HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1917, Page 6

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held yesterday, and attended by Messrs Newton King (chairman), E. Maxwell,.C. E. McGuinness, J. S. Connett, J. MeCluggage, and 0. E. Bellringer. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Messrs D. J. Hughes, E. Dockrill, and C. A. Wil-. kinson, M.P. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster (Captain Waller) j reported that during the past month the ! vessels entering theport had consisted of 23 steamships and one sailing vessel, of an aggregate tonnage of 10,35!) tons. The exports had amounted to 574 tons, and the imports to 5454 tons, nnd-251 tons of Government coal had been landed. Tlio harbor had been sounded on the 13th instant. !u the main direct channel there was a minimum depth of 25 feet at low water spring tides, with a width of 225 feet, and ho suggested that an area eastWard be included in the present dredging scheme. This would give room for swinging the larger class of steamships now coming to the port. The report was adopted, and the recommendation with regard to the e.vtension of the dredging operations was agreed to. WORKS REPORT. The superintendent of works (Mr. F. Henderson) reported that during the four weeks ending August 11 the Paritutu had dredged on eleven days, the nett time being 20'/ 2 hours, and had removed a total quantity of OtiOO tons of spoil in 24 loads, of which IS were lifted from thn 28ft channel, two from the west side of the channel with the buckets, and four with the pump from the breakwater bank. Dredging was.stopped for seven days through rough weather, and for six days while repairs were being effected to the lower end of the bucket ladder. The- tower half of the

ladder was subject to severe side strains when dredging in a swell, and several t>f■ Hie diagonal plates were found to be broken or damaged. These had been replaced by nine new plates of a heavier gauge and 4in wide. The dredge had since been put to work across the channel instead of parallel thereto, so that the vessel may be put end on to the swell instead of broadside, as formerly, the object being to prevent rolling in order to lessen the side strain on the ladder. The Thomas King had worked with the grab bucket on 14 days, the nett time using 123 hours, and had removed 2240 tons of spoil from about the wharf. This dredge was laid up for 10 days through w-jt wjalher. The shore staff had been engaged in impairs to the wharf and the dredges, and in repairing the boarl's railway siding. The report was adopted. GENERAL, It was decided that, as from the Ist April last, the wharfage rate on bunker coal for shipping be Is per ton instead of 2s as formerly. The other business of the meeting was transacted in committee.