TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1705, 1 March 1888, Page 4

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The annual meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday. Present—Messrs E. Acton (Chairman), Rose, Talbot, Flntman, Teschernaker, LeCren, Manchester, and Gray. : A letter was read from tho Auditor, stating that the accounts were substantially correct, but soma slight alterations were necessary in the interest and suspense accounts. In reply to a question, the Secretary (Mr Tennanl) stated the accounts were made up iu (be same form as last year, and after a short discussion it was decided to defer consideration of the matter till next meeting. The annual report was then read. It stated that on the ]9th Decerrber the Inst monolith of the breakwater was laid, completing the work to the exlent authorised. During the year the remainder of the additional random blocks ordered for the protection of the south side were placed in position, and the end of the mole strengthened and made secure with au apron of pell mell blocks at a cost of £6OO. The breakwater as completed has occupied since October, 1878, a period of nine years, in construction. Its total length is 2278 feet, exclusive of approach. The Priestman dredge and hopper barge which had been procured had been in constant work since October, her carrying capacity being about 80 tons. She had proved very economical, and answered all expectations. A slipway for the use of vessels not exceeding 100 feet in length had been constructed, and by means of it the tug Titan and the dredge Taniwha could be subjected to periodical cleaning, etc, in the port. A Royal Commission on the 21st March approved of the construction oi a north wal' composed entirely of random rubble, and a tender had been let for the w0rk—£24,437 10s. The area enclosed willj be 50 acres. The depth of water in the harbor has been well maintained. At the ocean steamer's berth the tide gauge shows 22 feet at low water spring tides; at other berths from 14 to 20 feet. The general account, which represents the ordinary revenue and expenditure of the Board began tho year with a balance to credit of £265 lis 9d, and closed with a credit of £9650 83. This amount was transferred to interest account to meet the interest on the 1883 and 1886 loans, namely £IO,OOO, but proving insufficient interest account on 31st December shows a debit balance of £349 12s. The gross revenue for the year, exclusive of interest on fixed deposits, was £9,534 13s 9d, as against £10,077 12s Gd for 1886, or a falling off of £542 18s 9d. There was a corresponding decrease in the imports and exports for the year of 5125 tons, the falling off being entirely in the December quarter. The ordinary expenditure for 1887 was £4201 2s 3d, as against £4138 2s 2d for 1886, The expenditure on 1886 loan accouht to 31st December was £47,849 13s 7d, leaving the sum of £56,623 18s lOd to begin the year 1888 ; of this amount £34,201 8s 6d will be required to complete the contracts let, and to provide for dredging aud the salaries of the engineering fctarf for the next three years. The available balance on 1886 loan account may therefore be stated as £22,422 10s 4d. The estimated ordinary expenditure for the year 1888, including payment of interest on loans is, £14,000, add to this the deficiency for 1887, £349 12s, making a total of £14,349 12s. To meet this amount the probable receipts for interest on fixed deposits will be £2740, and the balance, £11,609 12s, the Board might hope to raise without recourse being necessary to the Board's rating powers. It was satisfactory to note that there had been a steady increase in the quantity of wool shipped, the figures rising from 16,368 bales in 1883 to 23,813 in 1887. Potatoes sho% 32,076 sacks shipped in 1887, as against 733 in 1884. In 1883 204,662 sacks of wheat were shipped, in 1887 33,343 ; in 1883 17,085 sacks of flour were shipped, in 1887 98,678; in 1883 9583 sacks of bran and sharps were shipped, while in 1887 the number was 66,860. It was also stated that the decision of the Judges in the appeal case of the Board against Sha*Saville and Co. would not be given until about the 12th March.

The report was adopted. Mr E. Acton was re-elected Chairman. Correspondence was then dealt with. slv Moore, on behalf of Messrs Turnbull, Martin, and Co., wrote asking for a refund of the loss of freight on the coal cargo of the s,s. Elderslie. It was stated that the Elderslie had- 650 tons of coal for Timaru, but being unable to discharge there had to go on to Oamaru, where the coals were discharged at a loss on freight. The Chairman explained that the Harbor Master had declined to place so I urge a stoumer close alongsido the fender piies of the wharf, but was quite agreeable to place her within 5 feet of the wharf, where the cranes could have worked her.—lt ti>as decided to receive the letter.

Iu their report the Standing Committee recommended that £2OOO, less 3 per cent, commission, should be the price at which the craoe Horcules should be offered for Bsle, and submitted draft of by-laws for slip-way.—The report was adopted. In his report, which dealt with a number of minor matters, the Engineer reported that since commencing work in the end of Stptember last the dredge increased the depth of water along the greater part of the main wharf by about 3 feet, and for a width of about 60 feet from it.

The Harbor Master reported the arrival of 21 steamers and 9 sailiDg vesfels, with an aggregate tonnage of 12,598 tons, and the departure of 21 steamers and 9 sailing vessels, with a total register tonnage of 12,470 tons during the month of January, 1888.

There were fourteen applicnuls for the position of foreman carpenter, and Mr G. 0, Williams was selected.

Accounts amounting to £lß2l 6j 4d were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.