LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2237, 29 April 1881, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held yesterday, at 2 p.m. Present Hon. E. Richardson (chairman), Messrs B. O. Wright, P. Cunningham, O. W. Turner, E. J. S. Harman, H. P. Murray-Aynsley, end the Mayor of Lyttelton. The Chairman reported as follows : -—Since our last meeting the following sums have been paid into the Board’s credit:—Wharfage, £2681 8s sd; pilotage and port charges for March, 1881, £866 15s 4i ; towage fees, warps, &0., £247 lls; transfer from fixed deposits and interest matured, £10,125. Total, £13,920 14s 9d. The amount to credit of our current account to-day is £9843 16s, and we have fixed deposits bearing interest at the rate of 6 per cent, amounting to £85,000. The eum actually to the Board’s credit, after making provision for to-day’s payments, would be £90,754 4s 9d. Our engineer’s monthly report on the progress made with the various contracts in hand will bo read, and I recommend the Board to approve of the additional mooring piles, eight in number, to the new breastwork jetty and on the Gladstone Pier, as suggested by the engineer and Harbor-master. The dredging, towage, and shipping returns for the month of March are on the table, and they all show very satisfactorily. It will be seen that a very large amount of dredging was done during that month, amounting to 168 barge loads, or 30,240 cubic yards, equal to 42,000 tons. The plan of the new soundings is not yet ready, as the soundings have not been quite finished in the inner harbor. The finance committee had a long interview yesterday with the provincial district auditor, Mr Ollivier, on the question of the negotiation of the Harbor Board debentures, but the committee have found it impossible to bring up a report at the present meeting. The harbor improvement committee also met and dealt with several minor matters relegated to them by the Board. The questions relating to permanent arrangements for the disposal of ships’ ballast and in reference to boilers for the barges, have been postponed for further consideration. I have just received a reply from the Government re the Board’s decision as to what they would be prepared to do to assist the Government in finding employment for prison labor in Lyttelton, and I would recommend the Board to agree to the Government’s second proposal on the subject, namely —“ That the Government carry out the work (a stone embankment starting from Sticking Point and running towards Officers Point) by prison labor, and that the transfer be applied for when the Board is prepared to pay for the work done.” The engineer’s plan and estimate of the cost (£280) of the Quail Island stock jetty has been forwarded to Wellington through Mr Inspector Boulton. Tenders for tip ballast, and rubbish waggons Lave been received, and will be opened to-day. No reply has yet been received from the Government in reference to the proposed sheds on the breastwork.

The engineer’s report was read, stating that ha had prepared plans, &0,, for stock jetty at Quail Island. Advices had been received from Messrs Bell and Miller, stating that the pumping machinery would be shipped in March. The report stated, also, that it was found necessary to have more piles driven for moorings, authority for which was required. Six tip waggons were also required, for which tenders should he invited.

Mr Cunningham suggested that it would be aa well to arrange so that the ships’ fenders might be used with more facility at the Gladstone Pier. The Chairman said he would see this was carried out. ,

It was resolved that the extra mooring piles, as recommended by the engineer, should be arranged for. Mr Wright called attention to the fact that on two occasions he had received his notice of the meeting of a committee upon which he was serving too late. He thought it might be arranged that meetings of these committees should be held so as to give two or three days’ notice.

The Chairman said the secretary had telegraphed to Mr Wright on Wednesday, as the committee mot on Thursday. He might say that the general rule had been for the committee to meet when they were required. It was not always that they were able to say exactly when a committee should meet. If the Board desired any rule as to the meetings of committee he would see it carried out.

Mr Wright did not want any hard and fast rule laid down, but he thought three or four days’ notice should be given of the meeting. As it occurred in this case the telegram was sent at 11.30 on the day preceding the meeting, and remained at the Telegraph Office. The following letter was read from the Colonial Secretary as regarded the employment of prison labor: — Wellington, 23rd April, 1881. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 14th inst.. and beg to state in reply the Government feels obliged to your Board for the consideration given to the question of employing prison labor, and for the proposal made. The Government would not, however, be justified in incurring the outlay which the proposal would entail, on the terms stated by the Board, and would therefore suggest one of two courses:— 1. That Government concur in the Harbor Board’s application to Parliament for vesting the additional ground in it, provided that the Board will agree to pay, at a low rate of wage to be mutually arranged, for prison work on the reclamation, and also for tools and appliances necessary to carry on the work; or 2. That the Government carry out the work by prison labor, and that the transfer be applied for when the Board is prepared to pay for the cost of the work done. Awaiting information as to your decision, I have, &c., Thomas Dick. Hon. Edward Richardson, M.H.U., Chairman Lyttelton Harbor Board. The Chairman said the first proposal of Government meant that the Board should provide the plant, &c., for carrying on the work. This was altogether opposed to what the Board intended. The second proposal was the one, he thought, which might be accepted by the Board. Mr Cunningham would like to see some fixed price laid down, either per day or per yard for prison labor. Mr Harman would like to know whether the transfer referred to meant the whole of the land reclaimed. The Chairman said that the reserve meant leaving the Queen’s road. The Mayor of Lyttelton thought they should be very cautious in dealing with the subject, as the work would be a very expensive one.

Mr Turner thought the matter should be referred to the improvement committee.

The Chairman said that he thought a slight addition to the proposal of the Government would put the matter on a right footing. Mr Harman wanted to ask how the chain road would ho provided for. Tho Chairman pointed out on the plan how the road was arranged for. Mr Ayneley thought the course proposed by the chairman was the proper one to take.

Mr Wright thought that bearing in mind the terms of the letter sent to the Government, they could not do wrong in accepting the proposition of the Government, always bearing in mind that the transfer need not be applied for until the Board is prepared to meet the cost of work done.

Mr Cunningham said he thought the following resolution would meet the case; — “ Tnat the Government be informed that this Board will agree to the second alternative proposal made in the Hon. Mr Dick’s letter of the 23rd April, 1881, relative to the employment of prison labor, it being as follows : —‘ That the Government carry out the work by prison labor, and that the transfer bo applied for when the Board is prepared to pay for the cost of the work done.’ The work to consist of a stone embankment as described in the Board’s letter of the 3rd December last, commencing at Sticking Point, running westerly towards the Gladstone wharf, and the cost to bo mutually agreed upon between the Government and the Board, and in any case the cost not to exceed the cost of similar reclamation work done by the Harbor Board.”

Mr Wright seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

A letter was read from Mr Maxwell, stating that the Government were introducing a system of carrying parcels at a low rate, and asking whether the Harbor Board would meet the convenience of the public by re-

ducing the wharfage on these parcels, say to 2d per parcel. It was resolved that the secretary reply that the Harbor Board would, if the matter was for the convenience of the public, be prepared to meet the Government in the matter.

A tender for the supply of tip waggons was accepted. In reply to Mr Harman, The Chairman stated that Westport coal was used in all their vessels. Accounts to the amount of £4089 11s 3d were passed for payment. Mr Wright asked how it was that the report of the finance committee on the further reductions in harbor charges had not been presented. He might say that he had abstained from moving a distinct resolution on the subject on the understanding that the committee would report that day. The Chairman said that they had discussed the subject referred to, and that of the National Bank loan question, but they had so lengthy a meeting that they were not able to bring up a report that day. However, they would have the report ready for next meeting. Mr Turner moved—" That the next meeting be held on June 2nd, at Christchurch.” Mr Cunningham seconded the motion. Mr Aynsley moved, as an amendment—- “ That the Board meet In Lyttelton.” The Mayor of Lyttelton seconded the amendment.

The voices were equal on the amendment being put, and the chairman gave his casting vote in favor of the amendment.

The Board then adjourned.