LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2644, 28 September 1882, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, at the Board’s offices, Hereford street. There were present—Mr B. J. S. Harman (chairman), the Hon. E. Richardson, and Messrs K. G. Wright, P. Cunningham, O. W. Turner, B. Allen, H. All wright, San tell, and J. D. Macpherson. After the minutes had been confirmed, the Chairman read the statement of the past month’s business. Mr Turpin reported that the contractors were making good progress with the caisson of the dock, which would probably be completed within the contract time. The Hon. E. Biohardson moved, and it was agreed, to remove £5003 from the fixed depotit account to the current expense account. Accounts for £8391 2i 8d were passed for payment. Mr O. W. Turner asked what other questions were in dispute, if any, with reference to the settlement with the dock contractors ? Tke Chairman said in June last the claim was for £2303, and he wrote for particulars, but no reply was sent; but action was taken at law by the contractors. He wished to remove any wrong impression that might prevail as to the contractors being badly used • Such was not the case. If anybody was put to any hardship it was the Board, who had been served with a writ without any previous notice. Mr Turner said the demurrer bad been decided in the Board’s favor, and that settled the larger amount. But was there not something else still standing ! The Chairman said there were two other items, the balance of the claim, about £633, one for Melbourne atone, the other for dock work. Mr Turner thought these matters should, if possible, be settled. In answer to Mr Wright, the Chairman said the contractors bad been paid for seven weeks’ time allowance. Mr Wright said, without reflecting on the engineer, it was a mistake to have allowed so much additional time for the'alterations made from the first contract. He thought the contractor had been fairly dealt with. As to the settlement of what was still standing, the Chairman laid he saw no reason why it could not bo settled, but as a fact the Board had been given no opportunity to settle it. Mr Turner said (he was quite satisfied. What he wanted was that the public should be made aware that the Board had been given no opportunity to settle. The Harbor Improvements Committee reported as follows : 1. Your committee submit a plan showing the proposed arrangement of sites on tbe reclaimed land between Peacock's wharf and the graving dock, ond tbe rail arrangements for working them, as prepared by Mr Lowe, railway engineer, and subsequently slightly modified in accordance with suggestions made by the harbor improvement committee, and concurred in by oar engineer, Mr Napier Bell. Tour committee recommend the Board to approve of the plan, feeling assured that it is one which will meet the future, as well as the present, requirements of the trade and shipping, utilising to the test advantage the reclaimed land at the Board’s disposal. The matter re ating to the terms and conditions for lotting the sites is a subject upon which yonr committee require further time to consider before bringing down their report. This, however, they propose to do at an early date as fossible after tbe plan now submitted baa been approved by Oovernmant, and acwptod or otherwise by the Board.

Clause approved. 2. Six mouths having e’apsed since your committee last reported on the subject of the harbor works, which, in their opinion, it was necessary to put in hand, they have again taken the matter under their most careful consideration, and beg to make the following recommendations thereon : Tour committee recommend the withdrawal of the proposal to bnild two sheds on the Gladstone pier, as they consider that they are not now required. Clause approved. Aa soon as the 248 feet of breastwork to the westward of Peacock’s jetty, tenders for which have just been sent in, is completed, the committee recommend that the reclamation and timber breastwork from the tunnel wharf to Peacock’s jetty be proceeded with, and that plans for the same be prepared and tenders called for as soon as possible. Clause approved. The Board’s ongiueor having reported that the present Poaoook jetty is barely safe for traffic, the committee recommend that it be pulled down as soon aa the 248 feet of low level breastwork to the westward of it is finished. The plans now about to be submitted for approval of Government do not contemplate the rebuilding! of the Peacock jetty at present, the estimated cost of which was £7OOO. Agreed to. The only two portions of the line of the timber breastwork between Peacock’s jetty and the dock which the committee have recommended to be. done at present, are the 248 feet to the west of Peacock’s Wharf and a portion of the ship’s ber th, of 450 feet long, near the dock, together with the triangular piece of reclamation at its base, as indicated on the attached plan, and the pile or concrete basement for shearleg.*, to lift heavy machinery, &0., out of vessels. Tenders for the former work have been sent in ; and the Board having approved of the plans for the latter, tenders will, as directed, be advertised for as soon as the Governmtnt have signified their approval of the plan. Clause approved. The engineer has now also completed the plans for a slip to take np vessels up to 450 tons, and when they arc approved by the Government, tenders will be invited, Estimated cost about £SOOO. Clause approved. As the construction of the timber breastwork

between the Tnnnel jo't j and Pc&coak jetty will necessarily shorten the Tunnel jetty some 100 feet, your committee therefore recommend the lengthening of this jetty by 200 feet; this work should bo done before the breastwork just mentioned is put in hind The Tunnel jetty would then be some 420 feet in length. Clause approved. [Left sitting.]