TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2434, 6 January 1881, Page 2

TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the above was held to-day. Present — Messrs P. Archer (chairman), Turnbull, Evans, Sutter, Moody, Acton, Parker, Postlethwaite, and Beswick. COBHKSPOXDEXCJ3. From Mr A. Boardman, Wellington, offering a wooden stock anchor, weighing 2 tons, at £lO per ton. Declined. From proprietors of the two Landing Services, complaining of the expense to which they have been subjected, by the extension of the foreshore, and of the competition of the Board, as well as

of the Board’s action in -compelling vessels to bring up opposite the Board’s service. They requested the £SO per year for royalty to be remitted.

Moved by Mr Evans, seconded by Mr Sutter, and carried—“ That in answer to the letter from the New Zealand Loan and National Mortgage Companies, after taking into consideration the reasons assigned by them for asking for a remission of royalty rent now charged, this Board have decided that from and after January 1, 1881. the royalty rent he charged on - each landing and shipping service shall be £5 per annum, payable in advance, but that no retro speetive concession be allowed on rent.”

From the Under-Secretary for Bailways, Wellington, intimating that Mr Maxwell had been instructed to prepare plans of the portion of the foreshore that would be required for railway purposes.

From the Marine Department, Wellington, forwarding copies of the notices to mariners in reference to the red lights now placed on the Breakwater. From Cargill, Gibbs, and Co., Dunedin, re cement rejected because of damaged casks, reiterating their opinion that the restrictions to which contractors were subjected militated against the interests of the Board, and asking that the Board should accept the cement furnished, damaged casks included, in completion of their contract. After some discussion in the course of which it was stated by the engineer that the new contract was 4s per ton in advance of the price previously paid, and Mr Evans remarked that he had it on good authority, that because of the the Board’s restrictions as to casks, the tenderers had added Gs per ton to the price for which they would otherwise have contracted, the following re* solution was moved by Mr Moody and carried—“ That the Harbor Board in reply to Cargill Gibbs and Co’s letter, expect the completion of their contract within the next six months.”

From Kincaid and .McQueen offering to inspect and report on alterations required to enable the steam crane to travel round a curve, their fee being 15

guineas. The Chairman stated that Mr McQueen had made an inspection, but as yet no report had been received. From W. liaynor, submitting a plan for taking the crane round a corner as required, and offering to perform the work and to enter into any guarantee for its due and satisfactory completion, at a cost of £3OO.

From Captain Mills, Harbor Master, asking the Hoard to take the necessary steps to empower him to order the removal of vessels anchored uuder the Breakwater outside, or to have them taken out if necessary at the risk and cost of the owners. Also, recommending that the light house offices and lifeboat bo repainted. It was decided to invite tenders for painting, and to intimate that the Harbor Master was fully authorised to deal with vessels in port in the way suggested. TUB TAKDIXU SKEVICE. The manager of the Landing Service reported that during December 20 vessels visited the roadstead, of which he worked 12, landing and shipping, 1576 tons, the gross earnings being £251 9s 3d, and the net proceeds £ll 19s sd. Mr Moody said that he was absent from last meeting when the question of procuring an additional boat for the Landing Service was discussed. He submitted that one or two additional boats were required in order to keep pace with the increasing traffic. Some discussion ensued during which it wars pointed out that the Board had already considered the matter, and that a notice of motion would be necessary before any resolution cmld be entertained.

Mr Moody contended that us the question had not been dealt with by resolution, lie was not precluded from bringing forward a motion on the subject.

Mr Acton considered that with the facilities that vessels now enjoyed for approaching the Breakwater, the pressure of work on the landing service boats would be reduced.

Mr lies wick moved and Mr Moody seconded—“ That tenders be called for an iron surf boat, similar to that last obtained, tenders to be in by next meeting, the contract to be completed by March 31.” The motion was carried.

Mr Bostlethwaite called attention to No. 9 of the Board’s by-laws, providing that any motion involving an expenditure of over £IOO can only be entertained after a notice of motion has been given. In the present instance an expenditure of £4-00 was involved, and on principle he objected to the resolution being proceeded with. The Chairman intimated that a meeting of the Board to receive the annual accounts must bo held on Jan, 17, and he suggested, as the Board was not unanimous on the subject, that notice should be given. PETITION. Captain Sutter presented the following petition : “ Timaru, Jan. 4. 1881. “ To the Chairman and members of the Timaru Harbor Board. “Gentlemen, —We, the undersigned, humbly rerpiest that you will re-consider your present plan of only letting 180 feet on the straight of the Breakwater and have tenders called for a length considerably further, and at a suitable point on the north side of present work, and at right angles to same, a mole of say 150 feet thereby providing shelter for one or two vessels alongside the present wharf. By carrying out the straight of the Breakwater say over 400 feet further than the intended 180 feet, your petitioners believe that the harbor would be more commodious and capable of receiving vessels of larger tonnage. (Signed) “ F. LeCken, and fifty-live other business men of Timaru.”

Several of the members expressed their pleasure that the inhabitants of Tiinaru so far endorsed the action hitherto taken by the Board. It wag considered, however, that as the new contract, which it was proposed to let, would take about six months to complete, there was no present necessity for dealing with the memorial. It was finally resolved, on the motion of Mr Acton, seconded by Mr Postlethwaite —“ That the requisition dated Jan. 4, 1881, signed by Mr LeCren, and others, be received,and will receive full attention at the proper moment.” CONTRACT OR DAY LAItOR. Mi' Evans said he was present when the Board resolved to construct a trial piece of the Breakwater by day labor, and absent from last meeting when the members decided to cull for tenders. He would like to be informed why the Board had abandoned their first proposal, especially as the engineer had shown that the work could be done by day

labor at half the cost of contract labor. Captain Sutter replied that in the first place he did not put much faith in the figures submitted by the engineer, and in the second he believed the new tenders would be far below any that had previously been received. Mr Turnbull said he had been induced to take the action which he did because he considered the Board would be placed in a false position if they tried day labor and found themselves compelled to abandon it. The draw backs to day labor were that it would involve a large expenditure on plant and horses, and would probably necessitate an assistant engineer, assistant clerk of works, and other officers, leading also to favoritism disputes between then and officers, and general annoyance and loss. At the same time he thought the Board should purchase the necessary plant for the use of the contractor. The deposit of £750 required, was far too great, and tended to discourage competition. He moved — “That the resolution passed at the meeting of the Board, held on Oct. 7, 1880, whereby it was resolved to proceed with the Breakwater by day labor be rescinded." The motion was seconded by Captain Sutter and carried. On the motion of Mr Moody the consideration of the tenders received for the next Breakwater contract of 180 feet was considered in Committee. The following tenders were then opened and read :

£ e. d. J. B. Mckenzie ... ... 6538 11 0 Jones and Peters 5807 2 0 P. McGrath ... 5932 0 0 T. K. Jones... 5077 13 0 Mills and Ogilvie 5306 16 0 Watson,Townsend &Pender 6468 16 3 George Filmer 6523 8 0 Some of the tenders included apron blocks and others did not.

On the motion of Mr Sutter, seconded by Mr Turnbull, the tender of Messrs Jones and Peters for extension of Breakwater, at £4940, and apron blocks at Us per yard, was accepted. TENDERS FOR COAL. Tenders for the supply of best screened Newcastle coal, in two ton lots, for the next six months, at the Landing Service, were received as follows .-T- ---£. s. d. E. Smith ... ... 1 17 9 Thos. Wren ... 119 0 A. White 2 0 0 J. Jackson 1 18 0 A. Sherratt 3 0 0 The tender of E. Smith was accepted. engineer’s report. “ I have the honor to report that the last section of Breakwater contract No 2 was completed on- the 13th of last month. The extent of solid Breakwater now is 675 feet; total length beyond high water mark in shore 825 feet, with 18 feet 6 inches of water at spring low tides at the extremity. “ The contractors are now engaged in repairing the portion of the mole which had ben cut down. This work should be completed in about a fortnight when the entire works will be taken over from the contractors. “ The wharf contract is all but completed. In two or three days this work will also be taken over. “ I beg to recommend that the earth works necessary for the railway connection with the wharf be gone on with at once, so that rails may be laid without delay whenever required. “ Tenders were invited for 180 feet extension of mole. They have been received, and now await acceptance. “ According to instructions I have prepared plans of a rabble jetty north of the Harbor Board Landing Service. They are herewith annexed along with an estimate of cost. “ Commodious landing steps have been erected for the use of passengers and others at a point near the shore end of the approach to tiie wharf where boats can come alongside at all tides. “ I have the honor to be, Sir, “ Your obedient servant. “ Jojrx Goodall, “ Engineer Timaru Harbor Board." STORAGE BATES. Resolved —“ That the schedule of storage rates recommended on Oct. 31, 1881, by the manager of the landing service, be adopted.” The rates in question have been already published. THE U.S.S, COMPANY’S STEAMERS'. Moved by Mr Evans, seconded by Mr Sutter and carried—“ That in reply to the letter of Mr McKenzie, manager of the National' Mortgage Company re tendering U.S.S, Co’s the secretary write informing Mr McKenzie that in the event of the Union Company’s steamers coining to the Government Service to be discharged, they shall receive all reasonable despatch in unloading and loading, and the Board will also undertake the necessary care of goods consigned to the service until shipped or delivered to consignees. STORAGE OF GOODS. Moved by Mr Acton, seconded by Mr Turnbull, and carried—“ That a committee consisting of Messrs Beswick, Hull Moody, and Evans be appointed to report at next meeting on tbe requirements of tbe service for storage of goods." ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £239 19s Id on the landing service, and £3046 10s 6d, on the Harbor Board, were passed for payment. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Beswick tabled the following notice of motion—“ That a surf boat be procured and that tenders be called for the same, to be in on Jan. 17. The meeting then adjourned.