TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1662, 19 November 1887, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Board was held on Wednesday. Present—Messrs E. Acton (Chairman), K. F. Gray, F. R. Flatman, T, Teschemaker, J, Wilson, D. M. Ross, I. L. Morris, J. Talbot, and J. S. Gibson. Mr James McDonald wrote, requesting the Board to favor him with the result of a test of 10 tons of cement which hehadforwarded. The Chairman said the result would be known shortly, when it wonld bo forwarded. The Chairman said a long letter had been received from Mr W. Evans, with reference to the north wall contract, but as members were aware of the contents of the letter he would not read it. A telegram had also been received fr»m Messrs Hungerford and Mackay, protesting against any tender being accepted but theirs, as it tms, they were informed, the lowest tender according to schedule rates* —Aftar some discussion and an explanation by the Engineer, the Chairman assured members that every care would be taken by himself and Mr Ross (the witnesses to the contract) to thoroughly lay bare the whole matter before the contract was signed, and with this Mr Teschemaker, who was objecting, expressed himself satisfied. A letter was lead from Mr Moore, of the Elderslio Steamship Company, stating that the Fifeshire would be here about the middle of December next, and asking that concessions in the event of tho Eldershire and Fifeshire coming regularly to Timaru would bo granted. Mr Moore added that on the first trip of tho Elderslio to Oamaru she was passed in and out free of dues.— Tho Chairman said that there was a resolution on tho books that the first Home steamship should have all dues remitted, The Board agreed to this, the question of concessions to be considered hereafter. The Timaru Boating Club wrote for a site for their shed, inshore of the wharf, and alongside the main wharf.—After a sharp discussion the request was granted on an amendment proposed by Mr Tescheraaker, the reatal to be £6 per annum. Before the close of the meeting Mr Gray gave notice that at next meeting he should move that the amendment bo rescinded. The Standing Committee reported that they bad accepted a tender from Messrs Kincaid and McQueen, of Dunedin, for screw moorings, the price being lower than the Board had paid for English ones. —The report was adopted. The Engineer reported that block setting on No. 6 contract was completed ; two monoliths and random blocks at end of breakwater would finish the contract. He suggested that a permanent light should be established at the and of the breakwater, and that means should be provided for protecting the permanent way along the breakwater; the shipway contract was proceeding satisfactorily, tho underwater part of the ways being finished and launched; the dredge Taniwha had dredged and discharged 2100 tone of spoil sinee last report; and the deep watar berth from No. 15 pile to the end of tho wharf was now giving very satisfactory sounding! ; he had designed some screw moorings, which were in eourso of manufacture ; he suggested that the Board should define what holidays were to be allowed in bis department, and asked tbe Board’s authority to procure a quantity of material specified.—lt was agreed that Mr Marchant should make provision in the last monolith for receiving the permanent light; that tho most exposed section of the crane line be protected as an experiment by the V shaped timber, and that tenders be called for putting down the screw moorings ; material required to be got; holidays shelved, members considering the dredg? should be kept at work as constancy a* possible. The Harbor Master reported the arrival of 18 atemnet# «nd 8 sailing vessels of .the aggregate tonnage of 8098 tons and the departure of 19 steamers and 4 sailing vessels of the tonnage of 7113 tons, during the month of October. Tb» crane for the Moody jetty hud arrived. He asked that a storage platform be erected under tbe outer end of the Moody jetty ; also that a small shelter shed be put on the T wharf, for storing ropes and other gear in ; and for certain necessary stores, —The shelter shed question wae referred to the Come mittee, and the ether application* were granted. The Board went into Committee to consider matters relating to the Wai-iti tramway and the contract for the North Wall. Accounts amounting to £1615 12* Id were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.

The Hon. John Johnston, M.L.C., died at Wellington on Thursday. It is nearly a quarter of a century since h« was .called to the Legislative Council, and from 1866 to 1867 lie held a seat in the Stafford Ministry without portfolio. Ho was a member of the Provincial Council for a very long period. Mr Johnston was one of the oldest Freemasons in the colony. The Committee of the Otago Education Board brought up a scheme of retrenchment on Thursday by which £BSOO will be saved, leaving a fair margin oyer the reductions proposed by the Government. Part of the reduction will be by diminished attendance, allowing of less teachers in a few schools, part by a percentage reduction of 7h on salaries over £2OO, aod part by a reduction of classification bonus. The allowance to committees will be reduced by one half, and the rest of the reductions will be in office and miscellaneous expenditure.