HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2848, 11 May 1882, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

This monthly meeting of this Board was held - to-day. Present —Messrs E. A. Barker, W. Posllethwaite.A. Mee, W. Moody, M. Stud hoi me, W. Evans, T. W. Hall, R. Turn hull, K. F. Gray, Teseliemaker, and J. H. Sutter. In the absence of Mr Archer, Mr Hall was voted to the chair. JIINOTJSS. ; The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. COIUUiSPONDENCfc. r The following correspondence was read and considered. From Mr J. G. Allen rc hawser. From the Otago Harbor Board, enclosing suggestions rc proposed alterations in the Harbor Board Act. Consideration deferred. , i From the master of the Campsie Glen, asking for a remission of fees and dues charged against the G'ampsie Glen, on the grounds (1) of delay in discharging (2) of its being the custom to remit such dues in the; case of the first vessel alongside a new wharf. The request was declined. . From the Captain of the Benvenue, acknowledging receipt of the Board’s cheque for ten ' guineas, paid in consideration of assistance rendered the Duke of Sutherland. From the Railway Department, declining to supply the Board with ballast regularly. From P. Cunningham and Co., asking that the loading of the City of Perth be hastened on, as, further delay .would entail considerable loss to the Company. From McLaren and Bradley, asking permission to erect davits and' temporary deck house on the wharf./ .’ ’ ' ,

The Board declined, for the present, to grant the. request, considering that all available space, was required, for-.the purposes of the Board.. ; . '■ ■ : ■ " finance. ■ ; The report of the Finance Committee was read. .The report recommended the Board to exercise its borrowing-powers tbitho extent of £IOO,OOO forthwith, for extension purposes. The report considered the loan should be : a 5 per cent one; and that the various local bodies should be asked to assist the Board ,in every way ; also that the work'should be carried at least 500 feet further in a direct line. ■ Mr. /Moody thought the .apparent inconsistency between the increase of shipping facilities and a simultaneous increase of rates, such as had been proposed in the report, might be thus explained : The railway bandicaped the Board unduly, and until the Board had everything in working order,, jfchpy,.were obliged to impose high rates. Some discussion took place as to the advisablcness of setting aside a sinking fund. : ■' Mr Sutter thought the ' lender would only look to the security. The formation of a sinking fund Was a matter of detail for after consideration. : Mr Studholme thought , tli'c ; work should be gone on with, and money raised without delay for that purpose. Mr Barker - moved and Mr Gray seconded—That the report of the Finance Committee re loan-bo adopted as read.” Mr Moody thought further time was required; for the consideration of the report. Mr Postlethwaitc expressed a similar opinion.- ■ The motion was carried. ; lIARROR STAKE. , . The Sub-Committee’s report oh the Staif was road, recommending a fixed Staff and certain specified appliances. Mr Turnbull thought the duties of the Harbormaster should have been defined. He thought the Secretary had too much responsibility, and an unfair amount of dot}' was imposed upon him. He would like to say that he knew the Duke of Sutherland to have .been a rotten vessel, her pumps choked, and; the rod not to bo found. Had (hero been a good barbor staff these matters would have been detected. He thought the salary offered was too small to secure a sulliciently good official. Ho would very much like to sec another examination of the vessel made. Mr Hall remarked that the ship’s log had shown that from her leaving Algoa Bay the ship had been sound and her pumps dry. She had, too, been thoroughly surveyed and classed, and brought a certificate to that effect. The, Board could not go counter to such a document.

Mr Turnbull thought that it was very easy to put down a few gales or other occurrences in it log. He had a very indill'orcnt opinion of logs. Mr Bray agreed in the main with Mr Turnbull. He thought the Harbor Board’s officials ought to make a very close scrutiny of vessels arriving in port;

Mr fin tier thought the Board liad no right to go and inspect the ships arriving here. Ihvir soundness was a matter for the consideration of the charterers. As for the Duke of Sutherland, ho was very doubtful whether the ship ever struck before she began to make water. He did net understand how she could have pitched ten feet below her keel. The action of the committee in fixing salary, and advertising for a Harbormaster being referred to, Captain Sutter explained that the advertisement had been inserted to expedite business. It was moved , by Mr Turnbull, seconded by Mr Studliolme, and carried —“ That the report of the committee re Harbormaster’s staff be adopted.” ‘ The Committee,appointed to consider the question re tug-service, reported having opened negotiations with the owners of the steamer Peninsula, bat that such negotiations had fallen through, and the report recommended new negotiations to be made. The report was adopted and the Committee reappointed, Mr Sutter remarked that it should be at once decided and made public in whose province it lay, (the Board’s or its Harbormaster’s) to place ships in tho harbor. Articles had appeared in, the Press conveying a statement or implication that the Board had dictated to tho Harbormaster in the matter. Ho would like this contradicted.

It was decided to summon tho attendance of the Harbormaster in order that he might make an authorative statement. THE engineer’s SALARY. Mr Teschemaker, speaking to the motion standing in his name, urged that the Board should treat the Engineer with proper liberality, such was shown in other places. Captain Mills being now., in attend*' ance stated in reply to Mr Sutter, that Mr Evans had brought pressure to bear upon him relative to the, placing of ships. Mr Evans had threatened to “see him out of that.” Beyond this no pressure had been brought upon him by : the Board. Mr Evans explained that he had certainly made a suggestion to tho Harbor Master, on one occasion. • Captain Mills—Mr Evans said he would see me out of it and he has seen ine out and I thank him. Mr Evans—l think you ought to have been, out of it years ago. Several members asked Captain Mills a few questions relative to the Duke of Sutherland. . Captain Mills thought it. impossible for the ship to have struck at the depth. The ship had been ashore at Ilio do Janeiro, and had had a new stein put in. 1 Such repairs would not, if properly done, weaken, but rather strengthen, a: ship. ; THE ENGINEER. . Captain Sutter asked Mr Goodall whether he was a M 1.0. E , or had ever done any engineering work before ho joined the Board’s service. Dir Goodall replied-no, to the former, yea to the latter question. Mr Turnbull suggested that tho Engineer should' be allowed private ' practice. ' Mr Moody opposed this. The Board ought to have that officer always on tho f spot. Mr Evans thought, as the Oarnaru Engineer only superintended the work there, at intervals, and was,- paid; by,; commission, this Board might take into consideration tho advisableness of adopting a'similar plan. : > ■Captain Sutter thought this matter had been thoroughly discussed. , This'- was the, third ' time tho matter had been brought up after being disposed of by a majority of 9 to 2. The Board had been educating Mr Goodall in the engineering profession. Every contract the ,Board had had under its engineer - had been made. a muddle of. : Ho would favor dismissal of the Engineer. . ; Mr Barker thought the Board ought to economise. He would oppose an increase of salary, but he.would;suggest that things should remain ns they,.now were, .until, the end of the present contract. .

Mr Evans thought the.’report of. a \ Committee .having been adopted,, the .subject should:not have been re-opened. ; Mr. Gray, said the Board tjrad had to ; employ a clerk of works at great expense .when tlie engineer first came to the ' Board, and’that expense should ’have .been borne by the engineer/ ' A great : deal, qf sentiment had been imported into this matter, but it.was childish to attend to outside reports. , Mr Postlethwaite thought members of the Board .ought not to. consider newspaper reports but their plain duty. ; ■ Other Boards were in financial straits .through excessive salaries. The Board had not professional skill in Mr Goodall. He admitted not being an engineer. lie had made many muddles / witness the sand-bags and the wharf. ' Mr Tesebeinaker repudiated the imputation of sentiment, and briefly reviewed the remarks of previous .speaker's. ; . ' Mr,Gray moved—“ That the original 1 report of .theiGomraitteo for fixing the engineer’s salary bo adopted.” i ; ; : Captain Sutter seconded'tlie motion; and it-was carried .unanimously.: V 1 . :• engineer's REPORT. : ' The Engineer’s monthly report, was road, as follows : .. “ I haye . the ; honor to report that during last month the foundation blocks of the mole were extended 23ft, making ,194 ft- 0f... contract No. 4v Heavy weather having set-in on the 24th, very little work has been done since that date. The crane road was washed away and is not yet quite replaced. The contractors, .however, expect to finish relaying the rails by to-morrow, when block laying will be proceeded' with again. I drew the attention of the railway authorities' to the fact that refuse was getting in between the planks of the wharf, which would soon cause the timber to rot, and requested them to cause the same to be kept clean. I have had a reply to tho effect that they consider the work should devolve on tho Harbor Board. This is a matter that requires l attention^ I herewith append the communication.: Being instructed, I have, along with tho Harbormaster, carefully considered ■ whether another and more efficient site might not be obtained for the lifeboat shod. Wo cannot find a more convenient site than the present one, which, although not quite convenient for immediately launching the bout, is more suitable in the case of the boat being required at a distance either north or south of Tiinaru. The approach to tho present site, however, should bo improved. This can be done at a trifling cost.” RANGING SERVICE REPORT. ' The Manager of the Landing Service reported as follows 1 have tho honor to report tho arrival of 25 vessels during the month. I have landed and shipped, in all, GOTS tons, the gross earnings being £IOO9 3s 11, and the nett £3Ol 17s lOd, I have had the road metal, which was authorised at the last meeting of the Board, laid down. The approach to the service is now very much improved. The three wooden. boats purchased from the George street service are badly in need of repair. I have laid one of them on the stocks and expect that it will lake three weeks to put in order.”

TUG SERVICE. Mr Evans moved and Mr Turnbull seconded, pro forma, the following resolution :— 11 That tlio Board having decided that the services of a powerful steam tug, for tho proper currying on of the work of the port, is absolutely required, a Committee from this Board be appointed, comprising Messrs Moody% Hall, Sutter, Gray, and the mover, who shall he deputed to go to Lyttelton to inspect the Titan now under offer to this board with power to engage a competent mechanical engineer, and if the said tug is proved to be well found, the said Committee shall bo fully empowered to purchase tho Titan at a price delivered Limarn roadstead not exceeding £3500' ’ _ Mr ■ Evans spoke at some length in support of tho motion, urging that it would expedite business very con. siderably. He know “ litan’ to be a good one. If not suitable the Board should send home for one. Mr Sutter, enquired on behalf of himself as his brother members of tho House of Representatives what instructions tho Board desired to give them for their guidance in Wellington. APPLICATION FOE THE POST OP HARBORMASTER. Applications for the post of Harbor master Were read and considered, i Mr Gray moved that Captain Mills hero-appointed. Rethought Captain Mills’ experience was of great value to the port. Mr Turnbull thought sufficient inducement had not been offered to obtain good men. . . . Mr Teschomaker thought Captain Mills superior for the Board’s purpose, to any applicant, and he had given the Utmost satisfaction. What Captain Mills wanted was to have his duties defined. Pressure had been brought to bear upon him most unfairly. Mr Evans proposed as an amendment and Mr Barker seconded “That Captain Baskins be appointed Harbormaster.” The amendment was lost.

Mr Turnbull here brought up the matter of the wreck of the City of Cashmere, but was ruled out ot order. Captain Sutter thought the matter had been hurried on : it ought to be decided after enquiries and consultations, Mr Gray again urged that Captain Mills be appointed, (Considerable discussion, bordering on wrangling, here took place on the subject of relegating the matter to a committee or of dealing with it at once.) Mr Evans said the appointment of Captain Mills would be a disgrace to the port. [“ No, no.”] He only desired to see the work carried on properly. A great drawback was that country members always had to run away. You discharge a man one day and appoint him another. [“ Oh, oh.”J Mr Turnbull thought £4OO a year ought to be offered' (A very warm discussion was carried on). Mr Turnbull moved that Captain Woods he appointed, hut the motion was lost.

:A very acrimonious argument ensued between Mr/Turnbull and the Chairman Finally the original resolution re appointing Captain Mills was carried by a majority of one. The votes were : Ayes, Messrs Hall, Postlethwaite, Tescbemaker,Gray; Noes, Messrs Turnbull, Evans, Barker, the /other members having left the meeting. the shingle bank. It was moved by Mr Moody, seconded by Mr Sutter, and carried—“ That the Engineer bo instructed to make a regular survey* at times, say once every two months of the area south of the Breakwater, so that a record of the movements and dimensions of the shingle bank may be obtained for future reference."

Sundry accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.