HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1304, 11 June 1880, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the Board was held to-day, when there were present —Messrs. Sumpter (Chairman), Menlove, Aitken, Gibbs, Duncan, Gilchrist, Borrie, and Reid. .

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The. Colonial Under-Secretary wrote stating that there was no power to vest the light-htfuse reserve on Cape Wanbrow in the Board, but that when the land is properly reserved it would be within the power of the Minister of Marine to lease it. —The Secretary was instructed to forward a copy of the letter to Mr. Shrimski,. M.H.R.

The Secretary to the Marine Department wrote stating that attention had been drawn to the fact that the provisions of the Shipping and Seaman's Act, 1877, relative to the marking of the deck and load-lines of vessels are not carried. The writer asked that the Board should give the Harbor-Master instructions to report to the Collector of Customs any case where a vessel is not properly marked or where the disc is submerged.—The letter was referred to the Harbor-Master.

Accounts to the amount of L 403 12s lOd were passed for payment.

The Chairman stated that he had received a letter from the Engineer suggesting certain alterations in the proposed works as suggested by the Committee appointed to draw up a report as to the best scheme for improving the harbor. The suggestions made by the Engineer, if adopted, would necessitate a much larger expenditure of money, and this became a matter of very great importance. He thought it would be well, therefore, to refer the report back to the Committee for reconsideration.

Several members agreed with the pro? posal to adjourn consideration of the report, but it was suggested that tenders should be called for the supply of piles, as no matter what scheme the Board adopted, it would be necessary to have a large number of piles, and it would take a considerable amount of time to obtain them.

Mr. Aitken said that in ordering piles for the wharves it stood to reason that if they required a large number the price would be much smaller than if they only needed a moderate number. Until they had determined what scheme to adopt, more especially in regard to the north wall, they could not say what number of piles they would require, and it would be better that the question should also be adjourned, Mr. Duncan then moved that consideration of the report and the ordering of piles should stand over until the next ordinary meeting. .. Mr. Borrie seconded the motion.

Some further discussion took place, during which the Chairman pointed out that, in addition to entailing a larger expenditure, Mr. M'Gregor's proposals, if adopted, would increase the amount of work to be done and lengthen : the time necessary to complete the scheme. It was ultimately resolved to await the arrival of the . Engineer from Dunedin before coming to a decision, and with this view the Board adjourned until half-past two o'clock.

On resuming the Board went into Committee to consider the report of -the Committee appointed to consider the best mode of improving the - ' Harbor, together with Mr, M'Gregor's suggestions thereonAfter careful consideration, the report was adopted in the following form /' The Committee have taken evidence from various officers of the Harbor Board regarding the different points referred "to them' for their consideration, and attach the evidence hereunto.

" Deeming the question of finance to be of the first importance, they requested the Engineer to furnish a plan for completing the works at a cost not exceeding L 75,000. "The report furnished by the Engineer, in accordance with that request, is also appended,; - ' £f The Committee are unanimously of opinion that the evidence points to the necessity of a north wall, and after a great deal of deliberation they have decided to recommend that it should commence on the line of Wansbeck-street, as shown in the Engineer's plan attache^.

" This would enclose an area of 60 acres, which the Committee consider to be ample, and it will be attended with the great advantage of curtailing the extension of the Breakwater by 250 feet length, thereby effecting a large saving of expenditure, probably not less than L 16,000. The line of the wall as recommended by the Committee would require an extension of 650 ft of Breakwater which, the Committee are advised, would give sufficient overlap to : afford - the necessary protection to vesselslyinginside. TheNortli Wall is all that need be contemplated at present. Should experience prove that another -100 feet of Breakwater is necessary, there will still be a great saving of expenditure on the original plan. " The amount of dredging will be abotit the same in whichever position the wall is built. " The following is an estimate of the expenditure on the proposed works on the basis of the Engineer's report. 650 feet Breakwater £40,000 North Wall 20,000 Wharf.:. ... ... 6,500 Reclamation and approaches ... 5,000 £71,500 " But provided, on tenders being received, it be found that the work cannot be done with the money available, that a point half way between Arun-street and Wansbeck-street be selected. " The Committee find that, owing to delay which the discussion of this difficult matter has caused, ic will not be possible to complete the extension of the Normanby Wharf within the prescribed time (i.e., in time for next grain season), and further, that the proposed works would absorb more of the Board's funds than was at first anticipated. Under these circumstances, they think that the Board should definitely decide upon what scheme they will adopt, and accept tlie oontracts necessary for enclosing the harbor. " The Committee recommend that alter-, native plans and specifications of the north wall should be prepared, viz., " 1. For rubble wall with wharf at end, as reported upon in Engineer's last report, with necessary reclamation approaches. " 2. A vertical side wall, the inner side of which could be used as a wharf for its entire length. "3. A combination of rubble approach and wharf extension. "Until this is done, it'is not expedient to make any definite allocation of funds."