HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1922, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. Newton King (chairman), J. S. Connett, D. J. Hughes, E. Maxwell, C. A. Wilkinson. C. E. BellMnger, C. A. McGuiness, and J. McClqggage. An apology for absence was received from Mr. C. H. Burgess. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. G. W. Lowson) reported: Dredging.—The ’’’aritutu’s returns for tte period (January 16 to February 11) are: Section dredging, sand bank, 8000 tons; third fairway cut, 1100 tons; oucket dredging new wharf cut, 3800 tons; a total of 12,200 tons, of which 700 tons were dumped westwards of the breakwater mound. Bad weather was experienced during the first part of the month and the dredge was laid up for boiler cleaning and overhaul of coal bunker. Quarry.—The widening of the quarry approach was carried on during the period, such work being brought to a conclusion for the time being on the 10th inst. Breakwater Extension.—The work of laying and concreting in the trackwprk at the end of the breakwater, on the rise leading up to the proposed higher level, was completed during the monfh. End tipping commenced on 13th Inst. The Thomas King dumped 445 tons of stone on the extension mound during tte period. Overbridge.—All the piles for the bridge have been driven. The harbormaster’s report for the four weeks' ending February 11 was as follows: Number of vessels entering the port 21, aggregate tonnage 47696 ions, imports 7403 tons, exports 4687 tons, total 12090 tons. Remarks on vessels entering port were appended as follows: Port Albany, 8800 tons, handled 1764 tons of cargo, draught 19ft. 6in. fore, 20ft. Tin. a.’t; Kaikoura, 8697 tons, took in 588 tons of cargo, draught 18ft. 3in. fore, 19ft. 9in. aft; Waika wa, 5677 tons, landed 410 tons of cargo, draught 20ft. fore, 23ft. aft; Cape May, 6847 tons, landed 491 tons of cargo, draught 21ft. Tin. fore, 23ft. 91n. aft. FIRST AID FACILITIES. The secretary of the 'Waterside Workers’ Union wrote protesting against the lack of facilities at tte wharf in case of accidents. An accident occurred on the S.S. Canadian Pioneer in December last, and a coal basket had to be used. It was asked that a stretcher and ambulance box be provided.—The harbormaster said that both appliances were provided at the wharf.—Mr. Bellringer said these ought to be easily accessible in case of emergency. The board must find a place where these could be obtained in a few minutes,— The matter was eventually referred to the harbormaster to report upon, the chairman being empowered to deal with the matter. BRITISH TRADE SHIP. The Stratford Chamber of Commerce wrote in reference to the visit of the British exhibition trade ship to New Zealand at the end of 1923, or beginning of 1924, and asked that the Harbor Board and Taranaki Chamber of Commerce get in touch with the Loudon committee arranging the visit and issue .in invitation for New Plymouth to be included in the ship’s itinerary. Mr. Bellringer thought that an ir station should be sent, as it was a good opportunity to push on the port as a centre cf trade, and it was decided that this be done. Ti e Department of Oversea” Trade, London, made enquiries as to possible openings hi the near future for trade in machinery and other lines, and >sked that information be forwarded as to the probable requirements of the board in cranes, hoists, conveying machinery, sea and river craft for special purposes, and dredges—the engineer was instructed to draw up an approximate schedule of requirements, and to Inform the department that the board always encouraged trade in British machinNEW WHARF CUT. ' Mr. Bellringer suggested that the remaining portion of the new wharf “cut,” about 240 feet, which yet had to be dredged out, should be completed at a depth of 20 feet, as the material now being met. with was extremely hard. Thus the work would not be unnecessarily delayed, and, when the 20 feet depth bad been completed, the board could consider the question of dredging to the full 33 feet, as had been done on the portion of the “cut” dredge <1 out so far. Mr. Maxwell thought it was important to get the full depth of 33 feet. Mr. Bellringer moved in the direction of his suggestion, and the motion was carried. MOTION WITHDRAWN. Mr. Maxwell asked leave to withdraw his notice of motion, made at last meeting, that the board should meet twice a month. In doing so he explained that he had not changed his opinion on the matter, but now that committees for finance, works, and reserves had been set up, he was afraid an extra board meeting each month would be too much for members. DATES OF MEETINGS. Tly meetings of the works and reserves committees were fixed for the day ’ previous to the monthly meeting, at the instance of Mr. Wilkinson, to facilitate the attendance nf country members. The date of the board’s monthly meeting was altered from the second to the third Thursday in each month.