HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2771, 9 February 1882, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of this Board was held to-day. Present: —Messrs Archer (Chairman), Sutter, Studholme, Gray, Moody,; Barker, Teechemaker, Hall, Postlethwaite, Turnbull and Evans. The Chairman stated that at the annual meeting of the Board the accounts of the Board had not been audited and he could not 'submit them. Since then, however, the auditor had certified to the correctness of the accounts, which wore now submitted.

On the motion of Mr Barker, the balance sheet was taken as read, and it adopted. The Chairman said it was only due to the Secretary to state that the auditor had informed him thatthe accounts of the Board had been excellently well kept. ; Mr Moody drew attention to an item in the annual accounts referring to the receipts and expenditure connected with the Landing Service. He pointed out that the expenditure on that department during the past five years had exceeded the revenue by £3200, or over £6OO a year. The Secretary stated that the harbor dues had only just been imposed, and the Landing Service department would now make a large annual profit. The position of the Landing Service in the next balance sheet would be very different when the charges at the port bad accumulated.

Mr Moody said on the assurance given by the Secretary there was no necessity for further discussing the question. He could not help thinking, however, that if their Landing Service business was not placed on a better footing they would not be able to produce sufficient money to pay interest on the money that would require to be borrowed to complete the Breakwater. Captain Sutter said he agreed with the view taken by Mr Moody.

Mr Turnbull said the affairs of the 'port were being grossly mismanaged. Their work was being done badlyy and it was time the Board took the whole question into its serious consideration with a view of appointing a competent manager of the business of the port. At present there were too many managers and their authority was divided. A statement had appeared in the “ Herald ” a few days ago to the effect that vessels trading to the port could not be.loaded owing to the, scarcity of men, and the refusal of some of thorn, to work for. Is 6d per hour. He knew for a fact that plenty of labor could be had for Is per hour. No advertisement had boon inserted asking, for men, or no notice of any kind had been given, or plenty.of good , men could have been procured : for the port. It appeared to him that vessels were brought too close in. There were any amount of boats end any number of men at the disposal of the Board, yet it appeared the work could not be done. ( He wished to refer, to the case of the wreck of the City of Cashmere, but as the Court of Inquiry had hot yet • delivered its judgment he would defer what remarks be intended to make on the question. The Chairman said that when the newspaper paragraph referred .to appeared he sent for the Landing Service manager and drew his attention to it. Heteplied that the statement about not being able to get hands was not correct. He had a full compliment of hands at the service and was working the vessels as expeditiously as pbsssble. Mr Turnbull said a statement such as had been made in print should not remain uncontradicted as it was calculated to do serious injury to the port. The Chairman said he hoped the Board* would not saddle him with the duty of contradicting every statement that wasmade in prin(;. . ;.r> Mr Turnbull—No, certainly not (laughter), but the Chairman might instruct the Secretary to correct untrue statements.

This concluded the business of the special meeting and the ordinary monthly meeting,was then held. A letter was read from Mr Menzies on the subject of negotiating a loan: of £IOO,OOO for the Board. He stated that he represented the financial firm of Messrs Woollet and Rayner. It was resolved on the motiori’of Mr Moody—“ That: a Committee consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Hall, Evans, Sutter, Moody, and Barker, be appointed to consider the financial position of the Board, with-a view of' obtaining data for borrowing purposes,” An offer received from Mr James Shears to sell the Board a hawser towline for £25 was declined, as the Secretary reported that the Board hadi plenty of new tow. line rope in stocky - , A letter was = read from Lieutenant; Jackson, chief officer of the Rocket, Brigade, enclosing a list of apparatus required by the Brigade, . ; J ; Mr Turnbull —I shall move that the goods enumerated in the list be ordered.; If we do not care for the vessels, we ought to care for life. The reckless way in which vessels are placed ahont does not show that they are considered of much value.

Mr Moody seconded the motion,; which was carried, The Chairman reported that the tender of E. Cornish for storing cement had been accepted. The charge for storage was 2d per ton per week. A letter was read, from Messrs Bourn and Stumbles complaining of the conduct of the Secretary in seizing an anchor and chain which was , being taken off to the City of Cashmere. It was * resolved on the motion of Mr Moody—“ That the Board regrets that Messrs Bourn and Stumbles have; suffered any inconvenience about the anchor, which . seems to have arisen from misunderstanding on both sides.” ' CONFLICTING CLAIMS. A report was read from a Com puttee upon the foreshore endowment and the Government demands for land _ for railway purposes. Thev Committee asked for an extension of time to complet.' tlie'r report, but they wrote strongly against the claims of the Government being allowed in their entirety. The Committee recommended that at least 500 yards of the foreshore south of the mole, bounded by a lino drawn at a right angle from the base of the mole, must be retained by the Board for construction purposes, and that no clay or other material can be allowed to be placed upon that land. They did not recommend that any charge be made for shingle taken from tlid t bekch, as the cost of checking and collecting would more than absorb the revenue.

A discussion ensued, in the course of which Mr G-oodull informed the ;Board tKat no damage to the shingle need bo apprehended from the clay already put. down, and the Railway Department did not intend to put down much more at present. ' . . , ! ’ •THK board’s STAFF. , ■ The Committee, consisting of the Chairman . and Messrs Sutter, Gray, Evans, Barker, and Moody, appointed to consider the duties and salaries of the Board’s officials, reported as follows The Committee recommend that the Engineer’s salary, after three months’ notice, be at the rate of £SOO per annum,

with one month’s notice : that the Secretary’s salary be £275 per annum, and if he prove capable of conducting all the increased business of the Board during the next six six months his salary be raised to £3OO, with one month’s notice; they further recommend that he bo made responsible for all work connected with shipping goods ; that the Harbormaster's salary remain as at present with one ■months’ notice ; that the lighthousekeeper be offered six months’ salary, or the option of remaining in the cottage rent free, and attending to the lighthouse ; that the Clerk of the Works hot paid at the rate of £4 per week, with a month's notice, and that in future he bo

employed more in outdoor supervision, and less at indoor work j that the pay of the Landing Service manager arid goods : clerk remain as at present, with one week’s notice; that all increases of ’ salary date from January 1,1882. A long discussion took place in Committee, upon the clause referring to the Engineer. It was finally agreed to alter the clause to make the notico three l months, and to add “ with permission to.- [ take consulting practice.” : The other recommendations were ap-.. proved, except that relative to the light-house-keeper, which was referred back to the Committee with power to act, inconjunction with the Chairman.

engineer’s ebpobt. . The- Engineer’s report was read as follows: “I have the honor to report that during last month the foundation of the mole was extended 35 feet, making 85 of Breakwater contract No.. 4. More work would have been done for the month had it not been for heavy seas running, which displaced some of the ( blocks in front ; these had to be lifted' and replaced. ! “Wharf contract No. 4 was let to’ Messrs Mackenzie and Go., of Banedip*?

ana satistaotory arrangements, navebeen made with the railway authorities!] to allow these contractors to get apf approach to their work. “Ihave had an interview i with < Mr Burnett, Railway Engineer, respecting the land required for the Breakwater .works until their completion. I find, on inspection of the proposed new station plans, that the railway works now being constructed will not interfere with the construction of the Breakwater. “ As the use of horses oh the wharf I was doing it material damage, a request, ’was sent to the. etationmaster to have battens-placed on the wharf for 1 protection. ■; To this a reply has been received) ;that battens will he put, on provided ;the work is paid for by the Board. This ’requires immediate attention.:, : .•/> t “ I beg to recommend that two coats of tar be put on the; wharf, on ajl timber above high watermark, for its protection? from the weather.” ■

It was resolved ,to havo.the : battens placed on the wharf, and to give the woodwork the two coats of tar recommended by the Engineer, , LANDING service report. THe report of the manager of” the Landing Service stated that 17 Steamers, and 10 sailing vessels; visited the port during January, 20 of which- Wdre beithed at the wharf for workirigi TM gross' earnings, for the month ';Were £386 4s 6d, and the net profit, £12618a 7d, the;comparatively small profit bein& due to most of the work being done at the ships at the outer unchorageT * It was stated that the tender of McKenzie and Co. of Dunedin had been accepted for Wharf contract No. 4 at £1937 16s, bat the contract was not yet signed. The . sum of £BO 7s-was received from the Railway 1 Department fd| wharfage collected during three weeks ending Dec. 10. ’ 4 Captain Sutter asked ’the 'Engineer if he had afay plan * for pri»| viding additional' shelter for' vessels alongside the wharf- ■, ~ Mr Goodall said he Had rid plan in view- A shelter could be built of loose blocks that could be taken up’ again and used for the mole. !£ht the mole could not be proceeded with at the same time. ’' l ' 1

, Captain Sutter was sure a .temporary wooden wall could bo built that would serve, the purpose,. . , ; , .v ; ' Mr Goodall doubted it, but he would be glad to confer wijh" Captain ‘ SutfeF and obtain liis views," and would then prepare plans v arid estimates of cOSt. t , It .agreed, that jfljjg be done. ACCOUNTS.

Accounts amounting to £2927 15s 3d on Harbor Works account, arid to £255 9s 5d on Landing Service account were passed for payment. The meeting then terminated.