LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2061, 1 October 1880, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

A meeting of the abo7e was held in the Ohristchurch offices yesterday afternoon, at the usual hour. Present—The Hon. B. Richardson, chairman, Messrs It. J. S. Herman, P. Cunningham, C. W. Turner, Oraig, Allwright, Allan, H. P. Murray-Aynsley, Sawtell, and Dr. Turnbull.

The Chairman's statement was as follows: The following sums have been paid in since our laßt meeting—Wharfago, £1594 Hi Id ; pilotage and port charges, £502 15s 3d; towage and warpg, £lO7 13s lOd ; total, £2205 3s 2d. The engineer's report on the progress made under the several harbor works contracts during the past month will be read. He aho refers to further correspondence from Meßsrs Bell and Miller with regard to the boilers for the pumping maohinery whioh aho will be laid before you today. Mr John McGregor has again written on behalf of the Oamaru Harbor Board, asking whether this Board would be inclined to hire their dredging plant for six or twelve months in nighteen months to two years' time, if the Lyttelton dredging is completed. I think that a reply might be sent that in the event of such a contingency, we would be prepared to entertain such a proposition. Mr Turpin furnishes a report on five tons of Malvern Canterbury Colliery coal, tested on the hopper barges, his report will be read. A letter will be read from Messrs Ware and Jones, on the subject of the wharfage dues being oharged on material for the graving dock. This question members will probably remember was raised prior to letting the contract, when it was decided that wharfage must be charged, and several of the tenderers and others were accordingly so informed. Our solicitor also advised that as the contract specification did not specially exempt the contractors from payment of wharfage dues, they were payable. The specification for the graving dock caisson is on the tablo, and we may shortly expect to hear from Messrs Bell and Miller on the subject of the tenders sent in for building it. A reply has been received from the Commissioner of Railways, stating the Government cannot allow the jetting apart of waggons for discharging ships' ballast thereon. A number of accounts for payment will be laid before you to-day. I may state £12,000 of our three months' fixed deposits mature on the 2nd proximo, leaving £IO,OOO and £IOO,OOO fixed deposits, for six and twelve months respectively, to rratnro on the 2nd January next. In view of the payments which must be made under the contracts now in progress, I propose to pass the £12,000 above mentioned to our current account, leaving £IIO,OOO at fixed deposit. A letter from the Sinking Fund Commissioners for our loan will be read. Also a letter from our solicitor in reference to one from Mr Stephen Fisher's solicitor, on the subject of the Naval Point land. The secretary of the Marine Department writes stating, in reply to the Board's letter of April last, that the Government are advised they have no power of sale in the case of the Lady Jooelyn'e anchor. I do not see what wo can do further in the matter beyond retaining possession of it until our charges upon it are_ paid, and the Government authorises its disposal. The harbor improvement committee and the office accommodation and harbor staff committeo have dealt with the following matters : —Be coal tenders for next year—Ordered preparation of a specification to admit of alternative tenders for various descriptions of coal being used. Be Lyttelton Boating Club—They have been allowed to store their two boats in boat shed, subject to cortain conditions. Be the slip question—ln treating with Mr Grubb to strengthen his slip, so as to avoid sending the tug away to be slipped until the Board have a slip of their own. Our engineer has been instructed to prepare plan and estimate of a slip to take up vessels of 300 tons register, alongside the dock, so as to utilise its engine power for hauling the vessels up. The question of office accommodation has also received attention, tenders for the furniture to be called for. With regard to Mr Priest's case, it has been deferred until the Court's decision is known. This is all, I think, that I have to bring under the notice of the Board.

The engineer's report was read as follows :

The contractors have completed the excavation of the dock, except a small portion of the bottom, towards the head. As tbe benching of the rock at the sides, according to the original plan, could not be done in such triable material without shattering or loosening the rock, I have ordered the contractors not to form benches in the new part, which enßured a sound backlog for the concrete. This will entail an extra cost of about .£350. The contractors have excavated about 9000 cubio yards of the hill in the new extension. The coffer dam is commenced and about half of the piles are driven for it. I have received a letter from Messrs Bell and Miller advising that the boilers be placed crosswise in ths boiler-house, and requiring a greater width of engine honse. I have, therefore, written to the contractors to say that I will furnish them with another plan as Eoon as I receive from London the design for the engine and boiler seats. The contractors for the new breastwork are making very good progress. They have been ordered to drive all the inner piles first, so as to cause the slopes of the bank to settle as much as possible at once, and save the piles from getting distorted, which ia bound to occur from settlement dnring the driving of the piles. The contractors have furnished the required statutory declaration certifying to the good quality of the jarrah piles. I submit specification for the caisson, received from London. (Signed) C. Napier Bf.ll, Engineer. Appended to the above were the following letters from London agents, which the secretary read : 1, Victoria street, Westminster, 11th August, 1880, C. H. Williams, Esq., Secretary and Treasurer Lyttelton Harbor Board. Sir,—Your telegram of 4th, " Board accept Eastou and Anderson's tender, .£2462 without boilers, f.o.b. in London; B.mk credit established," was received here on the sth, and we are now adjusting -the plans with Easton and Anderson, after which the tender will be accepted. This will be 16th August, and the work will be completed 16th February, 1880. In order to meet the views of the Board, as intimated to us, that tenders for the boilers should also be taken in New Zealand, we kept the offers for the boilers di tinct, and in our letter of 17th we stated that so soon as it was decided whose tender was to be accepted, we would lose no time in preparing plans of tbe boilers for tenders to be taken in New Zealand. Since then, however, we have given the matter consideration, and whilst anxious to meet the views of the Board, we Bee very grave objections to this procedure. In the first place, Messrs Easton and Anderson state to us that,_ though giving the offer for putnps without boilers, they are exceedingly averse to carry out the arrangement, as any faults in the boilers would be reflected on their machinery, and they would prefer to have boilero of their own construction, and of the

design they are accustomed to make for their pumps. In next place this arrangement is going involve a serious waste of time, as separate pi <ns and specifications have to be made out, and the time allowed to give in tenders, and the time lost in correspondence will involve still further time, so that altogether we consider in the interests of the Board that we would not be justified in carrying out this arrangement. We Bhall accordingly arrange with Meßßrs Easton and Anderson to include the boilers in the contract, and fix the price on the basis of the tender already given in. We intend to provide three boilers in place of two, one of which will be nsed for the leakage engine and act as a spare boiler for the main pumps, whiUt either ot the others is under repair, or being replaced, which they will have to be in coarse of time. 'J. he plans for caisson are all completed, and we have sent proof of specification to your engineer. We will apply for tenders next week and give yon due intimation of the result. We have received from Beuter's Telegram Company notice as enclosed, which we shall act upon.— We remain, Ac—R. B. Bell and D. Miller.

1 Victoria street, Westminster, 12th Augußt, 1880. C. H. Williams, Esq-, Secretary and Treasurer Lyttelton Harbor Board. Dear Sir, —Since writing yon yesterday we have received Messrs Huston and Andesson's defiuite price for the boilers erected and riveted complete, and delivered entire for shipment. 1 on will observe that onr specification requires the bailers to be erected, but not riveted, then taken to pieces and shipped; but having now decided on the form of boiler, and ascertained that freight can be obtained for it entire, we have decided to arrange for the boilers erected complete. The tender for boilers now stands thus : Messrs Easton and Anderson's tender for twoboilera was ... ... ... £297 The price for three boilers is 445 In addition, tho price for riveting and delivery entire, f.o b., is ... ... 62 j And addition for mounting and pipes for third boiler 85

Total .£592 The total amount of the contract will now stand thus : Main engines and pumps, leakage engine and pumps, water tank, and all connections and valves, steam and feed pipes, and boiler mounting for two boilers £2462 Three boilers entire, and Bteam and feed pipes, and boiler mounting for one boiler 592

£3054 We will embraee the whole of this in one tender, which, after we have the plans completed, adjusted to our satisfaction, we will accept, and get the legal contract drawn out. The date of our acceptance will be the 16th of August. We are advised by the Bank of New Zealand that they are authorised to purchase bills for .£3OOO at 60 days on the chairman of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, at the current rate of exchange, against certificates showing progress. Onr fees for this work now contracted for will be 5 per cent, on the cost, besides out of pocket expenses for telegrams, &c. It will also be necessary to appoint a competent inspector, but until the caisson is contracted for his services will only be occasionally required; but during the construction of the caisson his attendance will require to be constant upon inspection of both contracts during construction, testing packing and shipment. The wages of such a man will be about £3 10s per week. We remain, &c.

(Signed) R. B. Bell and D. Miller. Olauses from a letter by Mr O. Napier Bell were also read bearing on the same subject. The Chairman pointed out that the engineers at Home had, in reference to the contract for boilers, somewhat deviated from the resolution pussed by the Board, and communicated briefly to them by cablegram. Mr Allan could scarcely see how the home engineers could have taken upon themselves such a responsibility. In fact, it would almost appear that some influence had been brought to bear upon them, of which the members of the Board were not generally aware.

Mr Oraig said Mr Allan had better be shown the correspondence, which perhaps would satisfy him. It was scarcely likely that any underhand work would be committed in connection with this Board.

The Chairman expressed great surprise at the remarks which had fallen from Mr Allan, and thought it was a pity he should have thought it necessary to impute anything unworthy. Mr Allan said suoh was not his intention. He simply wished to know upon what authority the engineers at home had deviated from this Board's positive instructions. The Chairman explained that all official correspondence passed through the secretary, Mr Bell, their engineer, communioating technical descriptions. He knew of no other correspondence that could have taken place in relation to the business of the Board. (The chairman then proceeded to read the correspondence which had passed between this offioe and Messrs Bell and Miller, in London, regarding the acceptance of tenders.) Dr. Turnhull entirely disapproved of the action of Messrs Bell and Miller, which had placed this colony and the Board in a false position. They had no right to assume that the colony was not capable of constructing any kind of boiler, and it appeared to him that they were influenced in their action by pecuniary considerations. The Chairman pointed out that the reputation of a firm like Messrs Bell and Miller stood too high to be affected by anything that might occur here, and ten times the amount of the commission involved in this cbbo would not be at all likely to iufluence them one way or the other. He did not think a reflection on the firm of the kind made should be allowed to pass without comment. The Chairman said it appeared to him that in any future work they required to have done, they would have to be more particular in giving their instructions. He also said as to the class of work, that he believed there were boilers now in this colony which could not be constructed here under three or four times the cost they oould be made for in England. Mr Allan proposed that the following telegram be sent to Messrs Bell and Miller : "If the Board not committed to the_ boilers prefer original instructions being carried out, and the plans forwarded here." The motion was seconded by Mr Allwright. Mr Craig intimated that he should propose an amendment to the resolution. Mr C. W. Turner considered that all the blame must rest on Messrs Bell and Miller, the engineers at Home, who, he pointed out, in one of their letters had acknowledged their instructions from this B ard. He moved as an amendment—" That a cablegram be sent to Messrs Bell and Miller requesting them to withdraw the contraot for boilers, the Board being pledged to call for tenders in this colony as well as in England." Dr. Turnbull seconded the amendment. Mr Allan withdrew his resolution in face of that just proposed, which, he said, he should have great pleasure in supporting. Mr Sawtell said he feared the resolution would involve the Board in the cost of compensation. Mi. Harman opposed both motion and amendment. It would certainly have the effect of preventing suoh a firm as Bell and Miller in aoting for them again on any future occasion if either wore carried. He admitted that positive instructions had been sent as to the tenders for boilers, but he could not help feeling that Messrs Bell and Miller must have seen very good reason for acting as they did, and he should be very sorry to see a cablegram sent Home such as that suggested. Mr Cunningham regretted that an opportunity should have been lost of giving colonial founders a ohance of showing that they could do something out of the common. At the same time, he regretted the manner in which Mr Allan had brought the matter forward, and he thought Mr 8011, the local engineer, should be given an opportunity of saying whether he had exercised any influence over the English agents in connection with the subjeot under consideration. The Chairman remarked that on reading over again the telegram sent to Messrs Bell and Miller, it appeared to him that the wording might bo taken to leave them an opening to act as they had acted. Mr Murray-Ayneley adopted Mr Sawtell's view as to the liability of the Board to pay compensation if the contract were withdrawn now.

Mr Craig expressed the opinion that it was now too late for tbe Board to interfere. After some further discussion of a conversational character. Mr C. W. Turner asked leave to alter his amendment by inserting the words " if possible " in a oablcgram requesting agents to withdraw contract. Dr. Turnbull, the seconder, objected to the alteration. Mr Turner thought this refusal very ungracious, as when proposing the resolution he had not seen as clearly as he did now that the Board might be called upon for £SOO or £IOOO compensation if they bound their agent! down to withdraw the contract. He

was thuß placed in the anomalous and unpleasant position of having to vote againsc his own resolution. The amendment in its original form wap then put and lost, the original motion by Mr Allan was also no£ -'irrd. Another resolution was proposed by Mr Allan expressive of regret that Messrs Bell and Miller had not acted in accordance with the Board's wishes, but it did not m«et with approval, and after two attempts at amendment, it was rejeoted altogp^er. Ultimately the followin V esolution by Mr Allan was agreed to :—" That the Board regret that Mesßrs Bell and Miller should have departed from the Board's instructions re tendering for boilers, as it was intended to give colonial engineers an opportunity of tendering for the same." The following report on coal was laid on the table :

Lyttelton, 24th September, 1880. Sir, —I have the honour to report on the Mrilvcrn coal burnt for trial on board the barge Sumner. Beceived 5 tons coal. Commenced burning at 7 a.m., 21st September, steam being' up before commencing. Finished burning the 5 tons at 2 p.m., 23rd September. Time occupied in burning the whole, 2J days ; average consumption of Newcastle coal, 1 ton per day ; relative proportion*. 11-20, or, in other terms, 11 tons of Newcastle coal does the same ainomt of work as 20 tons of Malvern coal. Price of Newcastle, delivered on board, £1 15a 4d per ton. Cost of Malvern coal per top, 12s ; carriage per ton to Lyttelton, 8b ; carriage per ton to vessels, 2s ; total cost, .£1 2b per ton. 20 tons of Malvern, at 225, £22 ; 11 tons of Newcastle, at 35s 4d, current contract rates, £l9 8s 8d ; difference in favour of Newcastle, ■ £2 lis 4d. According to the above prices there is a saving of £2 lis 4d in eleven days on each vessel by using Newcastle coal. This Malvern coal steams very well on the barge, and could be used for that purpose; it is only the matter of cost. I have, &c, (signed) Heney Tubpin, Superintending Engineer. C. H. Williams, Esq., Secretary Lyttelton Harbor Board. The report was critically discussed at some length. A motion by Dr. Turnbull, to the effect that the Professor of Chemistry, Canterbury College, be requested to report on the relative value of Malvern and Newcastle coal, was negatived. The Chairman pointed out that all the information required was already published in the blue-books. Accounts to the amount. of £5444 7s lid were passed for payment. Some business of a routine character was then transacted.

The Board adjourned at 4.15 till Thursday, October 28tb, atliyttelton.