OAMARU NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 33

OAMARU NOTES.

(Fhom Otra Own CoHjtESPOsusirr.y OAMARU, January 27. It was expected that the Oamaru Harbour Board would have before it to-day the report of Mr M'lntyre on the subject of the proposed alterations to tha dredge Progress. Owing to unforeseen circumstances, however, the report was not a.ra.;iaWe, anj so far as the public is concerned the nature of the report was only to be gathered from various remarks which were made during a desultory discussion. The report had been read at a. meeting of the Standing Committee a week ago, when it waa decided that as Mr ' M'lntyre's reports differed 'on a number of points from the earlier report of Mr Morrison, the opinion of a third expert should be obtained. The* Marine Department has agreed to allowi Mr Walker (Government Machinery Inspector) to examine the dredge and to' report to the "board on the proposed, altera- -. tions. The whole question, so far' as tha ' present dredge is concerned, is whether the hull is good -enough to justify the expendi-' tureof £7000 on a. new boiler and other repair**, but the larger question of a loamfor a new dredge, which will probably cost' £30,000, is in the background, and i« exercising attention. Meantime Mri Walker's report is awaited with interest.

Some interest is aleo taken in the approaching election of chairman of tha board, it being understood that the Mayor (Mr R. Milligan) has been a«ltod to stand*'

February 2. The s.s. Papanui arrived off Oamaru onj, Saturday morning, and was berthed- at the Holmes wharf at 1 o'clock. Being 300 tons heavier and sft longer than the Waiwera, the Papanui is the largest vessel that has yet visited Oamaru, but she was handled safely and without difficulty. She < loads 13,000 carcases of lamb and 3000 bales of wool, and expects to get away on Tuesday.

A visitor who has just made a tour of the north states that the Wanganui River is unusually low at the present time as a, result of the long spell of dry weather Early last week a steamer went aground in the upper reaches, and some tourists were unable to make the journey.