TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2091, 4 December 1879, Page 2

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

TOWN EDITION.

An ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held this morning. MKMIJKRS IX ATT I-X UAXC I',. F. Archer, Esq. (chairman), Messrs Grey, Aden, Hall, Bcswick, Moody, Evans, and Barker. CO UK KS I’OX n KXC I'The correspondence received since last meeting was as follows; From the treasury, notifying the payment of L 3 on behalf of the Board, and requesting a refund of the same. From j. Jackson, as trustee in the bankrupt estate of John Marchant, requesting a refund of money paid to the estate on authority of contract certificate, the amount being due on the lighthouse contract extras. It was resolved that Mr Jackson be advised to apply to the Government for the payment of amount due (L 25 10s) on the erection of the lighthouse. TIM.AKU HARBOR BOARD BILL. The Chairman introduced a copy of the Timaru Harbor Board Bill, received from the member for Timaru, and read the same. Mr Hall said the Board were in a false position. What they needed was power to obtain possession of the freehold of the Landing Service. Under the Bill they could be ousted at once from their site.

The members generally concurred with Mr Hall’s remarks. Mr Boswick said the remarks made by Mr Hall were apparently a censure on the member for Timaru. He thought this was unwarranted.

Mr Hall said his remarks implied no censure on Mr Turnbull. The Board, however, had no locus standi under the Bill. The Chairman read a letter from Mr Turnbull, stating that Bill had not yet been passed, but the general opinion was the Board could hold no power to devote any portion of the original £IOO,OOO, voted tor harbor purposes at Timaru, to the purchase of the landing service. This point would, however, be dealt with in committee.

At the request of Mr Boswick, the resolution forwarded from the Board requesting Mr Turnbull to frame and introduce a Bill into Parliament, empowering the Board to purchase the landing service site, was read. The opinion expressed by the members of the Board was that the resolution was very vague. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Moody, seconded by Mr Barker, “ That the member for Timaru be informed at once by wire of the necessary addition to the amended Bill of a clause regarding the Board being put into legal possession of the landing service, and the land on which the premises arc placed, and presuming that the Hail way Department object to the Board being made freeholders, that a lease with-a reasonable notice of resumption be provided bj r Act or otherwise, as may be arranged by the member with the Government, and that the Chairman be requested to write to the member for Timaru showing that as the Board has assumed the care and responsibility of the shipping that the powers asked for be granted as being absolutely necessary for the furtherance of the interests of the port, and that the thanks of the Board be conveyed to Mr Turnbull for his care and trouble in re the interests of the Board.

GOVERXMEXT LAXDIXG SERVICE. The report of the Manager of the Government Lauding Service was read, and adopted. PROPOSED IIXI! I!OR DEES TARIEE. The Sub-committee reported on the above matter, advising the imposition of the following larilf of dues, viz : Sailing vessels, coasters, 2d per ton register; foreign, Id per ton register ; steamers coasters, 2d per ton register ; foreign, (»d per ton register. License fees— Large boats, £'2 per annum. Eoreshore licenses —George street Service. £2O; Tinuvu Shipping and Lauding Service, £SO. The report was adopted without alteration, and the Secretary instructed to take the necessary steps to have the tariff gazetted. Messrs Hall, Evans, Acton, Mood} r and Bcswxck were appointed a Committee to report on the most advisable method of collecting the dues and licenses. THE STEAM CRAXE. In relation to the claim by Mr John Anderson for balance due on the contract for the steam crane a lengthy discussion ensued. Mr Goodall, in reply to the Chairman, said when he drew out the specification lie was of opinion the difficulty of constructing a crane to travel round a curve was not so great is later experiences had shown existed. The manufacture of such a machine was by no means impossible, but ho was of opinion that the tender should have been much higher. He could not give an opinion of the cost of a traverse, as it would have to be of great strength. The necessity for the crane to travel round a curve would not be experienced for the next twelve months.

Mr Gray considered that the specifications had been overridden by the contractor. lie had previously shown that the gun metal bearings had been omitted from the manufacturer, and the contractor had followed suit iu relation to the brass fittings. He was of opinion before paying Mr Anderson, the Board should lake steps to make Mr Anderson make good the deficiency in the crai © regarding travelling round a curve by the erection of a traverse. Mr Barker movcd"ThatMr Audorsou

be paid according to the contract price for the crane on condition o£ his agreeing when required by the Board to provide and place in position a traverse suitable to carry the crane, in consideration of his not having, according to the contract, constructed a crane capable of travelling in a. curve, and also not having provided gun metal bearings as per specifications. The above offer to bo made without prejudice. Mr Beswick seconded the resolution. Mr Acton said he considered that they were not sufficiently guarded by the resolution and he would therefore move as an amendment —“ That on consideration of the various deviations in the matter of the contract for the steam crane, Mr J. Anderson be offered £250 in payment of ail claims without prejudice.” Mr Moody seconded the amendment. Mr Evans suggested the alteration of the figures “£250” to “ £100,” which was agreed to by the mover and seconder of the amendment.

On being put the amendment was earned by four votes to three. TEX I) KBS. The following tender for 1000 tons of cement was accepted, viz., Messrs Eiudlay and Co., at £4 IGs Id per ton. CEMENT IN HAND. In reply to Mr Evans the Engineer stated that the stock in hand of cement was 1206 casks. engineer’s report. The Engineers report, recommending the purchase of 1000 casks cement was read, and a resolution fixing delivery of tenders for same for Dee. 31 next was passed In reply to the Chairman Mr Goodall said an attempt had been made to remove the wreckage blocking the channel of the Government Landing Service, but had only resulted in slightly moving the same. The services of the diver were unobtainable at the time, and the work, consequent on the muddy state of the water, could only be carried out by groping. No clay was now being deposited in the bay and he hoped shortly to have the water sufficiently clear to permit of seeing the wreckage. He had been able to place a tackle round it but could not move flic same by that means. Relative to the subject of a quarry from which to obtain stone for the breakwater, he had not been able to take the matter into consideration in time to report at the present meeting. The report was accepted. ACCOUNTS. The accounts passed for payment amounted to £ll7l 12s 3d. The meeting then terminated.