LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2203, 18 March 1881, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the above was held yesterdoy at 2 p.m. Present—Hon. E. Bichardson (ohairman), Hon. J. T. Peacock, Messrs Cunningham, Wright, Aynsley, Allan, Turner, and the Mayor of Lyttelton. Hon. J. T. Feaoock asked when the wharf at Quail Island would be put in hand, as the Cattle Board had received intimation from the Government that they intended erecting sheds there.

In reply, the Chairman said that immediately after last meeting he had communicated with the Government on the subjeot, stating that the Board would offer every facility they could. The Chairman said—This speoial meeting has been convened in conformity with section—of the Harbors Act for the purpose of considering altering, if necessary, and adopting the proposed by-law for fixing the wharfage dues in the Fort of Lyttelton. As seven clear days' notioe must bo given by public notification in a newspaper before the bylaw can come into force, I would suggest that the Ist of April be fixed as the date for this purpose. The railway authorities have also asked to have a sufficient notice given them before the new rates come into operation. The by-law has been very carefully drawn up by our solicitor, Mr Nalder, in accordance with the Board's decision on tho subjeot, as embodied in their resolution of last meeting, the only addition being that relating to wharfage on ships' ballast, which was decided on at a previous meeting. Opportunity has also been taken to re-publish the whole of the wharfage rates which remain unaffected by the proposed reduction passed at last meeting. Immediately after the above-mentioned special business is concluded, there are cortain other general matters to be dealt with, namely, the appointment of committees. There are several questions to be referred to them which I will bring before you in due course. Tho draft for £409 on the National Bank,which was sent home by direotion of the Board, has been returned from London unpaid, with the remark upon it, not provided for. It, therefore, remains for the Board now to decide what further steps should be taken in the matter. The auditor, our solicitor, and, in addition, counsel's opinion has been taken, all agreeing that the B-infc aoted illegally, and thnt the above-named sum is due to the Board from the Bank. After several interviews with the master of the Aspasia, I have ascertained that ho has had to pay cash out of pocket, a trifle over £3O, in addition to his

proportion of the court of enquiry expenses and his delay in Lyttelton. I have paid him, on behalf of the Board, and in foroe of all claims whatever, fifteen pounds (£ls), which action, no doubt, the Board will endorse. Shortly after our last meeting, a considerable difficulty arose in regard to the disposal of ships' ballast. I proceeded to Lyttelton and went fully into the matter, and provision is now made for its disposal by the extension of the siding to the westward of Peacock's Wharf, and also at a point close to the inner end of the Gladstone breakwater. For the future, the provisions of the Harbor Regulations and the Harbors Aot, 1878, preventing the depositing of ballast in the harbor, will be strictly enforoed. I think all the members of the Board are aware of the reasons which led mo to take the responsibility of waiving the Harbor Board's right to receive His Excellency upon his first landing on our wharves. It will be seen from the telegrams on the table, that the course which, under the circumstances, I took was approved by His Exoellenoy the Governor. After inspecting the dock works, His Excellency expressed his pleasure with the progress made, and asked that he might be allowed to officially open the dock on its completion. The first business before the Board was the consideration of a by-law drafted by the solicitor for fixing the rate of tolls and charges paid on the wharves of the Board. On the motion of Mr Cunningham, seoonded by Mr Wright, the bye-law was adopted, and the seal of tho_ Board affixed thereto, to come into force on 'April Ist. The Chairman called the attention of the Board to two reports from their superintend - ing engineer, one especially, the annual report of the engineer on the dredge and hoppers, containing important recommendations. Hon. J. T. Peaoook moved—" That the report of the superintending engineer respecting the state of the barges and dredge be referred to the harbor improvement com- I mi* tee."

Mr Allan seconded the motion, whioh was agreed to. Tho Chairman drew attention to the absence of one of the seamen of the dredge, whioh had been referred to by Mr Turpin in his report. Leave of absence was granted to this man for one day, but he had been absent twelve. The matter was referred to the_ Harbor Improvement Committee, to inquire into and report. : Acoounts to the amount of £4l 6s were passed for payment. The question of the with the National Bank was, on the motion of Mr Wright, seconded by the Mayor of Lyttelton, referred to the finance committee, to report at next meeting. On the motion of Mr Cunningham, the following gentlemen were appointed as a finance committee of the Board, viz, the Chairman ex officio, Messrs Aynsley, Turner, Sawtell, and the Mayor of Lyttelton. Messrs Allan, Peaoook, Harman, Wright, Cunningham, and the Chairman ex officio were elected as members of the harbor improvement committee. Mr Turner moved—" That this Board desires to reoonsider the charges made by the Harbor Board, and instructs the finance committee to consider and report the extent to to which, if any, the reductions can safely be made, and what items shall be affected thereby." i Mr Wright seconded the motion pro forma. He thought it would be better for Mr Turner to strike out the latter clause of his resolution.

After some discussion, Mr Wright moved—" That all the words after the word ' made' be Btruok out, omitting the Words ' and what items shall be affected thereby.' " Mr Cunningham seconded the amendment, which was put and negatived on a division as follows :—Ayes—Messrs Cunningham, Pea-' ; oock, Wright, Allwright; noes —Messrs Turner, Harman, Aynsley, and Allan. The .chairman gave his casting vote with the noes.

The amendment was therefore lost, and the original motion put and agreed to. In reply to Mr Cunningham, the Chairman said that the cost of romoving the ballast from the ships to the ballast ground was 3s 6d per ten. Mr Cunningham said that he had been told that the total cost was 5s per ton. !' '' The Chairman said the cost of haultrge was Is 6d, wharfage Is, and craneage Is, or a total of 3s 6d per ton. Mr Cunningham contended that the rate for taking out ballast was 6s per ton instead of 2» 6d, which would be a fair charge.

The Chairman said that the station master at Ljttelton told him that 3s 6d was the cost.

The Board then adjourned till March 31st, to meet at Lyttelton.