HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1610, 18 April 1879, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The Lyttelton Harbor Board held a meeting in the Board room, Government Buildings, Lyttelton, yesterday, at 2 p.m. Present —Hon. E. Richardson (chairman), Hon. John Hall, Messrs Murray-Aynsley, R. J. S. Harman, C. W. Turner, R. Allan, H. Allwright. The secretary, Mr C. H. Williams, read the minutes of the previous meeting, and they were confirmed. The Chairman then read the following statement: — chairman's bepobt. The following sums have been paid in to the Board's credit since our last meeting : Wharfage, £2IBB 3s 9d ; towage, warps, and pilotago exemptions, £96 2s; total, £2284 5s 9d. There are several accounts for payment to-day. Further correspondence will be read between the Hon. Minister for Public Works and myself, in reference to the scarcity of trucks. It is much to be regretted that tho Hon. Minister for Public Works should have introduced into the question anything relating to political matters, but the responsibility of doirg so rests entirely with him. The correspondence will, at his expressed request, bo published in tho newspapers. While on the subject of scarcity of trucks, I think it only right that I should record my opinion that the railway officials here have done all that could be done, with the appliances at their disposal, and with the existing regulations, to meet tho extraordinary demands upon their resources, and without doubt there have been several instances recently where large home-bound vessels have been loaded with great despatch. For instance, tho ship Maraval was loaded and despatched in fourteen days. But from this fact it must not be understood that the demand for trucks in Lyttelton has in any way lessened. The demand is as great as ever, as will be seen from a report, dated

tc-day, from the Harbor-master, in which ho reports that ten vessels are now lying in the stream waiting for discharging berths, and two others for loading berths. This detention undoubtedly is for the most part caused by the ii.sufficiency of the truck supply to a number of vessels berthed at the wharves during the past eight or nine days, which have averaged some five or six trucks a day each, which is quite inadequate to their requirements and to their quick despatch. In the matter of traversers for the whnrvee, I have had several interviews with the Secretary tor Railways upon the subject, and I understand from him that the Com nissioner of Railways, whom the Board will be pleased to learn has resumed his duties, will consider their proposal upon the matter. I may state that our engineer has, within the last few days, been in communication with the Resident Railway Engineer with reference to the proposed plan of traversers for the wharves, and I understand that so soon as Mr Low is ablo to prepare I he plan, it will be submitted to the Board. It is proposed to put crossings in the middle of the jetties, instead of the second traverser, as suggested by the Board. I am further advised by the Secretary of Railways that tenders are about to be called for the supply of the two steam cranes for the jetties, and that the question of the two steam lifts for the Grindstone Pier will be considered by Mr Conyers at an early date. The question of tho site for the Board's offices in Lyttelton still remains in abeyance, the question having been referred to the Government at Wellington. Our offices in Ohristchurch will be ready for our next meeting. A letter will be read from tho National Bank of New Zealand, with regard to the minimum fixed by the Board for tho sale of our debentures. As the matter had been considered and decided upon at a previous meeting, I thought it right to bring the question again before them before replying to the Bank. The Board will be glad to learn that Messrs C. C. Bo wen and E. 0. J. Stevens have accepted the appointment as sinking fund commissioners for the Lyttelton Harbor Board loan, and it will be necessary that the Board should order their seal to be affixed to their appointments. Tho debentures are now ready for sealing, and the statutory declaration relating to the proposed loan is is being drawn up by Mr Nalder, the Board's solicitor, and will bo made by the secretary as soon as it is ready. The steamer Stad Haarlem was brought in yesterday by Captain McLellan, under steam, direct to No. 3 Intermediate Jet/ty, and berthed without the slightest difficulty. It is a matter of congratulation that we have a port and jetty accommodation in the Middle Island available at all times to vessels of this class. The dock plans are being pushed forward, and the engineer states they will be completed in about ten days. The outer pilot, Captain G-al-braith, has during the past fortnight had five days' leave of absence, provision was made for the due fulfilment of his duties by sending Mr St. Croix to the Heads. Several applications for pilotage exemption certificates will be considered to-day. The following resolutions were passed : SINKING FUND COMMISBIONEEB. " That the seal of Lyttelton Harbor Board be affixed to the warrants of appointments of E. C. J. Stevens, Esq. and C. C. Bowen, E*q. as commissioners for the investment of the sinking fund, under the Harbors Act, 1878." PILOTAGE EXEMPTIONS. " That pilotage exemption certificates be granted to Q-. F. Davis, master of Swallow, John Christy Smith, Aratapu, and John Watt, Akbar." ABSENT MEMBEBS. Mr Harman informed tho Board that Mr Craig's absence was, he regretted to say, caused by serious indisposition. The chairman on behalf of the Board, expressed its sympathy for Mr Craig. The Chairman said a telegram had been received from Mr Cunningham, stating that his absence was caused by a mistake, he being under the impression that the meeting of the Board was to be held in Christchurch. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £23 10s were passed for payment. The Secretary then read a correspondence that had taken place between the Chairman and the Minisier for Public Works re the supply of trucks. The Chairman read the following report from the harbor master: — Sir,—l have the honor to forward, as requeued by yon, a list of the vessels and their cargoes now waiting for berths in the stream, also the date of their arrivals. Vessels :—Vindex, coal, April 4th; Bells, coal, April sth; Matilda, timber, April 7th ; Albert, general, 12th; Mary Blair, timber, April 12th; Crossfield, coal, April 15th; Sea Shell, _ timber, April l"th; Letterfourie, coal, April 15th; Island City, coal, April 17th; Canterbury, iron, April 12th. The last-named vessel has about 100 tons to discharge, having come to port to load grain. The barque Lorraine is discharging her ballast in the stream, ready for a loading berth. I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, H. McLbllan, i Mr Hall thought some record of the actual number of trucks should be kept, showing bow many are given to each vessel at the wharf, and how many such vessel really required. He thought such a return wonld, if submitted to those who have the power to remedy the evil, have a more potent effect than any number of complaints. Mr Harman thought the suggestion of Mr Hall an excellent one. He felt inclined to move that the Harbor-master have such a record kept. He thought the Board should be furnished with such daily report, showing the number of trucks which each vessel should reasonably be expected to receive, and the actual number each actually received. Printed forms might be supplied to the Harbor-master for Buch purpose. The Chairman didn't think a resolution of the kind should be passed. The railway authorities might consider the Board were exercising a supervision over them they had no right to do. He thought the berthing book would bs equally unanswerable for the purposes proposed to be gained by the list referred to. Mr Turner, for the information of the Board, submitted an estimate of the loss which had accrued to shipmasters in respect to seventeen vessels during the past month through being kept in the stream awaiting to discharge. The eatimato showed that besides interest and depreciation on values of cargoes the seventeen vessels had lost £1903 in expenses while they were lying in the stream. Mr Murray-A ynsley coincided with the Chairman's remarks. He was fully aware of the great loss and inconvenience the merchants were put to. He, however, thought that were the merchants to present the matter to the Board, a statement of facts, specifying the actual loss they wero put to, the Board could take action upon it. Mr Turner said the Chamber of Commerce had taken all the steps possible towards obtaining a remedy. He was in favor of acting independently of the railway. To build a shed of their own on the Gladstone Pier into which any English ship could be discharged in a week, in place of its taking a month. Mr Hall said he would be sorry to think any ill feeling should arise between the Board and the railway authorities, but he considered the Board should be informed of the actnal facts, showing the delay to which vessels were put. He did not see how the Railway Department could be offended with the resolution suggested. He would move—" That a return be prepared, showing the number of trucks supplied each day to each vessel at the Lyttelton wharves, and of the number required for her proper discharge. Also a return of tho detention at the wharf in the case of each vessel, showing the delay in her discharge, and of the length of time each vessel had to wait for a berth." The resolution passed. Some discussion then took place in referto the shed on the Gladstone pier, the chairman stating that ho believed the Board would ultimately have to purchase it outright, and carry out tho remainder of theVork on that pier as originally intended to bo done by the Government. Ships would then be discharged directly into the sheds. DKBENTUBES. A letter from the National Bank of New Zealand, submitting the question of minimum of £IOO to the Board, was read by the secretary. Mr Harman moved with reference thereto the following resolution:—" That the Na«

tional Bank of New Zealand be informed that the Board see no reason to reduce the mini mum of £IOO net as alreidy advised to thorn." Mr Hall second d, and it was carried. ELECTION EXPENSES. Mr Allan, seconded by Mr Harman, moved —"That the election expenses incurred by Lyttelton and Ohristchurch Councils in connection with the return of members be defrayed by this Board." Carried. NOTICB OF MOTION By Mr Murray-Aynaley, seconded by Mr Allwright—" That considering the important business connected with a shipping port required to be performed by a Eesident Magistrate, the Government's attention be called to the necessity of filling the office of It.'sident Magistrate at Lyttelton, which has nowbeen vacant over three months." The Board then adjourned, to meet in Ohristchurch on May Ist.