HARBOUR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 280, 16 March 1877, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Harbour Board was held in the chambers of the Board this afternoon. Present — Messrs. Suinpter (in the chair), Gilchrist, Menlove, Reid, Shrimski, Steward, Headland, Lemon, Meek, and Borrie : and the .Secretary (Mr. Forrester), and Engineer (Mr. M'Gregor). MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, as Avere also those of special meetings held on Monday, 28th February, and Tuesday, 6th March. CORRESPONDENCE. A large quantity of outward correspondence wTiS-read and- approved of. POTITLANI>"-/JB?IEXT. A letter was read from Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach, enclosing the following letter in reference to Portland cement, received by them from Messrs. White Bros., of London : '•' 85, Gracechurch-streat, E.C. " Gentlemen,—We beg to send our report upon samples of Portland cement, taken from 200 tons in bulk at your woi'ks at Greenhithe, and tested on the 24th November, 1876. The cement taken out weighed 1231b. per striked bushel, and when this was passed through a sieve of 40 meshes per inch it left a residue of only 8 per cent, in weight. .Six test blocks, li by 1-.V in section, were broken after having been immersed in water for seven days. The lowest was 1321b. and the highest 10751b., giving an average breaking strength of 15441b. This, we think, is very strong for cement of only seven days' grasping.—We are, &c„ " J. Gordon and Co. "Messrs. White Brothers." RAILWAY TRUCKS. A letter was read from Mr. Conyers, Inspector of Railways, iu reference to rolling-stock on the Breakwater line ; and also one from the Under-Secretary of Public Works, stating that additional stock would shortly be placed on the line, by which it was hoped the traffic requirements would be fully met. THE SHAG AT THE BREAKWATER. A letter was read from the agents of the s.s. Shag, complaining of the delay in unloading at the Breakwater, and asking the Board to remedy the matter. It was proposed by Mr. Steward, seconded by Mr. Reid, and carried, "That the owners of the Shag be written to, and informed that a letter from the Govern-

ment stated that additional trucks' were about to be placed on the line." BYE-LAWS. A letter was received from Mr. M'Leod in reply to a letter from Mr. Forrester, in which was enclosed the proposed byelaws, fixing the wharfage charges, and regulating other matters at the Port of Oamaru. The reply stated that the byelaws would require revision before they could be approved of by the Governor in Council, as the Government proposed applying the New Zealand Regulations, with some additions and alterations, to the Oamaru Harbour. The ISFew Zealand Harbour Regulations were already in force in Oamaru, and at all ports in the Colony. The Board could not therefore alter or amend, and could only form byelaws or regulations in accordance with the powers held by the late Superintendent, and which were now delegated to the Board. With reference to the request that such steps might be taken as would enable the Board to impose a charge of 3d. per ton register for pilotage rates, and issue boat licenses, the Government stated that the Board had already full power delegated from the Superintendent to license boats in the manner prescribed in the Harbour Regulations. The question of imposing a pilotage-rate would be duly considered, and the proposed bye-laws and wharfage and other charges would be forwarded in an amended form.

[Left sitting.]