HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1919, Page 6

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held yesterday. There were present Messrs. N. King (chairman), C. E. Bellringer, E. Dockrill, J. McCluggage, J. S. Connett, C. A. Wilkinson, M.P.. D. J. Hughes, C. McGuiness and E. Maxwell. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster (Captain W. Waller) reported that 22 vessels had entered the port during the month, the aggregate tonnage being 27,40!) tons. The imports amounted to 0127 tons and the exports to 3382 tons. The Government coal landed amounted to 492 tons. The liner Matatua (8011 tons) was berthed at 7 a.m. on February 26. She loaded 280 tons of meat and .sailed the following day. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

The works superintendent (Mr. F. Henderson) reported as follows: The Paritutu dredged at the outer fairway on 23 days, the net time being 201 hours, and removed 35,000 tons of spoil in 8!) loads, of which (i!) were lifted with the sand pump in 130 hours and 20 with the buckets in 71 hours. One day was occupied in coaling and in tightening up the hopper- doors. General works include the removal of wharf chafing pieces and decking, the erection of two new poles for the electric light extension, the ballasting of the barquentine Thrasher, and the delivery of an additional 383 yards of gravel making a total quantity of 718 yards since the beginning of the year. The Thomas King was beached on 4th inst., with a view to hauling up above high water mark. Work was carried on for a few tides, without much success as the beach is now very much waterlogged and soft, and last Wednesday week the two 100-ton hydraulic jacks which had been borrowed from Wellington had to be returned. It has now been decided to place the vessel on the gridiron, as formerly, and to block up sufficiently high to be safe from high tides.

GENERAL Mr. J. Blah Mason presented a report on the matter of repairs and spare parts required for the dredge Paritutu. The report recommended repairing, by slightly altering the design, instead of purchasing new dredge buckets.—The report was adopted and authority given for the repairs and the ordering of spare parts. Accounts amounting to £1095 7s 7d were passed for payment.