HARBOUR BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26634, 3 December 1947, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD

Mr A. McMillan Elected . Chairman

Mr A. McMillan was elected chairman of the Oamaru Harbour Board yesterday. There were two nominations for the position, and a ballot resulted: Mr A. McMillan six votes, Mr D. Wiiliams four. There were also two nominations for the position of deputy chairman, Mr C. J. Marshall being elected. The voting was: Mr Marshall six votes, Mr D. S. Bain three. The chairman’s honorarium was fixed at £73 10s, the same as last year. Messrs McMillan, Williams, Bain, F. Hood, W. Doig and Marshall were appointed the Standing Committee. Mr McMillan presided at the monthly meeting, and there were also present Messrs Marshall, W. J. Whalan, E. S. Symon, Bain, A. W. Malcolm, Doig, E. C, Ruddenklau, Hood, Williams, C. J. Dugdale and A. C. McLelland.

Mr W. M. Cooper, the retiring chairman, was present at the beginning of the meeting to wish the members a happy term of office. He added that his interest would always be for the welfare of the port, which, he hoped would receive its full share of shipping. Mr McMillan expressed appreciation of the services given by the retiring members, and welcomed the new members. The Harbour Boards’ Industrial Union wrote in connection with the granting of three weeks’ annual holiday, instead of two, to employees who had served for 10 years or more. The board unanimously supported the proposal. The Oamaru Borough Council advised that the engineer had been instructed to expedite the work on the storm-water outlet drain on the foreshofe. Correspondence was received from the Marine Department on the supply of electricity to wharves to provide power for ships, and the board authorised the Power to proceed with the work. The Oamaru Boating Club was granted permission to hold a regatta on Saturday, but operations must cease if the entry signal is given for shipping. Mr W. I. Steenson forwarded an amended plan for accommodation and amenities for waterside workers. The general plan was approved, and will be returned to the architect for preparation of estimates.

It was agreed to advise the South Island Local Bodies’ Conference that the board strongly supported the remit urging the Government to declare Harewood a commercial airport and an overseas air terminal for the South Island.

Mr A. C. Swanson, engineer to the Otago Harbour Board, advised that a conference of engineers to consider the formation of a South Island Dredging Board was held at Bluff, and that progress was being made and the dredging requirements of the Port of Oamaru were considered in conjunction with those of other east coast boards.

Mr J. B. Chapman and Captain C. A. Barker reported on an inspection of the two plantations. They recommended that about 10 to 15 per cent of the trees were large enough for milling, and that an opinion as to royalty should be obtained. It was reported and confirmed that trees had been removed from the board’s plantations, including sacks of timber sawn into blocks, and thrown into the old gun emplacement. The board decided to call tenders to thin out malformed and small trees from the plantations, the work to be done under the supervision of the foreman of works in co-operation with Mr J. B Chapman. The foreman was instructed •to furnish a report on the removal of firewood by unauthorised persons. The Standing Committee recommended that Mr A. K. Mackay’s request for a right-of-way from Test street to railway land be agreed to, subject to the harbour master being satisfied that the beacons would not be obscured. The recommendation was adopted. A grant of £1 Is was made to the North Otago Boy Scouts’ Association. Accounts totalling £628 18s 3d were passed for payment.

Harbour Master’s Report The harbour master, Captain C. A. Barker, reported that, during November, 6 coastal ships of 4235 tons and one trawler of 88 tons worked the port, compared with three ships of 2162 tons in November, 1946. Inward cargo totalled 684 tons, and outward 4208 tons. No ships were delayed in entering or leaving the harbour. Foreman’s Report Mr A. R. Low, foreman of works, reported that the placing of stone and rubble on the foreshore now extended ■ past the tennis courts.