WAIMAKARIRI HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2625, 5 September 1882, Page 3

WAIMAKARIRI HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this Board was held on Monday evening at the Kaiapoi Municipal Chamber. Present—Messrs Parnham (chairman), Threlkeld, Moore, Mathews and Day. The Chairman reported the engine from the dredge had been duly returned to Mr R. Evans.

Correspondence was read from the Collector of Customs and Secretary of the Marine Department, forwarding the proceedings of the Courts of Enquiry. In the Clematis case the signalman had not signalled “ take bar,” but, finding the master was doing so, worked the semaphore. The signalman gave “ put to sea," but says there was a haze. The damage done was slight. The vessel was beached nineteen days, and worked off by anohorr. In the Jessie case the cause of casualty was the uncertain state of the bar. Vessels entering sooh a bar should be on an even keel (the Jessie drew 7ft aft, sft Sinlforward). She heeled at the stern, and aN.B. wind forced her on the south beach. Neither master nor pilot are to blame. Loss

arose by silling of the bar. The Falcon stranded by the wind failing at a critical moment, and the vessel, toting weigh, became unmanageable, the casualty being caused by the wind falling. The Huon Bell’s mainsail ocming down with a run was c&nsed by the thumb cleat of the throat halyard giving way. The vessel wa* not seriously injured. The casualty was owing to a pure accident. _ The salvage services were assisted by the signalman, except in the ease of the Huon Belle. The Chairman pointed out that, from the letter* just read, it was plain that the bar and depth of water thereon was clearly not the came of the disasters

Accounts amounting to £23 were passed. Mr Moore moved his motion, of which notice had been given, namely— ** That the Minister of the Marine Department be written to, asking that the signalman stationed at Kaiapoi be placed under the control of the Board ; also, that the Board be subsidised to the amount of £l6O per annum, to p\y a signalman and provide the necessary plant for the working of the bar, as the present plant is imuffioient tor the proper working of vessels coming in or going out over the bar, and property and life is considerably endangered thereby.” He stated he had intended to move it at the last meeting, but on an assurance that the member for the district wa* looking into the matter, he had held it over, and if it was shown that steps were being taken, the letter need not be written to the department. It was very unsatisfactory that the Board should have no control over the pilot, and still more so that this officer should not be provided with a proper boat to assist vessels, or arrive at proper sounding* of the bar. It had just been stated that the cause of one vessel going ashore was from the shifting of the bar, which the pilot might have been aware of had he possessed a proper boat. Mr Threlkeld, In seconding, said it always sesmod to him most necessary and desirable that the pilot should be controlled by the Board, which was usual in the case of harbors.

The Chairman agreed with the motion, but understood their member had the matter in hand. There was no doubt a boat ought to be obtained and the channel defined with stakes. At present there was not a single stake in the river, otherwise he understood it was the best bar between Lyttelton and Auckland.

Mr Moore, in reply, said the motion could do no harm, and if action was taken it would be assuring to the owners of vessels and some of the insurance companies. Mr Mathews thought it questionable whether the jurisdiction of the Board extended beyond the boundaries of the town. The Chairman observed there was very little doubt but their powers extended over all the navigable portion of the river. The motion was here pnt, the mover and seconder voting for, Messrs Mathews and Day against. Mr Moore said he thought Mr Day was in favor of the motion.

Mr Day said he considered it an anomaly that the Board should not have control over the whole arrangements of the port, but he was afraid if they took the pilot over, while the Government might vote his salary this, they would not do so next session, and without an endowment he was not in favor of passing the motion at present. The motion meant an extra outlay for boat and service of £IOO, and the pilot would require compensation. The Chairman said he would vote for the motion, which was then declared carried, and the Board adjourned.