LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2699, 1 December 1882, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Harbor Board was held at 2.30 p.m. Present— Messrs P. Cunningham (chairman), B. J. S. Harman, B. Allan, J. D. Macpherson, H. Sawtell, B. G. Wright, his Worship the Mayor of Lyttelton, Hon. E. Bichardson. The Chairman said—l have to report the following business for the Board's consideration which has come under my notice during the month : —Delay will take place in opening the dock in consequence of the caisson not fitting at the first trial. As you are aware, it was intended that the ceremony should occur on the 14th prox., but with the works at present in hand I see no chance of the necessary arrangements being completed before Saturday, 30th December, and I shall be glad if the Board will pass a resolution fixing that date for the dock opening. The committee appointed to arrange re the formal opening of the dock have inefc and decided that a luncheon should be spread in the large export shed, the use of which we have obtained from the Government, who have also agreed to place special trains at our disposal for the occasion. A list of invitations to the luncheon will be found on the table, which I shall be glad if the Board will peruse in order to prevent omissions. Be electric lighting—This business was held over for the last meeting of the Board, and I now submit a resolution which will authorise an expenditure of about .£2500, based on Mr Sledding's estimate. This will complete the work of lighting the wharves and dock. I submit, for your "consideration, Mr Medding's report. Be Sailors' Home—Completed plans are on the table, and I have instructed the architect to call for tenders at once for the building. I addressed a letter to the Government, explaining fully the position of this matter, and you will be pleased to hear, that we have been granted the sum of .£SOO for this object. It is also satisfactory to know that the directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company agreed to our request, and will allow us to use the wall of their building as a " dividing wall," which will save the Board considerable expense. Be award in favor of Messrs Ware and Jones— In connection herewith, Messrs Ware and Napier Bell proceeded to Wellington and gave evidence before Mr Blackett, M.1.C.E., Colonial Engineer. The result of his arbitration being an award against the Board of .£SBO 14s 3d, the full amount claimed by the contractors, I will ask for the authority of the Board to make the above payment to Messrs Ware and Jones. We are also asked to pay the arbitration fee of £ls. Be contract for Oregon timber—Believing that the dock would be opened at an early date, the engineer reported the necessity of ordering a quantity of Oregon timber for shores and blocks for dock purposes. Seeing that this was an emergency, I called for tenders and accepted the lowest, namely, that of Messrs Pindlay, of Dune din, for £231 12s. I will ask you to confirm my action in this matter, and authorise payment of the amount. The timber is delivered at the dock. Amounts paid to Board's credit. —The following amounts have been paid to Board's credit during the month :—Wharfage, .£lll2 12s; towage, &c, £156 8s; pilotage, &c, £294 10s 3d; refund half piermaster's salary, £200; making a total of £1703 16s 3d. The Bank balance to credit of current account is, £6320 Is 3d; the Bank balance to credit of debentures account, £IO,OOO. Total, £46,320 Is 3d. The finance committee have inspected the list of accounts now submitted for payment. Brig Derwent —The brigDerwent has been hired for the purpose of drawing piles at the coffer dam. The sum of £2O will require to be voted. The Board have been asked to authorise the erection of a small school building at the pilot station. I do not think the cost will exceed £SO or £GO, and shall be glad of an expression of opinion on this matter. Captain M'Lellan has accepted the position of dock master. Appointment of assistant dock master — This matter will come up for your consideration to-day. Numerous applications for this post have been made, but I think you will find, on inspection, that the number from, which to select is easily reducible. The assistant dockmaster will be expected to devote his spare time and energies to the service of the Board when not employed at the dock. Appointment of assistant engineer and fireman at dock — A number of applications for this post have also been made, and I will ask the Board to make a selection. Benewing contract for ironwork and repairs—The time has arrived for renewing this contract, and I would submit for the Board's consideration the relative advisability of erecting a small forge and workshop at the dock, to be placed under the supervision of Mr Turpin, or the renewal of the contract. Mr Turpin is preparing a detailed specification for lengthening the dredge. Leasing of land to west of Peacock's Wharf —Plans of sidings and sites to be leased by the Board, on the reclaimed land to the west of Peacock's Wharf, have not yet been approved by the Government. Two letters have been written on the subject, intimating that the Beard should be enabled to advertise the leasing of these sites before the end of the year. Under the Harbors Act we are obliged to give throe months' notice by advertisement before leasing any of our land. Messrs. Crawford aud Smith's applications—Mr J. Crawford, of Sumner, has written asking for permission to build a landing stage at Sumner. There is also an application from Mr John Smith, asking to be allowed to erect a wharf on the Heathcote. As this is becoming a matter of great importance, I would ask the Board, at an early date, to define some policy in connection with applications of this nature. Mr Dayhas applied for an extension of time in connection with his contract for staking the rivers Avon and Heathcoto. Hi, excuse being a reasonable one, I shall ask the Board to accede to his request. The New Zealand Shipping Company have given us notice that after the end of next month they will not require their present offices in Lyttelton. I have instructed the secretary to advertise that the ' building is to let. Appointment of S.

Muter as cadet (on probation)—l trust that this appointment will meet with the approval of the Board. Yearly supply of coals and stores—l will ask the authority of the Board to call for tenders. I have authorised the engineer to get several slight alterations made in the engine room at the dock, at a cost not exceeding .£lO. Mr Turpin has reported to me a considerable delay in repairing the dredge's old boilers. I saw Mr Pope, the contractor, who agreed to finish it within a fortnight. The Graving Dock By-laws have been sealed, and will come into operation within a few days. His Excellency Sir James Prendergast has acceded to the Board's request to open the dock if he finds it at all possible to leave "Wellington at the date fixed. The heavy additional amount of work imposed upon Mr Williams in connection with the dock opening, his annual accounts, and the removal of Mr Wood from the Board's service, made it absolutely necessary that I should find him immediate clerical assistance. I have made a temporary arrangement with Mr Bevan for two months. Sorrento's Dues—The harbor dues for the steamship Sorrento hava been paid to this Board under protest, with what object I am not aware. Sheerlegs.—A report will be read from the engineer, dated 16th November, in which he recommends obtaining from England a set of patent sheerlegs, to be erected upon, the proposed breastwork near the dock, the plans for which have been already approved by Government. I will ask the Board to pass a resolution on the subject. The Manager of the Bank of New Zealand asks permission to withdraw his letter of 4th July. The engineer's report was read, giving details of the progress of the various works in connection with the harbour, and also detailing the trial made of the caisson at the dock. A further report was read on the carrying out of the embankment at Sticking Point, which had been done by the use of prison labour. The work had taken up to now about ten and and a half months.

The next question was the opening of the dock.

Mr Turner moved—" That the Chairman be requested to take such steps as he may consider desirable in opening the dock as will best tend to bring the matter into public notice, and that a sum not exceeding .£4OO be placed at the disposal of the committee for the purpose. That the opening ceremony take place on Wednesday, January 3rd, 1883." Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Harman moved—" That the chairman of the Board be authorised to order from Messrs Siemens Bros., of London, the requisite plant advised by Mr Meddings for electric lighting purposes, including gas engines, for providing three]lights of 3000 candle power each, also the engine and lamps for the graving dock, the complete cost being estimated at £2500." Mr B. Allan seconded the motion, which was carried.

It was resolved that the steam engine proposed should be altered to a gas engine.

Mr Wright said that he desired to place on record his opposition to the expenditure of the money for electric lights on the wharves, more especially after the very favourable report of the harbor-master on the improved gas Lamps. It -"as, of course, necessary to have the electric light for the dock, which for that purpose would be the best they could get. This being separate from the lighting of the wharves, he thought they should limit their order to the light for the dock only. It was probably useless for him to prolong the discussion, as the Board had no doubt niade up its mind but he recorded his protest against what he considered was an unnecessary expense. The motion was then put and carried. The amount of the arbitrator's award in the case of Ware and Jones v the Harbor Board, amounting to £SSO 14s 3d, was passed for payment. Accounts were passed to the amount of £2905 15s. Mr Harman moved that the action of the chairman in calling for and accepting tenders for supply of Oregon timber be approved, and the tender of Messrs Pindlay be accepted. Mr Macpherson seconded the motion, which was carried.

On the motion of the Mayor of Lyttelton the sum of £2O was passed for the hire of the Derwent. Mr Wright moved— " That the sum of £SO be passed for the erection of a schoolhouse at the pilot station at the heads." Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was carried.

The next question was the appointment of an assistant dockmaster, for which office there were nineteen applicants. The Board went into committee to consider the applications, the number of which was reduced to two.

On resuming, The Chairman announced that Mr Matthew Brown had been elected as assistant dockmaster.

Mr Turner moved—" That Mr Matthew Brown receive the appointment of assistant dockmaster at a salary of £2OO per annum."

Mr Allan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Wright moved—" That Mr Harman be requested to negotiate with Messrs Siemens for the supply of the necessary apparatus for providing the electric light, as agreed upon by the Board, for lighting the dock and wharves in Lyttelton." Mr Allan seconded the motion. Mr Turner thought that Mr Harman should, in view of probable developments of the electric light, be empowered, if he saw fit, to stop the order as now proposed to be given. The motion was agreed to. It was resolved that the engines of the dock be placed under the temporary superintendence of Mr Turphi, with Fireman Beecroft as his assistant.

The Mayor of Lyttelton moved—" Tliat the chairman be authorised to call for tenders for iron work, engineering l , and blacksmith's repairs, for a period of twelve months. Special repairs or works, of which the Board's engineer shall be sole judge, to be excluded from the contract." Mr Allan seconded the motion, which was carried. The chairman was also authorised to call for tenders for the supply of coal and stores for a period of twelve months. It was resolved —" That the Board authorise the advertising of tenders for lengthening the dredge, so soon as the specifications for the same are prepared." Mr Turner moved —" That the harbor improvement committee be requested to bring up within a month a report of conditions and reserves to be placed upon the warehouse and other sites which will be offered by tender or auction at an early date." Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was carried.

The application of Messrs Crawford and Smith, for permission to erect jettie3 at Sumner, on the Heathcote river, was considered.

Mr Harman moved —" That the whole question be referred to the harbor improvement committee, to report upon the granting of sites for wharves and stages upon the Heathcote river."

Mr Allan seconded. The extension of time of three weeks asted for by Mr Bay was agreed to. The action of the chairman in providing clerical assistance to the Board was approved. The Hon. E. Richardson, speating on the question of the remission of harbor dues to the Sorrento, said that the G overnmeut had remitted the light dues of the vessel. "With reference to the recommendation of the engineer to obtain a set of sheer legs from home. The Mayor of Lyitelton and Mr Allan opposed the sending home to England for machinery which might perhaps be got quite as well in the colony. The latter said that the boilers got out from England had been of such a character that the inspector cf machinery would never have passed them had they come out of a Christchurch shop. The Mayor of Lyttelton moved—" That the matter be referred to the harbor improvement committee." Mr Allan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Board then adjourned till Doc. 2S>