NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8090, 21 April 1906, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held on Friday. Present: Messrs Connett (Chairman), Newton King, Hornby, G. McLean, Maxwell, Thompson, Price, Hme and Ward.

COBBEBFONDEXCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : Prom Steuart and Fenn, electrieal engineers, giving particulars and explanation regarding their account, and offering an allowance of 10 per cent. From J. W. Wallace and Co., Wellington, and W. Darling, Wellington, giving quotation for the supply of jarrah and other hardwoods.—Left in the hands of the Chairman. From 0. Old, Aukopae, in the Wangafiui river district, asking for tiie erection of a shod at his landing. He mentioned that he was paying harbor rates, and thought it fair that the Bo ird should help him in the direction asked for.—Left on the table. From F. Marchant, engineer, re sheatings and braces, and stating that ho was quite satisfied to leave the matter in the hands of Mr Henderson. Dealing with the matter generally, he stated that submarine insects commence their attacks on timber in any corner or uranny of the timber where shelter may be fouud for their operations. For this reason it was desirable to sheath the intersections of the timber, such as the meetings between the piles and walings or braces.—Left in the hands of the Chairman. The Foreman of Works wrote complaining of the quality of the last consignment of 200 barrels of cement supplied. Not one barrel of the whole shipment would stand the sieve test. —lt was decided to communicate with the Cement Company, complaining of the quality of the cement, and asking for a rebate.

IIAIIBOR DUES. The quostion raised by Mr Morgan, local manager of the Union Coy., at last meeting re harbor dues was again considered. The Secretary, Napier Harbor wrote, stating that their by-laws make charges at so much per day or part of a day, and thus leaving no room for doubt as to what has to be charged. The Secretary of the Timaru Harbor Board, referring to the same matter, said that their charges ceased on Sundays and holidays, unless (lie vessel worked cargo. If a vessel were in pore 23 hours, part of the period being in two separate days they charged dues as two days. The Oamaru Harbor Board stated that the Board gave the Harbormaster discretion in fixing the days to be charged for works.

_ It was decided to inform the Union Coy. that enquiries had shown that the practice elsewhere was (be same as that adopted by the New Plymouth Board, and consequently the Board intended to adhere to its present system of charges.

HAKBOBMASTEIi's BKPOIIT. Tlic Harbormaster reported as fol lows :—49 steamers, ami one sailing vessel berthed at the wharf, the aggregate gross tonnage atuounti'ug to ■47,710 tons. Imports, 5,100 tons including 511 tons of local coal, and 404 tons of railway coal. Exports, 1,465 tons, making a total of 0,925 tons of cargo handled. During the five weeks we have experienced a lot of stormy and wet weather. On Saturday, March 24th, a heavy northwest gale set in, The Takapuna had great difficulty to hold at the wharf, causing breakage to several warps! During (bis heavy weather, we have had no delay lo shipping. The dredge worked 18 days with (he suclion pipe on the sand spit, making 12(1 trips, and removing 7,01i0 cubic yards of sand. Worked? days with grub-bucket at the new berth, making 13 trips, and removing 78 cubic yards of silt.—The report was adopted.

I'OKElUx's KEPOBT. The foreman reported as follows : I beg to report tltit a north-west gale, with an exceptionally heavy sea, set in on I'lMday, the 23rd Maivli, and eonlihucd throughout Saturday, the 24th, carrying away (he end section (12ft) of the breakwater extension, and lowering the apron work for a distance of about loft from the end. The heavy seas breaking across the end scoured away the sand, thus lowering the rubble work, and eventually displacing the concrete blocks. The damage done, however, is not extcusive, as only the surfaco stones of the mound have been disturbed, and the whole of the blocks can bo recovered. I have not done much towards replacing the section, owing to the unsettled weather prevailing since, and rather extensive ropairs being required to the gearing and tyres of the block crane. But the apron work has been strengthened throughout the new work. The gale, occurring as it did at the height of spring tides, was a severe test to the extension; yet hardly a stone was shifted excepting at the extreme end, which will always he a weak spot while extension is in progress. Breakwater Extension. Twentyfour concrete blocks have been made during the month, and 700 tons of the largest sized stones procurable have been placed along the apron. Eight new rails have been fixed on the breakwater in place of broken ones.

Wharf Extension.—The three remaining piles havo been driven, the beadstoeks *and stringers fitted in, and the whole of the wharf is now decked. Five sets of bottom walings have been fixed in posilmu during last spring tides, and three more sets of walings aud seven sets of braces aro ready for jjxmg at the first opportunity,

Bepairs to Main Wharf.- Four new chafing pieces and one Silft length of now kcrbiug have been lilted on, and 300 square feet of new decking put down ou the western side of the wharf, where the harbor officcsorighially stood.

New Magnaiue.— X new ,naga?ine for flic storage of detonators has been erected on Mikotain, to plans approved by the Inspector of explosives. All detonators aid fuses have been removed from the old magazine and stored in the new one— The report was adopted. OR.VEHAT,. J. H. Dabb, the Board's titter and electrician, wrote resigning his position,—Beeeiyed.

B. Hurford, contractor, Taupac, asked for the use of three of the Hoard's trucks.—Decided that a charge of os per week each be made, the deposit of £lO lo bo lodged to cover the cost of possible repairs. The clerk read a report of the committee set. up at last meeting lo consider the question of lighting the wharf. After discussion it was decided to refer the report back to the Committee for further consideration, and to report at next meeting.

Accounts were passed for payment and the meeting adjourned.