HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 23 July 1880, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the , Harbor Board was held to-day, when there ; were ' present—Messrs. Sumpter ; (Chairman), Aitken, Hassell, Borrie, i Gilchrist, Menlove, Duncan, and Gibbs. ; The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outwardl correspondence was read and: ap- ; proved. The Standing Committee reported having written to Mr. Shrimski, M.H.R., : requesting him to use his influence to , obtain a fair and equitable railway tariff, ! and to ask the Co-operation of the other members of Parliament. - A copy of the letter was read, and, on i the motion of Mr. Duncan, both docu- : ments were adopted. Mr. Shrimski wrote stating that, in . conjunction with the Hon. Mr. Miller, he i had waited upon the Minister for Marine with reference to the conveyance of the . lighthouse reserve on the Cape. The Minister, stated that, while the land could not be conveyed to the Board, he ' would be willing to grant a lease of the land for 42' yoars, at a small rental, with ! power to sub-let, which proposal Messrs. i Shrimski and Miller had agreed to accept, and instructions had been issued to pre- : pare a lease.—lt was resolved to reply agreeing to the arrangement, and thanking Messrs, Shrimski and Miller for the trouble they had taken in the matter. Messrs. James Craig and Co. wrote : ! " We beg to draw your attention to what seems to us an anomally re port charges in your port. We will submit for your consideration the following facts taken from your scale of charges on, viz., beer, whisky, tea, sugar, or any other goods than timber, which pay but 2s per ton, while timber pays 3s ll|-d. We respectfully submit that this is not fair to dealers and consumers of this class of goods, and we therefore trust you will consider these charges, and place them on a fair and uniform scale," The Seoretary stated that originally the j charges had been made lighter upon general merchandise in order to compete with the railway. At that time the railway did not carry timber, so that the arrangement was perfectly fair to, everyone. Since then the railway department had greatly reduced its charges on timber, and Were now carrying it at a very small rate. This gave the Board's charges on timber a harsh effect. Some discussion took place upon the matter, during which it was pointed out that it would be better to leave the matter over for the present, and take the whole question.of charges into considerrtion after the publication of the new railway tariff. This course was adopted, and it was decided to reply to that effect to Messrs. Craig and Co. Accounts to the amount of L 3612 3s lid were passed for payment. The following letter was read : 1 Dunedin, July Bth, 1880. The Chairman Oamaru Harbor Board. " I have the honor to forward plans and specifications for northern mole, timber wharf, reclamation, and railway line from quarry, for the approval of the Board. The' ne* traverse, longitudinal, and cross of railway line are not forwarded yot, but tracings will be sent to Oamaru when tenders are advertised for. "I have prepared no alternative plana for a vertical wall fqr the following reasons Ist. In order to get a depth of 2% feqt at low water, 16 feet would require to be 'dredged at the startingpoint 10 feet, I a distance of 400 feet seawards, and about | 6 feet at the end. It v-ould therefore be impossible to construe'' a vertical wall and cut away the ground close in to the and make it avsdable as a wharf after-? wards. 2nd, There is no form of vertical wall that can be built with safety, at the : -same cost as a rubble mole. "For the ahove reasons I have adhered : to the, original plan, placing the wharf in ; the deepest water where the piles can be driven to a proper depth. ' "When deep water is required the straight line can be extended inwards as dredging progresses, or a series of short wharves can be projected at right angles from the inner slope of the mole, without going too near, the foundation. . . 1 " The latter will probably be- found the best plan for increasing the wharf acpam- i modations as mayJae t required... ; " I have fixed the deposit to-be sent in 'i with fenders at LSOO, and-the time for ; completiotfso^^emiis/ 1 *- ;3}he'-diepbait "-'

should not be reduced, but the Board i may increase the amount if considered desirable. I think the advertisement should be inserted four weeks, and in one pape;r in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Oamiaru. I have fixed the date for receiving tenders as per advertisement enclosed, which will suit tlio ordinary meeting of the 'Board four weeks hence. " Enclosed I also forward a letter from Kincaid and M'Queen asking for another fortnight to complete detailed plans of proposed dredge. "In accordance with resolutions passed at your last meeting, I beg to forward for your information detailed estimate showing exact cost of breakwater.—l fim, &c., " John M'Gregor, "Engineer." Mr. Duncan urged that consideration of the whole question should be postponed until the Engineer prepared plans of tho alternative schemes previously mentioned by him. He (Mr. Duncan) had very little faith in a rubble wall such as that proposed. Mr. Hassell mentioned that he had a plan of the wall at Cable Bay, Capo of Good Hope. This was formed of rubblo and stood, very heavy seas remarkably well. Mr. Gibbs pointed out that tho wall at Lyttelton was formed in the same manner, and this was at times severely tested: The Secretary : If Mr. M'Gregor gets the wall constructed as lie proposes, it will be much stronger than that at Lyttleton. After a little further discussion tho Board adjourned for lunch. On resuming, the plans submitted by the Engineer were fully discussed, and it was at length resolved that ho should be instructed to call for alternative tenders for .the construction of the north mole, with and without the addition of a wharf; tenders to bo in by the 27th August. : The Board then adjouroed.