TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2543, 17 August 1893, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

A meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board wss held yesterday. Present Messrs Stuart (chairman), Evans, Hill, Stumbles, Flatman, Teschemaker, Talbot, Sullivan, Rhodes, and Manchester.

CORRESPONDENCE. Mr JohnDarliug wrote under date Bth July that progress on the dredge had been dishearteningly slow on account of the holidays. The delivery of the dredge would be delayed a month, so that she would not reach Timaru till November instead of October.

Messrs Perry, Perry, & Kinnerney forwarded draft of bill to authorise the board to reclaim a portion of the harbour and also Caroline Bay, if and whenever they deem it desirable to do so. FOREMAN'S REPORT.

Foreman Parr reported, in pursuance of instructions, on the " quantity of concrete blocks and rubble in the board's possession and available for extending the breakwater beyond the centre of the curve and the feasibility of such work being done by our staff." The report stated that there are 68 blocks standing on the parapet recess, fit for use, and 15 on the north side of the breakwater approach which might be lifted when that part of the harbor is reclaimed, but it would not be advisable to lift them at present. He could not state the number of blocks covered with shingle, and. from past perience of lifting random Hocks he doubted if it would "pay to lift them unless they were glo<" e to "the surface. There were about SOD yards of rubble about the grounds, half of which could be easily lifted, i here were also 56 yards at the landing service, but these were needed to proteot the clay bank. The random blocks on the kant could be lifted when they become sheltered by the new work, say about 200 ft from the commencement of the curve. Thiß comprised all the available material about the harbor, except the facing blocks on the inner side of the north mole for Bix chains from the shore end, heavy rubble not being required there now that the harbor is enclosed. The concrete blocks now available might be sufficient to make the road so that the crane could travel out far enough to be able to be able to deposit blocks on the bottom, say about 160 ft. irom the commencement of the curve but that was only a guess. In his opinion it would be advisable to carry out such work with their own staff, as he understood it was intended merely to carry it out so far as to enable the new dredge to lie in the corner at the end of the wharf, and there load shingle when it ranches that point. It could be do" i(3 a \, the?r coil' venience when th* weat h er waa favorable, there b*- a BOtnet i me s weeks together *", aen it is unfit to work in that particular place. They had all the skilled labor] necessary and most of the plant, and any other plant needed the board would have | to pay for in any case. There would be no tramway or horses required for hauling shingle. By his calculations they ought to be able to make concrete for about two-thirds of what it has cost previously. As directed he had examined the reef to the north of the ruble wall, where it is exposed in the cliff, and he computed that 5760 yards of stone might be obtained from that source. There is. an average of Bffc of clay stripping on most of it, but about 360 yards could be got whi"h requires no stripping. Mr Parr also reported on what had been done in connection with the improvement of the road near the office of the railways, and the filling iu of the end of the crane-road. The rails and sleepers of the old block ground, had been lif.t,oa and stacked. A site for ;, s tora had beeen pegged off foe Messrs Guinness and Le-Or.-.n.

The chairman said the reference to the reef in Caroline Bay was made at his suggestion. Ho saw from tho plans that tho reef was within the board's li to, and ho asked Mr Parr to estimate* the quantity of stone available there. The Standing Committer reported that after consulting the board's policitor they recommended that Messrs Guinness and LeCren be granted a lease for 12 months of a section on the board's foreshore, at £5 per annum, subject to six months' notioo after tho termination of the Srat six months. The Committee had also applied for an Ordor-in-Council doclaring the Board to bo subject to the provisions of the Public Bodies Powers Act 1887. The report was adopted. HARBOR WASTER'S REPORT.

Tho harbor master toported the arrival 17,215 tons of shipping during July, and the departure tone* The weather

that month was chan seable, with occasional hevy seas The Taniwha had been employed from 17th July to 12th August, 17 days at dredging, 4 days at repairs, 1 day cleaning boiler, 1 stopped by bad weather. The spoil dredged waa 3900 tons. Since the deposit ground had been altered the dredging had been increased by one-third. The tender of Mr W. H. Tubb, £237 18s 6d, was accepted for erecting the ballast wharf at the north mole, and that of the National Mortgage & Agency Co., for piles, 2s 3d per foot; hewn ironbark, 20s 6d ; bluegum or stringy bark decking, 14b per 100 ft. Messrs Teschemaker, Talbot, and Manchester opposed the acceptance of the tenders. THE SHINGLE. The harbor master sent in a plan showing the advance of the shingle face from May 15th to August 15th. On the former date the positions of the Hues on the breakwater were: high-water mark, 700 f t; low-water mark, 800 f t; bottom of shingle bank or " toe," 1020 ft. On the 15th inst., the positions were : high-water, 750 f t; low-water, 850 f t; bottom of bank, 1070 ft —showing an advauce of 60ft in three months.

Mr Manchester moved that the information given by the plan be sent to the local bodies, and th ; s was carried, with the addition that the local bodies be asked to send their plans iu to have them properly marked if they wish it. On the motion of Mr Evans, it was resolved that Foreman Parr should prepare a plan showing how he proposed to utilise in extending the mole the material he had reported as available. CONSULTING ENGINEER. Mr Talb >t said he would give notice for next meetirg that the board consider the advisability of appointing a consulting engineer. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £497 3a 4d were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.