HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 217, 20 February 1915, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING!. The ordinary monthly meeting of tin ; New Plymouth Harbor Hoard was lii'lil yesterday, when there wore present: .Messrs J. B. Connett (chairman) Nowton King E. Dockril! C. JO. Beliringer. 1). J. Hughes and E. Maxwell. '.Apologies for absence were received from Messrs C. A. Wilkinson M.P., and ■J. MeClnggage. HARBOR MASTER'S REPORT. , Captain Waller, harlior master, re]>ortcil that for the live weeks ending February 13th, IMS, the arrivals consisted of 21) steamships aggregating 31,531S tons. The dejiartnres for the same period consisted of ,10 steamships and one four-masted schooner, aggregating 33.704 tons. The imports amounted to 7320 tons, including 2413 tons of coal for private use. The exports amounted t0'204(1 tons, making a total of 9375 tons handled. Poundings were taken on February 13 and IG, and a plan of tl> c same was submitted.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Mr. I". Henderson (suporin-'ivlent of works) reported that t' • or .!< e Paritr.tu had sailed for V" '" urday, January Hit': lor annual overhaul, and slipping. A considerable sea was experienced on the run down, which occupied 31 hours, while the return voyage was accomplished in. hours. The principal work was nga : n at the tumbler. It would be remembered that in the second overhaul in the year 1013, this shaft was broken and was then replaced with a new imported shaft, which, at the following overhaul, | was found to be twisted 2 1 /, inches.This was replaced in 1014 by a shaft forged at. Port Chalmers and fitted by cable. At tlie recent overhaul it was found to he twisted three-quarters of an inch. Seeing that this was going to be a' continuous costly renewal, he had ordered a new shaft some months ago. with an increased diameter of I'/, inches (from S'/. to 10 inc' V This was ready on arrival at Wellington but it was necessary to ''ore out the bearings to suit the increased diameter. This had to be done by hand, with the bearing brackets in position and the work occupied seven days. The work incurred a considerable expense, but was likely to last for some years without renewal. The spare tumbler was also being fitted with a similar shaft. A very complete general overhaul was effected to the machinery, and the hull was in splendid condition. The accounts were not all yet to hand, but the expenses would be about £],■)() under those of last year. Cntil now the vessel had been registered under a Home trade certificate and had been equipped with a standard compass, in addition to the ordinary bridge compass. The standard compass was originally fixed on the top of the aft gantry, but was very erratic, and was of no use on the voyage from Scotland. At the inspector's suggestion, it was shifted three years ago to the mid-ships gantry with no better results. On the voyage down from New Plymouth the stand broke .away, and Hi,, binnacle and compass fell to the deck, being broken beyond repair. The inspector was insistent on it being replaced on the top of the wheel-house, as being a place free from the influence, of steel work, but this house was only built for shelter and was not rigid enough to carrv a compass. Tt would heve taken £ls to make alterations and £25 for a new binnacle and compass. Therefore, to avoid incurring this expense the register had been altered from a Home trade to a river limit certificate, as in the case of the Oreymontli dredge, and a permit could be obtained to ailow the vessel to be brought to and ; from Wellington. I The Thomas King had worked at. the breakwater bank on 27 days, ami removed 18fi loads, equal to 14.550 tons of sand. The dredge would be placed on the gridiron for inspection on March 3. The hands had been engaged in tarring the deck of the wharf, repairing and renewing chafing piles, repairing the Thomas King's. Ill" Ciipenters, and the diver's boat's, and re-rivetting and rebushing the dredge buckets. LEASE OF VALUABLE SITES. On the application of Messrs Webster tiros, auctioneers, it was agreed to lease Mr Newton King sections 1. 2, 3, 4. and fl, Kawau Pah, at the Hoard's upset rental of ,C22ii Ids Kid per annum. for a term of 21 years, dating from duly, 1014. Rent to date from March 1,101.>. Those sections were pnl. up for auction last year, but were not sold. They extend from Mr King's present warehouse along Currie Street to ("Jill street, and thence along dill street almost to the lluatoki stream. The frontage along Carrie street is 14fift ]lin and along Gill street 113 ft I'm. ACCOUNTS, z Accounts amounting to Cl2ofi. l.'n were passed for payment.