TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2691, 3 November 1881, Page 2

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above took place this morning at the Board’s offices. Present—Mr P, Archer (Chairman), and Messrs T. W. Hall, J. H. Sutter, K, P. Gray, W. Moody, T. Teschemaker, R. Barker, W. Evans. A. Mee, and E. Turnbull. CORRESPONDENCE. The minutes of the previous meeting having been road and confirmed, the following correspondence was read: — From the Marine Department, with reference to re-appointment of Messrs Archer, Hall, Studholme, and Turnbull to be members of the Board. From Mr K. F. Gray, a member of the Board,stating that owing to the Winchester Fair having been changed to the first Thursday in the month, he would be unable to attend meetings of the Board on that day, and he would be glad if the Board’s day of sitting could be changed. The first comment on this letter was that it was “ rather cool," but afterwards it was admitted that Mr Gray was a very valuable member, and that the convenience of the country members should be considered. The attendance of another country member, it was {stated, would be affected by the holding of the Winchester Fair, and the feeling of the Board seemed to be in favor of changing the day, but the question was reserved till next meeting. Prom the owners of the steam launch Lillie Denham, applying for a license to ply for hire. Also offering the services of the launch for towing cargo boats to and from vessels, at a charge of lOd per ton of cargo; and for towing vessels to the shelter of the breakwater, and vice versa, at a charge of lOd per ton register of the vessels towed.

Captain Sutter proposed that the towing of the surf boats should be tried; it would be an experiment, and he believed it would prove successful, notwithstanding all that had been said about pulling the boats under water. On the motion of Mr Evans it was resolved that a license be granted to the Lillie Denham, the fee to be £2, and that the Manager of the Landing Service be directed to try towing out a few cargo boats to vessels at the outer anchorage before the offer to tow cargo boats be accepted. The question of towing vessels was held over to ascertain whether the charge of lOd per ton was for towing each or both ways. From the railway department requesting the Board to remove the sheds and buildings <fcc. on the seaward side of the railway line at George street, within a fortnight, as the sites were wanted for the new station improvements.

One of these buildings is used at present as a store for the Board’s hawsers, and the Harbor Master wrote recommending that a small projection be built off the wharf for the purpose. Captain Sutter said it would be necessary to extend the wooden portion of the wharf to the store so as to furnish an access to the landing steps, clear of the railway line, and a portion of this approach might be used for stowing the warps. The Engineer stated that temporary stowage would be found for the hawsers. From the Borough Council asking for authority to extend their water supply pipes to the wharf. The authority was given to the Board’s Engineer to meet the Waterworks Engineer and consult as to the best way to lay a pipe for the supply of shipping and fire prevention. From the manager of the Landing Service, asking tor an increase of salary. It was resolved that Mr Graham bo paid £4 per week henceforth. A letter was read from Mr Goodall, the engineer, asking for leave of absence to enable him to visit Napier, in compliance with an invitation he had re« ceived to inspect and report upon a proposed harbor works there, and prepare plans for the same. Leave of absence was given, the time to be arranged with the Chairman, but a warm discussion took place on the question whether Mr Goodall’s salary should be continued during his absence, Messrs Hall, Evans, Sutter and Turnbull voting against this, and Messrs Barker, Teschemaker, Mee and Moody for it, the Chairman voting with the latter. tenders. The following tenders for steel rails, &c., for the crane were received :—J. Anderson (accepted) rails, £l2 per ton; fish-plates, 16s per cwt; bolts, 26s per cwt. Davidson and Conyers, Otago Foundry, £ls 15a, 19s and 24s ; Priest and Holdgale, £ls, 18 and 24s respectively for rails, fish-plates and bolts. Messrs Gibbs and Bright wrote, stating that the time allowed for delivery, viz, four months, was so short that they could not tender although desirous of doing so. THE LIGHTHOUSE. A letter from the Marine Department was read relative to the lighting of the lighthouse. The Board might substitute gas for oil if they pleased, but tins would not give much more power. If more power was required it would be advisable to replace the fifth order light now in use by one of the fourth order, which alteration would cost about £l6O or if a dioptric mirror were used, about £2O more. The finance Committee had been appointed to consider this question of lighting, and their report was submitted. It recommended the substitution of gas for oil as an illuminaut, and that a fourth order light should be obtained.

Mr Hall stated that he, Mr Goodall, and Captain Mills had made an experiment with the light. They procured and fixed a sheet of ruby glass on the land side of the lantern, and driving oat towards Temuka, found the light showed clear and bright at a distance of eight miles in a straight line, It was decided to substitute gas for oil, but not to obtain a new light for the present. A DISPUTE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. A large plan of the ground given by the Tirnaru Harbor Board Endowment Act of last session was suspended on the wall, and as the railway authorities who prepared the plan from which the schedule was prepared, had not adhered to the agreement made by the Board with the Railway Department, they having taken all the land to the northward of the Breakwater, which was first agreed to be given to the Board, except about half anjacre, it was resolved that the Chairman communicate with the Minister for Public Works, pointing out the discrepancy. engineer’s report. The Engineer’s report for the month was read as follows : “ I have the honor to report that the Breakwater Contract No. 3 being completed, the contractors have been engaged during the last month in making such repairs as were necessary under their terra of maintenance. “ According to instructions, plans and specifications have been prepared of Breakwater Contract No. 4—for extension of the mole 300 ft. with power to extend to 400 ft. if found desirable. Tenders for the same have been invited and are due on Monday, the 14th inst. “ Wharf Contract No. 3 (widening of approach) was completed on the 13th of last month. There is now 500 ft. of wharfing available, with from 6ft. to 18ft. of water at spring low tides. The horizontal belting all along it has been completed, and steamers and other vessels may now come alongside. The railway authorities are now busy completing the laying of rails on the wharf, and in a week or ten days this work will be finished. “It has been found necessary to execute repairs to the railway at the root of the mole, the earth bank having been sapped by the action of the sea. Two concrete blocks were lifted and were replaced by a concrete wall, which will securely protect the earth bank. “ As instructed, tenders were called for 20 tons of steel rails. Three tenders have been received and now await acceptance. “ John Goodali.” landing service. The Manager of the Landing Service reported that 22 vessels had been tendered during the month, from which 4697 tons of goods had been landed or shipped ; the gross earnings being £786 3s Bd, and the nett earnings £334 12s 7d. He reported that the engine was again in bad order, and suggested that it would be advisible to increase the charge for shipping wool to the outer anchorage to 9d per bale, and the charge of landing coal from thence, to 4s per ton.

. EXTENSION OF MOLE. A letter was read from the Marine Department forwarding plans approved by the Administrator of the Governor for extension of the mole in straight line for 400 ft further, and for the application of the present system of construction throughout the whole future work. CONTRACTORS’ PENALTIES. ff The Egineer reported that making every allowance the contractors for the last sections of the Breakwater and Wharf had incurred penalties to the amount of £450. They had taken nine weeks more to finish the work than the contract specified, and the penalty was £25 a week on each work. A good deal of discussion took place on the question whether the whole, or what part if any of the penalties should be enforced. Captain Sutter said that the contractors had not used “ due diligence ” in carrying on to work. For instance, they did not call for tenders for the iron casing they were required to find, till three months after their contract was signed. It was proposed to deduct the amount actually paid out of pocket, in salaries, and for extra storage charges for cement. The matter was not decided, it beinir left over for further consideration till next meeting. WORKING OF WHAHF. The Landing Service engine being out of repair, it was resolved to put the dredge crane on the wharf as soon as the rails were laid, in order that the Landing Service engine might be set quite at liberty for a week, for thorough repair. The Engineer said the rails would be laid in about a week’s time. Mr Evans moved that in cases where grain was taken into the shipping shed for steamer notified to sail on the following day, and the steamer did not arrive to take the grain away, a charge of Is per ton for storing and receiving be charged. ACCOUNTS. Harbor Board accounts amounting to £2445 16s Bd, and Landing Service accounts amounting to £477 4s Id were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned till the 16th inst.