TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2666, 6 October 1881, Page 2

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above took place to-day. Present—Mr F. Archer (Chairman), and Messrs T. W. Hall, W. Evans, K. P. Gray, W. Moody, A. Mee, W. Postlethwaite, R. A. Barker, R. Turnbull, and His Worship the Mayor. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Otago Harbor Board, asking whether the Board would sell or lease their Priestmar.n dredge, as they were not using jt. Some members apoke in favor of parting with the dredge as useless, others in favor of keeping it, as the contingency might arise any day that it would be wanted to clear away silt in front of the works. The Engineer said that ho expected as the mole progressed seaward the scour at the end of the works would cease, and if any long spell of lino weather occurred the work might be considerably delayed. He could not recommend that the dredge bo parted with. It was obtained as s, reseryp to Resist ip casp of an anticipated difficulty arising, and he thought it should be retained. After a discussion it was decided to reply that the Board decided not to dispose of the dredge at present. A letter was read from the Railway Department, asking the Board to provide a crane for use in loading and unloading vessels at the wharf, and suggesting that a five-ton steam travelling crane would be most useful. Several members expressed surprise at the Department requiring the Board to find a crane, they having understood that the Department were to do all the work of the wharf- which sqrply implied that they were to supply the necessary machinery. The Secretary stated that at most New Zealand ports the Harbor Boards found tht? cranes and received a charge of Gd per ion on all goods landed Qr shipped, to pav for it. On" the motion of Mr Barker it was resolved to refer the Department to their letter of Oct. 4, in which they agree to do all the work of the wharf, the same as at Lyttelton, and the Board find that at Lyttelton the Department find the cranes. The engine at the Landing Service having J *goue wrong,” the Chairman

had written to Mr Anderson to send down a competent man to examine it and report. A letter was now read from Mr Anderson containing a report. Several repairs were wanted, the coat of which, the Chairman said, would be about £SO. Mr Anderson recommended that a more powerful engine should be got, but in view of early use being made of the wharf, this was considered inadvisable by the Board, and it was agreed to remain satisfied with the old one. The repairs spoken of have already been effected.

Letters were read from Captain Fox respecting the refusal of the Board to take all the piles he landed, or to allow him to remove them. A receipt of later case “ in full of all demands ” was then read, and other communications from the same source were passed over. “ The Board had had enough of Captain Fox.”

The Timaru agent of the N. Z. L. and M. A. Co. advised the Board of the shipment of four coils of coir hawser, in a vessel now about due.

The Marine Department wrote requesting the Board to assist in enforcing the regulations regarding the marking of the deck and load lines, and the overloading of vessels. An application from the Secretary of the Boating Club for permission to erect a boat shed on the beach, north of the landing service, was granted, subject to the condition that the shed be removed on a month’s notice being given that its removal is required. O’CONNOR AND AUSTIN’S EEPOET, The Chairman then took up a copy of the first report of the Commissioners appointed to report upon the proposed deviation from the original approved plans of the Breakwater. Mr. Hall—l suppose this will be handed to the Press ? Mr Moody—No, Mr Hall—l say yes. Surely the public have a right to know something about it. Mr Turnbull—Have the Government expressed either approval or disapproval of the proposal ? The Chairman said they had yet expressed no opinion. Seeing that the present contract was aboutcompleted he telegraphed to Government asking whether the Board'might go on with another contract in a straight line. The answer he received was that the Government were waiting for the second report of the Commissioners, to be based upon data to be supplied by the Board’s engineer, Mr Good all. As soon as that report was received the Government would communicate further with the Board. He (the Chairman) had that very morning received a summary of the second report of the Commissioners. This report had not yet been submitted to the Governor, nor even had the first one. Mr Moody said the reports should not be published until they had been before the Governor, for whom they were prepared. They were, as it were, private property until they had been placed before him. The Board then went into Committee, to read thesummarj l, of Messrs O'Oonuor and Austin’s second report. In reply to Mr Moody, the Engineer said he could have plans and specifications ready for tenderers for a now contract in a week. The time that would otherwise be lost might be employed in making blocks, to he used in the next contract, the value of which would of course go to diminish the contract price. The Mayor made a motion to the effect that in the event of a favorable reply being received from the Government regarding the proposed deviation from the original plan, tenders should be called for the addition of such a length to the Breakwater as would leave £SOOO in the hands of the Board after paying for it. He thought it would be wise to retain a certain sum to meet contingencies, and if they did not use it otherwise and could save £SOOO more out of the 1 ordinary revenue, a further contract might be let.

After a little conversation about the matter the motion was carried-.

The Engineer was requested to have the information, &c., necessary for the preparation of plans, in as forward a state as possible, so that little delay might occur if a favorable answer were received from the Government.

At a later stage in the meeting Mr Barker moved that Messrs O’Connor and Austin’s report, together with Mr Goodall’s reply and any other papers in connection with the Breakwater plans, should he lundod to the Press for publication. He did not see the use of keeping them from the public. Mr Gray thought it would be very injudicious to publish the papers yet. The Chairman said he considered the report of the Commissioners had been sent to the Board quite as a favor. Mr Hall agreed with Mr Barker that the papers should be published. They were sent to the Board ns a public body, and their keeping them secrec was likely to give rise to the impression that they contained something the Board were afraid should be known, that they contained statements or opinions about the harbor that could not be met, Ho did not believe in keeping things in the dark. Mr Postlethwaite suggested that the motion should be altered to give the Chairman power to hand the papers to to the Press, if a favorable reply as to the desired modification of plans were received from Government before next meeting. The motion was not seconded and the matter dropped. THE LIL'IE DENHAM. The Secretary was instructed to inform the owners of the steam launch Ijiliie penham that they must obtain a license before plying for hire. engineer’s report. The Engineer’s report on the Harbor works was read as follows “ I have the honor to report that the Breakwater Contract No. 3 has been completed to-day. The contract time has been exceeded by ten weeks. The chief cause of delay was bad weather, fifty-three days having supervened during the progress of the work in which no work could be done. The contractors wore also delayed nine days from cement running short. Tfis Wharf Contract No. 2 was completed on September 19. The contract time was exceeded by nine weeks. This delay was chiefly occasioned by the non arrival of timber for the works from the North in time, the dry season having affected tfio working of the mills by creating a shortness of supply. The work was also delayed by bad weather for about a fortnight.

“ Wharf Contract No. 3.—This work is nearly completed, a few days will see it out of the contractors’ hands.

“As instructed I am placing horizontal belting along the whqrf for fending off vessels. This work will bo completed m about two weeks.

“ The railway authorities are making preparations for extending the railway on the new parts of the wharf, and when tlie crossings are forged the rails will be laid.

“As instructed, I forwarded fresh data to the Commissioners to make a further memorandum to their repert on the alteration and extension of the Breakwater from the approved plans. A reply from them is expected to-day. “ In the event of calling for tenders for another contract for the Breakwater, I would recommend that the next wharf contract be included with it, as these contracts in different hands are sure to clash. One contractor could undertake the Breakwater and wharf combined more conveniently than two contractors with the work divided.

“I beg again to remind the Board that steel rails will soon be required for the large crane ; about 20 tons will be sufficient for some time.

“ Steps will have to be taken in a few days to maintain the danger lights at the end of the works when the works are taken over from the contractors. It has been found very difficult, and at times impossible, to have the lights near the extremity of the works. I beg to recommend that they be placed in a more accessible position in all weathers, namely at the end of the present wharf until the wharf bo further extended, when the lights could be shifted. This would also serve to light up a portion of the wharf. I would farther recommend that these lamps be lighted with gas, and be maintained by the gas company. Respecting the petition of W. Marley, on behalf of the public and watermen, asking for more extended convenience in boat stops, slips, and house for boatmen, I beg to recommend that the consideration of the matter be deferred until the position of such works cen be definitely arranged. The position mentioned in the petition will doubtless be reclaimed in the future, and the cost of any such work erected on that site would therefore be wasted.

“ As all existing works, including repairs, will be completed in two or three weeks, I shall not require the services of the clerk of works beyond that time, unless fresh tenders be called soon.”

Some discussion took place upon the question of enforcing the penalties for exceeding the contract time. Mr Moody said the present contract had been carried out in a very leizurely way, as if there were no penal clauses in the contract. He was not in favor of inflicting the full penalty, but he thought some part of it should be inflicted. Ho would like a greater strictness to be observed in the future.

Mr Hall said the Board had always been indulgent in the past, and it would not be fair to com® down on contractors suddenly. The settlement of the question of penalty was postponed till next meeting. The Mayor said the Engineer always stated in his reports that the contractors had been delayed so many days by bad weather. Did he consider the Board responsible for the weather? IE not why mention it in the report ? the contractors were supposed to take the risk of bad weather. Messrs Hall and Sutter disapproved of the Engineer’s suggestion to extend the wharf along with the Breakwater, as the end of it could not be used, and the cost of the outer portion would be money locked up. In reply to a question the Engineer stated that there now 450 feet of wharf available, with a depth of water ranging from Bto 19 ft. There was room for a big steamer and two small vessels alongside it. It was agreed to communicate with the Marino Department respecting the lights on the Breakwater, asking leave to fix them on the end of the wharf. LANDING SERVICE REPORT. The Manager of the Landing Service reported that 22 vessels had been tendered during the mouth, and 4280 tons of goods had been handled, the gross earnings for which were £6BO 4s, and the nett earnings £293 11s 4d. The report referred to the repairs to the engine mentioned above, and made application for a new dingy. Tenders were ordered to be called for a new dingy. ACCOUNTS. Landing Service accounts to the amount of £386, and Harbor works accounts to the amount of £1985 5s 3d were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.