TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2441, 22 December 1892, Page 2

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held yesterday. Pre* sent —Messrs Acton (chairman), Evans, Flatman, Teschemaker, Morris, Talbot, Gibson, Stumbles, Manchester, Wilson and Hill. ( MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The minutes of the special .meeting were also read and confirmed, CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read— Mr Darling, in a cable, stating that the dredge would be delivered in Timaru in October next. From the Bank of New Zealand in re fixed deposit. There was altogether £10,500 on fixed deposit now. From the Underwriters’ Association, denying that they had exaggerated the accident to the Irene, or referred to it. The captain had given an exaggerated account of the accident, in order to make himself out a hero. (There is no claim for damages.) From the Lyttelton Harbour Board, asking for particulars re dredging plant ordered from Lobnitz & Co. From Mr G. Rutherford, stating that he was acquainted with all the noxious weeds, and would inspect them. It was said he had been in Timaru, and stated that some of the weeds wore worse than the Bathurst burr, the Cape weed was there. There were so many weeds there that it would take two men two months' to dig them out. There was a largo quantity of various kinds of weeds laid on the table, and the Standing Committee was. authorised to deal with it in the best way they could. It wag suggested that ballast should in future ba taken tp tea by the Tauiwha,

From Mr Wellman, stating that he. had patented the improvements necessary for pumping, and would require a fee of one hundred guineas for allowing the use of his patents, and for giving advice with regard to construction of pumps.

Leave of absence for a month was granted to Captain Clarkson, and Captain Balsom was appointed pilot, and Mr J. Thompson harbor master, in his absence. The engineer reported that the slip would require to be rebuilt to take on the new dredge. The matter was held over until an estimate of the work is given. The engineer also stated that under water the shingle had gone out 180 feet, while the visible shingle had gone out only 80 feet. TENDERS. Tender for timbers were received. Messrs Finlay & Murdoch tendered at 3s per lineal foot and 24s for square timber for iron-bark. Messrs Cuff & Graham’s tender was 4s per lineal foot and 28s for square timber. Messrs Finlayson & Murdoch’s tender was accepted. THE NEW DB.EGDE. Mr Evans moved a resolution to the effect—“ That the motion ordering the new dredge be rescinded.” He said he was absent last meeting. He observed that Messrs Gibson and Talbot were in favor of delay. There was no necessity for a special meeting. It ought to have been considered at the ordinary meeting, and in the face of public opinion they ought not to go on until after next election. If the £15,500 was paid away the next board could do nothing. They would not have a penny. He was sure the public favored delay. Everything had altered since the commissioners’ report. The chairman said Mr Darling asked for brief cable to be sent to him. This showed Messrs Lobnitz and Co. wanted an answer at once. Mr Evans : It was to Mr Darling’s interest. The chairman said the contract was signed, sealed, and delivered. One copy of it was signed at Home, the other copy had been signed by Mr Gibson and himself. Mr Evans : It is most extraordinary. Some members got information, others did not. He had been put in to stop this and could not get information. Mr Stumbles seconded the motion, and urged that it was against the wishes of the ratepayers. If they had the dredge even now they would have to use the Priestman grab. Why not use that now and run the shingle inland ? He did not care whether ratepayers were small or large, they ought to have a say in the matter.

Mr Talbot said that he sent the telegram last day believing not a great deal of harm could be done by delaying till the election. He was then in favour of putting it off; but now they were asked to cancel a contract, and that was a different matter. He did not care whether he was elected or not, and believed he would not be, but they would leave a first-class tug, and a first-class dredge, to the new board. He had in the beginning suggested to resign, but the others would not do so, and as they would not he would not desert his party. Mr Morris spoke at some length. Mr Flatman congratulated the board on the depth of water maintained in the harbour as shown by the sounding book. Anyone could see from Mr Talbot that he (Mr Flatman) was dull, but no authority had proved that the new vessel would do for a tug as well as a dredge. She would not, with cranes on deck, be fit to tug. She would not have half the power of the Mana as atug. Various alterations had been made, and they had not followed the commissioners’ advice. Mr Talbot referred to engineers’ reports. Was there a minute showing deviation from the commissioners’. He did not get an answer. Now they had to build a new slip which would cost £2OOO. At a previous meeting the majority held a caucuss meeting to suspend the by-law to legalise the altered specifications. If they were illegal then they were illegal now. The new plans were never laid on the table.

The Chairman : Why did you not bring this forward at the meeting I Mr Flatman : What could I do ? I said too much. The minority was never listened to. The motion was carried by a minority at Evans had been present it would never have been carried. Mr Teschemaker said all care had been taken to make the vessel suitable. So far as he was concerned he believed until lately that the vessel would pump the shingle across the breakwater, and told people so. The Chairman : I believed the same thing, and told several of the ratepayers so.

Mr Flatman ; And Mr Talbot accused mo of stupidity, and of not minding my business, because I said I did not know it. Mr Teschemaker continued to give statistics in which he asserted that, only £6OOO or £7OOO more than would be realised by the Mana would be spent, and said they were making mountains out of this.

Mr Hill asked for the production of private letters written by Mr O’Connor to the board.

These were read. One of them gave reasons for differing from Mr Goodall who said the annual cost would be £ISOO. While he (Mr O’Connor) said it would be £3,000. The other letter urged that if the 90 Mile Beach is denuded of shingle the land-owners would have grounds for an action for damages against the board. To carry out the straight might be considered, but the cost of compensating land owners would make it too expensive.

Mr Hill spoke on this point for some time. Mr O’Connor was in favour of extending the straight, only that he thought it too expensive. It was now shown he was entirely mistaken. It was shown the beach had not suffered, and that the rivers were in fact blocking up, and he was also misled as to cost. A previous estimate given showed the cost of extending the mole was £7l per foot, but Mr O’Connor put it at £BO, and said it might be £IOO. Mr Stumbles could do it° at £55, He showed from the sounding book tb© depth of water was maintained in the harbor, and said the present dredge was sufficient. He doubted whether the new vessel would dredge the harbor, act as a tug, and shift shingle.

The discussion was continued by Mr Gibson, who said if Mr Evans and Mr Talbot had attended last meeting, the vessel would not have been ordered, but now he would not vote for cancelling the contract.

Mr Evans replied, and the motion on being put was lost. Messrs Evans, Flatman, Hill and Stumbles being for it, and Messrs Acton, Gibson, Morris, Wilson, Talbot, Teschemaker and Manchester against it.

THE CROWNING ACT. After a good deal of talk and opposition the sum of £3,000 was ordered to be sent Home as progress payment on the now tug and dredge. It was decided to authorise Mr Darling to pay Mr Wellman 100 guineas for hia patent rights and advice if he saw tit,

ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £49117s lid were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.