LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2019, 13 August 1880, Page 4

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held at the offices, Hereford street, at 2 p.m. yesterday. Present— Messrs E. J. 8. Harman (acting chairman), C. W, Turner, E. Allan, H. Sawtoll, P. Cunningham, D. Craig, and H. P. Murray • Aynelev. Mr Craig ap 'logised for the absence of Dr. Turnbull, who was unavoidably detained, and obtained leave of absence for him. The Acting Chairman said—The following sums have been paid into the Board’s account since our last ordinary meeting—Wharfage, £1540; towage and fines, &c., £76—total, £1616. There will be a few accounts laid before you to-dsy for payment. In the matter of the pumping machinery for the gravins dock, a cablegram in terms of the Beard’s resolution was sent Home —Messrs Bell and Miller to accept Easton and Anderson’s tender—and a credit by cable was also established to enable them to make progress payments under the contract. It was necessary to do this, as a credit sent Homo by the mail leaving on Saturday would not arrive in London till the 28th September, or two months after the contract was made. A telegram will be read from our chairman referring to the desirableness of giving instructions to Messrs Bell and Miller to send out one of Messrs Easton and Anderson’s employes to superintend the erection of the machinery. The contract for the graving dock, including the extension, has been prepared by our solicitor and submitted to, and approved by counsel. It is ready for signature, and I will ask the Board to order their seal to be affixed to it. In connection with the dock extension, _ a report will be read from our engineer advising the Board of the necessity of obtaining section 231 adjoining the dock. I would suggest that the matter be referred to the harbor improvement committee, with power to aot. A letter will be read frem Mr Strouts in reference to the non-completion of the Harbor Board’s offices in Lyttelton to contract time, and also as to providing outbuildings, &e. I will ask for authority to order a ton of non-conducting boiler composition, which Mr Turpin recommends should bo tried on the boilers of our vessels. The lengthening of the dock will necessitate the removal of the house aow occupied by our clerk of works (Mr Derbidge). This is a contingency which could sot possibly have been foreseen, and will ontail an additional expense upon him in having again to move. I would suggest that a sum be allowed to him to cover the cost of this, and that when the house is removed to another site an additional room should he added te it. I may say that, in appointing Mr Derbidge as inspector of the dock works, tfao Board agreed to give him the use of the house near the dock rent free in lien of increase of salary. The tenders received at 12 o’clock to-day for the timber breastwork and ferry to the east of the screw pile jetty will be opened by you this afternoon. Dredging operations in front of this breastwork have been proceeding since Monday last, as recommended by our engineer, and will be finished, weather permitting, on Monday next. On the subject of the obtaining a supply of coal from the Springfield pit for trial on board the dredge and barges, I have to report that, with a view to prevent unnecesuary delay, I have obtained from the managing director of the company a letter requesting (he manager, it applied to by our coal contractor, to send a truck to his order as speedily eus possible. The managing director informed me, at the same time, that he did not think the coal could be supplied until a new shaft recently sunk by the company was in working order.

The engineer’s report was read as follows: I have the honor to report that the work of iho dock is progressing very satisfactorily, the excavation inside the dock is nearly finished, and that of the hill approaches completion. I have prepared plans for the extension of the dock to 450 ft, on the floor; also, for additional excavation required at the head of the dock. I would strongly urge the necessity for the Board to acquire the section No. 231, as it is very much in the way, and the corner of it mnst be cat off to give sufficient room around the dock ; being out away on two tides by the excavation I am afraid the ground of this section may crack and otherwise give trouble. Tenders will bo submitted for the new breastwork from Screw Pile Jetty to the Gladstone Wharf, along with 150 ft. of a new jetty. The railway department has laid down points and a siding to the inner edge of the reclamation, from which baUast can be deposited in the vacant space _ loft for the purpose. The new excavation will encroach on the site of the house occupied by our inspector, which must be shifted at once.

Accounts to the amount of £ll4 8s 4d ■were submitted for payment. An account of £3O for construction of the model-of the graving dock, exhibited at the late Industrial Exhibition, sent in from the Bailway Department led to some discussion. Mr Turner pointed out that this meant 60 days’ work of a skilled mechanic. The work itself was there before them, and they certainly would not credit that this amount had been charged. Ur Sawtell thought that the account should be forwarded to the Bailway Commission as a proof of the extravagance of the management of the Eailway Department. The Chairman said that the model had been ordered by them chairman, and he had no idea that it would cost more than £2O at the outside. It would have to he paid. Mr Turner said that if the account were paid he should move that it be pasted on the model and forwarded to the Melbourne Exhibition as a specimen of the extravagant charges which were to be met with in Now Zealand. The Chairman said he had bad some experience as to making models, and this certainly was a most exorbitant charge. Messrs Allan and Craig coincided in this remark. The Chairman pointed out that the aoconnt bore the signature of Mr Allison Smith on the face of it as being correct. Mr Sawtell moved—“ That the accounts as submitted for £B4 5s lOd be passed for payment, excluding the one from the Bailway Department for model, and that the account be forwarded to the chairman.” The motion was seconded and agreed to. Tenders were opened for the construction of breastwork. Mr Allan moved—“ That the tenders of Messrs Hawkins and Co., £15,741 16s 6d ; A. Stenhonse and Co., £15,874; and Henderson and Fergus, £15,882 Os 2d, be referred to the engineer for his report thereon.” Mr Craig seconded the motion. Mr Sawtell moved as an amendment—- “ That the tender of Messrs Hawkins and Co., for £16,74116s 6d, he accepted, subject to the satisfactory report of the engineer.” Mr Aynsley seconded the amendment, which was put and agreed to. A telegram was read from Hon. E, Diehardson, advising that the Board should instruct Messrs Easton and Anderson to send out a man to superintend the erection of the pumping machinery of the graving dock. Mr Cunningham suggested that a letter should be written, asking on what terms the man could be sent out, and whether it was necessary. Mr Allan said he agreed with. Mr Cunningham. Mr Turner would move —“ That the secretory make enquiry whether a competent man cannot be obtained in the colonies to superintend the erection of the pumping machinery, and also to communicate with Messrs Bell and Miller as to the terms upon which a man oould be got from England.” He thought it was a slur on every man in the colony to flay that they were obliged to go to an apprentice in an engineer’s ahop at home to teach men bow to do this work. They had, he felt quite aura, enough skill and brains in the colony to do this effectually. Mr Allan seconded the motion, and stated that he moat heartily endorsed the remarks made by Mr Turner. It was resolved to instruct the secretary to carry out the enquiries as stated in Mr Turner’s reoolution. Mr Craig moved—“ That the harbor improvement committee be instructed to take such action as may be necessary to secure section 231, required for the extension of the graving dock as recommended by Mr Bell in his report of 12th August.” Mr Sawtell seconded the motion. Mr Cunningham suggested that it might he a® well if they secured some more sections in he same locality. i After some discussion the motion was amended as follows—“ That tha Harbour Improvement Committee bo instructed to take euoh action as may be necessary to secure so much of sections 231 and 234 aa may be considered advisable for the purposes of the extension of the graving dock as recommended by Mr Bell, ” and agreed to. The chairman was authorised to affix the sea! of the Board to the contract for the extension of the graving dock. The Chairman mentioned that they had received a telegram from the marine department, staling that the plans for the dock had been approved, and that a letter had been os ted.

A letter was read from Mr Stroats with reference to the expiration of the contract time for the completion of the Harbor Board buildings, recommending that the contractor should be granted two months’ extension of time to complete his contract. It was resolved that the extension of time recommended by Mr Strouts be granted, on the understanding that no further extension should be given. It was also agreed that Mr Strouts should be requested to carry out the work connected with the erection of outbuildings, fencing, &c., and that the Harbor improvement committee be authorised to Incur the requisite cost. The engineer reported that the tender of Messrs Hawkins and 00. was in form. There was a little difference between the quantities of the contractor and that taken out by him, but not sufficient to affect his contract. It was resolved—" That the chairman affix the seal of the Board to the contract with Messrs Hawkins and 00. for the breastwork jetty.” The Chairmon was authorised to procure a ton of non-conducting boiler composition for the dredge and barges. Mr Cunningham moved—“ That tenders bo called for the removal of the house now occupied by Mr Derbidge to a site to be indicated by the harbor improvement committee."

Mr Sawtell seconded the motion, which was agreed to. It was agreed to adjourn to 2nd September next at Christchurch.