LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6503, 30 December 1881, Page 5

LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

This Board met in Lyttelton yesterdey afternoon % present—Messrs B. J. 8. Harman (in the chair), J. T. Peacock, H. Allwright, P, Cunningham, B. Allan, and 0. W. Turner.

The Secretary stated that the Chairman (the Hon B. Richardson) bad been in Fort that morning, but hod been obliged to leave for home, owing to the illness of one of his children, CUAIBKAH’e mTKXBKT. The Chairman said:—l have to report that Mr J. Drummond Uacpherson baa been duly elected as » member of this Board for the Borough of Lyttelton, to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Murray-Aynsloy’s resignation. The following sums have been paid into the Board's credit since our last ordinary meeting: —Wharfage, £1162 2a 6s j towage charges, Ac., £166 18a 6d j pilotage and port charges for Bov., 1881, £421 6* 9d j total, £1740 2a 3d. Tho Kngmoer’s monthly report on the progress mode with the various harbour works in hand will bo read. The Finance Committee met yesterday, and decided in re* ference to tho fixed deposit of £60,000, which matures on Jan. 2, that £40,000 shall be placed on fixed deposit for 6 mouths, £12,000 for 3 months, and £BOOO be carried to credit of our current account. The question of towage charges the Finance Committee have still under consideration, and in tho meantime the existing towage rates will continue, omitting the 2a per ton rebate off pilotage. The by-laws reducing (ho rates of wharfage, pilotage, Ac., as adopted by the Board, have been duly published, and the receipt of copies of (hem acknowledged by (he Government, so that the by-laws will come into operation on Jan. 2. The towage and dredging returns for this month cannot be laid on table to-day, owing to its not yet being ended. The dredge has been stopped for a few days, patting on a new sot of buckets, and it is hoped that she will now be able to work on uninterruptedly till Jane, by which time the dredging of a deep channel to the dock will be completed. We have no farther advice from Messrs Bell and Miller of the sailing of the Pampero, or as to what tbe delay will be. Should wo not hear shortly, I propose to cable to them again. A letter will be read from the Lyttelton Borough Council, stating that they cannot agree to the Board’s proposal for fencing in the roadway slip above tho dock with a 6ft picket fence, as recommended by our Engineer, but they call upon the Board to erect a permanent stone wall of three feet above the road level, to repair the damage done, and to make the said road to its original width. It will be remembered that our Harbour Works Committee inspected tbe slip previous to making (heir report. The New Zealand Ship* a Co. have given six months'notice of intention to vacate the red stone building belonging to the Board on the Peacock wharf property. I have received a letter from the Government that tho Board’s representations in tho matter of the _ railway charges on transhipments will receive due consideration, I have also received a letter from the Marine Department, stating that the Minister in charge of that department concurs in the views expressed by the lyttelton Harbour Board in reference to representstioa on the Board of the Counties of Ashley and Ashburton and the Borough of Sydenham. Messrs Bell and Miller, our consulting engineers, write from Home, under date Bov. •, as follows!—“I hope to send yon a report upon tho electric light for your hat* boar, along with an estimate of cost, by next mail. It is being used at a number of ports now, and is found to be very effective. ’ Tenders lor stores, eoal, ironwork, Ac., for the ensuing year will bo opened to«dav. Our annua) meeting will tale place on Monday, Jan. 23 next. , ; ’ Bsonrxxs’a bxtobx.

The report of the Engineer was read, stating that satisfactory progress was being made with the dock work* and the new shed. The Xngineer reported having prepared plans and specification* for ISO feet of breastwork from Peacock’* wharf, the contract for which would include lifting Peacock’s wharf. The various works ordered by the Board had been completed. The Engineer further reported that when the embankment and its ftlopti Kfi floUbod next to the wing wall of the dock, be should prepare plans for a breastwork to the same. This would give a berth for a ship of about 880 fret only. The depth and position were badly suited for a berth the same length as the dock, and if this wore found necessary ha should wwm* mend that a jetty about 860 feet long be built out from the dock head, on the end of which the necessary crane* or •bemoould be erected, rail* from It leading directly into to Instruct the Engineer not to proceed with the plans lor the jetty at the does at present. 1 IUIAIIIISIS

AOCOPWTi. Account* amounting to £4068 la Id were pawed for pajment. 4*|SS to*e A LjSSoa B!Sf JSSfICSStt to the damage done to the road. . The matter waa referred to toe Harbour Improvement Committee. CSHDOIVa BTAW. Mr Turpin, the Sogineer, reported that two of the employee* of! toe Boart bad abeentod toemaalvae from their work, «ne of themen having taken hie thing* away and left the •orvlce. The other, a fireman on the dredge, bad been enapended tor going to hia work toe worse for liquor. It wee reeolved that the ((reman be reprimanded, fined 20», together wUh the loea of hla nay during hi* auapen* Son, and allowed to rdnra to hto work.

Tgimuss. Tender* lor the aopply of coal, atorea, iron* work. Ac., for the enauing year were opened. For coal, M* B. Wood’# tender wee a* eepted aa follow* s—NewcaaUe—3l* ddivared

to dredge or barge i, 80* to tug, delivered ashera 465. Native coal—Westport, 8s to dredge or barges, 80s to togt Bpriogfirid, 80s to dredge or barges, 88# to tug j Mslvern, 80# to dredge or barge#, 28; to tug} Oroymouth, 86c fid to dredge, 84e fld to tug. Firewood, uncut, afloat, 3fl*; ashore,B6* 6d) out, sfiost. 46*| ashore, 48*. Tbs tenders were lower than last year. Tenders for ironwork, Ac., were opened from Messrs J. Andereon, J. Pope and M'JKay and Stevenson. For stores from Messrs H Forbes, i, Ksshstski and H. Hawkins ,nd Co. The tenders for ironwork and utoree were referred to the Chairman and Mr B. J. 8. Harman to accept the lowest. . jr*rxTr at oovsbhoh’b bat.

Mr Cunningham asked It tho Secretary bad received any letter from residents in Go* vernor’s Bay relative to the condition of the jetty there. The Secretary said he had received a letter stating that the jetty was in bad order, and he had been making enquiries as to whether the jetty had been handed over to the Road Board. He had replied to that effect. About £6 would repair the damage. It wee resolved—" That the necessary re* pairs be effected to the jetty, subject to the supervision of the Clerk of Works/’ , EXCURSION BTIAXIBS. It was resolved on the motion' of Mr Cunningham—" That the Harbourmaster be ordered to give instruction* that all steamers carrying excursion parties from Port, have at least one boat in the davit* swung out, ready for use in case of emergency. NOTIONS OF MOTION. Ur Peacock gave notice of motion for the next meeting—" That a recommendation be made by the Board to the Government that when preparing a Bill for increased representation upon the Harbour Board,the Borough of St Albans bo included a* entitled to a member thereon." Mr Oanniaghsm gave notice to move—- " That the Harbour Improvement Committee interview the Lyttelton Borough Council, to disease the advfsablenees of lighting the town and harbour with the Brush or other electric light.” The Board then adjourned to meet next in Christchurch.