HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1922, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

THE MONTHLY MEETING. The New Plymouth Harbor Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. C. E. Bellringer (chairman), N. King, J. McCluggage, C. A. Wilkinson, D. J. Hughes, C. E. McGuinness, E. Maxwell, J. S. Connett, and C. H. Burl4ie harbor master (Captain Wm. Waller) reported for the period of five weeks ending on July 15 as follows: Number of vessels en-; tering port, 25; aggregate tonnage, 31,880; imports, 10,509 tons: exports, 935 tons; total, 11,444 tons; Government coal landed, 3221 tons. The S.S. TTedenham, 8435 tons. 500 feet over all, landed 1911 tons of phosphates; draught 16 feet 6in. fore, 20 feet aft. The Maindy Lodge from Newcastle landed 3221 tons of coal for the railway department.

RESIDENT ENGINEER’S REPORT. The monthly report of the resident engineer (Mr. G. W. B. Lowson) stated:— The Paritutu’s returns for the period June 12 to -July 13 are: Bucket dredging, new wharf cut, 3.700 tons; eastern berth, 1,200 tons; western berth, 400 tons. Suction dredging outside bank, 7,200 tons: sand bank, 7.t>00 tons: a total of 20,100 tOM, of which 2 900 ions were dumped westwards of breakwater extension mound. The dredge cut has advanced to 810 feet; progress Is slow and difficult. \ .. Quarrying.—The output of stone for the period was 3.928 tons, 1,955 tons being barged to the breakwater extension mound and 450 tons tipped thereon. The remaining 1,520 tons were used on the reclaunation wall, which was commenced on June 29, and which was advanced to a distance of 100 feet at the end of th© period. . Wharf Repairs.—the renewal of the piles and beams of the western berth in ironbark was further proceded with during the period, and the general wharf maintenance was attended t0 "* NEW CONCRETE WHARF.

The consulting engineers (Messrs. Blair, Mason, Lee, and Owen) reported in connea< fion with the concrete wharf: We forwarded to the Marine Department on June 12 the plans of the wharf for their approval, but to date no reply or acknowledgement has been received. .. , In accordance with the request of the tailwav department we supplied them on May 9 with a plan of the wharf showing the proposed railway connections and cross-overs for their approval. We interivewed the chiefengineer on this matter, and he referred it to the district engineer for report, but since then nothing further has transpied. We will be in Wellington this week, and will take the matter up with the Department. We have prepared a sketch of cast iron mooring bollards, and forwarded it to the resident engineer and harbormaster for their comment. Provision will be required to be made on the wharf for water supply to shipping and for fire purposes, also electric current for power snd lighting. We are conferring with the harbormaster and resident engineer on these matters, and will submit our recommendation in due course. The resident engineer has forwarded plans of the proposed reclamation boundary to the Marine Department for approval. As soon as this Hue is definitely defined we will complete the details showing the construction of the special beams at the head of the wharf. Ironbark spring piling will be required along the wharf face. As there is usually difficulty in obtaining delivery owing to the scarcity of vessels with bow ports suitable for carrying piles, we recommend that tenders be now called for the piles and necessary timber walings giving, say, 10 months to deliver. This will give contractors every opportunity to make satisfactory shipping arrangements, and consequently quote at a bed-roek price.

HOUSING LOAN APPROVED. The Marine and Inspection of Machinery Department wrote, replying to tlie board’s application for raising a loan of £5OOO under the provisions of the - Housing Amendment Act, 1920, and stating that the. Minister of Marine had consented to the board raising the proposed loan. The Superintendent of the States Advances Office had been advised accordingly.

HARBOR RE-SURVEY WANTED. Captain Waller wrote: Tn View of recent shipping casualties on the New Zealand coast, I would respectfully urge the board to request the Marine Department to have a resurvey made of the Taranaki coast and the approaches to the port of New Plymouth. The original survey dates from 1849 and very few additions have been made since. It is imperative, owing to the increase of overseas shipping and as a contributing factor to safety, that the 100, 50 and 30 fathom contour line be plotted on the chart, and a larger plan of New Plymouth harbor than the one shown on the admiralty chart of this coftst should be made and brought up to date, the present one being altogether too small for safe navigational purposes.

Mr. Wilkinson moved, and Mr. Maxwell seconded, that the attention of the Marine Department be called to the matter, which was regarded as one of urgency.—The motion was carried.

SUGGESTED PORT FACILITIES. Collett and Co. wrote: “Being closely associated with the practical conditions of the port and also with the requirements of various shipping concerns trading here, we feel It our duty In the Interests of the port and district to pass on to you any suggestions which, in our opinion, are practical and likely to make for ‘ greater safety and despatch of shipping. In taking this course we feel sure you will recognise that, our attitude is one of sincere respect and not of criticism. The following are the suggestions we submit for your consideration: (1) That the approaches td the breakwater from the sea be recharted. (2) That a 'suitable type of ocean-going tug be acquired for use primarily in working overseas vessels in and out of port. (3) That a mechanical traverser be installed at end of wharf by which the whole process of load? -ing and discharging of overseas vessels, might be speeded up. .(4) That a coal hulk be secured and made available to supply overseas and coastal shipping with bunkers.

It was resolved to thank Messrs. Collett and Co. for their helpful suggestions, and inform them that the recharting of the immediate approaches Was being given attention to, whilst the financial position of the board would not enable the other work to be done at pre-

DIRECT LONDON SHIPMENT. The Cunard Line (Collett and Co., Agents) wrote advising that a C. and D. line steamer had been fixed to load direct cargo for New Plymouth, sailing from London (final port) about September 20, 1922. The freight to New Plymouth by the above steamer would! be the same as from London to Wellington, thus placing New Plymouth on the same basis as Now Zealand’s main port. It had beep pointed out to them that notices of loading to New Plymouth had been too short for importers to take full advantage of same, and they had therefore fixed sailing date three months ahead and trusted sufficient cargo would be forthcoming to justify their principals’ action in making an endeavor to meet the district’s requirements. It was hoped shortly to announce the name of the carrying steamer, but meantime it was suggested that importers should instruct their British buyers to communicate with the C. and D. line (London office) for latest particulars of this loadMombern spoke in appreciative terms of the saving In freight that would be brought about by such a direct shipment, which placed New Plymouth in line with Wellington. WR MEMORIAL SITE I . The New Plymouth Borough Council forr warded copy of the following resolution : “That the Nev; Plymouth Harbor Board be informed that in regard to the proposed' exchange for a portion of the Mt. Eliot reserve, the council is prepared to deal only on the basis of the late Government, valuation.” The finance committee of the board submitted a report in which they recommended "that the proposed exchange between the board and borough council of part Mt. Eliot reserve for Hooker’s lease be made on a basis of valuation, one valuer on each side.” Considerablediscussion arose over the councils attitude regarding valuations, but Mr.

Wilkinson moved that the recommendation of the finance committee, which had been framed before the council’s decision was made known, should be adopted, and the motion was seconded. Mr. Maxwell contended that the board was tieing its hands by submitting to the suggested means of valuation, and ha therefor© moved an amendment that the last clause in the report be rescinded, but failed to find a seconder. On the motion being put it was carried, Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Hughes voting against it. ' GENERAL. The Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers wrote thanking the board... for the opportunity given of visiting the harbor ’"works during -their conference at New Plymouth; and expressed thanks to the ■engineer 'tMr. and the • staff under him for courtesy ‘

Captain Waller wrote -tfiat theMarine had appointed hini-to adjust compasses, . being no licensed adjuster jit New Ply.mouth.. . - ' -c The Uqion . S.S. Company wrbtfe-: The s.s. . Waihofa Will 'load at Calcutta, Singapore,' -and Samarang ifi for New ?ealatod main ports (Auckland; Wellington, Lyttelton and IJuneainT.- We should be. pleased to supply rates ,of fi’.qiaJit on gunnies; oil, Ing .ij^u r ■and general cargo.—Received. The chairtnaii Intimated that rope was all the board obtained from Calcutta, and none was required at preCaptain WaHer suggested that the present beacons bn the' smith side of the hartbr be increased in size and shifted, the lowei sone to the eastward, pie. upper one. further back, and the power of the lights Increased. This will mark the channel from seaward for entering port, and be an additional factor of safety to vessels clearing th© breakwater at night-time. These beacons will ,be on .the board’s property. The resident engineer approved of the suggestion.—The necessary approval was given.