TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2582, 16 November 1893, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Tho monthly meeting of the Timaru [larbour Board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs I>. Stuart (chairman), E. T. Rhodes, J, Sullivan, G. Stumbles, F. R. Flatman, W. Evans, T. Teschemaker, J. Talbot, J. Hill, and J. Manchester. Leave of absence was granted to Mr il. Rutherford, on account of sickness. CORRESPONDENCE!Among the correspondence was a letter from the Bank of New Zealand, covering insurance policies on the tug dredge, and accounts of payment, £4548 to Lobnitz and Go., the builders, including £ISOO, three-fourths of the cost of voyaging her out. Mr J. Darling's account for commission, money out of pocket, etc., was £460 4s 9d. of which tho commission (pn £15,570) was £389 5s Gel, cablegrams £37 12s, specifications £29 From tho Audit Office, with reference to the enlarged powers of local bodies in the matter of the undefined expenditure. THE BREAKWATER EXTENSION. A memo, from the Marine Department notified that Messrs A. P. Usher and B. S. Hay had been appointed a commission to examine the proposal to extend the breakwater. —The chairman said ho met tho two gentlemen and introduced them to the staff. They gave no inkling at all as to what they'will dr. ’ Everything was placed before them. '{'he foreman, the secretary, and himself were tho only persons who saw them, the harbour-master answeringafow cjnesfions. They had all the documents placed before them—all tlpit could be found. He fancied from the nature of their questions to him that they would simply CQijsideitho question of extension with" i : ertw<=- • to the shifting qf shingle- ..mo A memo, qiio« ; - ’ ..* Messrs Ussher & Hay re—eu the board to instruct Mr Marchant to • etermine by accurate survey the quantity of shingle that has accumulated since the date of his last survey, for Messrs Goodall & O’Connor in April 1791, and also the total quantity to date; also to furnish them with copies of the plan, cross sections, etc ,on which his are based.—The chairman said ho at once gave instructions to Me Marchaat to make thd survey.

foreman’s report. Mr W. Harr reported that the balks. iu<r of the slip had been completed. The balance of the timber for the ballast wharf had arrived. The old timber of the block grouu i had been sold by auction harbourmaster’s report. The harbourmaster reported the arriv of 19 steam and 9 sailing vessels durin October, of an aggregate tonnage 12,464. The weather during the mouth was generally fine. The usual soundings within the harbour had been taken and recorded , also the quarterly soundings outside. The latter showed an advance of the shingle of 10ft during the quarter. The Tauiwha’s time from 15th October to 11th November, 27 days, had been 8 day’s dredging at Moody wharf lat outer buoys, 6 at moorings, 6 shifting balks*, 1 cleaning boiler, 3 Sundays and 2 holidays. The quantity of spoil dredged was 560 tons ; 620 tons of ballast was removed and 99 bags of coal were used. It was agreed that the new outside soundings should not be sent to the local bodiss until the survey by Mr Marchaut is completed. shingle off the beaoh. Mr Rhodes moved that resolutions of July and September, prohibiting the carting of shingle from the beach except near the breakwater, be rescinded, and that the Levels Hoad Board and Timarn Borong Council be permitted to obtain shingle at Mill street, they guaranteeing to take it from below highwater mark. — After some discussion tho motion was amended, to give the liberty asked for “ till further notice,” and carried, Mr Evans dissenting. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. The chairman pointed out that under the Act a member’s seat becomes vacant if he is absent from four meetings without leave. Mr Rutherford had been away three meetings without leave, and this was the fourth. The board had never given leave, but he considered leave could be given before the meeting closed. He .received a telegram after the last meeting asking him to apologise for Mr Rutherford’s absence, but that was not the leave of the board. —On the motion of Messrs Evans and Hill leave of absence was granted to Mr Rutherford on account of ill-health, and it was agreed further that the chairman should take the solicitor’s opinion on the case. WHARFAGE RATES. Mr G. B. Bullock wrote forwarding some figures relative to tho wharfage question. It had been his constant endeavor to try and draw as much of the Ashburton shipping to this port as pos sible, and as Timarn has the advantage of being 13 miles by rail nearer Ashburton than Lyttelton is, it seemed to him that with this advantage in its favor Timarn ought to do the bulk of Ashburton’s shipping. This had not been the case, but as far as wool is concerned the quantity coming to Timarn had increased year by year. The shipments of Ashburton wool in the past four years had been respectively 28, 389, 1117, and this year up to date 1304. With existing charges it is 7d per bale cheaper to ship from Timarn than frun Lyttelton. If the wharfage at Timarn was raised to Is per bale it would stop all Ashburton wool coming here for shipment, as the Id per bale then to be saved in charges would not compensate for tho better shipping facilities and cheaper insurance obtainable at Lyttelton. With regard to grain, Timarn could not, with the present wharfage rates, compete with Lyttelton for the Ashburton trade, as there is 3d per ton on railage and wharfage together in favor of Lyttelton. If the board could see its way to make a reduction of 6d per ton on grain, Mr Bullock felt certain that it would make a considerable difference in favor of this port, and give it a better name outside New Zealand, from the larger number of vessels that would come. A special meeting was held to deal with a resolution proposed by Mr Evans to amend by-law 2, by increasing the wharfage rate on frozen mutton from £d to Id per carcase, and on wool from 6 to Is per bale ; also as to make tho wharfage on grass seeds at per ton weight instead of per ton measurement. Mr Evans said he at first proposed to reduce the rates on grain and null stuffs, but was told that the revenue would not stand any reductions, and that on the contrary they must have more revenue, and looking over the list he concluded that wool and frozen mutton could very well stand an increase of rates, and they should stand it, as the pastoral industry was not paying in fair proportion to the agricultural. At Napier the charge was 2d on mutton and 2s per bale on wool. There was no use in talking of competing with Lytteltoq, Mr Talbot seconded, with the understanding that he could propose to amend. He too condemned the ido.* of competing with Lyttelton,and all the wool that had come from Ashburton this year gave them only £33 of revenue.. As the Freezing Company was struggling he would put off the proposal to increase the rate on meat for a year at any rate. It had also been pointed out that the wharfage is only a small portion of tho revenue derived from the frozen moat trade, the ship’s dues on the large steamers being considerably more. He approved of the increase on wool. Mr Teschemaker spoke at some length in opposition to the proposal, arguing that trade would be lost from both ends of the district, as far- as wool is concerned and that the freezing trade cannot bear any increase. If they must have more revenue he would prefer to see the harbor rate increased, though ho would probably have to pay move himself that way. Mr Rhodes and Mr Flatmau spoke in favor of postponing the question, as there was no proof that the increase of reveqftq way required. Mr Manchester said it) was not clear that they needed some more revenue; but if it was the case he considered wool does not now contribute fairly. Messrs Hill and Stumbles thought a carcase on mutton would do nq injury to anyone. Mr Sullivan would postpone tho nutter, and thenjTf the finance required it, would rather increase the harbor rate. Mr Talbot objected to more direct taxation, as under that sysieqi, the : pastoral properties would get oft-lightest-. It was the Wlt'ivated faint a that would have most to, pay. He asked tftq mover to strike out the line the. frozen meat and pass test* Mr Jlvans ik-OlibOd. -- ' • moved op muem 1 " Mr Talbot qp luiih- _.,ncnt to leave the rate ..mi to be further considered, and mi is was carried. Mr Flatmm, who said they were arguing altogether on suppositions, moved a further amendment, to postpone the whole question. The chairman ruled this out of order, and Mr K-ans’ motion as amended v/a? carried, Messrs Rhodes, Flatmau, and Teschemaker voting against it. ACCOUNTS. Letters were read from the Arowhenna Town Board, and the Waimate County Conned, forwarding amount of harbour rata.

Messrs Guinness and LeCren forwarded a cheque for £3l 5s 6d for old timber fid. The wharfage return for the four weeks ended October 14th. was £455 10s 4d. Accounts were passed for payment and the meeting terminated.