HARBOUR COMMITTEE.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 886, 11 October 1854, Page 2

HARBOUR COMMITTEE.

Wednesday, October 4, 1854. Present—The Chairman and all the members. The Chairman read a letter from the Chairman and Directors of the Auckland Local Steam Navigation Company, expressing a desire to co-operate with the Auckland Harbour Board in sending a competent person to Sydney or Melbourne for the purpose of inquiring after and purchasing Lighters and Steamers suitable for employment in the port and trade of Auckland. The Chairman likewise road a letter from Sir. Thomas Wing, Assistant Harbour Master at Melbourne, stating that Lighters suitable for the port of Auckland might be purchased there. The Chairman next read letters of application from ten gentlemen, candidates for the combined offices of Clerk and Treasurer to the Harbour Board. The Chairman further read two letters from Melbourne, addressed to Mr. David Graham, of Auckland, furnishing particulars of two iron Lighters for sale there. The Engineer then read the following Keport:— Harbour Office, Auckland, October 4th, 1854. I beg to report the purchase of a small lot of timbers suitable for the Lighter. We have not received any tenders for the timber r« qtiirrd fof the Wharf, ana are proceeding with the inmroad and crane, We have bren compelled, in cider to give accommodation for the discharge of vessels on your Wharf, to extend the trimroad beyond ilie limits of yonr property, as the road to the Wharf was impassable. . We have for the first time had a vessel alongside the Wharf* with a general carj;o, from Melbourne—and I believa that the accommodation furursbed by you will be fully appreciated, as it will greatly facilitate the discharge and loading of all vessels that are under ten fttt of water. Daniel Simpson, Engineer. A lengthened inquiry then took place with respect to the expediency of sending the Harbour Engineer to Sydney, and from thence, if necessary, to Melbourne, for the purpose of ascertaining what Lighters and Steam Pile-driving ."Machines, suitable for expediting the earning on the Auckland Harbour Works» were open to purchase. The general opinion of the Committee, after along and anxions inquiry, in the course of which it was elicited that the temporary absence of the Engineer so far from occasioning any delay in carrying on the Harbour Works, would, on" the contrary, if his mission were successful, prove the nndonbted means of greatly accelerating their progress —suspended their standing Orders, for the purpose of introducing a motion relating to money matters.

The following resolution was then moved by Ml" Dilworth, seconded by Mr. Coolahan, and carried :

That teeing the fast approach of the j.rodocc season, anrl the treat necessity of makin; suitable provision for the loading and discharging of the Steamers, and seeing no prospect of meeting the emergency on the spot, that the Engineer be instructed to proceed by the William Denny to Sydney or Melbourne for the jmrpose of buying one or more suitable Lighters lor thiß purpose. . . . ,

It was meved by Mr. Williamson, seconded by Mr Dil\vorth,and carried—

That permission be given to the Engineer to make such ar_ rangement as may be necessary to enable him toco-operate dur ing his absence with the Directors of the Auckland Local Steam Navigation Company •

It was then moved by Mr. Dilworth, seconded by Mr. Williamson, and carried —

That the Chairman be instrncted to apply to the Superintendent for the further sum of £SOO and the remaining portion of the £ldOO for the purpose of completing the purchase ot a second lighter and one steam pile driver,

On the motion of Mr. Williamson, a deputation, consisting of Messrs. Dilworth, Lawson, O'Neill, D. C-raham, and the mover, was appointed to wait upon His Honour the Superintendent, in order to explain the proceedings of the Committee, and the urgency of their nature. To accomplish this, the Committee adjourned for half an hour. At that time they reported that they had arranged to have an interview with the Superintendent tomorrow morning,"at 9 o'clock. The Board then proceeded to the election of a Cletk and Treasurer.

The election having been declared to be in favour of Mr. Singleton Rochfort, the Committee adjourned.

Thursday, October 5. The Committee met at 10 a.m. Present:—The Chairman, Messrs. Williamson, Dilworth, O'Neill, Lawson, Dingwall, and Dignau. The Chairman reported that the deputation appointed yesterday had had an interview with the Provincial Law Adviser, who acquainted them that II is Honour the Superintendent had instructed that the sum of £ 1500 should be advanced to the Committee on applying for the same. Also, that information had been transmitted to the office this morning to say that such amount was ready for delivery. The Chairman reported that the opinion of Mr. Whitakcr had been taken relative to the transfer ot lighters. Specific names being requisite, those of Messrs. Powditch, Coolahan, and Williamson, were ordered to be indorsed on their registers, as the trustees of the Committee, for this purchase. Moved by Mr. Williamson, seconded by Mr. Dilworth, and carried— That the Chairman be instructed to apply for the sum of £1250 the balance of £ISOO which the Provincial Government bus agreed to loan to the Harbonr Committee for the purchase cf a Lighter and Sieam Pile-driver, aud that the Treasurer he instructed to attend at the Superintendent's Office to sign the necessary receiptThe Chairman, after having waited upon the Superintendent, returned and acquainted the Committee that the further sum of £1250 had been paid to their credit at the Bank. On the motion of Mr. Dilworth, seconded by Mr. Williamson, it was resolved — That Mr. Daniel Simpson, the Engineer to the Auckland Harbour Committee, be instructed to proceed direct to Sydney, and, if he fail to effect a suitable purchase there, t.".en that lie proceed forthwith to Melbourne for the purpose of buying one or more gigbtcnt suitable for the Harbour Works, to be not leas than SO nor more than 150 tons, (the preference to be given to two of 80 tons rather than to one Urger one) and also a ►team piledriver of from 3 to 5 horse power ; and that a dialt for £loiiu be furnished to Mr. Simpson to effect these purchases. It was moved by Mr. O'Neill, seconded by Mr. Dignan, and carried — That the purchases be made and the registers taken out in the names of William Powditch (Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Committee), Hugh Coolahan and John Williamson, members of the said Committee; that an insurance of the vessel or vessels be effected at the port where the purchase may be made ; and that Mr. D- Simpson take the necessary Bteps to man and provision such vessel or vessels for the voyage to Auckland. Moved by Mr. Williamson, seconded by Mr. Dilworth, .and "carried— That Mr. D. Simpson be authorised to offer free passages, exrjasive of provisions, to as many men as the vessel or vessels can accommodate, who will agree to work for twelve months on the Harbour or other Public Works at Auckland, at the current rate of wages bete. Moved by Mr. Dingwall, seconded by Mr. O'Neill, and carried — That the Chairman be requested to write to Mr. D- Simpson, requestiii" him to proceed by the William Denny lo Sydney, to cany out'the resolution* pasred this day, and to consider such resolntkuis- a*.hi» Instructions. Moved by Mr. Dingwall, seconded by Mr. Dilworth, and carried— That the Chairman be requested to write to Mr. D. Simpsnn, authorising him to draw at thirty days sfter sight on the Auckland Harbour Committee, from Sydney or Melbourne, for any Mm not exceeding £3OO in the case of such being required for i\te purehaseof a second vessel; and to give in such letter acopy of the resolutions passed this day relative to the purchase of such vessels for the Committee. Moved by Mr. Dilworth, seconded by Mr. Williamson, and carried — That a cheque for £ISOO be drawn, and that a Union Bank draft on Melbourne be obtained for the money in favour of Wni. Powditch, E»q., as Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Committer, and endorsed by him to Mr. Daniel Simpson, Engineer to the Auckland Harbour Committee for the purpose of carrying out the Resolutions pasted this day. The draft was drawn accordingly and indorsed, less "v one-half per centum to the Bank. '"■"lt was finally moved by Mr. Williamson, seconded by Mr. Dilworth, and carried— That the Chairman be instructed lo forward to the Chairman of the Auckland I<«ral Steam Navigation Company a copy of the lti-»oluiion passed yesterday in reply to his letter of application respecting the Engineer. Committee then adjourned until Saturday.