TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1946, 21 September 1889, Page 4

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of theTitnarU Harbor Board was held on Wednesday. Present—Mr E. Acton (chaiiman), Captains Woollcombe and Sutter, Messrs K. E. Gray, J. Wilson, T. Teschemaker, J. Talbot, J, Mancheater, and the Mayor of Timaru. Letters were read from Messrs A. E. G. Ehodes and E. Turnbull, M.H.E.'s, and the Marine Department in reference to the Board's Endowment Bill. Clause 4, giving the board power to reclaim land, had been withdrawn, as otherwise the Bill could not have been passed this session. The clause constituted the Bill a local Bill.

Messrs Perry and Perry forwarded a statement from their London agents of the position of the Lyttelton case. There was not afiy likelihood of the case being reached by the Privy Council till the end of November. The Eailway Commissioners wrote further respecting their claim of £SO rent for siding to old landing service shed, and the chairman was authorised to deal with the matter. Letters were received from Mr Darling, Glasgow, respecting the new tug, also drawings showing the Arrangement of the vessel as a tug, and as fitted for sailing out. The tug in to be 120 ft long, 22ft beam, and lift depth of hold; it is to be delivered at Timaru by the 15th March next; the total cost will be about £11,500: erection £9950, sailing out £7OO, insurance £3OO, commission £250,: inspection and contingencies on arrival £300; total, say, £11,500. The engineer in his report advised that the ways of the slip "should be lengthened 70 feet,- to enable the new tug to be slipped. This he recommended should/be done by the board's staff. Another screw mooring had been sunk 17 feet. During the month 1320 tons of spoil and 41 tons of rock had been dredged from thedeep'water berth extension,—lt was agreed that the slip should be lengthened as suggested. The, harbourmaster reported fine weather during the month; 18 steamers and 6 sailing vessels, total 10,866 tons, had arrived during the month _of August, and 18 steamers and 8 sailing vessels, total 10,763 tons had left; New moorings at the chequered buoy were completed.

The railway return of wharfage collected for the four weeks ended August 17th was £372 19s 2d. The report of the Standing Committee on the financial situation was read as follows:—" The Standing Uommittee having considered the financial position of the board, find that after paying for the North Mele contract, for the contract for building a- new tug, for the salaries of; the Engineer's staff, and for dredging for the next six months, a sum of £7984 will remain over of the 1886 loan, but of this amount £IOOO will be required to pile the end of the North Wall, for extending'the'slip, and for harbour lights: The committee estimate that the deficiency in revenue for the present year will be about £2450. The committee: recommend the board to proceed'in the manner authorised in the Timaru > Harbour Board Loan Act, 1885, to levy a rate in the harbour district to the extent ot one-eighth of a penny on the capital value of the property within the district." In referring to the report the chairman said the present valuation of the Harbor district was about £6,000,000, and a rate of id im. the £ would produce about £3OOO. After a short discussion, it was resolved—" That the board proceed in the manner authorised in the Timaru Harbor Board Act, 1881, and in the Timaru Harbor Board Act, 1885, to levy a rate in the harbor district to the extent of one-eighth of a penny in the £ on the capital value of the property within the district, to meet the deficiency of revenue for the current year, and in paying interest on, the 1881 and 18S5 loans; and that the powers conferred on ,the board for making, levying, recovering, and collecting the rate be delegated by the board to the council of the Borough of Timaru, and the councils of counties included within the boundaries of such borough and counties' respectively; the proceeds of such rate to be paid to the credit of the harbor board at the Bank of New Zealand, Timaru." A long discussion followed on the accumulation of shingle on the south side of lihe breakwater.* In" a special report made by the engineer, he recommended the construction of groynes. The Chairman, Captain Sutter, Mr Eoss, and Mr Wilson, spoke in favor of the engineer being instructed to prepare a plan and estimate for presentation at next meeting for dealing with the annual drift of shingle. Messrs * Gray, Talbot, and Teschemaker thought delay would do no harm, and possibly much good. Einally it was resolved — " That the engineer prepare a plan and estimate of cost for next meeting, for dealing with the annual drift of shingle." Accounts amounting to £1364 19s lOd were passed for payment. The meeting then terminated.