HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 937, 18 April 1879, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

Tlio usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held to-day, when there were present—Mr. Sumpter (Chairman), the Hon. H. J. Miller, Messrs. Aitken, Shrimski, Steward, andJEteid. The minutes were read and confirmed, an(\ the outward correspondence was read and approved. The report of the Standing Committee was read and adopted, ; with the exception of the paragraph referring to charges for hire of boats, A letter was read from Messrs. P. Cunningham and Co. and Messrs. Hay and Barr, drawing attention to the great inconvenience and delay, and consequent loss, suffered by owners and charterers of vessels trading to the port through the want of boating facilities to enable them to load up to a greater draught than 15 j feet. The writers pointed out that, as a large portion of the produce of the district does now, and will probably continue to do so, find its way to the English | markets, vessels conveying freights will, j as a rule, load to a greater depth, and that unless good despatch can bo given { here, higher freight will be demanded, ] the inevitable consequence being that produce will be forwarded by rail to where less cost,.will be incurred. They also urged that it was necessary 'to take immediate action in order to facilitate the speedy despatch of the barque Estrella. On the motion of Mr. Steward, seconded by Mr. Eeid, it was resolved, " That the Standing Committee be directed to arrange that labor be provided when practicable for loading or discharging vessels at the outer a,nchorage, a charge of 2s per ton additional to be made, but the Board not to be responsible for delay or damages." On the motion of Mr. Aitken, it was resolved that the shippers requiring the services of the boats should give ample notice to the Board. Mr. Steward said that he had been deputed „hy the Municipal Council to bring under the notice of the Board the necessity of both bodies taking joint action to give his Excellency the Governor a re-

ception on the occasion of his forthcoming visit to Oamaru. The Council felt that they formed only one of the adnUnistrative bodies of the town and district, and that the whole cost should not devolve Upon them. The Council had appointed a sub-committee to arrange matters, and he thought the Board should appoint a sub-committee to act with that sub-committee. He thought the County Council should also be invited to cooperate in the matter. The Chairman said that he might mention that he had been called over the coals by the Auditor for signing the cheque for the Board's share of the cost of the demonstration of the opening of railway to Dunedin.

The Hon. Mr. Miller said that ho had been accused in his place in Parliament of voting away public money wrongly as a member of the Board on a previous occasion ; and though he claimed to be a loyal subject, he would be very chary in voting any money for the reception of the Governor. As his Excellency was only going to remain in Oamaru an hour or two "he did not think they were called upon to make any great fuss about his. visit. He would have no opportunities of visiting the port or of seeing the works.

Mr. Shrimski said he looked upon the matter in a different light. He thought his Excellency was entitled to the thanks of the people for having displayed a desire to see the country, and acquire a knowledge of its nature and requirements so soon after his arrival. He did not think the expense in connection with the Governor's reception need be very great. Tickets for the luncheon should be fixed at such a rate as to render itself paying, and so relieve the public bodies of a great portion of the expense. The Hon. Mr. Miller said the Municipal Council was the proper body to give the Governor a reception.

Mr. Shrimski said that the Council was not in a position to undertake the whole cost, and he could not see any objection to their joining with the Council in giving the Governor a reception. The Chairman thought that one of the first steps that should be taken should be to endeavor to induce his Excellency to remain longer in Oamaru than was contemplated. After some little further discussion, the Chairman, the Hon. Mr. Miller, and the Secretary (Mr. Forrester) were appointed a sub-committee, to act in conjunction with the sub-committee of the Municipal Council, it being understood that the joint committees should endeavor to got his Excellency to prolong his stay here.

Accounts to tlie amount of L2O 18a. were passed for payment. The Hon. Mr. Miller then said he would like to know whether it was intended to do anything towards deepening the harbor. It had been pretty generally understood that it was desirable to have a channel deepened along the wharves for the accommodation of large vessels, aui he thought that, if any such course was to be followed, experiments should be made before they commenced the additions to the breakwater. This was the opinion of the Secretary, who had spoken to him upon the matter, and who, he believed, Inu also spoken to other members, it might eventually bo necessary to use dynamite, and it would be well if such were the case to have the work dono before the Breakwater was extended, otherwise they might blow down a portion of tho wall. He thought the opinion I of the Engineer should be taken upon the matter at once. He moved the Engineer be requested to. attend at tho next meeting, with the view of conferring with the Board as to the "best, means of affording deeper anchorage within the harbor." I Mr- Shrimski agreed with the Hon. Mi -- Millev, ancl thought it would be adrint\ ■„ ta have the opinion of the Engineer u\? oU the matter. He seconded the motionMr. Steward thought they should take ,• the very best advice upon the subject, ancl suggested that the Engineer might be asked to consult with Mr. Blackett. After a little further- discussion, the motion wss carried, and the Board rose.