HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2145, 5 February 1880, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of flie Board was heldto-day. Present—The Chairman (F. Archer Esq.) and Messrs AY. Evans, AY. Moody, B. Turnbull, E. Acton, B. S. Barker and AY. C. Bos wide. Air Barker apologised for the absence of Mr Gray. ANNUAL 1! Kl’OJiT. The following report was submitted : —During the year now under review, a tangible commencement has been made with Harbor AA r orks at the port of Tipiarn, and the following amount of work haj> bepn accomplished on the Breakwater.—Contract jA T o., 1. (completed)—Approach, 150 feet; mole, 310 feet—Contract JN T o 2., (in progress} Mole, 32 feet. Total 392 feet.

The depth, of water at spring low tides, at the present termination of mole is 15 feet. The works are progressing fairly, and there is every prospect of tlxe present contract being

completed by the end of September next. The extent of the work will then be 820 feet, and at the extremity there will be a depth of 18 feet 6 inches of water at spring low tides. The stability of the structure has been often put to the test, having encountered many heavy seas: and the vexed shingle question appears to be solving itself. It is now very apparent that the quantity of shingle travelling is very much below the amount that was imagined. The advantages of the work are now already apparent. There is considerable shelter from the south-east seas on the north side of the mole, and a pier might soon be constructed for the accomodation of steam vessels and small craft.

On Aug. 1 last, the landing service, which had hitherto been leased, was commenced to be carried on by the Harbor Board, after being put in thorough repair. Additional ways have been laid and two surf-boats have been purchased, so that by the commencement of the busy season there will be fire boats ready for regular work. The landing place is now completely sheltered from the south-east seas by the breakwater. Harbor dues have been lixed for the port, to take elfect from July 1. Annexed are the statements of accounts for the year, together with the rates lixed for landing and shipping charges and for harbor dues. The Statement of accounts showed : Receipts—Landing service, £l2O ; harbor department, £ll7 Os (id: breakwater, £8 bs ; cement, refund of duty, Ac., £Bbl 11s 10d ; interest, £(I73G Os 4d ; contractors’ deposits, £IOO2 ; deposit account, ,£22.GbO ; total, £01,400 3s Bd. Expenditure—Landing service, £2OOO 17s bd ; harbor department, £b22 bs 8d ; breakwater, £14,b30 11s bd ; cement, Ac., £7014 18s lid ; plant, £3bOG 10s 2d , salaries and expenses, £1230 10s 8d ; interest, £lO 13s (id ; contractors’ deposits, £1100; total, £30,88b IGs Od. Balance in bank, Dec. 31, 1878. £32b 17s ; ditto, Dec. 31, 1870, £O3O 3s lid. The statement of assets and liabilities showed :—Assets —Cash in band, £O3O 3s lid ; deposited at interest, £84,000 ; interest to date, £3140 ; plant, £3boo ; landed propertv, £lb00; cement, Ac., £G3O 14s Idf total, £03,700 18s Bd. Liabilities, ,£21,803 4s 2d. Excess of assets over liabilities, £71,847 14s (id. The landing service account showed an expenditure of £1(147 bs Bd, including £bl2 3s 8d for plant and repairs, and receipts amounting to £138(1 0s Id, being a loss on operations from Aug. 1 to Doc. 31 of £2(51 bs 7d.

In reply to Mr Moody, the Secretary stated that although six months’ notice of withdrawal of deposit had been served on the Building Society, the money was not liable to be repaid till the Ibth Mav,

Mr Moody said he observed the original deposit had been reduced from .1110,000 to UOOOO, but he thought some resolution re withdrawal had been arrived at.

The Chairman said the question was discussed whether the money should be withdrawn in a lump, or if the Society should be allowed to pay it off in instalments.

The Secretary replied that under the agreement, the money was not really due till .May. He read a resolution of withdrawal dated 7th August, 1870. Mr Moody : Why is the money not paid ‘f The Secretary : Because the Society has not got it. They arc paying the Board as fast as they can.

Mr Kvans : I must say this seems verv unsatisfactory, Tl ic Chairman said lie ascertained that the matter had been mooted at a recent meeting of the Society, and it had been decided that as soon as certain monies due to Mr Spencer—some £*2oo0 —had been paid, the receipts should bo handed over to the hoard in liquidation of its deposit. Mr Moody ; The thing* is exceedingly unsatisfactory. Apparently, there is no record of any correspondence with the Society, and no security. .Mr Acton : What security have we V Is there any legal value attaching* to the possession of these deeds ? The Chairman said the Society’s deeds were practically pawned to the Board. (Laughter.) At all events, the Board had them under lock and key. Mr Elworthy said Judge Johnstone had decided that deeds so bejel and deposited were a valid security. Mr Aeton : I believe the Society is in this position, that it has a revenue of £BOO or £1)00 coming but that it cannot pay the Board until another claim lias been met.

Mr Moody moved “ that the Timaru Building Society be informed that the Harborßoard regrets that their deposit has not been met in accordance with the six months’ notice given by the Board on Aug. 7, and that the Chairman arrange as to dealing witli the securities and report to next meeting.” Mr Evans seconded the resolution which was carried. A letter was read from Mr A. St. (!. Hamersley, solicitor for Messrs Allan and Stumbles, asking the Board to reconsider their previous resolution, and band over the deposit and interest due to them, and submit any further claims to arbitration. The Board resolved itself into a committee, and on resuming it was resolved on the motion of Mr Turnbull, seconded by Mr Beswick —“That the sums due to Messrs Allan and Stumbles on the engineer’s certificate, together with the deposit and Interest thereon, be paid to them at once.”

It avus also resolved, op the motion of Air Barker—“ That in reference to the last paragraph in Mr linmersley’s letter —the claim for damages—lie be informed that the Board sec no reason to depart froir, the resolution passed at last meeting refusing to acknowledge the claim.”

The engineer’s report was read as follows :

“ I have the honor to report that during last month the breakwater contractors Jinishod 3(5 feet of the mole, making a total of 70 feet of this contract. Tenders were called for the stone wall north of the breakwater, and are now submitted for your consideration. Two offers of stone quarries wore received. I expect others shortly, and when they come in I shall examine and report on them all at the same time. AYe are very short of cement, and are likely to he much inconvenienced. The contractors tor the cement arc behind their time of delivery. Accommodation for the men at the landing service have boon Ipjill, and notices sent to the other services. The new snrf-boaj, has been sent from Christchurch by rail, and I expect its arrival to-day. The landing service manager suggests in his report that an anchor and buoy be placed in a convenient position to the FT.AY. of the Breakwater for the

accommodation of small vessels, and I approve of the idea. Letters were read from the managers of the National Bank and Union Bank of Australia, informing the Board that their fixed deposits fell due on April 15, and that they would he glad to renew them at the current rates of interest, viz.—s per cent, for 3 months, 51 per cent, for 6 months, and 6 per cent, for 12 months.

Mr Elworthy moved, “ That the Chairman be requested to wait upon the managers of the National and Union Banks and arrange with them for the renewal of the fixed deposits after April 15 at current rates of interest.”

Seconded by Mr Beswick. Mr Barker moved an amendment, “ That the Chairman be authorised to wait on the managers of the National and Union Banks and offer them a renewal of deposits falling due on loth and 18th April on the same terms as they now hold them.” The resolution was carried by the Chairman’s casting vote. The Chairman intimated that Mr Turnbull and himself had investigated Mr H. G-reen’s complaint re the manager of the landing service, and read the copy of a letter forwarded to Mr Green promising that arrangements would, if possible, be made to prevent a recurrence of the matter complained of. A letter was read from Messrs Jones and Peters contractors for the new section of the Breakwater intimating that they had used up all the cement and laid been compelled in consequence to discharge nearly all their men. The Engineer stated that there was a great deal of difficulty in getting suitable cement. The men referred to in the letter had been at work up to yesterday. He also stated the contractors for the supply of cement had only delivered 100 tons out of 300 tons that were to bo delivered by the end of January. 175 casks had arrived that day by the Maori. He asked the Board to authorise him to obtain cement from time to time as it is required to keep the works going. In reply to a question he stated that the contractors, Messrs Findlay and Co. had agreed to deliver 300 tons cement monthly, the first lot not later than the end of January.

It was resolved that a letter be written to Messrs Findlay ami Co., calling atten to the non-fulfillment of their, contract and intimati.ig that the Board would hold them responsible for any loss arising therefrom. It was also decided to write to Messrs Montgomery and Co., and the Oamaru Harbor Board, enquiring, if they can supply special cement in the meantime. Tenders were received for the erection of a stone wall at the north of the Breakwater.

That of Jones and Peters, at £503 15s was accepted. After some further routine business the Board adjourned*