HARBOUR BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 27 March 1926, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. Tito animal mooli;!!! oi tlio Timaru Harbour '.Hoard was lu-ld yesterday. Present—Mr AA\ Il.iymm (ch.-iii-ma'D, J. 0. Bilehener, ALP., F. 11. Flatman, H. F. Ctunpitoll, (1. T. Dawson, K. 11. Isaacs, J. G. Walaoa. AV. T. Rit.ohie, J. Kennedy, T. B. Garrick and A. 11. Guild. CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT. Tlio oliairman said that tlio orodjt balance at last mooting was £(>l6' is 2d, receipts ,since amountc;d to £331 I 7s 8d and expenses to £2450 12s 6d, leaving-a credit balance of £1971 2s4d, against a credit balance for the same period last year of £605 5s Id.

AN APOLOGY. Mr Garrick said be? wished to clear up a 'misunderstanding arising Iron; a statement ‘ made 'by him at the last meeting concerning Holmes and Sons, the engineers engaged 1o report on harbour improvement ■■•iiernes. Mo bad stated that Holmes and Son were civil engineers, - and that, the Board should have employed Marine oi gincers to report ou work of chat kuid. lie afterwards found that the designation civil engineers also covered ei.g-neers doing marine work such as Messrs Holmes and Son. He had no intention of reiloeting in any way upon the professional capacity ol lint (ii;m, and it would be a matter of great regret to him if the impression was c reated by that remark that lie was attacking the ability «f those engineers. Mr Bitcheiior send that at Hie time he also was under a wrong impression regarding the term marine engineers. He felt sure, however, that what was in Afr Garrick’s mind was the qiustion as to whether the Board had obtained the correct type ■of engineer for Hie nature of the work involved. He felt that Mr Garrick was not making or intending any reflection upon Hie qualification or standing of Messrs Holmes and Sons as engineers. Mr Flatman said that it only showed how careful they should he in their utterances at the Board table, and the necessity of talcing certain business in committee. He felt sure himself that Mr Garrick had not meant to east any reflection upon 'he professional ability of Messrs Holmes and Son, br.t was merely under a misapprehension regarding the question of civil and marine engineering. COB 1? I’.S PON D K XCE. The secretary of the Timaru Waterside Workers’ 'Union wYote requesting bettcu" facilities for providing drinking water on the wharves. Air Isaacs said that the cost would not he very great, and it would certainly be a great convenience. It was resolved that the request be granted. Permission was .granted. J. Mill and Cov,, Ltd. to sub-let' a portion of their 'No. 1 store to the Colonial Motor Coy. The Minister of Murine wrote acknowledging receipt "of by-laws of the. Timaru Harbour Board. He advised ■ that liy-laws..2B', OS, -72,"r 1)0; and 119 had been excluded from the acknowlodgmq," t. In regard to-Bv-law 28 the Minister pointed out that the Board proposed to regulate itself .rit of liability lor the acts or omissions of' it's -Servants;, whether negligent or otherwise. He stated that a some-what-similar by-law was submitted by one of the Boards last year, and as it appeared unreasonable, was, on the advice of Hie Crown Lair Office, not allowed. Under the circumstances acknowledgment could not be given. A similar position also existed in respect of By-laws 68, 72, 92 and JI9, ( and for the same reason these were also not acknowledged, Regarding Bylaw No. 32, it was in certain respects ultra vires of the Harbours Act, in Unit, although Section 226 authorised Hie Board to make by-laws regulating the use of landing places, sub-section 12 did not authorise the Board to fixdues .for tlio use of landing places appointed by the Board. He did not propose excluding acknowledgment of that by-law, but. the Board must at the first favourable opportunity, ro-

peal the words “or landing places,’’ and also the other by-laws mentioned above. , .. .- It- was resolved that the. Minister's rcoiicst be complied with. ■The.'Marine Department forwarded plaits, of suitable ambulance .Stretchers approved by the Department for use by Harbour Boards. ‘ The chairman said that stretchers had already been installed. Messrs Holmes and Son forwarded newson per dipping from the “Evening Post,” which they stated was the only intimation of the Board's action they had received regarding their report. Mr Holmes, senior, had asked Hie chairman whether their work ‘ would be placed before n Royal Coml mission or not, and was told that it | would , he. They asked the Board’s engineer the same question, and lie ; had stated that it .was the .Board’s ■intention to place' the work'before, a: Royal Commission, receiving than, assurance before proceeding with the work. That being the only intimation they had received they would ‘he pleased to know, the-'reason for the change.- - , Tlio-seoretarv stated . that Holmes and Son were advised by letter that it had been resolved that the scheme as

submiHed by them would he held in abeyance in the meantime. Appareid'v both letters bad crossed. The chairman said that he gave no promise that the report would be placed before the Royal Commission, and their engineer had also denied giving any .such assurance. The letter was received. J!KSI DENT ENGINEER’S REPORT. Dredging operations were carried on until tin- 9lh June, when the dredge was disabled by the ladder buckling badly about mid-wa.v whilst dredging m the outside channel. No further work could be done until the ladder was •repaired, and alter Hue consideration it was decided to proceed to Port Chalmers for that pui-po.se. The ladder, weighing about 3U tons, was lifted out of the dredge,, and was thoroughly repaired and stillcncd with heavier plating at the fractured portion. The total cost of the dredging operations, Clew's wages and hoard allowance (£835 IDs Id) was £1992 17s Id. The total cost of the dredging operations lor the year, including work at Oamaru, repairs to ladder and docking and overhaul, was £15,221 Is Id. The hire of the dredge to Oamaru realised £5973 11s 3d, so that the actual cost to the Board lor the year was £9247 lls 3d. The usual Government and Lloyd’s certificates for the survey of No. 350 were obtained. The pricstman dredge Taniwha was slipped on the 22nd January for overhaul-and repairs, and after this was completed, the usual certificate was issued ny the Inspector of Machinery, and the vessel was unslipped" on the J7lh February. After sundry jobs, dredging at No. 1 Slipway was commenced on the 2nd March, and completed on the 2nd June. Soon after commencing work, trouble developed with the friction gear, and it was necessary to put in a now friction roller and a large friction wheel, and then tho plant worked satisfactorily. The total quantity of shingle removed was 11,560 tons. The total cost, including slipping, overhaul and extensive repairs to the friction gear, was £683 12s 2d; this works out at Is 3d per ton for Hie above quantity dredged during the year. During the year some repairs were made to the middle track of the staging to make it serviceable for running ' out stone. Several of the piles were defective, and settled down with the loaded train of tmeks. These piles were afterwards jacked up and strutted on lo the stonework, and the road is now quite secure. The 10-ton crane was ro-< rectoci and repaired, and is now in first-class order. One, of the locomotives was also put m running order, and this plant lias been used for lifting the 'larger stones at the root of the mole that are not now required, and thttc were used to make good some displacements, principally at the curve, which suffers most, from the heavy seas. Up to tlio end of the vca.- about 2232 tons have been deposited as indicated No. 3 MlnuT has been extended 50 feet, making tile iotal length overall 34-1 feet. The south side now provides berthing accommodation for vessels up to 530 ; feet. The total east of this work Including all materials and labour, and removal of jjoi-fion of the existing work, was £3123 10s 2d Next year if is proposed to renew about 90 leet of No. 1. WUauf. and reduce four piles in another portion that were accidentally damaged hv a vessel when berthing. Section 34a, with •an area of la lr 32p, at the corner of Fraser and Wharf Streets, was leased during the vear to the British Imlinperial Oil Co.. Ltd., for the purpose of hulk storage of petrol;- etc. The leasing of this .site necessitates the removal of the railway line that connects with Hie, Eastern Extension Alole,and this will now be located further seaward on the beach, and the work will be put' in hand early in the new sear.

A' complete i(.sound of the liarbon: the results submitted to the Board in jperial Oil Co., Ltd., for the purpose and roadstead was made in March, ami a’." special report. Hie data obtained shows that the variations in the -h-pths are mueh the came. is previously recorded in Hie periodical soundings, and that the normal rate of shoabug in the Bay and under the lee of Hio Eastern Extension continues, and that .all oilier depths are well niaritained. The channel carries from 25 to 26 feet at low water spring tides, from the HUner' basin to the puter end abreast of flic Extension- in addition to the usual routine work on the wharves, caps* tins, lighting. sidings, 'etc, the following minor works have b.-en rank'd mil -Removal and e rection of No. f bicvele shed Irom section 34a repairing and painting grading store, ..level crossing to Vacuum Oi. .Store, 'small repairs to North Mole, removing old icckct short furtluT sc*iv.ard, - and a new pipe oriving gontix constructed. Certificates tor five steam toilers in use, alslr- six electric capstans, have., been issued by The f<ov- < rumen t 'lnspector. , In conclusion, I desire to say Unit the years operations have- been carried on smoothly. anti various duties have been laithfully carried out by the staff.

HARBOURMASTER'S REPORT. The harbourmaster, Captain McRougall, reported tliat the arrivals during the month of February wore 3o slvain vessels, with an aggregate of 51,915 -toils, and departures, 3- steam Vessels; '.with ail. aggregate ot 41,<4H tons. The weather since last reporting bad boon fine throughout. The usual soundings.had boon taken and entered in the' 1 '.soundings book. GENERAL. A report of the harbourmaster on harbour improvements was received, and hold over for further discussion.

ANNUAL REPORT. The chairman's report stated that-the I year coinmeiieed wmi a uvuit tiuau'c in the Genera. Account of £6,700 4s 7d. and tile ordinary revenae eo lected timing the year totalled £51,910 12s 2d, n.-ompi ismg general receipts slUi.fclH -iId Idle of drerltre .'“No. 85(1” lo Oamarr Harbour .Board £5973 11s 3d, and Harbour rate .100,135 RB U)d). Hie total receipts lie ng in excess ot the estimated revenue. ’I b 0 total expenditure during the twelve months just closed amounted to £53,660 lis 8d and included the balance of the docking charges and retention money on timber contract carried ' over from the year 192-1. Tile general account y‘ e vear with a credit b.dame of £< .M l LB Id which would have been exhausted had al, the recent docking accounts been paid, and the charter with the Ouiiaru 11m boar Board lor the hire oi Dredge “No 350” not eventuated. An unforeseen heavy expenditure ; dpi.lv thrust upon the Board tlmmgli the 'fracturing of the Dredge •■ J>350” ladder, necessitating special dot Icing and repairs at Port Clnilinors. 11 e lh.ar.l decided to ngam reduce the Ha - hour rate to id m the pound u on c rateable value in order to case tlu, The tonnage of shipping visiting the port .luring the year just ended uas .•503.600 tons net register, being a shg - roduct'ou of "28.001 tons on the l»eviOPS ."ear’s record. The total cargo liaiidicd at the P«» t amounted to lib.. 335 tons, being 3.500 tons in excess o the ic ovious year. The mmort s lolidled 73 510 tons, compared with 83,083 tons IV,,’ til" vear 19:M ; Idle dillerence being accoiinte'l for by giva.ly reduced qua,.Utics of reruns. namely übeat and on Is imported. The exports, on the other hand, showed a marked increase, 11,0 figures being 72.825 tons lor yea. 1925, and 59.752 tons for year IJ-1. Tho export of potatoes (.instituted a record, the nuniher ol sacks shippe being 1-18.323 as compared with t he previous record 108.587 sacks held by the vear 1917. Butter also made a veronL being 19.050 boxes as agarnst 18 521 boxes exported during Hie (>uvim.r, year. Tho value ofUbe trade ..I

the port recorded by the. Customs Depart inept, was £3,J95,988, a record, hut in order to arrive at the total value, tho coastal trade equalling about .C/50,000 must he added ; and this gives a gross value of about £-l,000,(X)0. . I Tlio amount; standing to the credit ot Hie Hoard’s Sinlorm Fund at the end of 1924 totalled £42,231 IDs 10d, and Ulis lias been tm"tl»'r ."creased daring Urn Year by 5919 14s 6d, comprising 92,59!) J.4s 6d ior interest earned upon Tlio investments and £3.329, the Board’s annual Contribution. Hie mtal investments now lied on hehsil. of the Sinking Fund arc £48,T0l os 4d. The accident insurance chums have been fairly mimerou." during, the year and amounted to £IOO IB 3d, but no Haims of a serious nature have occurred. The dredge ’’No- dso’’ wo.kml continuously up to June, when she went to Port Chalmers for repairs to bel ladder She was then chartered to the . Oamaru Harbour Boa.-xl and arm d back in Timaru on December -JIn order to encourage tho i..®tnllation of oil storage, in bulk, at the pmt, the Board derided that special provision bo made so that oil fuel and petrol*mm landed in bulk be charged at one slid - ing and sixpence (Is Gd) per ton. and when exported ninepenco pel ton. was anticipated that the reduced t’haige would bo taken advantage of oy the large oil companies in the very ne a * future. The variou > leases expinig during the year 1925 were duly sl ' - miffed to public, auction, and in eacn instance, the old lessees were the suecessful bidders, at the upset [ ellt f!.f.- N ™ hv the Board, namely twenty shilhnp per foot frontage. The new rentals would moan a considernb.e increased iovoniie to the Board. The Government Officers having agreed, to the defining o , an oil area at the north-east end ot , Fraser Street, the Board mbmitted Section No. 34a to public tender for the storage and packing of oil fuel an petroleum in bulk, with perpetual right of renewal, save as to rental, and Hie British Imperial Oil Co.. (N.Z.) Ltd. i wore the successful tenderers, at a rental of £SOO per annum,, Further applications have leen received concerning sections of land, and there was every indication that other sites would be taken up in the coming year. the Vacuum Oil Co.. Proptv. Ltd., havo erected an imposing and substantial brick addition to- their premises in Haves Street in readiness to cope with their ever expandng oi! trade. In comolinline with the request from the lessees in Haves and Fraser Streets, the Board decided to give a guarantee that should the Railway Department at any tune refuse or neglect to work the railway sidings in Hayes and Fraser Streets, it would immediately take over and work the sidings until the expiry of the leases then granted. ' As promised in the previous year, the Minister of Marine went into the question of the revival of the Royal Commission which was appointed in connection with the proposed harbour improvement scheme, and the Minister finally advised that the Royal Commission would be revived providing the Board were prepared to pay the stipulated fees, and this was agreed to. After wing further into the appointment, the Minister of Murine notified the Boaid that owing to a legal difficulty, the Royal Commission could not be reappointed, and if it could be revived.and elaborate a scheme at less co't, such new scheme "-.mt'd renuii'e to be maned before a further Royal Commission, for it was impossib'c lor the present Commission to devi'-e a scheme and report upon it Tile Board it its meeting on Mir-li 27 last decided that Tl>e ei><U»e- • efd forming the late Royal Commission be approached in order to ascertain what fees would lo chargeable, by the engineers, for formulating and submitting to the Board the scheme they had in 'their minds. Tlio Board’s action proved abortive, for the engineers declined to act further in the matter. In order to obtain further evidence, other avenues were tried, and eventually it was decided to invite Air It. AY. Holmes. Civil Engineer, of AVellington, to visit Timaru to collaborate with the Board’s Resident Engineer, for the purpose of, if pos'ib’o. devising a scheme that w-s most- suitable for tho improving -of Timaru Harbour, Air B. AY. Holmes lind •'ol'octed all the necessary data, and his report had been considered by the Board and held in abeyance.