed to make borings from the 7th to the 19bh, boring on his plan in a direct line. PERMISSION REFUSED. The Board refused to allow Messrs Talbot and McClatchie to erect the building proposed. remission of penalty. The Board decided not to inflict the penalty for the non-completion of Messrs Hollis and William’s contract for the time ball, circumstances having interfered with it. The Board then went into committee. After some other routine business the Board adjourned. Its next meeting will be in Christchurch on the 23rd inst.