HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 184, 20 January 1880, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

Monday, January 19

The annual meeting (if the Lyttelton Harbor Board was hold at noon. Present—Hon. E. Richardson (chairman), the Mayor of Lyttelton, Messrs Harman, Sawtoll, Cunningham, Allan, Aynsley, Craig, Turner. The Chairman said—This meoting of the Board is, as you are aware, called in accordance wich the Harbors Act, 1878, for the purpose of roceiving and considering the annual statement of our accounts for the past year, 1879. With a view of assisting the members to deal with them to-day, I endeavored, and I hope with success, to have a copy of the accounts and the statements prepared by the secretary for comparative purposes, in the hands of all the members of the Board on Saturday. These statements! are so full, and I think so clearly got up by Mr Williams, that it would be a waste of your time were I to enlarge to any great extent upon them. I will only call the Board's special attention to two or three points in connection with these accounts; but before doing so I wish to express my opinion, which is, I think, fully borne out by the Government Auditor, Mr Ollivier, that great credit is due to Mr Williams for the manner in which he has kept our accounts during the year just passed, and also for the sya'ctnatic way in which he haß again prepared the returns accompanying his annual report now before the Board ; and I think I am justified in expressing the belief that when these statements come before the public, that the cam parißons which will doubtless be made of the results of our labors during the past year, will show that we have endeavoured to do our best with the responsible trust confided to our care and management. It will be seen from Return A that on the year's revenuo account there is a credit balance of £11,056 10s sd. I think without further explanation this statement might lead some people to think that the Board would bo justified in lowering its charges. During the year 1879 we have only had to provide six months' interest on our loan, while in 1880 we have to find £6500 additional; and although during the year 1880 wo shall certainly receive, as Mr Williams points out, a very considerable amount of interest on that portion of the loan we have placed on fixed deposit, still that is only a temporary source of revenue, and should not be looked upon as revenue at all in dealing with the future ; and although our dredging operations may be curtailed, still other charges for repairs and renewals will fall upon the Board. I venture to express an opinion that when our dock is completed the necessity for dredging a channel for some distance down the harbor will become apparent, and that further loans may be required for this purpose. Should this prove to be the case, the position of the Board is such that there need be no fear of their being able to raise the funds. The auditor's letter cannot be passed over without comment, as the Board are required by him to take action in reference to some of the charges in connection with the raising of our loan. I think it will be better to refer Mr Ollivier's letter to the finance committee with a view of getting this matter settled, if possible, without further public discussion. It must be satisfactory to the Board to find that our dredging operations have been carried on at so cheap a rate. There is no doubt this ia to a great extent due to the very close attention paid to it by Mr Turpin, and although our machinery will require a more extensive overhaul this year than it did last, still I feel confident we shall again, at the end of the year, have a very favorable result. The [harbor master's report contain! some matters which I think should be at once dealt with by the committee of the Board. It will be aeen that the extension of the wharfage accommodation has made Captain McLellan's work far lees onerous than heretofore. I think our tug, in the hands of Captain Clark, haß fulfilled the expectations of the Board, whether it bo from a towage or fire prevention point of view; and there can be no doubt that the harbor master, having the command of her services, is enabled to get through work in the way of shifting vessels, &3., which he could not do without the services of further pilo*s, whereas now he sees his way to reduce the staff. It is only fair, before concluding, to draw the Board's attention to the fact that in nearly every case our works have been let and completed within the engineer's estimate, and that as regards our dock it appears highly probable the aamo remark will apply, lit must be satisfactory to the Board to find that they have, in Mr Napier Bell, an engineer who can so thoroughly be relied upon. I may here add that I have received privately an expression of opinion from one of the highest authorities in Melbourne, that the dock plana Bent over there were got up in a manner that would have done credit to any engineer's office in the world. I again express my opinion, with which I am confident the Board will agroe, that we have every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the whole of our staff. The aotion necessary to be takon in connection with the annual accounts is defined in sections 55, 182 and 183 of the Harbors Act, Since our last meeting the account of the Harbor Board has been transferred to the Bank of New Zealand, the amount transferred being £140,433 19a, of which aura £135,000 has been placed on deposit at interest in Bums varying from £IOOO to £IOO,OOO, at from three to twelve months. The deposit receipt slips are on the table for the further information of members. The following auras have been paid in since we last met: —Towage and rent, £76 2s 61 ; wharfage, £879 19s; ditto paid in today, £300; total, £1256 Is 6d. In connection with the Harbor-master's department, applications have been received and will be read from Pilots Galbraith and Raid, and also from W. J. Featheraton, mate of the tug, asking for an increase of salary. A number of accounts for payment will be laid before you today. Advice has been received of the shipment of the dredging plant, consisting of dredging buokets, &c, which was ordered from Messrs Rait and Lindsay, of Glasgow, iu tho early part of last year. The ship Waimate, which brings it out, may be expected to arrive before the end of next month, and should be in time to meet the requirements consequent upon the yearly overhaul of the dredge and barges in March. Mr T. Wiseman, of Glasgow, under whose inspection and supervision the order has been carried out, appears to have taken great care in the matter, and his charges are very moderate. Lttters from him and from Messrs Ra t and Gardiner will be read. The order for the dock machinery was forwarded, in accordance with the terms of tho Board's resolutions, by tho mail which left here on the 3rd inst. The discharging of E glish ships into the Gladstone sheds commenced on the sth inst., and so far as can be eeen at this early otuge it will greatly add to the facilities of the port, and the Railway and Customs Department appear to re doing everything in their power to make the arrangement work well and smoothly. After a careful examination of the tenders for the supply of stores for ISBO, it was found that R. Forbes' tonder was tl.e loweet, and it is necessary that tho Board should confirm this and order their eeal to bo affixed to the contract; also to Captain Wood's for the supply of coal for this year. The steam tug hi ■ been re-insured as directed by the Board. The shed for the guns has been completed. Colonel Scratehley is to arrive tomorrow, and I have directed the tug to be placed at his disposal for the purpose of making an inspection of the harbor. The following reports were laid on the table: Harbor Board Office, Chriptehuroh, lGth January, 18S0. Hon. E. Richardson, C.M.G., Chairman Lyttclton H arbor Board, Chriatchurch.

Sir, —In furni hing t e enclosed statement of the Lyttelton Board accounts for tho year 1879, it becomes necessary that I sbonld accompany it wi'h a few explanatory remarki. The receipts, exclusive of the proceeds of loan, for the twelve uoaihs ending 31bt December,

1879, amounted to £35,426 10s, and the ex penditure, also exclusive of loan charges

amounted to .£17,393 5s 4d, showing a credit balmceof £ 13,934 Os Id. I desire to explain that the amounts thus shown do not represent the actual earnings and expenditure belonging to the year 1879, and I have therefore supplied the attached statements giving this information, t ue one under ordinary revenue and expenditure •ind the other under loan. (See returns A and B.) A reference to re'urn C attached hereto wil show that the wharfage receipts for 1879 are £ 1497 143 9d less than those for the preceding year, and that this falling off of revenue occurred during the months of October, November, and December last, and is partly due to the general depression which prevailed during those months ; also to the fact that the wool season has been considerably delayed, owing to the prevalence of wet weather. Looking, however, to the present splendid prospects of the coming grain season, and generally to the evidences of the revival of trade 1 may be allowed to express an opinion tbat tho Harbor Board receipts from this source for tho year 188<i will be larger than they have been in any preceding year. It will be seen on turning to return D that tho receipts from pilotage and port charges for the twelve months just ended are £360 4s 8d above those for 1878. I he only other item under the head of receipts which I need refer to is that of .£204,785 3s (id, being the gross proceeds of the Lyttelton Harbor Board six per cent loan of .£i!00,000, sold through the agency of the National Bank of New Zealand in London in July last. The net price realised for each bond of JJiOO is a shade over par. This price may be looked on as somewhat disappointing when judged by the rates obtained for other New Zealand debentures sold previously and also about the same time in London. The auditor, Mr Ollivier, has addressed a letter to you relative to an arrangement made by the National Bank of New Zealand in London with Messrs J. and A. Scrimgeoar, in the matter of an advance which was made to that firm to enable them to take up the unfold balance of our bonds it is needless for me to refer to the subject beyond stating that I have been obliged to show the transaction ia the present balance of accounts. The first item on the expenditure side calling for remark is that for the tug service. The expenditure (exclusive of insurance, .£500) during the year was £2450 03 sd, and the receipts were .£2089 15s ; to this amount, however, has to be added the sum of .£383 43 Bd, being outstanding towage fees for December, 1879, which brings the amount of the-receipts up to £2472 19s Bd, and shows, with credit given for the remission of 2d a ton off pilotage, that the tug earned a net sum of .£549 5s lid during the year. Full details of the working expanses of the tug appear in return E, attached hereto I now come to the dredging expenditure, and it will doubtless be gratifying to the Board to learn th'it i s cost daring the past year (actual cost, £0552 10s 4d) is Jd per cubic yard less than it was the previous year, the cost for 1879 being rather under 5Jd per cubic yard, as against 64 i for 1878, and the amount of work done exceeds that of any previous year. Full particulars are given in return F, attached. It will bs observed that the expenditure under the head Harbor Works chargeable against loan during the past year amounted to ... ... .£55,777 14 7 To which has to be added the overdraft existing on the Ist January, 1879 8,474 13 7 And loan charges 3,349 2 8 Making a total of .£67 601 10 10 The next item, £3349 2s Bd, being the amount or charges connected with the floating of the £200,000 loan, calls for no special remark beyond that the amount appears to my mind to be heavy. I give fall details of this in Return B attached. To summarise, in conclusion, I would state that after adding the ordinary outstanding assets for 3lst Deeember, 1879, to the actual ordinary current receipts for the year then ending, it gives a total of .£36,805 10s 3d, and dealing similarly with the expenditure, it shows a credit balance of £11,325 2s sd. I wish, however, to point out that this account includes on the receipt side an item for interest on depo its which will in time disappear ; also one on the expenditure side for dredging, which will also in time be reduced. In fact, at present the amounts almost balance. Striking out these two items, the balance of the account would still stand unaltered, but looking to the fact that at no very distant period a heavy outlay will become necessary for renewing the decking of the wharves and jetties, I think it is a wise policy to retain a credit balance under the head of tbe ordinary current account. In the case of the expenditure and liabilities coming under the head of loan, it will be seen thi.t afto- meeting them there remains a balance of .£47,695 16s Id to meet the co-t of additional works which the Board, have in view. Return G, attached, is an estimate of the ordinary receipts and expenditure for the year 1880. Keturn H is a return of the Harbor Board's stiff on the Ist of January, 1830, and their salaries. I cannot conclude this report without expre3sin g the obligation under which I am to you for giving me so much of your valuable time, and thereby enabling me to carry out the important and onerous dutieß of my office. I also desire to record my appreciation of the earnest and willing assistance rendered to me by the whole of tho Harbor Board staff during the past three years. So general ha» it been that it would be impossible for me to individualise. Suffice it to say that there haß not been one single difference or misunderstanding to disturb the cordial relations which, in the interests of the Board, should always be maintained between the staff and myself, as the Board's execntive officer. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, C. H. Williams, Secretary and Treasurer Lyttelton Harbor Board. Lyttelton, January sth, 1830. To the Chairman of the Lytteltoa Harbor Board. Sir, —I have much pleasure in again bearing testimony to the accuracy and care shown in tho accounts of your secretary and treasurer. There is one peculiarity about the account now submitted to me, which calls for special notice, it is that of the method in which tho Nation tl Bank of New Zealand, in London, has dtalt with a portion of the debentures entrusted to it by the Board, and which seems to me to be contrary to law. It appears that the National Bank, acting as tha agents of the Harbour Board, thought fit to hypothecate £47,510 worth of its debentures to Messrs Serimjeou?, a firm in London, rn terms described in their letter of December 2nd last. The Bank in its account current with the Board, deals with the whole of the debentures as sold at the average price of .£lO2 7s 10d, and yielding a gross total . f £204,785 3s 6d, thus nccepting the responsibility of the hypothecation to Messrs Scrimgeour. The items of charges for interest, or whatever else the Bank may call it. ari3ing out of the arrangement shou'd not have been broaght into this account by the Bank. Tho arrangement was one beta cen the Bank and Messrs Scrimgeour, not between the B jard and those gentlemen. If the arrangement is cne between the Board and Messrs Scrirrgeour. then the Board, it appears to me, has exceeded its powers, becauso 1 fail to see any clause in tho Harbours' Act which enables the Board to lend any portion of its revenue, even upon valid security, and in tho case under consideration there is no security whatsoever. It is evident from the Bank's letter, and from the incorporation into tho account of the and con relating to this transaction, that the Bank deems itself to have been acting only as the agents of the Board, and could, in tho event of any unforseen contingency, cast from itself the responsibility in tho event of loss, and it will he seen in support of this opinion that the Bank brings forward in its account the balance due on the account with Messrs Scrimgeour at each period of fourteen days, the list outstanding amount being stated at £31,850, and moreover deals with the transaction as one which cannot be closed or is to remain open until the end of 1880. I think the Board ought to reject this matter as between itself and Messrs Scrimgeour. The Bank, as the agents of the Board, no matter how well intentioned their action was, could not enter into any financial arrangements, unless clearly within tho powers conferred upon the Board by the Harbour Act, 1878. Tho accounts had better pass as they stand, and if the Board sees fit to reject this arrangement, the item of charge 3 in connection with this trans ction must be dealt with hereafter as a refund in the adjustment of accounts with thi Bank in London. I have the honor lo be, sir, Your obedient servant, J. Ollivier, Provincial District Auditor. The Chairman then said that the course to re pursuod was for some member to move a resolution that tho accounts sis now presented be adopted. Mr Turner pointed out that ho thought the cost of tho engineering staff should bo charged on loan and not to current revenue. The Chairman said tbat they had dono this advis dly. Mr Harman said that when the papers were prepared to lay before the Lsndon lenders they had stated that though they could properly chargo this amount against loan, ytt their financial position was such that they could afford to pay it out of revenue, thus leaving the whole amount of tie loan froe fir use. He desired also to point out that the cost of dredging had only been sid per ton. This bore so favorable a comparison with the cost in other places that he/ thought it should be specially mentioned, so

that Mr Turpin and hia stuff might receive the credit to which they wero bo justly entitled. The Chairman said there waß another matter worth mentioning, which was that in doing this work the hoppers had steamed no loss than 35,000 miles. Mr Harman then moved—" That the accounts of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, as balanced and audited to the 31st December, 1879, having been produced at the annual meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, held this day, the 19sh January, 1880, at Christchurch, also a statement of assets and liabilities of the Lyttelton Harbor Board on the 31st December, 1879, the Board resolve that the accounts as submitted bo allowpd and passed by them, and certified accordingly under the hand of the chairman of the Board, subject to the adjustment hereafter recommended by the auditor in his htter to the chairman of the Board dated 15th January, 18S0." Mr Cunningham seconded the motion, which was carried.

The annual report of the harbor master was read, giving a detailed aooount of the work done in his department, and the condition of the plant under his charge. The report was as follows :

Harbor Board Office, Lyttelton, January 12th, 1880. Sir —I have the honor to forward you my report on the harbor department for the year ending 31st December, 1879. _ Casualties —I regret that I have on this occasion to report the partial loss of tbe barque Bellß, which sunk in Goll-in'a Bay during the south-west gale on the 20th of June list. The vessel wa3 raised a few weeks afterwards. In connection with the severe gale and heavy sea which caused the above loss, I may be allowed to state that serious as the gale and heavy sea proved to be to shipping in the outer anchorage, it also proved the inner harbor to be second to none in the colonies. As you are already aware, with all the shipping that occupied berths at the wharves, or that lay at anchor within the breakwater, not a single vessel received the slightest damage, but lay at the wharves as steady and safe as if in a dock. In fact Lyttelton inner harbor, with its present improvements, and the increased depth of water, may well be ranked as a first-class dock, as far as safety to the shipping ia concerned, being free from the influence of any sea that may roll in the outer harbor ; neither is its entrance endangered by any rush of ordinary tide, so that vessels of any tonnage may enter and leave the port at any time of flood or ebb tide.

Having at the time of the gale reported fully on the circumstances connected with the dragging of the vessels, it is unnecessary for me to further refer to the matter, as I am certain that the precautions now taken of anchoring vessels further down the harbor and in deeper water, where they are most unlikely to drag, and also the Vinging into the inner harbor all vossels when it is possible to do so, will guard against a repetition of the occurrence which took place on the night of the 20th June, 1879. Inward Pilot Station —Two of the boats being new with all their gear, nothing better could be desired for material and workmanship. The life-boat, which was imported from home, and which is a splendid boat, is also in a good state of preservation, being clean and everything connected with her in good older. The buildings, having lately undergone thorough repairs, both inside and out, are in splendid condition. Fences and grounds are also well kept—indeed the whole of the Board's property at the station shows signs of being well looked after. Lyttelton Pilot Station—The boats at this station cannot be kept in such good order as those at the Inward Pilot Station, as the former have heavier and dirtier work toj do in mooring and unmooring vessels at the wharves, with only two men to keep them in order. Time Ball Tower—ls in good order, also all appliances connected with the signal station. Steam Tug Lyttelton—Has given satisfaction for usefulness, power and speed ; and I may also state that she is kept in such clean and good order that she is the admiration of all seafaring men who have visited the port since her arrival. She has also been of the greatest benefit to the Harbor department in removing vessels in safety to and from the wharves. And with telephonic communication with the Pilot Station and the services rendered by the tug Lyttelton, we are in a better position to attend to the wants of the shipping v\ ith fewer hands than any other port in the colonies.

Wharf Accommodation.—The extension of the wharves and jetties during the past year has

proved equal to all the requirements of the port. I have, therefore, had no trouble in berthing vessels when required immediately on their arrival; and I may here state that I have had no complaints for detention caused through insufficient wharf accommodation ; and this is more satisfactory when it is taken into consideration how large an amount of shipping have used the wharves for the year ending 31st December, 1879, viz., 312,653 tons register. On the night of the 31st of last month alone, the following number of vesaelß were in the port—--59 vessels, giving an aggregate register tonnage of 17,120 tons. I think the above will show that, when the present works now in hand and those which the Board propose to carry out, together with the dredging which is required at the Gladstone Pier extension and breastworks and in front of the reclamation to the east of tho Screw Pile Jetty, iB finished, the port will be able, for several years to come, to meet the demands of the shipping as far as discharging and loading berths will be required. Hurbor Master's Staff. —The pilots have given every satisfaction ; no complaints have been made against them, neither have I any cause to complain.

The telephonic communication with the pilot station will greatly aid this branch of the service, as at any time when both pilots' cervices may be required, inward or outward, it can now be complied with without loss of time at either end. I have therefore no recommendation to offer the Board to make the above staff more efficient.

Harbour Master's Assistant.—The Board were good enough to appoint a gentleman to the above position, and very useful services have been rendered by him. For instance, one pilot received three months' leave of absence on account of ill health; it was therefore necessary that I should have some assistance during the pilot's absence. Afterwards the Harbor Master's assistant relieved the master of the barge Sumner for three months. The remainder of the year I have done my best to keep him employed; yet I think it my duty to respectfully point out that, in my opinion, the services of the Harbor Master's assistant are not required, for the following reasons, namely—(lst) The services of an assistant pilot were much required when the appointment was first made, moro especially in the outward pilot boat. For instance, there are two men in the boat. The pilot and coxswain's services may be required to take two vossels to sea Under the present system tho pilot and Harbor Master's assistant are sent. The boat's crew of two men, in moderate weather, have to pull tho boat, and the above officers sit in the stern sheets, instead of pulling an oar when necessity requires it. Tnis arrangement is not what it should be. more especially when the weather is rough and the water lumpy, added to a heavy boat. I therefore most respectfully urge the necessity of at onca doing away with the appointment of Harbor Master's assistant, and of placing an extra hand in the boat. The coxwain of the outward or harbor pilot boat should possess a pilot's qualifications, and be able to undertake a pilot's duties when occasion demands. As the Board are aware, a considerable deal of extra labor has been paid for when vessels had to be taken to sea in rough weather; besides, the present crew cannot do justice to the Board's property in port. The continual watching and placing of chafing gear on springs, painting and cleaning boats and buoys, cleaning office, and other duties too numerous to particularise, and lastly tho pulliug of the boat, deserve the Board's favorable consideration. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, H. McLellan. Harbor Master. The Secretary Lyttelton Harbor Board. Detailed accounts showing the state of the various funds were also laid on the table. Mr Harman moved—" That the thanks of the Board be given to the whole of their stuff in all departments of the service for the efficient manner in which their several duties havo been performed, and that the Board hereby expresses its satisfaction at the cordial relations existing not only between the various officers individually, but also between the officers of all ranks and tbe Board itself".

Mr Craig seconded the motion, which was carried.

It was resolved that the report of the harbor-master be referred to the office accommodation committee, with a request that they would report upon the matter of salaries of tho Board's officers generally. Applications wero received from the mate of tho tug and from two pilots for (increase of salary. These woro also referred to the same committee.

Accounts to the amount of £95 16s were passed for payment. It was resolved that the acceptance of the tenders for stores and coals during the year 18S0 be endorsed by the Board. Two tenders for the removal of a cottage in Lyttelton were received, and that of Messrs Haigh and Glasgow for £BO accepted. This closed the business, and the Board adjourned until Monday, 2nd February, at Lyttelton.