HARBOUR BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 247, 20 October 1886, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD.

Thb usual meeting of the Hnrbour Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present : Messrs Goldie (chairman), Henderson, Lamb, Owen, Winks, and Nicool.

Correspondence.—The letters received were ri ad and dealt with as follows :— From L. Wilson, of Marine Department, Wellington, asking the following questions :-The distance apart of ths two red lights on the Railway Wharf; the horizontal and vertical distances apart of the three lights on the eastern extremity of the Queen's Wharf; the miles seen in clear weather of those lights, also their height above high-water mark and above their respective wharves ; and the date on which the Queen's Wharf light was first lit : Resolved that the requisite information be for (carded. The usual notices to mariners were also received from the Marine Department, Port Adelaide. — From the Marine Department, Wellington, forwarding Captain Fairchild's reply to the charges preferred against him by the Harbour Master re berthing of the Hinemoa at tho Railway Whnrf, This was to the effect that the berth pointed out by Capt. Burgess for the Hinemoa was one that nearly dries at low water. That he did not cause the removal of any boats from the end of the wharf. That he did not ask for any particular berth. That he had not insulted either Captain Burgess or Fishor, uni the statements that he had done co were therefnre false. Mr T. Keale, chief officer of the Hinemoa.also wrote corroborating this statement : Resolved that the letter be received. —From the Postmaster-General.stating that tho reef at Point Resolution, Judge's Bay, was not suitable for a fumigating nouso for the mails, as the nocoseary cost would bo £1,000. He, therefore, asked the Harbour Board to again consider the matter : Referred to Works and Tariff Committ-ie — From John Darling, relative to the delay in shipping tho machinory for tho dock, stating that he had done his best to obtain a reduction in tho tariff of pricos, and stating that lie would havo everything despatched ea ly in Novembor: Lottsr relorrod to tho Works and Tariff Committee, with power to act.— From tho employees on the dredge, praying for an advanca of waees : Consideration deferred until the Engineer's report came up for discussion. — From Messrs Jickell and Co., drawing attention to the fact that work was boing eont to othor firms which thoy considered was covored by their oontract. A memorandum was read from tho Enginoor, stating that ho did not know of any iron work that had been done by othor firms than Messrs Jickell and Co.'c : Referred to Works and Tariffs Committee.— From James B. Blakie, drawing attention to liia patent fireproof plaster, and asking permission to erect a small shed on the railway reclamation, which, when plastered, he proposed to invite some of the leading citizona to set on fire, in order to show, by actual test, the fire-resisting qualities of the plaster : Resolved that the application be granted.—From K. B. Hunt, manager of the Kamo Coal Co , H. Giltillan, junr., socrotary of tho Bay of Islands Coal Co., and E. James, secretary of the Whangnrei Coal Co., praying tho Board to reduce the wharfage on tho coal coming from Whangaroi and the Bay of Islands : Referred to tho Works and Tariff Committee. —From W. Errington, roporting that the works at Calliope Dock woro KL'nK on satisfactorily: Letter received. — From Edward T. Cox, applying for a towage license for the h.k. Huia: Application granted subject to tho approval of the Harbour Master.— From R. R. Hunt, otl'ering to soil the Board two barges suitable for eilt punts. Thoy carry l">0 toti.s of coal, and cost £700 each, Thoy were, however, willing to sell them at £'250 eaoh : Roforred to the Works and Tariff Committee to report ; Harbour Maetor to inspect and report.—From John Williams, ueking for pome consideration at tho hands of the Board on account of the injuries he had received in tho sorvifo of the Board : Recolved that the writer bo informed that at present tho Board havo no suitable emp'oyment for him

Hol-RS OK WOKK ON THE WIIAKF. —Mr Lamb etatod that several complaints had beo:i rocoivcd by fho Chamber of Commerce from owners and charterers of vessels about tho delay occasioned by tho employed on tho wharf not working at eight o'clock oil tho year round, and alfo the exco'nive chargo* raado for overtime, lie had com municated with tho Government upon the matter, and had received a reply to the effect that tho principal fault lay with the Harbour Board. This ho could prove was not tho caso. The true cape was thnt tho merchants would not take delivery of goods as they wore landed. He wifhed tho Board to consider the matter.— Mr.l. M. Clark paid that he mupt admit they wore behind their neighbours in affording facility to tho di.uohargo of good*. Certainly tho merchant was somewhat to blnmo, but ho thought that tho Board should become their own receivers.—Mr Kicool thought that Mr Lamb had brought hie griovanco to tho wrong plnco ; it should have gone before the Chamber of Commorce.—After somo desultory discussion, tho question was dropped. Works ani> Tariff Committek.— Tho report of tho Works and Tariff Committee was rood. It recommended as follows : — That Messrß Fraser and Son's tander for repairing thecaisson of the Auckland 3raving Doc's be accepted, and tho work proceeded with. That the approach to Victoria Wharf bo dredged when the dredging of tho inner borth at Quoon-stroot Wharf is completed. —Re petition of settlers of Birkenwood, between Lucas and Hellier's Creeks, pray ing that a wharf might be provided : That whilst the Committee aro favourable to providißg wharf accommodation, yet tho Harbour-master having reported as to the probable cost of wharf at position indicated, and as Buch cost is prohibitive, tho Committee recommend that a copy of such report be sent to petitioners, with a request that they will submit other proposals that may cuit the circumstances of the c»pg. That the Engineer be requested to ieport as to rate of wage? paid to men engaged on the dredger. Tho report of the Works and Tariff Committee was adopted as read, with tho exception that the clause referring to tho Bale of the pilot shed was altered thnt the shed be leased for 12 months. The report of the Finance and Legal Committee was nlso read and adopted.

Re Pilot Service. — The Committee recemraendea thatthe pilot schooner, sails, ballast, gear, &c, be sold by public auction. That the boats and davits now on board the pilot schooner, and boats and gear in ehed be sold separa'ely, by auction. That the shed be sold by auction for removal That the suggestion of Messrs R. and R. Tuder with regard to the rental of bouse on pilot station be adopted until the end of tho year, and the property be then leased. The Finance and Legal Committee's report recommended that a legal opinion be taken as to the powor of the Board to cancel or compel the return of pilot licenses granted to Messrs Sainty and Cooper. That one month's rent free occupation of tho pilot house be allowed Captain Cooper. That the consideration of the question of riparian rights in Freeman's Bay be deferred, ponding further information being obtained, ThattheSecrdtaryand Engineer confer and accept, euch offer for wharf piles as may be required. That the further consideration of Engineer1* plans for Quaystreet jetty No. 2 be deferred until the requisite piles are to hand. A legal opinion of Messrs Bueeell and Campbell as to the powors of the Board to cancel pilots' licenses was read. It was to the effect that the Board should publicly notify that these were not authorised pilots. — Mr Clark suggested that the pilots referred to shall be requested to return thoir licenses.—Mr Niccol was in favour of allowing these men Btill to serve as pilots. It was not advisable to create a monopoly for the present contractor, Mr Compton. He would suggest that they should be allowed to practise, being supplied with time service certificates. —It was accordingly resolved that Captains Sainty and Cooper be requested to surrender their pilot licenses, and that in lieu thereof they bo supplied with time-service certificates.

Shkd Attendance.—A letter was read from the storekeeper, Btating that some extra attention should be paid to the opening and locking up of tho eheds on the Queen-street Wharf.—Mr Lamb said that this was a matter that needed great attention at present. The sheds must b,o locked by 4 p.m., whereas they were wanted up till 5 o'clock and after —The report was referred to the Works aud Tariff Committee to report. Harbour Works. — A report was read from the Engineer, suggesting that a bonus of £5 should be paid iorevery month that the dredge lifts and carries forty full loads out to sea, and a bonus of 35s for every load beyond that; the bonus to be divided equally. — This suggestion was adopted. The remainder of the report dealt with mertly harbour works.

Tendees for Hgbson-street Wharf.— The following tenders were received for this work, section 1, east side :—Edgar & Hogg. £7,627 6s 2d ; Alexander Sutherland, £5,979 10s 3d j Lovett & White, £5,999 16s 3d; John Cleal & Sons, £6,489 ; Jacob Gardiner, £6,245 ; W. & G. Winstone, £6,194 ; Wil Ham Oughoy, £6,813 15s 8d; the Engineer's estimate was £7,022. The tender of

Mr Alexander Sutherland for £5,979 10s 3d was accepted. SHOAL Bay CHAtTSEfc.- Mr Mays moved, and Mr Clark seconded," That the Enginenr be instructed to report at next meeting of the Board the practicability and cost of dredging a channel in Sho.il Bay to enablo steamers of light draught to ply between Auckland and Barry's Wharf." This was adopted. . Ferry Waiting Room. —Mr Niccol moved,and Mr Lamb seconded, " That the ferry waiting room be placed under the charpe of the night watchman, and that he be instructed to keep it open and lighted up till midnight, the Devonport Ferry Co. paying the cost of such lighting." This was adopted,