LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1718, 22 August 1879, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BO ARD.

A meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board was held yesterday at Lyttelton. There were present—Messrs 11 arm an, Sawtell, Allwright, Allan, Turner, Murray-Aynsley, Cunningham, and Craig, In the absence of the Hon. E. Bichardson, Mr Harman was chosen chairman. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the following statement lead : ohaibman's statement. The following amounts have been paid into the Board's credit Bince our last meeting : "Wharfage, .£l4lß lis lid; pilotage and port ■dues, £524 18s; towage, warps, and rent, .£206 2d ; part of proceeds of sole of debentures, .£'25,G00 ; total, .£27,149 lis lid. In reference to the £25,000 above referred to, I may state that the National Bank of New Zealand here negotiated the Board's draft at 30 days' sight on London at par. I deemed this course necessary in order that the Board's account here might be placed in credit at once. A letter has been received this morning from the manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, covering par-. ticulars of the sale of our debentures in London. I would suggest that the matter be referred to the finance committee for their con federation and report at an early date. The dredging return for the month of July, 1879, is on the table. It will be noted that an extremely good month's work has been done, namely, 167 barge loads, amounting to 30,060 cubic yards, or 41,750 tons I may here state that advantage has been taken of the recent spring tides to beach and clean the two hopper ■barges, the time having arrived when it was necessary this should be done. The towage return is also on the table, and shows very satisfactory results. You are doubtless aware that the tug returned safely from "Wellington after being placed on the patent Blip for the purpose of examination, cleaning, &c. It will be seen from a report from Mr Turpin, who accompanied the tug to Wellington, .that there existed an absolute necessity -for having her bottom cleaned, repainted, &c. A number of accounts will be submitted to you for payment to-day. I have to report that our chairman, while in Wellington, obtained through ■the Commissioner of Railways, the Government's sanction to leasing a portion of the Matheson's Agency site fer the Board's offices in Lyttelton. So soon as the draft lease, which is now in hand, is completed, it will be submitted for your formal approval. In the meantime, however, I think that the Board might decide what office accommodation they require, and that Mr Strouts should be instructed to prepare a plan of -the building. A letter will be read from the Commissioner of Railways relative to the shed on the Gladstone Wharf, and I think the matter should be referred _ to the harbor improvement committee for consideration. Our solicitor, Mr Nalder, after preparing the necessary Bill re the boundary between _ the borough and the Board's properties, submitted it to the Borough Council at their last meeting, and that body passed a resolution approving of it. It now remains for the Harbour Board to pass a similar resolution. The Bill must be published without delay, in order that it may ■be brought before the Assembly during the •ensuing session. Messrs Blanchard and Mclntyre have furnished a very full report upon ■matters-coming under their notice in connection with the survey of the boundary line and the •exchange of land attached to it. While in Wellington our chairman placed himself in communication with Br. Lemon in reference to •getting a portion of the old Cook Straits cable for the telegraph line to the Heads, and since then Dr. Lemon has been furnished with width and depth of the harbor at the pilot station, so that we may expect an early reply. Acting under the authority of the Board's resolution, Mr Cunningham and myself proceeded to Lyttelton shortly after our last meeting, and after enquiring fully into the case of Jas. Coffey, who was suspended for absence from duty without leave, we came to the conclusion that his suspension should be continued for a _ further ■period of a fortnight without pay; it being ■clearly laid down that any future neglect of a similar nature would be followed by instant disimissal. We also arranged that Mr Nicholls, the onate of the barge Sumner, should exchange (with Mr Brownell, the mate of the barge Heathcote. Several pilotage exemption certificates have been applied for, and will be laid before you to-day. The captain of the Rialto wrote to me, asking that his vessel might have a free tow to sea, and I authorised it being ,granted, in consideration of the fair and liberal spirit in which ho had met the Board in finally ■settling his claims in connection with the late •collision. THE ETEAM TUG. Mr Tnrpin's report as follows was read and approved:-, Sir,—'J have tho honor to report with regard to 4he -.tag going on the slip at Wellington that sho -was not put on any too sccw. The bottom was very foul and itho rivets were ell bare and .maty, also several rivets in the skin. Had she not been put ob when she was, we shoald soon havo had a deal of botiier, ns .the rivets wonld jn a little wfcile have become leaky aiit injured the jiates. Mr Murray-Aynsley said tfcat Mr Richardson and himself had gone to see ±be tug when she was on the slip at Wellington, and he was in a position, therefore, to confirm w>iat Mr Turpin reported in reference to the coalition of tie steamer's hall, and the necessity there existed for the venael being slipped. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £3OB 2s 3s were, on the motion of Mr Craig, seconded by Mr Sawioll, passed for payment. OFFICE ACCOMMODATION. Jn reference to the proposed Board rooms at Fcpfc, the following resolution was passed;— " ythat the office accommodation committee be authorised to consider what office accommodation .committee be authorised to consider what office accommodation ia required by the Board in Lyttelton, and have plans placed before tho Board of proposed buildings for approval." Moved by Mr Murray-Aynsley, HGQonded by Mr fl. AHwright, mi cpreed to.

DEBENTURES. Considerable discussion relative to the .£200,000 loan lately floated by the Board took place. Mr Allan moved—" That the finance committee be authorised to take prompt steps to invest the proceeds of debentures ; aUo, sider and report on matters connected with the sale of the debentures, and report to the next meeting of the Board." Seconded by Mr Savvtell, and carried. GLADSTONE PIER SHED. A letter from Mr Conyers, Commissioner of Railways, in reference to tho shed on the Gladstone pier, waa read and referred to the harbor improvement committee. DREDGING STAFF. Tho Board conenrred in the action taken, as reported in the chairman's statement, in the matter of Messrs Nicholls and Coffey, of the dredging staff. BOUNDARY LINE. The draft ot the Bill proposed to be passed for legalising the exchange of land between the Board and the Borough Council, as drafted by the solicitor to the Board, was submitted for the Board's approval, and referred to the harbor improvement committee. PILOTAGE EXEMPTIONS. Moved by Mr Turner, seconded by Mr Sawtell, and carried—" That pilotage exemptions be granted to Robert Brown, of the Kose M. ; F. G. Garrard, transfer to the Albion ; James Bdie, for tho s.a. Waitaki; all for the port of Lyttelton. , The Board adjourned to meet in Christchurch September 2nd, at 2 p.m.