TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1481, 18 March 1886, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above Bowrd was held yesterday. PresentMessrs J. H. Sutter (Chairman), E. Elworthy, W. M. Sims, J. Talbot, J. Wilson, K. F. Gray, J. Kelland, A. Hayes, and W. Moody.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Letters were read from the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, acknowledging receipt from the Board of £2500 for deposit of loan coupons, stating that about £9500 of the old loan was on hand, and thaf the new loan was floated at an average of £lO5 18s. The Manager of tne Colonial Bank wrote regarding rent of Board's office, and as the Board have a spare room of their own it was decided to refer the matter to the Finance Committee.

A letter from F. Clarkson, applying for a license as porter on the wharf, was referred to the Finance Committee. The Chairman stated the result ef the Interview between the Finance Committee and Mr John Inglis, the agent of the Hudson.—lt was resolved: "That the offer of £3OO for the servioes of the tug at the stranding of the Hudson (including the hawsers used) be accepted, and the Board attach their seal to the agreement which was come to by the Finance Committee on the 13th mst." The tender of Quelch and Co. for stores was accented.

The Engineer, Mr Marchant, made a very lengthy report, In it he stated that Messrs Palliser and Jones had laid 46 lines! feet of breakwater since last Board meeting, but laying blocks was now suspended on account of there being no blocks of a suitable age available ; that blockmaking was being pushed on ; that the cement bad run out, and special arrangements had been made for the supply of 1000 casks ; and requesting authority to lay eight or ten random blocks on the Bouth side cf the breakwater from high to low water mark. Regarding the breakwater wharf extension contract, he reported that it had been completed, the cost being £1931 3s-£1.3 8s 6J over the contract price. Arrangements had been made for laying the rails on it, and the water and gas mains had been extended along it. Regarding the Moody Wharf, he reported that only slow progress had been made, and he recommended the laying of a 4in. water main along it, to be reduced to 3in. on any future extension. Arrangements had been made with the Harbor Master for the removal of » number of large boulders laying alongside of the Moody Wharf. Regarding dredging, ri9 said that, as he found it would be impossible for the dredge Program to dredge a 600 ft berth to a depth of 24ft under the conditions at first decided on, he had arranged for it to work longer hqurs, taking Advantage of the low tides, and to dredge to half the width originally intended ; large boulder* (sometimes half-a-ton in weight) were a great trouble, and might cause a breakdown. Some spare gear had been bought at Oamaru, Since starting, the Progress had made 64 trips, discharging an estimated quantity of 12,800 tons, or about 8500 cubic yards of spoil in 202 f working hours. The spoil was free but heavy, consisting of very fine sand generally, now and then a little fine shingle; though they had dredged in places from 4ft to sft in depth, in no case had they touphad clay proper. The dredge was well handled, The report concluded by stating that the maximum depth of the berth they wero now excavating could not be maintained without diedging, and recommending that immediate attention be given to the subject. The Priestman crane dredge required a thorough overhaul. The Engineer was ordered to place the pell moll-blocks on the sooth side. A long discussion took place in Committee on the subject of dredging and the offer of the Oamaru Board to dispose of half share in the dredge Progress, and it was ultimately decided to refer the whole matter to the finance Committee. The tender of P. Sinclair for repairs to dredge was accepted, and it was decided to get an expert from Sinoaid and McQueen's to report on the Prießtman dredge, and tender for the work. The EUrbor Master reported the arrival during February of 33 vessels of the aggregate registered tonnage of tons, and the departqro of 3,2 vessels of the aggregate registered tonnage of 9013 tons, all of which had been worked at the wharf,

4ccounta to the amount of £2957 13s 5d were passed for payment. The Chairman and Messrs Elworthy, Gruy, Acton, Sima, Jonas and Moody were elected a Finance Poiumittee. for the ensuing year, and the meeting termiaated,