TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2741, 22 November 1894, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board was held yesterday. Present Messrs Stuart (chairman), Pringle, Sullivan, Wilson, Manchester, Talbot, Teschemaker, Flatman, M.H.R., Stumbles, Hill, and Evans. RAILAGE OF FROZEN MEAT. A communication from the Chamber of Commerce covered a draft of a petition to be forwarded to the Government, urging that the railage rates ou frozen meat over long distances should not be reduced, as this would be highly detrimental to the Timaru harbour and the ratepayers of the harbour district. It was suggested that ratepayers of the district should be asked to sign the petition, as they are aU interested in the risk of increased rates to make up loss of harbour revenue. After considerable discussion, Mr Talbot moved and Mr Evans seconded, and it was carried unanimously—“ That the recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce that a petition be forwarded to the Government asking that no reduction be made in the railage of frozen meat for long distances, be endorsed, and that the board forward a copy of the proposed petition to each of the governing bodies in the harbor district, with a request that each member sign the petition on behalf of their ratepayers, stating the rateable value and population of their respective districts.” CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read regarding the docking of the tug - dredge at Port Chalmers, the result being that the Timaru will be sent down for docking after the ship Invercargill has arrived and been berthed in the harbor. TEE RAILWAY RESERVE. The board’s solicitors wrote reporting the board’s defeat at the Appeal Court in the litigation with the Railway Commissioners. After discussing the facta from the board’s point of view they proposed that representations be made to the Government, and drafted a resolution, which was adopted, that the action of the Commissioners should not be endorsed by the Government, and that faith should be kept with the board in respect of tho original stipulations on several grounds set forth. An enquiry was received from the New Plymouth Harbor Board as to the charge for hiring the pump dredge for two or three months. —Reply to be sent that the dredge cannot be spared at present. THE SHINGLE QUESTION. The chairman read a letter from the Marine Department covering the report of the Royal Commission ou proposals to extend the harbor works. The result shortly was that the Commission could not approve, for reasons given on two previous occasions, of the board’s proposal, and that even if carried out it would not have the effect desired by users of the port. They had appealed to the Commissioners three times, and the same answer was always given. In the face of that the advocacy of an extention straight out might as well be dropped in the meantime. The chairman invited a resolution receiving the report, and after a pause Mr Teschemaker rose to speak about it. A long and animated debate followed. Mr Teschemaker hoped the board had now done with the extension from the bend, and would turn to some other way of checking the shingle, which he insisted had now reached a dangerous point—only 80 feet from the end of the straight. He was astonished to see so much apathy displayed about the danger to the port. The majority ought to make some uew proposal now, as the extension was refused. It was no use the minority making any proposal. Mr. Talbot bed expected the majority members to have some proposal as au alternative. They were elected to make that extension, and as they could not do so they were blocked altogether. If they had taken reasonable precautions, and got professional advice, this muddle would not have happened. He insisted that the shingle had now reached a positively dangerous point, and a simple storm might carry it round. The question of extension at the end was not of such immediate consequence as the checking of the shingle, but it was worth while to consider taking the preliminary steps to put the matter before the ratepayers. The chief thing now was to put themselves under professional guidance, and not run the risk of having the harbor ruined. Mr Evans did not attach much importance to a report by men who might be good railway engineers, but who knew nothing of Timaru harbour. However there was.no way of getting over the report; they could do nothing for want of funds, and the present was not a time to raise fnnds., He could not see the great danger which frightened the last two speakers, not for another year or two at all events, and before then they would have to go before the ratepayers agaiu. If they had money for an extension well and good, but the former board threw away £17,000 that might have been used for that purpose. Mr Stumbles said the late board would have been shifting shingle for tbe last three yerrs. (No. No.) There was three years’ work saved and so much benefit done to the works. They need not trouble about the shingle until it went found. With such powerful machinery as they had they could suck up tha whole year’s travel in a few days, and half of it would be carried past the entrauce and would not need lifting at all, just as it goes past tbe (inner) harbour at Napier. The wangle travels there and the dredge has never to be used; it all goes past the outrage- As for any other scheme all they waited was a hopper and not a £17,00Q machine, which is no good at all. Mr Jringle condemned the late board for wastefulness in many ways. He believed tbe shingle is going round all the timd, or where did the dredge get its load from the other day ? They should let it go round, and if that did not answer, if nature did not help them, as he believed she would, they could try some other way. Mr Flatman deprecated comparisons between one board and another, and between majorities and minorities. If there had beeu mistakes made they were errors of judgment made in all honesty. Mistakes had beeu made aud they should all try to rectify them. They should try some experiments with the boat and see what she could do and try other plans too. He did not agree with Mr Evans that the Commissioners’ opinions were not worth much, they were men who in all parts of the country were watching the same kind of works, and they must know more about it than all tbe board put together. Mr Manchester was astonished to hear members say that tho shingle would do no harm if it went roudd. They had all the best authorities saying that it must block up the harbor. He urged that the dredge should have a fair trial of tho kind of work she was designed for. They should try the machine and prove the übofulueM or uselessness, but in any case they must not trust their owu opinions on the subjet*. LLeit sitting.]