TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1191, 14 June 1884, Page 1

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Tli monthly meeting of this Board took place on Thursday last. Members pre>ent —Mr Win. Moody (Chairman), and M»psrs Elworthy, Talbot, \Yilson, Kellaiid, Acton, Gray and Jonas. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs Sutter and Gibson. The Chairman stated that, during the month their clerk had left, and lie h.-id advertised for a cadet in his pl<ic<\ The action of Chairman was approved of. Among the correspondence received was a letter from the Railway Depirtnifit forwarding the usual returns, and showed that the net proceeds from the wharf had been £274 9s lOd.

Captain Stray, of the barque Aquila, now in port, wrote at length to the Bo»rd with reference to the claim made on him for £l6 for towage, etc., and explained fully what had taken place between him and Captain Storm, the Harbor Board's pilot, on the day the Aquila arrived off the port. The Harbor Master (Captain Webster), the Pilot (Captain Storm), and Captain Stray were sent for, and after hearing their statements, the Board considered the matter. It was resolved, on tha motion of Mr Elworthy—" That the claim against the Aquila be reduced to £8;" and on the motion of Mr Acton, seconded by Mr Gray—' That the Harbor, Board desire to inform Captain Storm that they are dissatisfied with his conduct in regard to the barque Aquila ; in future the Harbor Board must insist on his perfect obedience to the orders received from the Harbor Master."

The Engineer reported that during the month the contractors for No 5 Breakwater contract had been chiefly engaged in preparing the new block yard ; that wharf contract No 6 had been started, and rapid progress might be expected : that the new crane had been in use a:;d given general satisfaction, and that some ballast trucks for the conveyance of silt having been procured, dredging along the wharf would be commenced forthwith. The Harbor Master reported that 21 vessels of a registered tonnage of 587 G tons had arrived during the month, and 25 v.ssels of a registered tonnage of 6158 tons departed. The weather had been most unsettled. On the 14th May a strong north-east gale was fixperienced, which caused some damage to the hawsers; also damaged the topsides of the brij»antine Francisco Feliz lying at the wharf. He asked the Board to take into consideration the advisability of regulating the coal and ballast traffic, hs the increase of steamship trade to the port, togather with the limited wharf accommodation, at times caused delay in the despatch of vessels, which overcrowded the harbor and incveised the risk of accident. Soundings taken durin<* the mnnth, showed the depth of water remained about tin* same as last month. *

It was resolvd to increase the rat.a per ton of coal landed at the whrnrf from 23 6d to 3s ; and the rate for discharging ballast was reduced from 4s to 3s.

Mr 8. Graham, Manager of the Landing Service, reported that the Service had worked at 7 vesse's during the month, •1h» tonnage landed and shipped being 46"?5 tons. The gross earnings hid been £707 17s 8d and the net £3OO.