HARBOUR BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 184, 6 August 1890, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARD.

Messes M. Niccol (Chairman), C. C. McMillan, J. Savage, A. E. Devore, G. WinBtone, P. Dignan, C. B. Stone, A. H. Nathan, and W. Crowther were present yesterday afternoon ab the usual meeting of tbe Auckland Harbour Board. A considerable amounb of routine business was transacted. Ibwas decided to comply with the request of the Marino Deparbmenb that the Harbourmaster be appoinbed an officer bo supervise tho loading of deck cargoes by steamers leaving tbe porb; Mr C. Bailey's application for bhe ÜBe of portion of allotment adjoining tbe Hobson-street Wharf for shipbuilding purposes was referred to tbe Finance and Legal Committee for consideration. An application from Mr F. J. Pryor, for the use of tbe public room in the Board's offices, ab frequenb inbervals, for meetings of bhe Masters' and Engineers' Harbour and River Service Association, was declined, bhe Board being averse to the system of the rooms of tho office for publicTSneetings at nighb. Mrs A. Hansen wrote asking the Board whether they were willing to render her some assistance in view of the facb bhab her husband, J. Hansen, who had recently died, had. received injuries which evenbually proved fabal while in the service of the Board on the harbour dredge. He had been in the employ of the Board for ten years. The application was referred to the Finance and, LeAl Committee for consideration. The Works and Tariff Committee's reporb was adopted. Mr C. B. Stone's request for compensation for damage done bo tho ketch Elsio bya silbpiinb drifting down on ib was considered, and ib was resolved to inform the contractor for the towing of mud-punts that he was at. liberty to repair the kebch if he chose or else have ib done by the Harbour Board at hie expense. Tbe foreman of works submitted a report on routine work, which was adopbed. ■'__,'• Some discussion took.place on the question of tho alleged touching of bho French warship Duquesne on a shoal or rock in ■Rangitoto- Channel last year while leaving theporb. Harbour-roasterßurgesssubtmbced a report made by Pilob Sainby relative to the affair, stating tbab be piloted the ship out of porb in perfecb safeby, and thab she did not touch to the besb of his knowledge. Ib was sbated thab the tugboab Awhina, ab the time thab thealleged touching was supposed to have happened, was steering a course between the Duquesne and the black buoy marking a dangerous pabch in Rangitobo Channel, and ib was accordingly decided to obtain Captain CampbellV statement regarding his knowledge of .what occurred, to then forward this, with the reIports of tho Harbour-master and Pilot ISainty, to the Marine Department ab Wellington, -for the information of the_Home ;Board of Trade. The Chairman said that there were no hidden dangers of any description in Rangitoto Channel which were not tfuily marked on the charts. If the ship bad :_repbin bhe proper channel, as Rilot Sainty stated she did, she would have had ab least two fathoms of water under her keel at tb© ;time the accident was alleged to nave occurred. Ibwas quibe a feasible theory tbathe alleged unskilful "catting" of bhe anchor would have caused the shock to tho Bhip similar to that which touching on a _boal or rocky patch would occasion. ■■ Mr M. Niccol, chairman, moved : " That the Works and • Tariff Committee be wrtructed to reporb as to tbe necessity for providing a boat harbour for the protection pi email boats," The proposal wtw highly

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