LYTTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2010, 3 August 1880, Page 4

LYTTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the above was held at 2 p.m. ■on Monday. Present —Messrs B. J. S. Harman (in the chair), C. W. Turner, P. Cunning"ham, D. Craig, H. Sawtell, H. P. MurrayAynsley, R. Allen. The Chairman said—Since onr last meeting the following snma have been paid into the Board’* credit : Wharfage dues, £I2BO 11* fid; pilotage, port charges, for J uly, 1880, £505 19s 9d : towage, warps, rent, &e., £13215i2i; refund Government reclamation, £4179 9s; ■hsd sale, £63; total, £6461 15s sd. The towage and dredging returns for the month of July are on the table. The latter return shows a large amount of dredging to have been done during the month at the entrance to the inner barber, namely—ls*4 barge loads, amounting to 27,720 cubic yards, or 33,500 tons. The scoop dredge Minnie Bell has also been doing good work during tbejsime period; along Jthe breastworks and to the eastward of So. 1 Intermediate Jetty 46 (loads have been removed, amounting altogether to 1840 tons. Correspondence will bo road in reference to the engineer’s recommendation to at once dredge a trench parallel to the proposed timber breastwork between the Scrowpile Jetty and the Gladstone Pier. On a former occasion, when tho question was raised, the Board decided to postpone the work until after the completion of the timber work. The ease is now altered by its increased width, I would therefore suggest that the harbor-master’s recommendation, to tako advantage of the first favorable weather to da this work, should be followed. Messrs Ware and Jones’ reply to the Board’s resolution of last meeting, relative to their offer to lengthen the graving dock, has been received and will be read ; also MV Napier Bell’s report upon it. I have also received our solicitor’s (Mr Nalder) opinion upon the question of the form the contract, if entered into by the Board, ■honld take; also counsel’s opinion taken by him on the subject at the Board’s request. In referring to the lengthening of the dock at our last meeting, I omitted to point out that if its length were extended to 500 ft. it would bo capable of docking at the same time any two of the clipper ships now trading with tho port. I also think it right to call your attention to a report appearing in the papers within the past few days, in which it is stated that one of the graving docks recently built for tho Royal Victoria and Albert Socks Company, on the Thames, is 502 feet long, and is stated to be “ large enough to take tho Orient, the Arizona, and most irondads.” I also notice, in a letter from Messrs Ball and Miller, received on Saturday last, that they mention the length of the Clyde Trust Deck, built by them, as being 560 feet. A letter from Messrs Bell and Miller will be read forwarding tenders for the pumping machinery for the dock, and it will bo necessary that tho Board should decide on the acceptance of one of them to-day. The question of establishing credit in London in conneotion therewith must also be dealt with today. Mr Bell furnishes a report on the tenders, copies of which and other documents were cant up to Mr Richardson, at Wellington, on Saturday afternoon, and I have received by telegram his views on tho question, and I may cay I fully concur with them and would recommend the Board to accept Easton and Anderson’s tender of £3362, and that Messrs Bell and Miller be authorised to procure boilers in England on their own plans. The cost of these boilers —£315—is so small that it is in my opinion certainly not worth while to delay tho matter by tendering for them here. Messrs Ball and Miller’s letter to our engineer, and his report upon it, explains the matter very fully. Tenders have been advertised for slipping the tug dredge and barges ■in Lyttelton ; also for the timber breastwork to tho east of the Screw Pile Jetty. Tenders for the firstnamed work are due to-day, and for tho latter on the 12th inst. The shed, ■which was sold to Messrs Ware and Jones, has now been removed from its site near 3?eacock’s wharf, and the railway department has completed the laying in of points for the ■purpose of connecting with the contractors’ line to the westward, and also with the proposed ballast depositing ground. Before they jjan be made use of for the latter purpose, a temporary line will have to be laid along the inner face of the embankment, and it is probable the Board may have to do the work. An application has been received from Mr Gardiner, asking the Board to carry out certain repairs or renewals to the Purau Jetty. I would suggest tho matter be referred to the harbor improvement committee to report on. A letter will also be read from Mr Joyce, the time-ball keeper, in reference to an allowance being made to him in lieu of quarters at tho time-ball building. Dr. Hector has written giving directions as to the erection of the tide guages in Lyttelton and at tho Heads, and I will ask the Board’s authority to carry out the work. I will also ask the Board’s authority to take suoh action as may be found necessary for repairing the Gladstone shed, injured in discharging goods from the ship Helen Denny. I authorised leave of absence being granted to Pilot Galbraith for a week, dating from yesterday, the harbor-master haying reported he would make satisfactory arrangements with the present staff for carrying on the pilotage work during Pilot Galbraith’s absence. The Hon. W. Richardson, our chairman, suggested that Captain Jago, of H.M.S. Raleigh, should be asked during his visit here, to look at the graying dock. He did so early on Saturday morning, and expressed himself much pleased with its location and general formation. An offer was received by telegram from Oapt. Hutchinson, of the barqcentine Sophia, to supply 300 tons of Bay of Island coal at 22s per ton. I directed a reply to be sent that our coal contract does not expire till the end of this year, and that then tenders will be again advertised for. I may here say that Mr Turpin was some time ago instructed to try ths Canterbury coal again in the "dredge and barges with a view of using it next year, but he has found difficulty in getting the required quantity to make the necessary trial. He will report as soon as the trial has been made. Wo have advice that the coir rope ordered from Calcutta is in hand and will be shipped for Lyttelton in the first sailing vessel. In the matter of the proposed by-laws for altering the pilotage rates, &0., I would suggest it be referred to a committee to deal with, so far as enabling the preliminary advertising of the by-laws prior to the special meeting to be fixed for their consideration and adoption. A report was read from the engineer, suggesting that the dredging should be done in front of the new breastwork near tho reclaimed land proposed to be carried out, and also from the harbor master, reporting that tho dredge could well carry out tho work, as she was inside during the bad weather. Mr Turpin wrote, suggesting that as the weather was unreliable at this season the dredging should be left until about two months bence, the more so as there was a probability that the dredge might go on shore if the work was done now.

After some discussion, Mr Craig mored—“ That the matter bo referred to the harbor improvement committee, with power to act.” Mr Cunningham seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Chairman called attention to the fact that the harbor improvement committee now only consisted of three, and would suggest that the name of Mr Allan be added. A letter was read from Messrs Ware and Jones, with reference to the extension of the dock and in reply to the letter of the Board asking for a reconsideration of their tender, a report of the engineer on the same, and counsel's opinion on the form of the contract. Messrs Ware and Jones’ letter pointed out that Mr Bell’s estimate omitted the necessity of the coffer dam being erected in winter, which was a great consideration. The report of Mr Bell stated that be saw no reason why Messrs Ware and Jones’ offer to erect the coffer dam for the price mentioned by them should not bo accepted, the extension of time required being embodied in khe original contract. The opinion of counsel on the contract was to the effect that the old contract should be rescinded and a new one entered into embracing the whole work. Mr Aynsley moved—“ That the harbor improvement committee be empowered to have a contract drawn up on the basis of the one recommended by counsel, ready for signature at the earliest moment, subject to the confirmation of the Harbor Board.” Mr Allan suggested that it would bo better to word the resolution thus—“ That the harbor improvement committee be authorised to take such steps as may be necessary to bring the negotiations with Messrs Ware and Jones as to the proposed dock extension to a conclusion, subject to the approval of the rd Mr Aynsley withdrew his resolution and seconded that of Mr Allan, which was put and agreed to.

The following correspondence was read : Westminster, 17th June, 1880. C. H. Williams, L'sq., Secretary Lyttelton

Harbor Board. Dear Sir, —ln answer to the advertisement for pumping machinery, seven tenders have been received, all from firms of pood standing and experience in this description of work. Abstract of tenders enclosed. Five of these are tenders for vertical suction fan pumps and two for horizontal submerged fan pumps. Tho tender which wo propose that yon should authorise us to accept is that of Messrs Easton and Anderson, being the lowest tender for horizontal fan pumps ; the price, without boilers, being £3462 free on board, or £3 62 erected and started at Lyttelton, and we would advise that you accept it under this latter condition. Our reasons for preferring the horizontal fan pumps wo have fully explained in our report to your engineer, and need only refer to the main point, which is, that tho vertical auction fan pumps, under the arrangements submitted by all ths parties tendering, require to have the floor of the pump-house, with all the machinery, steam engines and boilers upon it, sunk to about ths level of low water, entailing very costly work in making the walla and floors watertight, and also in tho event of any accident happening to the pumps or pipes, rendering the whole of the interior liable to bo flooded and the machinery and boiler to be submerged. The a ringement of boilers will require some modification, and we, therefore, advise the tender to be accepted, exclusive of boilers, and we shall delay doing anything in regard to them until we are authorised to accept the tender. When your reply arrives, we shall lose no time in preparing plans and specifications of the boilers for tenders to be taken in New Zealand. We expect that yon will telegraph reply authorising us to accept, and also to telegraph the New Zealand Bank to honor our orders for payment. We remain, &c., B. B. Bell and D. Milder. The following tenders were received for the construction with and without erection of tho pumping machinery. HORIZONTAL PUMPS. Messrs Easton and Anderson, with boilers £2777, f.0.b.; without boilers, £2462, f.o.b. Erected, with boilers, £3677, without £3362. Messrs J. and G. Rennie, with boilers, £4200, f.0.b.; without boilers, £3200, f.o.b. VERTICAL PUMPS. Messrs Drysdale, Pirie and 00., with boilers, £2395, f.0.b.; without boilers, £2040 f.o.b. Erected with boilers, £2695 ; without, £2340. Messrs Richard Moreland and Son, with boilers, £2869, f.0.b.; without boilers, £2182, f o.b. Erected with boilers, £3559 ; without, £2692. . , , Messrs Gwynno and 00., with boilers, £3132, f.0.b.; without boilers, £2229 f.o.b. Messrs J. and H. Gwynne, with boilers, £3276, f.o.b ; without boilers, £2522 f.o.b. Messrs James Watt and Co., with boilers, £4450 f.0.b.; without boilers, £3150 f.o.b. Erected with boilers, £7990 ; without, £6690. Christchurch, 31st July, 1880. The Secretary, Lyttelton Harbour Board. Sir, —I have received from Messrs Bell snd Miller a list of tenders for pumps, machinery, and boilers. They recommend the acceptance of that of Messrs Easton and Anderson for submerged centrifugal pumps. The reasons given by Messrs Bell and Miller for preferring this class of pnmp appears to me of sufficient importance to recommend these, as, apart from the actual amount of the tenders —viz., the lowering of the floor of the engine house about 10ft, to suit toe class of pumps with vertical fans, would incur a further cost of more than £IOOO. I should also recommend the acceptance of the tender including the erection in Lyttelton by the makers. There is an element of security to the Board in this condition which is well worth the sum charged for it, as the emp'oyes of Messrs Easton and Anderson would try the pumps, and see that they worked up to their requirements before delivering over the work. In regard to the boilers, I must take the liberty;to strongly urge you to direct that the boilers be ordered from England under the arrangements recommended by Bell and Miller. If this is nofc dono, and the boilers be made in New Zealand, it wi 1 be impossible to fix the fault of the pomps, if any, on their makers, or that of the boilers on theirs; each patty will endeavor to throw the blame on the other, and the result will be that the Board will obtain satisfaction from neither. Apart from these considerations the boilers, if procured from England, will he quite ns cheap as any made in the colony, and, under the special circumstances of the case, be much more satisfactory. „ . (Signed) C. Napieb Bell, Engineer. A telegram was read from Hon. Mr Richardson coinciding with the report of the engineer. Mr Allan pointed out that the reasons adduced by Mr Bell for obtaining the boilers from England did not apply. _ He saw no reason for departing from the original resolution that plana for the boilers should come out and tenders be called for here. Mr Turner suggested that the Board should accept the tender of Messrs Easton and Anderson, for £2462, free on board, exclusive of boilers. Messrs Murray-Aynsley, Turner, and Cunningham poimed out that by the specifications the Board were liable to pay cost of freight, exchange, insurance, &o. Mr Allan moved — 11 That Messrs Easton and Anderson’s tender for supply of pumps for £2462 be accepted, without boilers, free on board.” Mr Sawtell seconded the motion. The Chairman said that he should deprecate any departure from the course recommended by the engineer and the Hon. Mr Richardson. For himself, he should prefer to see the pumps erected here by the contractors. The motion was then put and carried. Mr Cunningham suggested that the resolution should be telegraphed to Mr Richardson and Mr Bell, pointing out that tho Board were of opinion that the cost of freight and that of erection would have to be defrayed by the Board. The suggestion was approved and the secretary requested to carry it out. The Chairman stated that no tenders had been received for slipping the dredge and barges. It was resolved that the matter be referred back to the harbor improvement committee.

A letter was read from Mr Gardener, of Puran, calling the attention of the Board to the bad state of the jetty at Rhodes* Bay. Messrs. Sawtell and Turner painted out that if this were granted, they would have all the little bays in the province coming to them for jetties where they levied no harbour dues. The matter stood over. A letter was received from Dr Hector with reference to the tide guages. The matter of erection of the guages was referred to the harbor improvement committee to carry out. The leave of absence, as granted to pilot Galbraith by the chairman, was approved. Accounts to the amount of £4091 2s Id were passed for payment. The following return from the Harbor Master was laid on the table :—“Harbor office, Lyttelton, 2nd August, 1880. Sir, I have the honor to forward for your information a return of the number of vessels and their aggregate register tonnage, that entered the port of Lyttelton during the month of July, 1880, 35 steamers, 14,243 tons; 1 sailing vessel from foreign port, 728 tons ; 7 sailing vessels from intercolonial ports, 4951 tons ; 71 sailing vessels coastwise, 5553 tons ; total 25,475 tons.” After the transaction of some routine business, the Board adjourned.