HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2872, 8 June 1882, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Board was ‘ held to-day. Present —Messrs Archer (chairman), K. A. Barker, W. Moody, K. F. Gray, W. Evans, Hall, and Tescbemaker. • The minutes of the previous meeting were red’d and confirmed. ENGINEER. The Chairman reported that the Engineer was unable to attend, owing to an accident. TIMA.RU HARBOR DISTRICT. , The Chairman also announced the receipt of certain telegrams from Mr J. H. Sutter on the subject of the area to be represented on the Harbor Board. SYMPATHY. The Waimato County Council, and the Nelson City Council conveyed their sympathy with the people of the district. Various other messages were received from public bodies regarding subscrip tion lists in aid of the Relief Fundti! DEPARTMENTAL. Communications wore read from the Marine Department covering reports of the preliminary enquiry ro loss of the Benvenue.and City of Perth, requesting the Board to take steps to prevent a recurrence of similar disasters, the evidence (in the opinion of the Department) showing that the disaster had resulted from vessels being moored too close in shore. . Mr Moody moved, Mr Barker seconded, and it was carried—“ That in reply to letters from the Marine Department (of 11th May and 3rd June) the Board beg to acknowledge the receipt of the same; and to report that they have already acted in the direction indicated, having instructed their Harbormaster as to th,e . position of large vessels until the liarbor works are in snob a forward state as to admit of their being attended to safely near shore.” WHALE BOAT. The National Mortgage and Agency Compney wrote offering the Board a strong whale boat at a reasonable figufe. The"matter was referred to the Harbormaster to report upon. DONATION. A letter was read from Mr John Edmonds of Dunedin, tendering a cheque for 5 guineas as a donation towards the Belief fund. The letter was orderd to be acknowledged with thanks. STEAM TUG SERVICE. A letter was read from Mr Cunning ham declining to allow the Board to hire the s.a. Akaroa, but stating that she might be purchased Her original cost was £SOOO. Members appeared disinclined to take the boat. Mr Evans thought this question ought not to be shelved from month to month. The interests of the port were steadily suffering. Grain was being sent away by rail every day, and very soon there would be no revenue. He thought a tug ought to be got at once. Mr Moody said Captain Bascand, the •Harbor Master, was desirous to interview the Board re tug service.

: (Captain Baseand was sent for, and pending his arrival, (lie Chairman read an offer from Mr J. Anderson, agent of Messrs Howden, of Glasgow, to supply one of the newest stylo of tugs, .double screw fore and aft, in use. Also, from the Harbor Board, Lyttelton, giving information as to. steam tug service in that port. Also, from Sparrow and Co. Dunedin, ‘offering to construct an iron tug-boat.) Captain-Baseand was admitted to an interview with the Board, and in reply to questions he said lie know the s.s, Akaroa, she would bo useless in bad weather. He thought the Titan a superior boat, consuming about 1) tons coal per diem. She was a paddle boat. He recommended the Board at eonco to supply a steam launch. The Plucky was a very lino tug. The Reynolds, now lying at Port Chalmers, might bo borrowed for a while.

Mr Gray advocated getting the launch Rcynolds’for a lime, in the meantime a steamer might be ordered either from Home, or from Sparrow and Co. who were excellent Engineers and ship builders.

Captain Baseand said both a launch for loading and a lug for towage, were much required. About four men would be wanted for the tug. r The Board decided to telegraph forthwith to Dunedin, ro hiring of the

Reynolds. A message was sent off at once. i ROCKET BRIGADE. The Brigade wrote asking for a garrison gun to replace the worn out gun now in use. The Board decided to sanction the gun being got. I LIFE BOAT. ; The harbormaster thought about nine men would be required.'" He would like a trained crow. At the same time bo thought the steam launch would do away with the need of a lifeboat service. SOUNDIDOS, BUOYS, &C. The Harbormaster produced a chart of the harbor bottom, as made by him from soundings. The- system adopted by him was generally approved. In reply to a question, Captain Bascand said he could undertake to place a vessel of 1000 tons to load for Homo in safety, and speedily with the aid of a launch. Captain Bascand then retired : —and, reverting to the Tug Service, Mr Moody recommended asking Captain Mills (of the Union S.S. C 0.,) to look after the bnilding of a tug. The Chairman here read.a letter from Captain McGowan (of the late ship Benvenue), offering to take charge of the building and dispatch of a tug-boat from Home, whither he was just about to proceed. The tug Committee reported :—“ The Committee have been in correspondence with owners of tugs, and have been unable to charter one ; the various offers all being (probably from the present circumstances of the Board) held for sale only, not for hire. The Committee recommend that a tug or launch be hired as soon as one can be got, but that for 'permanent use a tug of the most modern construction and fuelsaving powers, be obtained from England, of 45 to 60 horse power (nominal),' and that Mr Darling, representative of the Union Steamship Co., through- Mr James ■ Mills, bo arranged with to decide on the exact finish and style of the tug, and .to superintend construction and arrange for her despatch here under sailing trim. The Committee ask to be re appointed, with power to act.”

The Board adopted this report. THE CRANE CLAIM. A letter was read from Mr Anderson, re his claim on the Board in connection with the steam crane. Mr Anderson requested the Board to allow Mr F. J. LeCren to act as a medium between himself and the Board. Mr Teschemakor thought it should be settled at once, and ho advised admitting Mr LeCren to a conference. Mr Evans proposed settling the matter by offering Mr Anderson £SOO. Mr LeCren was admitted to an interview with the Board and expressed his willingness to accept the £SOO, plus interest from 1879. This the Board declined to grant, in consideration of law expenses already incurred, the defects in the crane itself, the delay in carrying out the work.as specified, and the 1 expensive repairs that the Board had had to make. Mr LeCren therefore retired, and the Board adjourned. THE WRECKS. Mr Hall wished to mention that the remarks of Captain Cain to the effect that the lifeboat shed had been made a sort of lumber and rubbish room, and that she was not in an efficient state, were absolutely false. Mr Evans disagreed, and thought no more should bo said. He was present at the launching of the lifeboat ; there were life-belts missing, and the proper appliancos"werc not to be found. Mr Hall said, such false charges against the Board should bo rebutted. ' The report of the Committee of Enquiry into the wrecks was laid on the table. It was considered and adopted. On resuming, at 2 o’clock; the following reports were rend : ■ engineer’s report. ■ “ I have the honor to report'that three days after last Board meeting, the heaviest seas that have occurred since the commencement of the Breakwater, set in ; doing considerable damage to the works in the contractors’ hands, and occasionally the loss of a largo quantity of plan!. lam not yet in a position to report on the exact nature of the damage done, the diver’s services being unobtainable during the few days of fine weather succeeding the disaster. The injury to the works under water cannot now be ascertained, he being engaged as Acting-Harbormaster. The damage done on the . surface, consists in the disarrangement of 17 tiers of blocks on the north side of the incomplete structure, and the sweeping away of the outer rails and sleepers. The damage to the complete portion of contract No. 3, is inconsiderable, the last monolith having sunk two inches and become slightly shattered at its extremity, rendering it necessary to cut off six feet of it. There is also a slight subsidence of two blocks somewhat further back that will be remedied. In ascertaining the level sf the finished work there is not the slightest indication of, in its entire length. In the absence of diver’s examinations, I am not in a position to say what amount of blocks and rails are .recoverable, nor what time it will take to repair the damage, but I do not consider the works can be rectified under at least two months of fine weather. The wharf has not sustained the slightest injury. The temporary loss of rails bqing likely to inconvenience the. contractors, 1 obtained the consent of the town members, and procured nine tons of steel rails from the- Bail way Department. “ The contractors have been engaged repairing the roadway and plant, and have commenced rearranging the displaced blocks. The work, however cannot progress without the diver’s examination.

“I have made a bi-monthly survey of the beach at the endgif last week, but from indisposition 1 have been unable to make the plan to Iky before the Board, but will present the same at the next meeting' ■ ijoHjr GdODAi,!,, O.E. LANDING SERVICE REPORT. '

The following report was read from the manager of the Landing Service;— I have the , honor to report the arrival of 17 vessels during the month. There have been landed and shipped in all 3158 tons, the gross earnings being £S7G ,14s 9d and the net £l7 3s Id, The weather since the dale of my last report has been very bad for surfboat work, and I have not yet been able to raise the sunken boat; several at tempts have been made to find it, and I am now waiting for the ago of the diver to continue operations. At the, time the surfboat sunk a good deal of the plant of the Board was lokt, which I will have to o p’-me. I am inlying all the sailboats overhauled and will have them put iu good order.” lIAUIIORMASTER’S REPORT, The first report by the now Harbormaster was read as follows : “I have the honor to report that since the 2filli ultimo, on which d I commenced my duties, that - a considerable amount of work has been done, both in altering and getting ready several pieces of hawsers and now

springs, for making vessels fast at the wharf, and also to mooring buoys. That in doing so I have adopted the plan of attaching to most of the - permanent hawsers on the wharf, six fathoms of one-inch chain on to the end that makes fast on board, thereby doing away with most of the chafing, and almost instant destruction of the rope, while the vessel is continually ranging about when moored at the wharf. This plan, when completed and in full work, I feci sure will result in at least amoving of 30 per cent on coir r hawsers. But for the better success of this plan, I beg to recommend that when the alterations to the wharf takes place, that double tho quantity of mooring posts bo placed on the wharf than what there is at present, so that when a mooring line is long it may bo shifted to tho next post without becoming too short. In fact some parts of the Oainaru wharf every fender pile is a mooring post, and it has been found to answer amazingly for the above‘purpose.

“1 have to call your attention to tho bad condition of the walingsor horizontal pieces of timber fastened to tho outside vertical piles. Some of these are broken and are dangerous to vessels coming alongside the wharf. With regard to these wales, I would strongly recommend that instead of replacing the broken ones, the whole of them he taken off as soon as possible, fur the following reasons That vessels cannot lay' alongside of the present wharf with any safety without having three or four very largo rope fenders placed between them and the wharf, as without these fenders the sharp edge of the wales would .tear everything projecting from a vessel’s side, and perhaps cause a good deal of damage. The funders soon become bedded in tho space between the walings and such vessels as the steamer Waitaki,' like.inost steamers now protected with a broad and ironbound fender-belt, while a moving up and down with the rise and fall caused by the swell, soon destroys the best rope fenders ever made. The cost of these fenders must be something very considerable, and so far as .1 have seen, I know that it will keep a couple of men almost continually employed at making and repairing fenders, say nothing of tho cost of njaterial. I have also noticed that small vessels lying,at the inner berth are liable at low water to get their bulwarks right under the lower walings. This is most dangerous, and can only be prevented by the removal of tho wales. If tho walings are done away with you will find that all steamers with fender-belts on tho side will require no more fenders to lay alongside of our wharf. The sailing vessels will most of them prefer round wooden fenders. When rope fenders are used they will last so much longer than at present, that comparatively few will be needed, as the vessels will rise and fail against tho smooth face of the vertical feeder piles without tho least bhanco of receiving damage. The wreck of the Duke of Sutherland—The owner of this wreck has been twice notified in writing—onco liy tho Secretary, before I came here, and once by myself, on the 261 h nit.—both respecting the removal of the wreck, and also to exhibiting a light on it in the night time, but no steps have been taken by the owner in the matter. This wreck is not only very much in tho way of vessels making for the inner anchorage, but also that if not removed it must in time form a shallow bank, which will ultimately become a great impediment to the navigation of the harbor. I await your instructions respecting this matter.

The Moorings Inside the Breakwater ; —The harbor inside the Breakwater is how considerably cross lead with mooring cables and a great many anchors. This is, of cours?, much needed, as we must have mooring buoys to make the vessels fast to ; and as the extension of the Breakwater continues, more moorings will be wanted ; .but it is very inconvenient to the shipping, as vessels are constantly jn dread of fouling their anchors with the moorings. To avoid this, and also witji a view to economy and improvement, I would suggest the adoption of “screw moorings “which I hope you will taks into consideration.' Mooring Buoyt—l beg to call your attention to the fact, that there is no largo mooring buoys to spare, and would recommend that six of the largest size be ordered at once. The outer S-E. mooring buoy, near the end of the Breakwater, sunk some time ago. It will be got up' as soon as the sea moderates.

“ Boat’s Crew—The Board have sanctioned a coxwain and two men os a boat’s crew for the Harbor Department. This. I feel certain, is not a sufficient staff for me to work the department efficiently. I may state that there is a great amount of work that I have laid out before me, which must be done .before the department is at all creditably workable. I 'trust you* will see the necessity of granting me two more men, as otherwise wo shall have to employ daily laborers, which are not so reliable and will cost more; also, that three, men is not sufficient toman the harbor boat, and as I will require her very oftenI; shall always feel more confidence itt : performing my work with my own boat’s crew than with strangers in the boat.

“ Soundings inside the Breakwater— Herewith I hand in a map showing the system I have adopted for sounding "the inner harbor, also the - book indicating ;, the soundings in accordance with the : map as shown thereon. I commenced sounding the harbor on the 3rd inst., and would have finished, if the sounding chain had not broken. I am sorry to say’ that since that day the sea hasibeen a little too heavy for obtaining correct soundings. I will resume sl6 soundings at the earliest. • “C. Si Basoand,“Harbormaster.” The Board decided, to authorise the Harbormaster to take the wanted steps for removing . tiro wreck of the. • Duke of Sutherland. Some discussion took place about the moorings required, Mr Hall being .of.* opinion thatpo inborings were required. It was resolved to obtain throe moorings as recommended by the Harbormaster. ‘ ' , It was decided to. grant the Harbormaster a boat’s crew ns asked for. It was resolved—“ That the Engineer's attention be culled to the Harbormaster's’ recommendation re.fenders, with a view to makinghieccssary alterations.” During discussion : . Mr Evans—Captain Hall, it’s, 25 years; since you were at sea. ’Mr Hall—Sir, your remarks are personal. I have pointed out dangers tbyou and otiiers that you have disregarded. Mr Evans—Well, I . believe you arc the indirect cause of the whole trouble of lute, with the best intention, nodoubt, ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £584 5s and' 8d were passed for payment. The meeting then terminated.