LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2237, 3 June 1881, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board was held in the Board's offices, at Lyttelton, yesterday afternoon. There were present— Hon. E. Richardson (chairman), and Messrs H. P. Murray-Aynsley, Allwright, Turner, Cunningham, Sawtell, and the Hob. J. X. Peacock. The Chairman made the following statement : The following sums have been paid into the Board's credit since our last meeting :—Wharfage, £2750 17s 3d ; pilotage and port charges, £1466 16s 2d ; towage, warps, &3., £539 16s 8d ; total, £4766 10s Id. The dredging and towage returns for the months of April and May are on the table, and show a most satisfactory result. The quantity dredged during April amounted to 28,620 cubic yards, and in May to 27,720 cubic yard's making a total of 56,340 cubic yards for the two months. I, however, think it right to draw the Board's attention to the foot that the boilers of the hopper barges are now a source of considerable trouble, in consequence of repeated repairs being necessary, and a reference to the dredging returns show that during the past two months the loss of time entailed by reason of this is equivalent to £SO a month. It, therefore, is desirable that the question of obtaining a spare boiler should be again considered at an early date. The harbor-master's reports on the number of vessels which arrived and left the port during April and May are on the table, and show the following result:—April, 1881, 117 vessels ; aggregate register tonnage, 30,146 tons. May, 1881, 106 vessels ; aggregate register tonnage, 30,125 tons. The engineer's monthly report will be read. The report of the finance committee will be brought up to-day. A copy of it has already been sent to all the members of the Board. In oonnection with the question of our harbor charges, I lay on the table a comparative statement showing those of other ports. It will be noted that our charges bear a favourable comparison where the circumstances of other ports are in any way similar. In several cases, however, where no steam tug is employed, the comparison appears to be against us ; but, in reality, it is not the case. A letter, which will be read, has been received from the Government agreeing to pay the Board a rent of £2OOO a year for the shed which we propose to build on the breastwork, and Mr Bell, our engineer, is now in communication with Mr Lowe, the railway engineer, with a view to design a suitable building for present as well as future requirements. The plans will be submitted in due course to the Board for approval. The Government, it will be seen, have asked to have the plans sent to Wellington before tenders are called for the work. Correspondence will be read in ref erenoe to the Government employing prison labour on the embankment to be formed from Sticking Point. The work has already been put in hand by them. The arrivals of the ships Oxford and Dkapore, with sand ballast, some 800 tons, again raised the question of discharging sand ballast inside the harbor. After consulting several members of the Board, and giving the matter serious consideration,!! did not see any way to authorise so large a quantity to be disposed in such a manner. I have written to the railway department with a view to having the present railway charges for landing and disposing of ships' ballast, which in my opinion are excessive, modified. The Harbors Act, 1878, absolutely forbids the discharging of ship's ballast inside any harbor, unless above low water mark. I may mention that it is only in caseß where ships bring sand ballast any difficulty arises, when they bring rook or stone ballast there is no obstacle to prevent the disposal of it at a very small expense, if any, to the ship. As the question of the establishment of a sailors' home in Lyttelton has again been raised, I wish to ascertain whether the Board desire, in the event of any alteration in the Harbors Act taking place during the ensuing seosion, to obtain power to deal with the matter by enabling them to spend their funds in assisting to ereot buildings, and also to granting a yearly subsidy. It will be remembered that on a previous occasion the Board, although unanimous in their wish to do this, were advised by the then Attorney-General, Mr R-obt. Stout, that they had not any legal power to do so under the provisions of the Harboro Act now in force. The only power they possess in the matter being one in oommon with borough councils, to grant sites for sailors' homes. This power is given by the Shipping and Seamen's Aot, 1879. I understand, however, that the Government are prepared to grant a site for the purpose on the site of Hargreaves' Store, Norwich quay. Correspondence is on the table in reference to the services of Capt. Clark being sought for as one of the nautical assessors on the Tararua inquiry. It will be seen that he was subsequently summoned bb a witness. A letter was reoeived from the Government intimating that aa Mr Joyce's sorvioes as telegraphist in Lyttelton were being dispensed with, it might possibly affect his engagement with the Board_ as timeball keeper. Mr Joyce has stated_ in reply to a memo, sent him on the subject, that he is prepared to continue for the present his existing arrangement with the Board. G. J. Welsh, one of the deck hands on the barge Heothcote, has been suspended for striking the mate, and it now rests with the Board to deal with his case. An application has been received from Mr G. Miller, the engineer of the tug, to be exchanged into one of the hopper barges. Mr B. Brown, engineer on the barge Sumner, is reported by Mr Turpin to be fully competent and willing to undertake the duties, holding as he does a first-class engineer's certificate, I therefore recommend the Board to approve of this alteration of the staff. The harbor master

reports that a new boat in required for the inward pilot station, and I suggest that the Board authorise tenders being called to have one built. The oost of the last one built was about £6O. Tenders for the Quail Island stock jetty have been called for by the Board, at the request of the Government, and the tenders will be opened this afternoon. This morning I have received a letter from our consulting engineers in England, Messrs Bell and Miller, informing me that the pumping machinery for the dock has been shipped on board the Merope, which sailed on the 19th March. I have also to-day received a communication from the secretary of the Lyttelton Colonißts' Society, asking the Board to endeavor during the coming session to have the Harbors Act, 1878, so amended as to allow the Board, should it so think fit, to contribute towards the expenses of their institution in Lyttelton. The Board will remember that on its first constitution a contribution was given to this society, and doubtless if the power existed it would continue its assistance to an institution which is so much used by the eeafaring population visiting the port. Messrs. Penoock and Wright took exception to tho chairman's romarks about tho eparo boilers for the hoppers, as reflecting blamo upon the other members of the committee, by whom the matter had previously boon considered.

The Chairman disavowed any intention to impute blamo to anyone, but brought tho matter up again simply as one of duty in his position of chairman of the Board. Mr Allwright askod who it was that authorised the stoppage of tho ballast lighters from carrying ballast to Camp Bay, the place whero the hoppers discharged. Ho considered it a very great hardship upon a largo number of men that they must carry ballast to five miles outsido to discharge it. The Chairman explained that the harbor improvement committee had empowered him to permit ballast to be deposited in Camn Bay in very urgent circumstances, but the Harbors Act distinctly prohibited it. Mr Allwright still thought tho ballastmen were so handicapped that it was impossible for them to keep their business going. Mr Cunningham said it would be advisable to let all the Collectors of Customs here and in Australia know, requesting them to inform shipmasters that rock or stone ballast was the best to bring to this port. The following report from the engineer was read :

The Chairman Lyttelton Harbor Board. Sir, —1. The Government having accepted the plans for a wharf at Qaail Island, tenders will be submitted at this meeting for the construction of the same.

2. The prisoners have been pet to work on the reclamation between Sticking Point and Officers' Point. They have commenced at Sticking Point, and I have issued a letter of instruction to the manager of the work which is equivalent io a specification. 3. The new tide g inga is being erected on the breastwork. The receding parts are inside a small honse with a glass pane in the door; the tide float is enclosed in a wooden case, reaching 4(t. below low water, the inside coppered to prevent the accumulation of mussels and we:dg. 4. I have conferred with the Harbor Master on the subject of placing longitudinal fenders on the wharves. I submit his memorandum, in which you will see that he prefers longitudinal fenders, with the condition, however, that they should be fastened to the ship, and not to the wharf, this arrangement causing the wear and tear through chafing to be borne by the piloß of the wharf, and not by the sides of the ships, which is as it should be. The chafing plates on the piles cost little money, and last many years, while, if the ship used vertical fenders against a fixed longitudinal fender on the wharf, the pressure would be very severe on the ship's side. I agree with the Harbor Master that it would be a great convenience to ships if the Beard provided a number of fenders, with chain attachments, to be hired by them when wanted. 5 I have communicated with Mr Lowe, engineer to the Government, on the subject of the sheds to be erected on the new breastwork, and will pr. pare plans in accordance {with the suggestions from him. 6. The contractors of the dock being in want of space for the rock excavated, I have furnished a plan and crosß sections, as approved by you, of an embankment extending in a westerly direction from the end of the pitched slope already completed. This bank will not be hand pitched, but the largest rosk will be laid on the outside slopes. 7. The work of the dock has made good progress this month; a large amount of excavation has been taken ont from the entrance, and the wing wall? at the entrance have been bnilt np for a considerable height; a great portion of the concrete altars in the body of the dock is finished, and some of the cope stones set in place. Most of the quoin stones for the caisson ledge have been procured from Melbourne, and dressed to shape. 8. The work on the new breastwork is in a very forward state, and will soon be completed. 9. The fender piles on the old jetties are many of them without iron chafing plates, in consequence of which the piles are much worn by the iron plates of ships. I would recommend {hat I be authorised to put fifty chafing plates of I'm. iron to those piles. I am, &c, C. Napier Bell, Engineer.

The harbormaster's letter to tho engineer, stating his reasons why fixed longitudinal fenders should not be used, was read. He ■was of opinion that if twenty fenders were made with ohain fastenings they could be lent to the Bhips to an advantage, with or without charge. Mr Wright moved—" That the Board authorise the expenditure neoessary for providing twenty fenders with chains attaohed, for the use of vessels lying at the wharves, as recommended by the engineer and harbormaster, made May 30th last; also, iron plating the fender piles on the old wharves, as recommended by the engineer." Seoonded by Mr Sawtell, and carried. The report of the finance oommittoe was read as follows:

1. Harbor Chargeß.—The following resolution of the Board, namely: desires to reconsider the charges made by the Harbor Board, and instructs the finance committee to report the extent to which reductions, if any, can safely be made, and what items shall be affected thereby," having been most carefully considered by the finance committee, they find the Board's financial position would not warrant them in recommending the Board to make any further reduction in the harbor charges, until after the completion of the graviDg dock and other important harbor works already contracted for, or included in the general plan of harbor improvements, the cost of which, irrespective of dredging, will more thao'fabsorb the estimated available balance of funds at the Board's disposal. 2. Sale of Debentures.—Your committee have had a long interview with Mr John Ollivier, the provincial district auditor, in reference to the transaction between the National Bank of New Zealand and Messrs J. and A. Scrimgeour, of London, and after fully discussing the various aspects of the question, they came to the conclusion that it was not advisable to incur the large expenditure likely to arise out of a lawsuit with the Bank, more especially _ as it was found that the amount in dispute—viz., £4o9—might perhaps be subjected to further reduction by sundry charges, even if the Boardjs claim wa9 substantiated. Tn coming to this decision, however, the committee desire to say, that they have Been no reason to depart from the opinion previously expressed by them upon the general merits of the transaction. The committee attach to this report a letter on the subject, just reeeived from Mr Ollivier, the provincial district auditor.—Edwakd Hichaedbon. Chairman.

Christchurch, May 20th, 1881. To the Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbor Board. Sir, —Referring back to my interview with your Board, on the 27th of April, upon the enbject of the action of the National Bank, and their contract with Messrs Scrimgeour, I am impressed with the belief that the opinion expressed by one of yonr members as to Bank nsage, is of such ? grave importance that it might possibly render the chances of the result of an action so exceedingly donbtf ul.that I am inclined to withdraw my objections to the account, and my advice to the Board to take legal proceedings for the recovery of the amount in dispute. It is absolutely necessary that the case of the Board should be clear and indisputable, end although I am still of opinion that the transaction was unjustifiable and in excess of powers conferred upon the Bank by the Board, it is, nevertheless, possible that a different construction might be put upon the Bank's interpretation of their powers and instructions, as agents, by the Supreme Court. Under these circumstances I am ef opinion that, in the interests of the public, it will be bettor to allow the matter to rest where it is. I have, &c, J. Ollivikb, Prov. Dis. Aud.

Mr Wright felt Borne disappointment that the committee had not given figures and data for their recommendations. He failed to see the wisdom of spending another £50,000 to provide accommodation for shipping which would not be required for years to come. He thought the charges ought to be reduced, they being too muoh of a tax upon the farming community. He moved—" That clause No. 1 in the report be postponed for consideration until November next."

Mr Turner said that Mr Wright's motion should first be preoeded by an understanding come to by the Board that they would post-

pose some of the works contemplated hi the general scheme of harbor improvement. If that were done, and the Board decided to withdraw from some of those proposed works, he oould not see but what some reductions could be made in the charges. He felt that perhaps it would be well to postpone the matter as proposed, however, and would Becond Mr Wright's resolution, in order that a clear understanding might bo come to by tho Board as to what proposed works it might wish to forego. Mr Cunningham considered that the charge for pilot3ge should bo at or.co roduced. He moved an amendment—" That pilotage, port charges and the harbor master's fees bo reduced 25 percent."

Mr Peacock seconded tho amendment, which was put and lost. Mr Wright's resolution was then put and carried.

Accounts amounting to £7405 17j Id were passed for payment. Respecting the proposal to esliiblish n. Sailors' Home nnd subscribing to theCjloniets' Society's free roKding room and library, it vs.is understood thutthe Board would be favorable to assist should the requisite power be given it by a change in tho Harbors Act. The suspension of tho employe Welsh was confirmed by the Board, pending the decision of the harbor improvement committeo, in whoso hands the matter wao left with power to act. Tho exchange of positions proposed by engineers Miller and Brown was approved by tho Board, the former will take tho Heathcoto and tho latter the tugboat.

It was agreed to call for tenders for a new pilot boat for tb.9 inward pilot service. Leave of absence was granted to tho members of Parliament to attend tho session. Two tenders for tho conetructicn of a quarantine cattle wharf at Quail Island were opened. J. Stinson's was for £2lB 19s 23 ; Hawkins and Martindale's £241. 10s 2d. They wero forwarded to Government with a recommendation that the lowest bo accepted. Tho meeting adjourned to June 30th at Ohristchuroh.