LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1412, 24 August 1878, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon in the Provincial Council Chamber. Present—Messrs Harman (in the chair), Cunningham, Sawtell, Wright, Craig, and Allwright. the chaieman's statement. The Chairman made the following statement — The following sums have been paid in to the JJoard's credit since our last meeting—Wharfage for week ending (3th July, 1878, .£399 3s-Id; warps, £2O; refund of half salary of piermaster to 27th July, Mi 3s 7d-£463 6s lid. In addition to the above amount the following sums, namely, £OO6 16) lid and £591 7s lOd, have been paid in by Colonial Treasury cheques, forwarded direct from Wellington to the National Bank at Christehurch, -without advice to the Board's treasurer. It is presumed that these represent part of the wharfage dues collected on the Board's behalf by the railway since the 6th of July last. Our treasurer has pointed out to the loss of interest which would be entailed upon the Harbor Board if the system of refunding these wharfage dues is again returned to. It will be remembered that the mode of piyment last alluded to was a andoned by the Government about this tim t last year, upon the Board's representations. I think the Board will agree with me that an alteration in an arrangement of this kind should not have been made without previous communication with them, and I propose fco instruct our treasurer to address a letter on the subject to Wellington. The proposed system of weekly payments from Weliington necessitates the Bank sending the Treasury cheques to the Christchnrch Pailway station for counter-signature, the Bank giving a receipt or discharge upon vouchers, of the details of which they can know nothing. A repor. will be read from our engineer, referring to the Peacock Wharf property, the plans for Jetty exfcensiou ordered by the Board, and borings. Several of the questions raised by him in reference to extensions of the Screw Pile and Tunnel Mouth Jetty should be considered by the Board to-day. I am glad to be able to report that the dredge completed her repairs last Monday, the large cast wheels having been supplied to contract time by Mr John Anderson. A report from Mr Turpin, on the subject, will be read to you. Upon the completion of her repairs, the dredge returned to the position off the Intermediate Jetty which she occupied prior to accident to her wheels. As soon as she has completed the portion of the harbor between the intermediate jetty and the transporting buoy, I propose that she should remove a bank raised by vessels lying alongside the Tunnel Mouth Jetty. The bank referred to, as will be seen from a report which will be read from the harbor master, at present offers a serious obstacle to vessels leaving that jetty. Two letters have been received since our last meeting from the gener d manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, the first advising the launch of our tug at Birkenhead on the oth July last, and also that opportunity had been taken to obtain a report from Mr Nancirrow upon the tug's boilers, which were, he states, tested up to KJOlbs. pressure, ■withoutexhibiting the slightest sign of weeping. The second letter advises the sailing of the tug on the 19th August, via Suez, under Captain Fox. I am sure the Board will be gratified to learn that the services of so efficient an officer as Captain Fox have been secured to bring the tug out. Since our last meeting the secretary, at my request, addressed a letter to Messrs Cameron Bros., asking whether they would be prepared to continue their present contract for the tug service up to the 31st of January next. A reply has not yet been received, but. as we may expect one before our next meeting, I will ask for the Board's authority to deal with the matter. Messrs Cameron Bros'. current contract with the Board end 3 on the 15th of next month As soon as the railway authorities commence the reclamation between the Lighter and Tunnel Jetties, the secretary will call for tenders for the Breastwork and No. 3 Intermediate Jetty. There is, however, no sign at present of this revaluation being put in hand. A report from the Harbor Master on the question of the Screw I ilo Jetty extension, will have to be taken into consideration ia connection with our engineer's report cu the same subject, as in the meantime the preparation of the plaus for this

extension are necessarily delayed. Members of the Board will have received copies of a general Harbors Bill, which is now before the Parliament. The second reading coming on as it did last Wednesday week, the copies of the Bill only having been received late on the previous Saturday, prevented the callim.' of a special meeting of the Board to consider and make suggestions upon the Bill in question. Mr Cunningham, myself, Mr Nalder and the secretary went through the Bill, and I returned a copy of it to onr chairman at Wellington, with such suggestions endorsed upon it as the limited time at our disp sal for the purpose would admit of. I trust the Bo rd will, under the circumstances, approve of what was done. As the arrangement made by the Board with Mr Nalder to act as their solicitor, was for one year from the 22nd June, 1877, I will ask the Board to say whether they desire the arrangement continued, or that a fresh one should be made with him. I think it right in the interests of the Board to direct your attention to a report which appoars to rest on substantial grounds, that it is proposed to remove the Resident Magistracy from Lyttelton. It is hardly necessary for me to point out that the very rapidly increasing trade of the Port of Lyttelton makes it more than ever necessary that the services of a Eesident Magistrate, having a special knowledge of shipping matters, should be retained. LEAVE OP ABSENCH. Mr Cunningham obtained leave of absence for Mr Turner. engineer's report. The following report from Mr C. Napior Bell was read:— Acting under your instructions I have, together with the Resident Engineer Railway Department, considered the subject of railway and shed accommodation on the property formerly known as Peacock's Wharf, and I submit a plan which we mutually agreed was the most advantageous arrangement of shod and sidings. This will give a great deal of shed accommodation, and will bo easily worked by the railway. Plans are being prepared for the extension of wharves ordered by (he Board to be proceeded with. The extension of the Screw-pile Jetty is also reported on by the Harbormaster, who recommends that it be lengthened to 520 ft. long aud widened so as to receive a shed on it. I presume the intention would be to build sheds along the whole length of the whnrf, and if, at the same time, the wharf is is to carry four lines of rails it would require to be about 61ft. wide (see tracing attached), because ashed of less than 20ft. wide would be of little use. This would be a costly wharf, and seeing that goods from steamers are intended to be stored in the shed, it is likely that one line of raili ou each side would be sufficient, in which case the wharf as it is is wide enongh, and would give room for a shed 2tf b. wide aud a line of rails on each side of 'it. This is a subject on which the opinion should bo taken of persons accustomed to work the traffic on these wharves. In regard to lengthening the Tunnel Wharf I submit a tracing showing the direction in which I would propose to extend it. If, however, the Board see reason to extend it in a straight line with the old part, then the intermediate No. 8 must be either shortened or done away with, and only one jetty placed between the intermediate and the Tunnel jetties, as it can easily be seen that the Tunnel Jetty being extonded in a straight line would contract too much the space betweon it and the next ou the plan at present being carried out. If the Tunnel Wharf is lengthened in the direction shown on tracing, it ought to be extended to a total length of 520 ft, or 310 ft louger thau at present, to give proper berths for long ships. As this wharf is too wide for ordinary use, and too narrow for a shed and four lines of rails, I think it would be better to leave it as it is and trust to getting sufficient accommodation from the other wharves to be built. This question, however, must be decided before the contract of Messrs Langdown is commenced. The Resident Engineer of Railways has agreed to contract the triangular space at the base of the jetties from 120 ft. to 66ft., this will give greater leugth of both jetty and breastwork available for berthing ships. I have accordingly altered the plans on which Messrs Langdown are going to build No. 2 intermediate jetty. Borings are being taken in the positions required by the Board at lust meeting, and also for reclamation at Officers' Point, on the line sanctioned by the Board. C. NxriKß Bell, Engineer.H Mr Craig here left the meeting. harbormaster's report. The [harbormaster's letter was read as follows : Lyttelton, 16th August, 1878. Secretary Lyttelton Harbor Board. Sir, —I have considered the question of placing a shed on the Screw-pile Jetty, also the necessity of an extension, aud 1 would most respectfully recommend that the Screw-pile Jetty be widened to an extent to admit of a shed being built on it; also, that the jetty be lengthened to the full length of say 520 ft. My reason for recommending the above length is that two large steamers aud two small ones could then be berthed. The present length is 272 ft., by giving an additional 100 ft. the wharf would ouly be long enough to allow the steamer Wakatipu to discharge both her hatches, with 70ft. to spare, which would lie short for any other steamer, and therefore useless, where by extending the wharf 200 ft., there would be sufficient room to berth two steamers on each side. It would also be necessary to place a traverse table on the wharf. I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, I). McLellan, Harbormaster. P.S.—The great increase of steamer traffic has led me to make the present recommendation. A telegram from the Hon. E. Eichtirdson was read, to the effect that the members of the Harbor Board at present in Wellington concur in the proposal to lengthen the Steamers' Wharf to 520 ft. After some discussion the following resolution, moved by Mr Cunningham, and seconded by Mr Wright, was agreed to: —"That the engineer be requested to prepare a plan for the extension of the Screwpile jetty, so as to give a total length of 520 ft. on its western side; also, the engineer be requested to furnish an estimate of the cost of widening it the whole length to 61ft." TUNNEL WHARF. Mr Wright moved, and Mr Sawtell seconded —" That any extension of the Tunnel jetty be carried out in a line parallel with the other jett es, and that plans be prepared for an extension of 3 Oft" This was agreed to. REPAIRS TO STEAM DRKDGE. Mr Turpin reported that the repairs to the wheels of the riredgc had been most satisfactorily effected by Messrs Anderson and Co., and the chairman stated that the injured portions of the machinery were now still stronger than they originally hud been. FINANCE. A number of accounts wore passed for payment. WHARFAGE. The question of wharfage payments was left to the chairman to arrange with the Government. TUG* SERVICE. The tng service contract was extended for six months provided satisfactory terms could be arranged with Mr Cameron. HARBOR BILL. On the question of the Harbor Bill amendments being brought up, Mr Allwright said that as his term of office would soon expire, he conld with better grace than other members propose that a clause should be introduced into the Bill allowing members a fee for attendance at Board meetings. The Chairman said that in the suggestions sent to Wellington by him attention had been called to the omission of mention of reimburseiuetit to members of their travelling expenses, but the question of fees for attendance had not been referred to. Mr Wright, as another member about to retire, and one whom absence from town was likely to prevent sitting again on the Board, would speak in favour of Mr AHwright's proposal. A fee of two guineas was allowed on other Harbor Boa'ds, and though members were no doubt well able to do without it, they were fairly entitled to receive it. The following resolution was proposed by Mr Allwright, and seconded by Mr Wright—''That the Board approves of the action taken by the acting chairman in sending up suggestions to Wellington relative to the Harbor Bill, with the addition of a clause for the payment of a stated fee for each attendant." Mr Cunningham would vote against the resolution. Ho tbought it quite sufficient that members should be reimbursed their travelling expenses. Their time shonld be freely given for such an object as the Lyttelton harbor, because each of them was greatly interested in the progress of that part of the country. The least they could do was to devote a little of their time to the good of the community. The motion was put from the chair, and carried, the only dissentient being Mr Cunningham. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE. The Chairman said the next matter to be considered was a most important one—the removal of the Resident Magistrate from Lyttelton. After some discussion, in which it was stated that five-sixths of the Lyttelton Kesident Magistrate's time was taken up by shipping cases, and the absurdity of supposing that one man could act as Magistrate in so many places as was now proposed was commented upon. Mr Sawtcll moved " That the Board is of opinion that the increase of shipping in the Port of Lyttelton necessitates the daily attendance of a Eesident Magistrate." Mr Wright seconded the resolution, which was unanimously agreed to. NAVAL POINT. Mr Wright moved—" That instead of carrying the line of railway to the Naval Point Breakwater, under sections No. 231, 233, 234 and 235 by a tunnel, the engineer bo requested to report upon the feasibility of carrying the line by a swing bridge across the mouth of the dock." Mr Cunningham seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Board then went into committee. ADJOURNMENT. On resuming, the Board adjourned till the Cth September, at 2 o'clock.