TIMARU HARBOR BOARD,

Temuka Leader, Issue 2153, 22 January 1891, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD,

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbor Board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs E. Acton (chairmaa), l.'L. Morris, J. Wilson, R. A. Barker, F. R. Flatman, T. reschomaker, J. Manchester, J. Talbot, 1). M. Ross, and Captains Woollcombe and Sutter.

Correspondence was read : From the Underwriters' Association, Glasgow, thanking the board for copy of photograph, etc., of the harbor. From Kincaid and McQueen, Dunedin, re new race for the Preislman cr-uiH, which had arrived by the Doiic. From Messrs Perry and Perry, re costs of appeal to the Privy Couooil in tu« Lylteiton case. The (Eng'.iah) copts ot appeal were £1052 16s 10d, of whioh £595 had been recovered from the other aide. Their own (Messrs Perry and Perrv'o) costs were not inoluded la the above total.

From th* Marine Department, regretting that the board did not tee its way to require the harbormaster to act as inspector of deck cargoes. A letter from the Marine Department explained that the master andeogiißjr of the Titan could not be appointed to the Mana, as they were not certificated. From the Bailway Depattment re the store site leased to Mr Mills, which the board found was partly on a road to the board's reclamation. The Department claimed that the whole of the land was vested in them, and that there was no road there. The chairmon, however, Btated that Mr Burnett, the engineer, bad been shown the plan prepared by a previous engineer, Mr Lowe, and correspondence which passed at the time on which the agreement was based, and Air Burnett b*U he had not heard of these before. It had been arranged that Mr Maxwell should call and see further about /this matter. h Mr J. S. M. Jacobaen wrote asking for remuneration for ndvice he had given respecting the harbor works from time to time, from the sending in a plan for the original work to recent letters respecting the shingle difficulty, and r« questing return of a plan.—Letter received, and plan to be sent. From the Town Clerk re lease of foreshore for bathing purposes. From the Railway Department requesting that additional lights be placed ou the main wharf, two tall posts with three lamps, one at the far end of the wharf and one at the T. —The lamps to be erected. The harbormaster reported the arrival of 25 steam and 8 sailing vesiels, and the departure of 26 steam and 9 sailing vessels during December. He submitted a list of requisites for storm services, for the new tug.—Articles to be prooured. The Standing Committee reported that having considered the question of the disposal of the p.s. Titan they had agreed to advise that the Titan be offered for sale, together with the sails and rigging of the tug Mana. They had instructed the engineer to take an inventory of the Mana's outfit of tools, etc. They recommended the board, in view of the comparatively greater expenses in maintaining the new tug, to reconsider the present towage rates and the question of making towage compulsory. In * discussion which followed it was remarked that they could not make towing compulsory, as the port was already an expensive one. The Titan earned £SOO lust year, of which £250 went in insurance and the balance in working expenses. ThtMan* coat £II,OOO, and she must be looked upon as a measure of insurance for the port. It waa agreed to plaoe the tug Titan in Mr John Mills' (cf Port Chalmers) hands for sale. The original cost was £3250, and £IOOO had been spent in repairs. With respects to the officers of the Mana, it was agreed to appoint C*ptain Claikson to be maßter, with Mr Waldron as mate, and that applications from ceitificated engineers becilled before \ next meeting. The engineer, Mr F. W. Marchant, re. ported that be had commenced the construction of the shingle hopper, as instructed, but, directed by the chairman, . stopped the work and cancelled all orders j given in connection with it, on notice of rescission of the resolution authorising it having been given. He had examined the new tug and her machinery throughout. One or two items about her hall required amendment, which should be done with with the consent of the Inspector of Machioery. Taking the vessel as a whole the board have a first-class and most powerful tug, one admirably fitted in respect of details He recommended that the slipway should be strengthened. It was designed for a vessel of 200 tons displacement, and the new tog M*na measured 400 tons. The old landingservice engine uaed for hauling vessels up the slipway would also have to be shifted or a new engine procured. Dredging at the inner main-wharf berth was proceeding slowly, as they had to deal with 7ft in depth of rocks and boulders. He purposed mounting the new specially-made entrance light 10ft higher than the present one, to avoid the cracking of the lenses caused by the spray falling on th«s h«ated glass. 1» was resolved, on the motion of M' Flatman, that the engineer submit at the jsxt meeting a plan and estimate for enlargement of the slip; also that tenders be called for painting the tug.

The proposal to raise the new entrance light was approved. The net wharfage return for the four weeks ended 3d January was £47010a 6d —slightly under ihe average. Accounts for £621 5s were passed for payment. Mr Teeche«naker moved, according to notice, that the resolution of December 17th, instructing the engineer to make an experiment in shingle shifting, be rescinded. After a long discussion his motion was carried by bix to four. For : iMeaira Teeehemaker, Manchester, Ross,

FlatmnD, Talbot, and Barker. Against: Messrs Su>t e r, Morris, Wilson, and Woollcombe. Mr Teschemaker then moved, nod Mr Manchester seconded : "That th« chairman be requested to take the necessary steps for ihe appointment of a commission consisting of Mesatß Goodall, O'Coinor and Matcha.it, O.E.'s, for the purpose of inquiring into the best means of cbeckiag the travelling shingle." Mr Barker moved, and Mr Boas seconded—" That suggestions with plana and estimates be invited for conserving and improving the harbor and dealing with the travelling' shingle and sand, and that the sum of £IOO be awarded to ih" author of the syßtem adopted."—This was lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it. Mr Flatman moved and Mr Barker seconded a further amendment- i -"'That the whole matter of the shingle be left in abeyance." This was carried by 6t04. - For: Messrs Flatman, Barker, Sutter, Morris, Wihou, andWoollcombe; against: Messrs Rasa, Manchester, Talbot, 4nd Teschemaker. , The meeting then terminated.