TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2492, 20 April 1893, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbor Board wa3 held yesterday. Present Messrs D. Stuaib (chairman), E. T. Rhodes, J. Sullivan, R. Rutherford, J. Talbot, T. Toschemaker, F. R. Flatman, G. Stumbles, J. Hill, W. Evans, and J. Manchester. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read from the Mackenzie County Council and Temuka Road Board advising payment of levy. The Bank of New Zealand wrote on various financial items. The contractors for the supply of ironbark excused delay in delivery by the occurrence of floods in Australia. Mr S. Valle acknowledged receipt of information regarding differential rates on the railways. He would make a communication on the subject presently. Mr C. McGill, Port Chalmers, sent a circular of the New Zealand Harbor and River Dredging Company, formed to dredge harbors and river ports in the colony. The number of harbors in the colony called for such a company, to perform the work for several harbors, and. to save the expense of machinery and staff for each of them.

The Registrar-General requested certain statistical information for 1892, and the Lyttelton Harbor Board asked for a return of the board's staff and salaries.

From Mr J. M. Rooke, Newcastle, who had been in treaty for the purchase of the tug Mana, stating that his client was offered a new boat from Home a good deal cheaper than the board's quotation for the Mana. He was prepared to give a certain sum—(less than two-thirds of the 'board's figure)—for the Mana, provided she could be delivered at once, and was fonnd in good order. —Tho board cannot deliver at once, nor accept the price offered. THE TUG DREDGE. Correspondence was read from Mr John Darling, with enclosures from Lobnitz & Co., to him. Also an opinion from Messrs Perry, Perry and Kinnerney on this correspondence. This opinion concluded that " In view of the beforementioned circumstances, we have the honor to advise that your board's conditions have been complied with, and the position being now satisfactory authority to make payments should be cabled in accordance with Mr Darling's request. They added that the vessel should be insured for the trip in the board's name. On the motion of Mr Teschemaker, seconded by Mr Flatman, it was resolved that the authority to make payments on account of the vessel be restored.

The secretary stated that it was just time to send the draft for the final payment, as well as the arrested progresß payment. Mr Evans was very soriy that the money had to be sent. They would not get one-third of her cost if they wanted to sell her.

On tho motion of Messrs Rhodes and Sullivan it was resolved that the funds lying at the credit of the Mana Renewal Fund bo used in payment for tho tug dredge.

It was also resolved that £4500 be sent at 60 days draft to meet the final payment at Home. STANDING COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The Standing Committee reported that they had accepted Mr Jas. Fhilp's tender for supply of ironmongeiy, and Mr Keith's tender of £35 for lease of the board's cement shed ; also the tender of Mr Arthur Segar, £29 15s, for cleaning and painting the tug. They recommended that each member of the board's staff be allowed one week's holiday a year, They approved of the present method of charging ship's dues.

The committee had instructed the secretary to report as to the extent, etc., of the board's property on the foreshore. The secretary's report on the board's endowment recounted the various steps and statutes by which it had been obtained and secured, and concluded with a description, etc., of the property. A letter from the solicitors advised that the board had a good ground for action against the Railway Commissioners for leasing business sites on the reclaimed land, which was taken from the board specifically " for railway station purpeses," and enclosed a form of warrant to sue. Notice of action was given a couple of years ago.

After discussion it was resolved on the motion of Messrs Teschemaker and Rutherford —" That the chairman be authorised to proceed on the advice of the solicitors." Messrs Hill and Stumbles opposed going to law; the former advocated waiting till the composition of the Commission is altered at the session of ParliamenL The Standing Committee's report as a whole was adopted. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. The harbormaster reported the arrival of 21 steamers and 5 sailing vessels during the mjiith of an aggregate registered tonnage of 10,500 tons ? and the departure of 22 steamers and 8 sailing vessels, of a total of 19,015 tons. The usual soundings hadbeen undertaken during the month with results as per boo]?. Hp ajatj mentioned a quantity of material required, and it was resolved to obtain the sume,

Mr Evaiib moved, pursuant to notice, that the wharfage rate on grain shipped be reduced from Is (id to Is per ton. Mr Evans argued that Timaru coizld get a quantity of trado now going to Lyttelton from Ashburton and to Oamaru from Waitaki North. At present Lyttelton offered nn advantage of 5d per ton to a shipper of grain at Ashburton ; the reduction he proposed would give Timaru the advantage of Id. The rates on grain at various ports wore—Lyttelton (5d per ton, Wellington 9d, Bluft'lGf-d, Auckland Is, Timaru Is (id, Qamiu'u 2s, Port Chalmers 2s. Tho raUago from. Ashbnrtpn to Timaru was t}s, to Ly-tte.tion ] lid. The wharf ago on. frozen'»*** Timaru is Is 8(1 per ton. *" ..cat ;U on gi'Siilj whlJp* '" „* against Is (id ttyiii"-* " . at Dunedin it is os as .„ nti. Grain pays a proportionately much heavier rate. The Bluit" had benefited largely by reducing the charges, and so much that a further reduction was contemplated; and he believed that a similar policy would bo found to pay at T.nnaru. Mr John Jackson wrote asking that the charge of 2s per ton on coal bo reconsidered. It wss decided that the standing committee should go into tho whole of the shipping charges, and report at next meeting. THE SHINGLE HANK. Mr Talbot moved that a survey be made of the sea face of the shingle bank every three months by the harbour-

master, and tho reuslts recorded, and this was agreed l;>. Mr Hill spoke strongly in support of the survey, and w;irmly condemned an article in the Herald on tho 16th March. In the course of the discussion which took place, Mr Stumbles said if the Herald dul not stop its strong remarks ho would expose some things—bad managament, and waste of thousands —of which even members of the board were not aware. MISCELLANEOUS. On tho motion of Mr Evans tho secretary was instructed to write to the Insurance Association requesting that the same concession of 2s (3d per cent., recently made on wool, be also made on

grain. The wharfage return for the four weeks ended 4th March was £899 14s lid —a busy month, the return being £3OO over the average. A return of the shipping work clone during the March quarter showed a total of 25,301 tons landed and shipped, about 6000 tons more than for the corresponding quarter last year.

Accounts ta the amount of £428 14s 6d were passed for payment.