LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1495, 30 November 1878, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Friday, November 29. A meeting of this Board took place at Lyttelton, at 1 p.m. Present —Hon. E. Richardson (chairman), Messrs D. Craig, H. Allwruht, 11. I*. Murray - Aynsley, Hon. John Hall, R. .1 S. Harman, H. Sawtell, and P. Cunningham. The minutes of (he previous meeting having been reail and confirmed, The Chairman made the following statement :—The following sums have been paid into the Board’s credit since our last meeting: —Wharfage dues for week ending October 26th, £426 12a 9d ; do for week ending Nov. 2nd, £264 7s 10 1; total, £691 Os 7d. The engineer’s report, enclosing dock plans, will be laid before you. Several accounts will be laid before you for payment to-day. I would explain that, under the Harbors Act, 1878, it is necessary that all accounts, including contract progress payments, should come before the Board prior to being paid, and that cheques for their payment must be signed during the meeting at which the payments are ordered to be made. You will be glad to have heard of the safe arrival of our steamtug Lyttelton, under the command of Capt. Fox, on the 21et instant, after a voyage of eighty-five days, and I think the Board may congratulate themselves upon having secured a vessel suitable in all respects for the requirements of the harbour. Since her arrival the officers and crew, who were engaged for the voyage out, have been dispensed with, with the exception of the captain, the first and second engineer, and two other men, whose services have been temporarily retained, pending the appointment of the permanent staff, to clean and thoroughly overhaul the vessel and machinery. The tu' is at the present time upon the beach in Dampier’s Bay, where she has undergone such examination of her bottom plates as it is possible to make, and the examination shows that she has not sustained any injury on the voyage out. Tenders have been advertised for the sale of the spare mast and gear belonging to the tug. The secretary is taking the necessary stops for registering the Lyttelton. The time has now arrived when the appointment of her staff must bo made, and I would suggest that it bo referred to a committee to deal with. In connection with this subject a report will be read from the harbor master, in view of the increased pilotage requirements. He recommends the necessity of combining the master of the tug’s duties with those of pilot. This also might be considered by the committee. The question of the towage rates and the mode of charging them, which was referred to in an interim report of the berthage, &0., committee, will now have to be considered, and definitely dealt with. Notice will also have to be given to Messrs Cameron Bros, terminating the temporary arrangement made with them on the 16th September last, in the matter of the tug service. A fortnight’s notice from the Ist of the month has to be given them. A letter will be read which I addressed to Mr Conyers in Wellington, shortly after our last meeting, in reference to the reclamation to be done to the eastward of the boat jetties, and also as to his proposal to alter the site of the Gladstone shed. These two matters are, in my opinion, so intimately connected with each other, that they must bo dealt with together. I think wo may expect a reply from Mr Conyers shortly, as he returned to Wellington from the North in the Rotorua, to day. In compliance with the resolution of the Board, I requested Mr Nalder to refer the question of the Board’s power to vote their funds towards the establishment of a Sailors’ Home to the Attorney-General, His opinion will be read. In view of this opinion, it will be necessai-y that the Board should rescind their resolution in reference to the site, and suggest to the Government the advisablenees of vesting it in trustees. As yet I have not received a reply from the Government in the matter of additional steam cranes for the wharves, although I have again telegraphed to Wellington on the subject. The dredging has been proceeding, since our last meeting, to the westward of the Tunnel Jetty, but the prevailing high winds have militated considerably against the work, I have to report that a collision took place on the 22nd inst., between the brigantine Treleaven Family and and the steam hopper barge Heathcote. As it is evident very much blame rests somewhere in this case, I would suggest that an enquiry be held at once by a committee appointed by the Board for the purpose, the committee to have power to obtain the services of a nautical man to assist them in holding the enquiry. The committee appointed by you to report on the best method of providing funds pending the floating of our debentures, has not met, owing to a misunderstanding by which Mr Hurman’s name was placed upon the committee, and which he will explain. With regard to arranging terms with Mr Nalder to act as solicitor to the Board, ho has stated to mo that he would much prefer that a fixed yearly amount or salary should be paid to him to cover all services which the Board may require of him. This question will not admit of any fu ther delay, as there are several ques "ins, more especially the action necessary to be taken by the Board in anticipation of the Harbors Act, 1878, coming into operation on the Ist January next, which require the solioitor’s immediate attention. 1 think the time has now arrived when the Board should initiate the necessary steps for closing the roads contiguous to the proposed dock site. Powers are given to the Board to do so, under the Lyttelton Harbor Board Amendment Act of last session. Messrs Langdown and Oo.’s contract time for the completion of No. 2 Intermediate Jetty, expired on the 26th inst, and I directed that notice should bo sent them of it, and that the penalties accruing under the contract would be rigidly enforced. Tin? NEW DOCK. A report from the Board’s engineer, Mr Napier Bell, enclosing plans of the new graving dock, was read. The following are the dimensions of the proposed dock: — Length of lloor, 400 f t; width of entrance, 59ft; depth of water on sill at high water, spring tides, 20ft 6in; width of lloor on top, 78ft ; bottom, 44ft. A long discussion ensued, and eventually the Hon. John Hall moved, “ That the engineer ho instructed to prepare a plan of the harbor on a scale of one chain to the inch, shewing the whole of the reclamations proposed to bo effected by the Board, also the position of the proposed graving dock, for the sanction of the Governor, in accordance with the provisions of the 148th section of the Harbour Board Act.” Seconded by Mr Sawtell, and carried. The Hon. John Hall suggested that the Commodore of the Australian Station should be communicated with, asking if he would make any suggestion regarding dock, and if as at present proposed, it would be sufficiently largo to accomodate any of her Majesty’s vessel likely to visit those seas. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £2662 9s 3d, including progress payments to Messrs Langdown and Co, and H. Hawkins and Co. STEAM-TUG LYTTELTON. Mr Harman moved, “ That the Board approves of the action taken by the chairman in having the steam tug anchored in Dampier’a Bay, and of the expenditure incurred in having her examined, cleaned, and painted prior to her going to work.” Seconded by Mr Cunningham, and carried. TENDERS VOR TUG GltAlt. The Chairman explained action ho had taken in the matter. APPOINTMENT OT TUG STAFF, committee was appointed for the purpose of considering and reporting on the question of the appointment of the officers and crew of the steam tug Lyttelton, and of the duties to be undertaken under their several officers, and to deal with the disposal of the surplus stores. The committee also t o report oaths question of the rate to ho charged 16? tonnage, as to the manner it ig ’to be paid. Also (Ait the committee should hold an into the eircumstances of the £ oe ' lt collision between the hopper buro" and the

brigantine Treleaven Family, and that they be authorised to deal with the case.

THE TUG TITAN. Mr Harman moved, and t he Hon. John Hull seconded—“ That notice bo sent to Messrs Cameron Bros, terminating their temporary arrangement for the tug service, in terms of the Board’s letter dated 16th September, 1878.” Carried. FINANCE COMMITTEE. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Cunningham, seconded by Mr Craig-—“ That Mr Murray-Aynslcy be substituted for Mr Harman to serve on the committee appointed to report on the financial arrangements of the Board.” SOLICITOII TO BOARD. The Chairman was authorised to make arrangements for the solicitor to the Board. GBANT FOB SAILOBB’ HOME. The Chairman read opinion from the Attorney-General that the Board could not grant money towards the establishment of a sailors’ home for Lyttelton. It was as follows : I am of opinion that a sailors’ home is not a barb or work within the meaning of the Lyttelton Harbor Board Act, 1876, or of the Harbors Act, 1878, and that, therefore, the Lyttelton Harbor Board cannot legally vole the sum of £SOO to assist in the establishment of a sailors’ home. EXTENSION OF CONTRACT TIME. A letter from Messrs Langdown and Co. was read, asking for extension of time to complete their contract at Intermediate Jetty, as they had been unable to procure the timber for the work in question from Australia. The Board were of opinion that now was not the proper time to consider the application, and the matter was left over till the contract had been completed. TRUCKS. The Hon. John Hall called attention to the lamentable want of trucks, and said bethought it was the urgent duty of the Board to bring the matter before the Government. He would move—“ That the great and increasing inconvenience and delay to which vessels are subjected in the port of Lyttelton owing to the scarcity of rolling stock, renders it the duty of this Board to urge upon the Government the necessity of immediate steps being taken for remedying this evil, and that the wharfage and berthing committee be instructed to bring the subject before the Commissioner of Railways ; that such committee be also authorised to confer with the commissioner on the subject of ordering further cranes, the alteration of the Gladstone pier, of the reclamation undertaken by the Government, and of extending the railway communication to the wharves now being constructed.”

This was seconded by Mr Aynsley and carried.

The Board adjourned to Thursday, Doccm her 12th, at Lyttelton, at 11 am.