TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1152, 15 March 1884, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Timaru Harbor Board was held last Thursday. Present—Messrs W. Moody (Chairman), E. Acton, E. Elworthy, J. S. Gibson, K. F. Gray, A. Hayes, M. Jonas, J, Kelland, J. H. Sutter, and J. lalbot. The Chairman's annual report and the annual statement of accounts having been befoie the members at last meeting they were taken as read.

In the Chairman’s report it was stated that “During the past year the question of the limit to which the Breakwater should be carried out in a straight line has been finally disposed of and the angle of the kant fixed. . . . Plans of the

amended design (which will enclose an area of 180 acres of water, including 140 acres with a minimum depth of 12 feet), were submitted to a Royal Commission, and the consent of His Excellency the Governor has been obtained for proceeding with the extension. The kant, which runs off in a northerly direction at an angle of 135 degrees from the mole, is connected with it by a curve of 400 feet radius. This will admit of locomotives and trucks travelling round without the intervention of turntables

Breakwater contract No. 4, which terminated the straight part of the mole at 1400 feet from high water mark, was completed in August after repeated delays caused by the continued severe weather. After a short interval, Contract Nc. 5 was Li, i. ,' 1 being proceeded with. The contr id lor 500 feet, and includes the six chain curve. It was found necessary to cider a second crane of greater capacity and power than the first, one, capable of traversing the curve for laying blocks, so that the work might be pushed on more rapidly. Mr Charles McQueen, of Dunedin, was the successful tenderer for the crane, at £3495, and it is expected to be, at work about April next. The other crane will then be used for loading blocks on trucks in the block yard, .... It is gratifying to note in the first place that in spite of the heavy seas that have prevailed, no portion of the finished work has suffered, and that the level of the Breakwater has shown no sign of subsidence ; and in the second place, that the travelling shingle is now kept in thorough subjection; it makes no attempt to accumulate adjacent to the Breakwater, and has not advanced but receded during the last three years ; there is, however, a tailing off to the south, showing that the backwash from the Breakwater is driving in that direction. . . Wharf extension Contract No. 4 and Widening Contract No. 5 have been completed. These works extend (he wharfage alongside the Breakwater to about 840 feet, by 32 feet wide ; three lines of rails are now laid down, the loading and unloading of vessels being very much facilitated thereby. Contracts Nos. 6 and 7 have been entered into. The former provides for a further extension of the wharf by 150 feet, and the latter fora jetty at the two fathom line. . . The additional berthage at the wharf has greatly improved the facilities for the despatch of vessels, 318 having availed themselves of the accommodation. . . The steam tug Titan has been in constant attendance on the shipping, and has proved a great source of security to shipmasters. It has been decided that in future there will be no intermediate anchorage between a good safe offing for a sailing vessel, where no accidents have been known to occur, and the inner harbor under the shelter of the Breakwater. The steam tug has been of service in carrying out this resolution. . . .

The shipping of the port daring the year has been free from any accident or casualty—unless the loss of the Ugglan’s rudder may be reckoned as one, In this case a new rudder was supplied in a few days, and the vessel proceeded on her voyage to the United Kingdom. Nineteen vessels of 11.907 tons register have been despatched from the United Kingdom during 1883, taking in all 14,252 tons of produce, namely, 6704 bales of wool, 2000 cases of meat, and 128,117 sacks grain and flour ; and fourteen vessels of 3719 tons register hayp sailpd for intercolonial ports with 40,579 sacks of produce. In addition to the above 9664 bales of wool, 11,947 cases of meat, and 125,171 sacks of produce have been sent coastwise, mostly for transhipment. When the above is taken into consideration, together wjth the 'fact that a large proportion of the grain grown in the district is sent by rail to Byttelton and Fort Chalmers, it will be at once seen that ffjeve remains reran still fora very large increase in the direct export trade. , , , The tonnage of the cargo landed and shipped by the Landing Service has been 29,220 for 1883, as against 35,075 for 1882 ; and the earnings, £5578 2s 3d for 1883, and £6583 6s lOd for 1882, Notwithstanding the larger amount of cargo handled'in 1882" than in 1883, and the earnings for that year being in consequence greater, the net profit has been £1677 19s lid for 1883, as compared with £1639 5s 6d, for 1882. '. - ’ +n February last, tenders were called for raising the loan of

£IOO,OOO, authorised by the Timaru Harbor Board Loan Act 1881, and for which the consent of the ratepayers in the harbor district had been obtained, by a poll taken on 19th December, 1882, —and the tender of the Bank of New Zealand was accepted. . . On reference to the attached stataments, it will be seen that the ordinary revenue for 1883 is in excess of that for 1882 by £1398 18s Id, and that the net income for the year, after payment of interest on overdraft and current expenses, is £1452 4s lOd. On page 10 of this report is a statement showing how much of the £IOO,OOO loan, authorised to be raised under the Timaru Harbor Board Loan Act 1881, has been spent or allotted, the figures are as follows :

£ s. d. Works, &c, paid for ... 25,735 12 5 Allotted to complete contracts on hand and to meet expenses, &c., of floating the 10an... ... ... 56,494 610 Balance available for future works 17,770 0 9 Total £IOO,OOO 0 0 From the summary of receipts and expenditure for the seven years, January, 1877, to December, 1883, which is given on the same page, it will be seen that the ordinary revenue during that period has been £18,068 15s Bd, and the ordinary expenditure, £12,763 4s 2d, the balance of the receipts, £155,091 15s Bd, including the amount of overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand on 31st December, 1883. namely, £22,465 19s, having been expended during that period on harbor works and plant. . .”

At the couclusion of the annual meeting the monthly meeting took place. A communication re the penalty imposed on Messrs Mackenzie and Co, contractors, for the last wharf extension, was read, and the Board resolved to make no further concessions.

The Standing Committee handed in their report on the application of Mr J. H. G. 'Smith for permission to erect swimming baths, which after being considered was handed back to the Committee. The Committee asked for further time to report upon the improvement of the Lauding Service and storage questions, and this was granted,

The Engineer reported that during the month 18 feet in length was added to the foundation blocks, and 33 feet to the monolith, making 80 feet of total length, and 55 feet of completed work. The Manager of the Landing Service reported the arrival of 19 vessels during the month, which with one exception were worked almost entirely at the wharf. The Services landed and shipped in all 282 tons, the gross earnings being £SB 15s Bd, and the expenditure £124 11s lOd, or an excess of expenditure of £GS 16s 2d. The Harbor Master reported that during the month he had taken the Titan to Dunedin for overhaul, and that the tug was now in first class order. On account of the scarcity of shipping at present in the harbor, he has dispensed with the services of two men from the permanent staff, one boatman, also the fireman of the p.s. Titan. Soundings taken during the month, show no difference in the depth of water with the exception of the outside of the rubble mound in line of the proposed reclamation, where it is a little shallower, as per book of soundings corrected up to present date. The following letter from the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Titnaru, dated the 12thjinst., was read : —“I beg to advise that I have this day credited your Board’s account with £94,841 Is 2d, which, with £2700 held in London for payment ot the July coupons, etc., makes the net proceeds of the sale of your Board’s debentures for £IOO,OOO. Detailed accounts, with full particulars, have been forwarded to me by post from ray Inspector’s office, Auckland, and immediately upon their arrival I will place them before you. The Chairman stated that on receipt of this letter he at once made arrangements for placing the greater part of the money at interest on fixed deposits at 6 per cent, as',every day meant a trifle. The Chairman’s action was approved. Mr Elworthy brought up the subject of a sinking fund of £IOOO per annum for the payment of the loan of £IOO,OOO and spoke very strongly in its favor. It was resolved—‘That the Committee report upon the desirability of establishing a sinking fund for the repayment of the loan, and any mode of doing so.’ It also was resolved to invest £350 for twelve mouths towards a sinking fund for the tug Titan, and that £250 be added every year at the annual maeting to the sarqe fund.

The tender of Mr A. D. Wells for supply of ironmongery stores wasaccepted.