TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2675, 21 June 1894, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Tijnaru Harbor Board was held yesterday. Present —Messrs D. Stuart (chairman), Evans, Hill, Stumbles, Teschemaker, Manchester, Talbot, Wilson, Sullivan, and Pringle. A letter from Mr Flat man, M.H.R., requested leave of absence during the session of Parliament, —Leave of absence was formally granted. Correspondence, which will be found dealt with in the report of the Standing Committee, was read. The solicitors wrote regarding amendments on the accident insurance policies, and the Board’s Rating Bill.—Resolved — « That the two Bills to be introduced in Parliament this session be entrusted to Mr Hall-Jones, M.H.R., and that the other members for the district be requested to assist in getting them passed.” THE PUMP DREDGE. A letter from Mr Barr, 0.8., replied to

questions put to him : Would the Teniwha be able to maintain the depth of the harbor if it were once dredged out ?-He had practically answered this question in his former report when he stated that the amount of fresh deposit would be inconsiderable. Mr Barr also reported on the trial of grab dredges in the Timaru harbour which he supervised. The time worked was 70 minutes, and the stuff lifted was 94 tons. One of the cranes made 36 dips,

but the bucket came up empty ten times, the other made 37 dips. Allowing for improved working with increased experience, he estimated the two grabs we/e good for 100 tons per hour, and with deductions for other work, etc., for an annual removal of 77,000 tons. The cost of working would bo leas than with

the pump, both in wage and coal, but he did not think it would be less than £3200, which on the estimated quantity wonld be at the rate of lOd per ton, or practically the same rate as for the Taniwha. Indeed there was no reason

why there should be much saving except that effected by going to sea with a larger cargo. The grabs have an advantage over the pump in discharging silt into the hopper; with a pipe delivery the pump would give the more satisfactory results. STANDING COMMITTEE, The Standing Committee reported as

follows: “ The Committee beg to report that the modifications of conditions of the New Zealand Accident Insurance Go’s, policy as drawn up by the Board’s Solicitor have beeu approved and agreed to, and endorsed on the policy and the

matter .finally settled. Since that, one of the crane drivers on the dredge was injured by a steam cock blowing out, and the claim made on the company for two weeks wages was promptly paid. A notice to all employees of the Board in reference to toe insurance has been posted up in the board’s office. The Committee have approved of the draft of the Bill which has been drawn up by Messrs Perry, Perry, and Kinnerney, to provide for the amendments of th§ Board’s rating powers, necessitated through the alterations in the Bating Act passed last session.

“The committee suggest that in the event of an offer being received for the Mana or Taniwha up to the reserve fixed by the Board, s special meeting of the Bonrd be called to consider the same. “la reference to twg letters from the Christchurch Meat Company, pointing out the delay in loading the s.s. Moraydare during her last trip to Timaru, the committee find that it was entirely due

to the shortage of meat vans, only one-half the usual number being supplied: the committee recommended that the Railway Commissioners be communicated with in support of the complaint of the Meat Company. “ The Committee recommend that the application of the Otago Harbor Board for a trial of the board’s pump dredge at Port Chalmers be acceded tp, the Otago Harbor Board to arrange for her insurance for the trip to the extent >f £IO,OOO. The charge to be £2O per day from the time of her departure till

her return, insurance extra. “ The committee recommended that the New Zealand Shipping Company, Shaw, Savill & Albion Company, and the Christchurch Meat Company, be written to in reference to the railage of frozen mutton to Lyttelton, as pointed out iu the letter from the Chamber of Commerce, and that the attention of the companies be dpaiyn to the facilities provided for the shipment of meat dirept from Timaru; that Timaru is the second port iu the colony in respect of the reasonableness of the harbor dues on vessels calling f or frozen moat; that tho railage on meat to f.yttoltou is IDs 4d per ton as against 6s 6d per ton to Tiinorp, or a difference of 13# 10d in favor of Timaru, and that if the companies are going to make a practice of railing to Lyttelton, tho board will bo forced to consider moans of protecting its revenue.”

It was agrood that a special meeting of tho board should be called if tho conditions of any offer for tho Mana required it.

The recommendation ro shortage of meat vans was °

The recommendation regarding the loan of the Timaru to the Otago board evoked a long discussion. Mr Teschemaker asked what was the object of the trial—was it for information for this board or for the Otago board 1 Mr Talbot said if it was for the Otago board’s information the boat should be fully covered by insurance. The chairman said the committee simply dealt with the matter coming before them in the usual way. The vessel would have to be docked in three

months’ time, and if the board did not care to let her go now, they could tell the Otago board that a trial could be made when she wont down to be docked. Mr Evans said the idea was, he thought, that if the pump answered on the Otago bar the boards should exchange dredges

for a while. The Otago big dredge would soon clear all the silt out of the harbor. They should try and help one another if they could. Mr Hill agreed with Mr Talbot as to the insurance. He approved of the trial, as if the dredge proved able to deal with the sand—which is different from either silt or shingle—that would be a recommendation if they wanted to sell her. She was evidently very little good for the material in the harbor. The pump would not lift the silt, and the Tauiwha had proved that the grabs would not lift the silt. She ought to be fully insured for work on the bar, a more dangerous place than Timaru harbor. Mr Talbot would like to know where they would be if an accident befell the vessel; they could not get another before the shingle got round. (Laughter.) Messrs Evans and Hill moved—“ That the application of the Otago Harbor Board for a loan of the s.s. Timaru, suction dredge, be complied with, the charge to be £2O per day, and to be insured to the extent of £15,000 by the said board.”

Messrs Talbot and Manchester moved an amendment to the effect that as the vessel will require docking three or four months hence, a trial could then be obtained.

The amendment waa lost, only four voting for it. Mr Talbot asked what effect sending the boat from Timaru to work would have on the contractors’ liability for maintenance, and Mr Evans admitted that that might be a difficulty, and the solicitors had better be consulted. Mr Evans’ motion was then carried, it being understood that the legality of the proceeding be inquired into. THE BOABD’B STAFF. When dealing with the Standing Committee’s recommendation that a specie meeting might be called to deal with offers for the Mana, the secretary mentioned that the time for her usual overhaul had come round, and suggested that her condition should be looked to, as if she were not in good order her selling value would be greatly reduced. There had been no one in charge of her since the Timaru was put to work. The chairman said there must be someone in charge, or they would know the reason why. She ought to be looked after every two or three days. Mr Evans said ic would be scandalous

if the harbor master had neglected her. He did not think he would do it. The chairman said the harbor master was in charge, and he had no doubt seen that the engines were protected. The harbor master was supposed to have charge of all property of that kind. The chairman said he had always been in charge of her, and he at once by letter placed him in charge of the Timaru as soon as it arrived. Mr Manchester wanted to know whether the harbor master knew that he was held responsible for the care of the boat. A long and lively discussion took place, the result of which was a direction to the standing commitee to inquire into the position of the staff in this matter and report to next meeting.

Mr Teschemaker believed he supplied the key to the cause of the confusion that exists by saying that formerly the engineer, Mr Merchant, had charge of everything, and when his services were dispensed with no one was placed in charge. Foreman Parr’s position and remuneration were also referred to the standing committee. RAILAGE ON FROZEN MUTTON. The chairman read a' Statement of the frozen mutton railed from the local works for shipment at Lyttelton since July, 1892. The total was 46,331 carcasses, of which 31, 511 were sent up this year. Of the total 31,522 were railed up to New Zealand Company’s ships, and 14,808 t the S.S. and A. Company’s.

The chairman read a draft of a letter to the Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, drawing attention to the |apts and expressing a hope that the practice will not bo continued, as if so the board would be forced to consider means of protecting the revenue. A long discussion took place on the last sentence of the letter, Mr Merchant and Talbot strongly deprecating the use of anything like a threat, and eventually it was agreed to omit the sentence.

Mr Teschemaker explained that sheep had only beeu railed away to ease the works, and this had been done even when the Islington works were blocked. The bottom cause of the block was the fact that Australian freezers were guaranteeing freights beforehand, while here they could not gat guarantees, and the steamers went where they were sure of cargoes. Asa matter of fact, however, there were more sheep to he sent away from here than had been anticipated. HAEBOE MASTER. The harbor master reported on the arrival of 19 steam and 8 sailing vessels, and the departure of 19 steam and 9 sailing vessels, aggregating 14,502 tons, during the month of May. The weather during tfiat month was generally bad, with several heavy seas. On the 30th the s.s. Hauroto arrived but, owing to a heavy sea she could not be made fast, and so proceeded onwards. The usual soundings had been taken and recorded. Work done by dredge Timaru from 14th May to 10th June— 7s% hours dredging with grabs, 18A hours dredging with pump, 56 hours refitting, altering gear, repairing breakdowns, oiling, and other engineers’ work, 12 hours coaling from surfboats, 23 hours towing, 24 hours discharging spoil, moor lug and unmooring, 4Q hours (o S»»- ‘ anil holidays), total 246 relays 2/otha of this tin>«“ .lours. Abou* iug. To*-’ -was employed at dredg "wr H-ir‘, ( l Uaut * t y lodged 6400 tons Mr bill brought up the question of-bunday-towing, and Bpo ke strongly against vessels being towed out on Sundays, except iu emergencies. ACCOUNTS. Accounts wore passed fur payment—£ssl 10s 2d. The returns for wharfage four weeks to 20th May was £62515s lid, the four-weekly average being £586. xnu MANA. Just as Iho board was rising a cablegram came from Newcastle inquiring the lowest cash price for the Mana.—A sum was fixed to bo cabled in reply. , Tho board thou rose.