TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2570, 19 October 1893, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbor Board was held yesterday. Present Messrs D. Stuart (chairman), B. T. Rhodes, J. Sullivan, J. Talbot, J. Manchester, T. Teschemaker ? F, Flatman, and W. Evans.

C9REBSPO !:I)BNCEi Correspondence was read— From the Marine Department, regarding the proposal to extend the breakwater, and the request for the appointment of a Royal Commission to report Qtl the same. The Minister of Marine desired to have a full statement of the reasons for the extension, and also plans and all reports and other information respecting the work. The chairman stated that Mr Parr’s plans and all reports for many years past had been sent up, together with a letter from the secretary in explanation of the proposal. The board’s solicitors wrote, in regard to the board’s action against the Railway Commissioners, that they had given notice to the solicitors on the other side that the court would be asked to order the removal of the additional buildings now being erected by Mr J. Mill, under the authority of the Commissioners, in breach of agreement with the board and during the pendency of the action in which the board’s right is asserted. The Court could not hold the defendants entitled to any consideration whatever in respect to those buildings. The case against the Commissioners was prepared and would be dealt witli at the first sitting of the Court on the return of the Judge from the Court of Appeal, probably before the next meeting of the board,

A letter from the Railway Commissioners’ secretary stated that the complaints that the railway weights were not reliable would receive consideration.

Mr S. H. Kerby asked permission to deposit 50 or 60 tons of stone ballast at the root of the Moody wharf, in readiness for ships wanting stone ballast.—Referred to the Standing Committee. Mr Teunent, as honorary secretary to the Wharf Labour Shelter Committee, wrote asking the Board for a contribution towards the cost and also for a site. Mr Tennent explained the scheme approved by a meeting of the men corncerned. — £25 was granted, subject to approval of auditor or solicitor. THE NEW DREDGE. Mr John Darling wrote from Glasgow on 9th September, advising that the dredge was launched on the 10th August, and during the 10 days before working “ all the machinery had been put through the most wicked tests my power would allow.” The 7th and Bth were devoted to dredging and speed trials, and he was glad to report that all the conditions were more than fulfilled. The boat had then to be docked and got ready for sea. (A cablegram dated September 27th announced the sailing of the vessel.)

The chairman remarked that there was nothing about towing tests.—The secretary said there was nothing in the specifications about towing tests.—The chairman said there were many experts opinions to the effect that a boat so designed would be a good tug. A letter was received from Mr 0. Y, O’Connor, 0.E., Perth, West Australia, covering a full report upon the work done by a pump hopper dredger used there. In a little over two months the dredger lifted 105,000 cubic yards, which was about the same amount as he bad calculated there was shingle to lift at Timaru; and the cost of doing this work was £l6Bl ; which was less than he had estimated for Timaru. From what he had seen of the dredge he could not doubt that a similar one would answer well at Timaru. The results had been a revelation as to what could be done by a pump dredger in a seaway. The qnautity referred to had been shifted in about two months, and there would probably be that length of time available each year at Timaru. The cost was only 2.63 d per yard, or about If d per ton —lt was decided to thank Mr O’Connor for the information, and give him particulars of the dredge the board has ordered; also, to ask him for some further information re flexible nozzle, etc. STANDING COMMITTEE. In the course of their report the Standing Committee reported : “In view of our May report on wharf - afage coming up for discussion at next meeting of the board we would draw attention to the important circumstances that since that report was compiled, it has become apparent that the area sown in grain in South Canterbury this season is much less than last year,—approximately 25 per cent pointing to a diminished revenue in wharfage and ship dues in 1894, probably £1250. The wharfage on imports and exports in 1892 amounted to £7447, of which frozen mutton (contributed £l7B, grain raw £1772, grain manufactured £I2OO, wool £699, potatoes £396. In this connection we note that 1892 was much below the average in the export of mill produce. In discussing the desirability or otherwise of increasing the wharfage duos on frozen mutton from -Jd to fd per carcase, we would observe that the yearly charge to the board, for wear and tear on extra large hawsers, casual labour for attendance, and gas for night work on the steamers engaged in the frozen meat trade, amounts to £llO, and the port dues here on that class of vessel are the second lowest in the colony. The fleet in the produce trade do not require deep water, whilst to accommodate t*; U g e steamers necessitates constant and costly dredging.” In reply to the chairman Messrs Talbot, Rhodes, Teschemaker, Evans, and Sullivan said they believed there was a large descrease in the area put under wheat this year. Mr Teschemaker thought there was, however, more oats put in, Mr Evans proposed certain increases in the wharfage charges on frozen mutton, wool, and skins, and after discussion the subject was made an order for a special meeting next ordinary meeting day. HARBORMASTER’S REPORT.

The harbormaster reported the arrival of 20 steamers and 8 sailing vessels of an aggregate registered tonnage of 14,456 tons, and the departure of 20 steamers and 6 sailing vessels during September. The had been at work from August 14th' to October 14th (two months), 23 days dredging at outer buoys, 5 days at north side of Moody wharf, 15 days at south side, and 3 days at end of breakwater (shingle for slip), 3 days cleaning boiler and repairing breakdown, 3 days bad weather, andß Sundays, total 60 days. Quantity dredged and total discharged, 4500 tons of spoil from outer buoys, and and 2045 tons from Moody wharf; total, 6545 tons, besides 6 large stones lifted from the Moody wharf and landed inside of T wharf. 306 bags of coal were consumed. FINANCIAL. Mr Flatman asked how the present paysheet compared with that of this time last year. The chairman stated that the account was being got into shape. The charges for handling the big steamers were too much altogether. The wharfage return for the four weeks ended September 16th was £407 Is 6d ; a little below the average. Accounts amounting to £417 8s lid were passed for payment. The secretary submitted a return 9f the trade of the port for r. • quarter, showing "* 1 ? 00 goTw landed and - ' ■ * total of 22*90 tons j.i. .. snipped. This is 700 tons less man in the corresponding quarter last year.