HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13524, 4 November 1911, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The Harbour Board held its usual monthly meeting last evening. Present —• Messrs J. B. Murray (chairman), N. Mou'.i, W. Ritchie, A. G. Bignell, W. J. Pols in, W. G. Bassett, J. C. Paterson, C. E. Mackay, T. B. Williams. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Juo. Jones. FINANCE.—The bank book showed the following balances:—General account, or., £3553 12s 4d; loan account, or. fixed deposits, £5000.' AGOOUNTS.—Accounts totalling £460 3s were passed for payment. General Business. FORESHORE LANDS.—-The Chairman reported that the special committee consisting of himself, Mr Bignell and the Engineer, had that morning inspected the foreshore laud between the railway and the river, near the soap works. It had formerly been the river bank, but there had been accretions, and there was now an area of about 20 acres; Two applications had been received, each offering £5 per year for the grazing rights, but the committee thought it was worth more.—lt was decided to refer the matter back to the committee for a further report. ASHTON’S LEASE.—The Board’s solicitors wrote that they had interviewed the solicitors to Mr Ashton and Mr Sanders, the latter pointing out that as Mr Sanders’ premises are on the present legalised road, the surrender and new lease as proproposed would hot improve his title. It was therefore suggested that an exchange of roads between the Board and the Tramway Board be carried out, and the portion acquired by the Harbour Board included in the block to be submitted for leate. Mr Sanders’ solicitor approved of this, hut Messrs Ashton arid Sanders would have to agree between themselves as to the value of the latter’s interest to he included in the amount with which the land is to be loaded.—Writing on the same matter, Mr Ashton’s solicitors said the above proposal would cause some delay, and they asked the Board to add to the value of improvements agreed upon the actual cost of any further improvements Mr Ashton might place upon the laud before it is offered for tender.—Resolved that no further action he taken, hut that the Board adhere to its previous decision. ' HOME AGENT.—Mr Geo. Anderson, of Wellington, England, forwarded copy of letter to the Harbours Association offer ing to act as agent in England for any Harbour Board in New Zealand desiring to make such- an appointment.—Received. PLAGUE.—The Health Department forwarded monthly bulletin for October, noti lying plague suppression operations in Auckland for last month, the only item being, “Rats examined, 462.”—Received. AVHARE.—Mr R. B. Springer applied for permission to erect a summer whare at Castlccliff.—Granted on the usual, conditions, subject to the Engineer’s approval. STAGE.—Mr W. K. Wilton applied for permission to erect a landing stage opposite Dublin Street.—Referred to the Engineer with power to a<!t; Pilot's Report. The pilot, reporting for November, stated, that soundings on the bar on the 3rd and 4th, had been given in last month’s report. On the 10th, equal to 19ft. at high springs and 16ft at high neaps had been found, the channel being much wider than usual, and oa v ly two casts giving as low as 19ft.- Heavy weather had prevented any souridings : since the 10th, out by appearances the recent fresh had not caused any shoaling. There had been no alterations in' the river soundings. Tlie approach to Castlecliff wharf gave 20ft, 6in. at high springs, and the berthage from 21ft. bin. to 14ft. 6in. at the top end. There was a strong current alongside the wharf which would no doubt cause a permanent scour, and keep the berthage clear from silt. 46 vessels crossed tlie bar during the month, eleven in the night.' The new Wigham lamps had been placed in position at the ends of the moles, and wore giving satisfaction. Engineer’s Report. Reporting for October, the Resident Engineer (Mr C. H. Howorth) stated as fol lows: —• , Quarry.—The output for the month was satisfactory, viz., 2565 tons. It will he necessary to know definitely what rubble will be required for the Taylorville River Bank protection, as we have now more nibble stripped than will complete onr own works, and it will be useless keeping the stripping gang on unless this or other work is to proceed. h.ortli Mole—r47(l tons 1 of rubble were deP°sited lor trimming up slopes and crown ot mole. I South M01e.—1295 tons of rubble were deposited in further extending the high water point, and generally trimming and finishing from the root seawards. ’ Dredging.—The dredgemaster reports having removed 4140 cubic yards of spoil from the cut below Landguard Bluff. This work would have been finished, but 14 d.iys work were lost through rough weatner and other causes. Weather permitting, tlie dredge will finish this week, and oa removed to dredge out the berthage at the town wharf. internal Training and Protective Wall. 7.',nil 8 wor , k oOlM pletcd to date amounts to -i.JUIt., and the cost, reckoning the rubble at 6s per ton, is 39s per lineal foot, my 60S ' Ilt will be remembered that Mr Holmes estimated this work at iL P 01 ’ Bnoal foot. This wall is now hav--1"A noticeable effect on the ebb run past the Castleenff wharf, and it mav safelj be assumed that the days of dredging o.ib the bondage are over. ° 1 a ’ Kl Cliannel.-Captaiu Mclntyre ..ounded the bar on the 10th of the month, a.fii obtained 19ft. at average high water widtlf of 1 a i ti "L entrauce the full width of the moles. There has not been an ov inff f ,nlty ° f i soundm g sifioe the 10th, 5i . PI T il Cll - P 0f rcu g b weather. The dit on !4f°f v ll I 8 U i ? satisfactory, conaition, 14ft. 3in. least depth below Tuid guard Bluff and 13ft. C bctwLn tlt training wall and south mole. ’ tlm a r,v! have examined , bauk between Bates Street and Bacnck and Co. s upper staging, and find thole would not be sufficient space for furF •dr!et tagl 5 g r. T lt,lout interfering with to be lrilv C f 0 ’ S sta " in ff- There Ippears he plenty of space further up river beLboSs «?••„"* *•« fcU. wi.a ™”..f ™diS‘. d B '“‘- ii “ „ n ° 3S ’ s Complaint.-This fc only one of tbe blockin i ot the f * a fiT©* Captain Pope has instruntious to keep the stage clear, but in the

absence of bye-laws those using the stage give a good deal of abuse, and in some cases defy his instructions. ■ The report was adopted. The matter of the supply of stone for Taylorville I’ivcr Hank protection was held over, owing to the delay that' would bo caused by the Wanganui East request for a Pioyal Commission on the matter. The matter of Mr Tail's application was left to the Engineer to arrange, subject to the usual conditions, and during the pleasure of the Hoard. Itegarding Boss’s complaint the Chair-man-pointed out that Captain Pope had power to order boats away that were blocking the approach, just as ho had power to direct vessels where to moor or tie up at the wharf,—lt was decided to instruct Captain Pope to see that there .was as .little obstruction at the landing stage as was possible. After a long discussion on the Empowering Bill, and future works, the Hoard adjourned till noon the next day to consider the matter of the working of the town wharf.