TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7080, 28 February 1893, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

The first meeting of the newly elected Harbour Board was held to-day. Present: Messrs W. Evans, GK Stumbles, F. B. Flatman, T. Teschemakar, J; Jalbot, J. Manchester, J. Hill, (old members), D. Stuart, Jas. Sullivan, B. Butherfoid, E-T. Rhodes, (new members). ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The secretary, Mr Tennont, took the chair for the election of a chairman. He read the reports of the returning officers on the results of the election. Mr W. Evans in proposing a motion said he thought a town member should be chairman of the board, should be always present or come-at-able, and for this reason he proposed “ That Mr David Stuart be appointed chairman for the coming term.” (Hear, hear). Mr Stuart was very convenient to the port ; ha was a man of considerable experience in shipping matters, and he (Mr Evans) thought Mr Stuart would make a very good chairman. He knew it had been the impression of some members present that he was himself anxious for the position. He was not at all anxious for it. It would not suit him in many ways. He was ao much away that he could not give the Board’s business the attention it deserved, and bo was sure Mr Stuart would be able to do that because he was near the port and always on the spot and come-at-able at any time. Mr Teschemaker had groat pleasure in seconding that. The Secretary : It is seconded by Mr Stumbles. Mr Stumbles had groat pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr Stuart had been about the wharf for many years, seen what had been going on, and he was always come-at-able. It was necessary that the chairman should be in the place, as they never knew what might happen to require attending to. Mr Stuart had knowledge which made him very suitable for the position, and he hud great pleasure in seconding the motion. Proposed by Mr Evans, seconded by Mr Stumbles That Mr David Stuart be appointed chairman of this Board for the coming term-”—Carried unanimously. Mr Stuart, on taking the chair, thanked the members for the honour done him. He was conscious that ho owed his election almost solely to the fact that he was a constant resident of Timaru, and therefore easily got at by the Board’s officials. It was obvious to everyone that much better men, men of greater ability and better qualities, and whose past services ought to recommend them, had been overlooked because they resided at a distance from 'Timaru, and others wore frequently absent from Timaru. He felt confident that all the members had the bast interests of tho port at heart Be would give them one word of advice, and it would be the last be would have to give, and to the old members especially, that they would let bygones be bygones. (Mr Flat man : Hear, hear). He would ask for forbearance for himself, as a perfect novice in tho position. It was their own action that had placed him in it, and he would ask for thoir patience and forbearance, especially in the early stays of the chairmanship, and the more ao as he was succeeding a chairman who had held the post for five years and who was known throughout South Canterbury as the best chairman the Board over possessed. The Board then took up ordinary business. COKBESPONDKNCE. Mr Jas, Meehan, a candidate at the election.

wrote bringing under the notice of the Board the fact that the nomination and election of a member for the Makikihi district took place outside the Timaru harbour district altogether ; there was not even a polling place in the district, and that, coupled with the time of the year at which the election was held, prevented two-thirds of the ratepayers from voting. There was some discussion on this letter, some members saying there ought to have been a polling place at Makikihi. Mr Manchester stated that the returning officer asked Mr Meehan to secure tho use of the echo' >1 there, and he would make it a polling place, but Mr Meehan did not do so. He also pointed out that an Amending Aot provided for a polling place being outside the election district. —The letter to be aoknow- j lodged, and the attention of the Waimate County Council and the returning officer be called to the complaint. From the Marine Department, stating that the harbourmaster was still authorised to report on infringments of the law relating to the overloading and deck loading of vessels* From asking permission to put a 6 x 3 box on the shingle to store fishing nets in.—Agreed to, subject to the discretion of the chairman. From the New Plymouth Harbour Board, inquiring where Priestman grabs can be got or repaired in the colony. —Engineer to reply. From P. Nelson, Balclutha, inquiring particulars and price of iron surf boats for sale. —Referred to the Standing Committee to decide on propriety of sale and price. From the Bluff Harbour Board, inquiring } whether the board could hire the dredge to

them. —.Reply in the negative. From Mr Samuel Yaile, asking for some I information respecting the differential rates j on the railways in the district., and thi ir effects upon the trade of the port. —The j secretary to send such information as he can. | Mr Yaile wrote that if the board could give j him the information bo asked for, ho thought j he could render the port and district a service. From the Railway Commissioners, agreeing to take stone ballast for tipping pending consideration by the board.—Referred,after a discussion, to the Standing Committee. BNaiNBBB'B BSPOBT. Mr Merchant submitted the following report on the condition of the wharves in Timaru harbour; — » The main or breakwater wharf was buil in sections following up the breakwater as the latter was completed. ’ Its age varies from 9 to 12 years at the present time, according to I the particular section in question.

« The piles and walings are all of ironbark timber and judging from the condition of broken specimens of these members which have occasionally bad to be removed, the piles and walings may be considered in very good order generally speaking. « The great enemy to timber work built in sea water is the marine worm or teredo,which destroys it by wholesale perforations. Bo far as opportunity has afforded the means of forming an opinion this insect has done but little damage to the ironbark timber as yet. «. The braces are all of kauri timber, and these have been eaten away almost entirely where exposed to salt water by the limnoria or marine wood louse. The braces now require replacing in many instances and repairing in others. A considerable amount of current repairs to these braces has been affected at various times. When replacing the timber we seek to prevent the further attacks of these insects by charring and coating with tar and sulphur laid on hot. “ Generally speaking then the main wharf is in good order, taking one place with another —quite as good as the wharves of moat other ports —but is in want of current repairs, and these we propose to undertake when we get delivery of the ironbark timber now under order. “ The Moody wharf has been built 7 years and is as yet perfectly intact. The kauri braces will however require repair within the next year or two, and when such repairs are needed must be instantly attended to as the whole lateral strength of this wharf depends upon its bracing. In the case of the mam wharf the braces are of much lees importance as it ia stiffened by secure attachment to the breakwater. “ The total cost of these two wharves was about £82,000. “It may safely bo assumed that within an average of 20 years time from the pieuent date, these wharves will have been practically rebuilt by the current repairs effected to them from time to time. “It is of course for the Board to say wbafc

sum per annum shall be set apart to provide for current repairs and more or less extensive renewals which are certain to be required from time to time.” In reply to Mr Flatman the engineer said they must look forward to greater expenditure on repairs in future years. He thought the sum allotted for this year would be sufficient. Mr Talbot thought the report showed the wharves were in a satisfactory condition. THE TCG-DEEDGB. The following cablegrams from Mr John Darling were read Received Feb. 7th “Zeta, Timaru. Work far advanced. Lobnitz refuses alteratiop. Pump guaranteed, accessible, durable, and work shingle equal any pump. Success absolutely certain. Price Welman’s not reduced. Strongly recommend cable approval plans sent December.” Received Feb. 17th—“ Lobnitz absolutely guarantee their pump for shingle under penalty clause. Mailing guarantee, contract mailed December. Cannot alter now. You must complete contract Lobnitz. Early delivery certain.” Mr Evans did not see that they must complete Lobnifcz’s contract. There were specifications that the Hoard bad signed, and Lobnitz should sign them also. It was not business. Two letters from the Board’s solicitors relating to the cables were read, advising the Hoard to insist on their conditions. As far as the pump was concerned the Board had stipulated that it was to be a Welman or equal to a Welman, and this

appeared to he complied with. In reply to an inquiry Mr Merchant said tbe boats would be the same. 'l.'tie difference in the specifications was that the Board provided for a good deal of detail, while the builders’ were more genera). In one case a good deal was loft, to the builders’ discretion that in the other was stipulated for in black and white. Mr Evans would insist upon the Board’s specifications being adhered to. The whole thing was done m a hurry ; it was a great mistake from beginning to end , and now they wore in they must got out of it the best way they could. Mr Hill asked what was the date of tbe last mooting of the board, and was told February Btb. The telegrams aud solicitors’ letter received on the 7th, should, he said, have been bid before the Board on the Bth, but they were not. The whole business had been done sub rosa. Ihotoneof the old members now ontthe Board know anything at all about it. The secretary explained that the communications were not brought before the Board because, by a resolution, tbe chairman and Mr Gibson were instructed to execute a contract and sea that a similar one was executed by the contractor, and tbe solicitor thought it was tbeir responsibility to see it carried out That was the reason the telegram and letter wore not read to the board, Mr Hill contended that nothing should have been kept back from the board. STANDING COMMITTEE. Oa the motion of Mr J.Vschemaker seconded by Mr Sullivan it was resolved " That a Standing and Finance Committee be appointed comprising the town members and Messrs Rhodes, Rutherford, Talbot and Stumbles.” A GBNBEAD INQUIRY. Mr Rutherford moved and Mr Rhodes seconded, a motion drafted by Mr Evans—- “ That a committee be appointed comprising the whole of the members of tbe board foi the object of making inquiry into ways and means and the most economical manner oi working the port, to report to the next ordinary meeting.” Mr Rhodes and Mr Rutherford looked upon this as a means of enabling tbe new members to acquire a stock of information. Messrs Talbot and Tosohemaker saw it at requiring a special meeting and they did not think it necessary. Messrs Evans, Manchester, and Stumble

supported the motion, and after a considerable discussion it was carried. Subsequently the chairman was made convener, and the committee agreed to meet on Saturday nest at II a.m. DAT OF MEETING. It was resolved to hold ordinary meetings as heretofore, on the third Wednesday in each month. [lho remainder of our report is unavoid* ably held over.]