LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2721, 29 December 1882, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD

An ordinary meeting of the above was held at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. Present — Messrs P. Cunninghamj(chairman), R. J. S. Harman, E. Allan, Hons. E. Eichardson and J. T. Peacock, and the Mayor of Lyttelton. An apology for non-attendance was received from Mr C. W. Turner. The Chairman said —The principal business I have to report for the last month is in connection with dock opening arrangements. All the incidental works are progressing satisfactorily, and the engineer will have everything in readiness for 3rd January. The order of procedure for the day will be duly advertised. I expect about 700 guests will be present. The expense will be somewhat greater than was anticipated by the Board, and I shall have to ask for authority to incur the additional outlay. Letters have been received from the several New Zealand Harbor Boards, congratulating us upon the completion of a work of so much importance to Lyttelton and to the colony. I will ask the Board to constitute themselves a{committee to ensure that strangers and visitors have d je attention shown them on the opening day. The tug and a platform on the dock will be placed at the disposal of ladies for the afternjon of 3rd proximo. Cards of admission can be obtained from members of the Board or from the secretary. Immediate application should be made, as only 350 ladies in all can be accommodated. The following amounts have been paid to the Board’s credit during the month : Pilotage and port charges ... £222 10 8 Towage, warp and rent ... 177 4 0 Wharfage ... ... ... 806 9 10 Eetunds and exemptions ... C 7 5 10 Total ... .£1273 10 4 Dredging and towage returns will not be found on the table at this meeting, as they cannot be completed till 31st instant. The engineer’s progress report of works during the month is laid on the table. We have received a certificate under the seal of the Lyttelton Borough Council declaring Mr S. E. Webb duly elected Mayor of Lyttelton, thereby becoming ex officio a member of this Board. Tenders for Sailors’ Home have been opened, submitted to the architect, and are now laid on the table for your approval. I will ask the Board to decide whether they wish any public ceremony to be observed when laying the foundation stone. The Timaru Harbor Board have handed us a cheque for .£54, being value of pilot boat lent to them in May last and accidentally damaged. I will ask for your authority to order a new boat forthwith. 'You will also be asked to authorise the expenditure of .£l5O in connection with additional ballast for the caisson. Detailed plans and specifications of the reclamation near the dock have been prepared, and are on the table. We have not yet received the approval of the Government to the general plans of the sites to be leased on the reclaimed land. In the meantime Mr Mclntyre, surveyor, has been instructed to lay off the sites and furnish a plan. Tenders will be called for so soon as the Government’s sanction is obtained. I will ask the Board for authority to erect additional notice boards, &c., cautioning bathers at Sumner. The policy for .£IO,OOO on the tug expires on 31st instant. I shall be glad to know if the Board wish it renewed. Letters of importance have been received from Messrs Easton and Anderson, in reference to dock boilers. They have been submitted to Mr Croll, whose answer, with relative documents, will be found on the table. The engineer’s report on the various works was read and plans for additional reclamation were submitted. Some discussion ensued on the question of the caisson, and ultimately, Mr Harman moved—“ That the expenditure of £l5O for additional caisson ballast be approved.” Hon. E. Eichardson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Accounts to the amount of £2260 6s were passed for payment. On the motion of the Hon. E. Eichardson, the Mayor of Lyttelton was appointed as a member of the finance committee, in room of Mr Allwright, who had resigned. In response to an inquiry as to who was responsible for the caisson, Mr Bell said Mr Turpin was so responsible as the inspector of the dock. _ In case of any accident occurring to the caisson the engineer would, of course, be responsible until the dock was completed. Tenders were opened for the erection of the Sailor’s Home, and that of Messrs Sollit and Comber, for £2460, was accepted. It was decided that the work be at once proceeded with, and that the seal of the Board be affixed to the contract. Mr Allan moved—■“ That the insurance of £IO,OOO on the Board’s steam tug Lyttelton be renewed.” Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was agreed to. It was resolved that the Board authorise the calling for tenders for building a new pilot boat. A lengthy correspondence with reference to the boilers of the dock was read. Mr Harman said that he thought the Board should take some steps to give additional notice to bathers on Sumner beach, and that painted notices should bo put up giving notice of the danger of bathing. Mr Allan said he thought the Board should put up a wire fence, so as to prevent people bathing in the bad place. Mr Harman moved —“ That the chairman be authorised to have additional notice boards erected at Sumner, warning persons of the danger of bathing in the channel.” Mr Allan seconded the motion, and pointed out that the notices now erected were not only all but illegible, but in a place where no one could see them. Hon. J. T. Peacock suggested that if the Board filled up to the outer rocks they might have the drift of the tide shunted off. The Chairman said that a plan had been suggested which would cost some £4500. But what he thought they should do was to erect a bathing shed with sheath piling, &c. The motion was then put and carried. The Chairman said that the committee for dock opening had arranged for three trains, viz., 11.40 a.m. (special), 12.10 (ordinary) and 12.35 p.m. (special). The special trains would not stop at wayside stations, but the ordinary one would do so. The opening of the dock was fixed for 1 p.m., and the luncheon at 2 p.m. He would desire to ask the Board as a whole to consider a list of toasts, and he also desired to know whether the Board would have on the plate of the dock a record that it was opened by his Excellency the Acting-Governor. The Board decided that it was not necessary that this should be done. The Chairman then asked whether the foundatiou-oCone of the Sailors’ Home would be laid with any formality. Mr iHarman certainly thought that Mr Cunningham should be asked to lay the stone, both as chairman and as one who had taken the deepest interest in the work. Hon. J. T. Peacock moved —“ That the

chairman be requested to lay the founda-tion-store of the Sailors’ Home.” Mr Allan seconded the motion, -which Was carried. Hon. E. Richardson said that during the visit of Sir Julius Vogel he had had a conversation with him in reference to the lighting of the harbor by electric light, and Sir Julius had stated that a plant was in New Zealand for lighting, which could be fixed for .£920, exclusive of the engines necessary. Sir Julius informed him that the plant spoken of represented sixteen lights of 2000 candle power. In reply to Mr Harman, The Secretary said that the lights for which they had agreed to write to Messrs Siemens Bros, were three of 3000 candle power each. Hon. J. T. Pea'- aid that he thought they had been twprgcipitate in the matter, and if it was possible to recall the order they had sent they should do so, and ask Siemens Brothers by cable to suspend any operations in the matter, particularly when they could get a more powerful light for half the money. Mr Allan said he was quite in accord with Mr Peacock. Here they got a far greater light offered to them at less than half the cost. Hon. E. Richardson said that he thought it was only fair to Sir Julius Vogel to explain that he had no interest whatever in the matter, as a company had been formed in New Zealand to take over the business. Some further discussion ensued, and ultimately it was resolved that the Board should meet Sir Julius Vogel with reference to the lighting of the harbour by the electric light on Tuesday afternoon, and that Mr Meddings be requested to be present. That a telegram be sent to Sir Julius Vogel asking him if he would meet the Board as requested. It was resolved that the Board approve of the arrangements made by the dockopening committee, and sanction any extra expenditure connected with the matter. It was resolved that the harbour improvement committee be instructed to order six .urinals for the wharves in Lyttelton. The Board then adjourned until January 15th at noon.