OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17687, 26 July 1919, Page 7

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the liar boitr Board was hold yesterday afternoon; present—Messrs IL L. Tan ley (chairman), Galbrajth, Loudon, M'Donald, Dickson M.P., Roberts, Moller, Campbell, Cable Russell, Larnach, and Scollav. The board sat in oommitteo from 2 p.m., with an hour and arhalf adjournment for, tea, and it was not till 9 o'clock that the committee business was completed and the open meeting of board commenced. I'JNA NCIO. The bank books laid on tho tabic showed a not credit balance of £5715. Accounts amounting to £13,337 on the general account and £2839 on the dock aocount were passed for payment. Returns laid on the table showed that tho board's revenue for Juno was £8734, as against £7184 in June, 1918; and for the first six months of this year it was £48,246, as compared with £37,134 for tho first six months of last year. Tho expenditure for Juno was £6950 as compared with £6629 for June of last year. The total expenditure for tho first six months of this year increased to £44,728, as against £39,526 during the corresponding period of last year. In presenting this statement, the Chairman pointed out that it showed a most gratifying improvement in the business of tho board. SHIPI'TKT'r RETURNS. The following shipping returns wero reported for the month of June: —Arrivals: Coastal —25 vessels, 11,529 tons; intercolonial —2 vessels, 3815 tons; foreign—2 vessels, 6583 tons; troopships—l vessel, 4542 tons; ■ —total arrivals, 30 vessels of 26,469 tons. Departures: Coastal—24 ■vessels, 10.192 tons; foreign—s vessels, 21,759 tons; —total departures, 29 -vessels of 31,951 tons. LOW-WATER DEPOTS. The Acting Harbourmaster (Capfain F. J. Duncan) reported tho low-water depths as follows:—North Channel, 38ft; bend, 29ft; Deborah Bay, 26ft; Victoria Channel, 17ft. VESSELS DOCKED. The Dockmaster reported that during the month two vessels wero docked in the Port Chalmers dock and two in the Otago dock. The total tonnage was 14,747 tons ,and the charges were £-805 ss. REMISSION 01' STORAGE CHARGES. Mr Galbraith moved that the work done by the Standing Committee be confirmed. Mr Campbell seconded tho motion. The first clause in the report of the Standing Committee stated that an application had been received from a number of importers of goods ex the Navua, Glaucus, ICia Ora, and Whakatane for a reduction or remission of the storage charges, on tho ground that the congestion in tho sheds had prevented them from. getting delivery of their goods. In connection with tliis matter, the Standing Committee recommended that, as certain consideration had been given to consignees by allowing extra time for removal of goods, no reduction be made. Mr Moller moved as an amendment in open board that only half rates be imposed on the storage charges mentioned in the Order Paper. It was evident, he said, from tho discussion which had taken place in committee, and from what the deputation which had waited on the secretary had pointed out, that there had been a certain amount of confusion by tho bills of lading not being, available, and by the vessels arriving here together, and also by the goods being discharged haphazard. He thought that it would only be fair to charge half-cost, because, if this wero not dono further complications would arise in the future. Mi- Loudon seconded the amendment, stating that ho considered a fair case had been made out for the granting- of a reduction by the board. Mr Galbraith said he intended to oppose the amendment for the reasons which had beeil given in committee. He did not think the board was justified in adding anything further to the concessions which had already been granted in respect to the removal of goods from the sheds. In one case the consignee had been given 16 days' grace. The Chairman said that in committee he had supported the proposal to remit the charges by one-half, and he was going to support it again. Tho amendment was lost, those voting in. favour of it being Messrs Loudon, Moller, Campbell, and Tapley.DRKDGIXG OP VICTORIA CHANNEL. Mr Roberts said ho wished to move as an amendment that the dredging of tho Victoria Channel take precedence over tho dredging at Port Chalmers until the Lake Logan reclamation was completed. Mr Loudon raised the point of order that tho board had already decided on the order in which tho work was to bo carried out. Mr Roberts: Has the board by its former resolution decided to give precedence to Port Chalmers?

The Chairman: The board has deoided to go right on with the work at Port Chalmers. Ho ruled that the amendment was out of order.

Mr' Roberts said the board was going' to make a big loss, and Port Chalmers was going to bo kept behind, by the pokey adopted. Tho motion to confirm the business done in committee was then carried. MAIL CONTRACTS INEQUITABLE.

Mr Campbell moved the following resolution standing in his name:—"That the Otago Harbour Board communicate with tho Postmaster-general -with a view to ascertaining when tjie present mail contracts for Vancouver and Sati Francisco will expire, in order that opportunity may .be given the importers and merchants of this city to take action to get a flat rate for the four main centres, both inward and outward, in the new contracts which will bo made." Mr Campbell said he moved this in tho best interests of the Port of Otago. Since he had brought the matter before the Minister of Marino in 1915 they had been endeavouring to get a flat rate for all the four mam ports. All public bodies should take tho same action, and .then we would have some chance of getting justice dono when theso contracts were renewed. Iu any expenditure from tho common purse such as this the four centres should each get an equal share; and Auckland and Wellington should not be favoured as against Lyttelton and Dunedin. He quoted figures to show how impossible it was for Otago shippers to competo successfully in sending rabbits and butter to America on account of the high extra first cost of shipping to Auckland. Mr Loudon seconded tho motion, which was carried. QUARANTINE GROUND.

Mr Dickson raised as a matter of urgency ths question of finding a quarantine ground where vessels could anchor safely within the harbour. Ho stated that the Suffolk, after discharging one man suffering from influenza, had had to go outside tho harbour and lio in quarantine. In rough w.aather it might havo become impossiblo to communicate with her, and there was a risk that she might havo gone off to some other port to be quarantined! On his motion, it was decided to ask tho engineer and liarbourmaster to report whether a suitable quarantine ground was available within the harbour, and, if not, what was tho best means of providing one GENERAL. The Secretary of tho Peninsula Ferry Company wrote asking that some action be taken with a view to increasing the depth of water alongside tho Portobello wharf, in order to facilitate tho sailings of its steamers from Portobello. —Tho engineer was authorised to carry out dredging work at an expenditure not exceeding £300 to mako the wharves more accessible The Manufacturers' Association wrote requesting a plan of tho board's lands which were availablo for leasing and their rentals. —Tho secretary reported that full particulars had been supplied. A report reconymending a revised scale of charges for cranes and shcerlegs was adopted. A minute by the Chairman was adopted recommending that Mr Wilkio be now designated engineer, instead of resident engineer, as from January 1 last, and that lie lx> appointed on practically the same terms as his predecessor (Mr .T. Blair Mason). Sir Scollay moved that the harbourmaster be asked to report whether any r'sk is at the present time bein<r taken !>-■ reason of the tug Dnnedin being out, of commission.—The motion was seconded by 'Mr Campbell and earned. Mr Campbell moved —" That stem be taken to arrange telephone communication on the Port Chalmers wharves, so that when vessels arrived tho telephone could Ix? at oncc placed on board." —The motion was carried. Tt mas further decided, on tho moiion of Mr Campbell, to have a batten " loek-nn " provided in tho Victoria wharf shed W for th.e safe keeping of damaged packages.