LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5679, 30 November 1883, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board was held at 2.30 p:m. yesterday. Present — Messrs C. W. Turner (Chairman), W. White, junr., Owen Jones, Wright, Dixon, H. Allwright, S. K. Webb, Hon. J. T. Peacock, and Hon. E.Tiiehardson. Leave of absence was granted to Mr C. R. Blakiston. The Chairman said:— Since our last meeting the following sums have been received :— On account wharf dues ... £2151 11 ~ towage services and sundries 218 12 0 Rent of grain shed 500 0 0 .£2870 3 3 ! The balance at credit of our current account is £3887 10s lOd, with a further sum of .£30,000 on fixed deposit. Mr Bell has unfortunately been detained among the ranges, and will not therefore submit any report to-day. I am, however, informed that all the works in hanl are pro gressing favorably. The contractor for the patent slip has far exceeded the contract time, but the work, although very slowly done, is being faithfully carried out by him. The road to the Lyttelton bathing" place is being constructed by day labor. Messrs 'Stinson and Thompson's tender (£4460 9s lid) for the road and breastwork at Peacock's Wharf was accepted by the Committee appointed to open tenders. The contractors have already commenced their work. The tenders for the ocean steamers' wharf and shed respectively have been accepted; the time to run from a date hereafter to be named in writing by the Engineer, but as one vessel has already arrived with timber, and others were said to be loading at Newcastle, the pile driving will, probably, be commenced at an early date. The Harbor Improvement Committee's Report No. 31 will be laid befere you. The temporary installation of the electric light is being pushed forward, and in a short time the whole eight lights will be in position. The Sailors' Home Committee have furnished the building, and the institution will be open, on and after the Ist December, to seamen aud other workmen who may be engaged in Lyttelton. Captain Owen, of Lyttelton, has been appointed superintendent by the Committee. Accounts amounting to £2743 4s 4d will be laid before you for payment. Draft leases of sections on the reclaimed land—This document has now been received from the solicitors, and will be considered by the Harbor Improvement Committee at its next meeting, which I propose to convene for Thursday, 20th December, at 11 a.m. The report of the Harbor Improvement Committee was as follows: — The Engineer's plans for the Sumner jetty and landing stage have been considered and approved. The Committee recommend that they be forwarded to Wellington for official approval, and that meanwhile tenders be invited for the works in one contract. The Committee authorised the Engineer to make, by day labor, a passenger landing stage near the Heathcote Bridge. The Committee decided to visit Pigeon Bay and Port Levy, Purau and Charteris Bay, on Friday, 30th November, with a view to wharf extension, and have notified the Chairmen of the Road Boards to that effect. The barque Wentworth is now discharging timber for the first portion of Mr Ellis* contract for the ocean [ steamer jetty and shed, and other vessels are shortly to follow from Newcastle. The Committee having examined the chart of soundings recently prepared, and having heard the Harbor Master in explanation thereof, decided that the dredge should work whenever the weather permitted in improving the channel immediately beyond the Breakwater to an uniform depth of 20 feet, and thereafter remove the present inequalities within the moles, as shown on the plan. The Committee think that these works could be finished within nine or twelve mouths, and they therefore suggest that authority be given to negotiate with the Auckland Harbor Board, or other likely purchasers, for the sale of the whole of our dredging [plant, to be delivered on the completion of the work now ordered. The Committee approved of a letter being addressed to Captain Jenkins, of Sydney, asking that gentleman to obtain for the Board—model, plans, and specification of the pilot boat approved of by the Marine Board there for use at Sydney heads. The Bailway Department asked instructions how to deal with an application for remission of rates levied in respect of 11,595 sacks wheat, delivered on the wharves alongside the export ships, but then ordered back into sheds owing to the damaged condition of the grain. After consideration the Committee decided that the wharves had been used —perhaps to a greater extent than if the grain had actually been shipped—and that therefore the railway authorities must levy in terms of the by-law relating thereto. The Committee approved of the suggestions of the Engineer to remove and re-erect the present boat stage and sheds in Dampier's Bay, at the first angle beyond the low level timber breastwork. The Committee recommend that tenders be invited for the same. The clauses of the report were considered seriatim. Clauses 1, 2, and 3 were passed without discussion. On clause 4, the Chairman called attention to the chart of soundings prepared by the Engineer. After some discussion the clause passed as printed, and the remainder of the report was then adopted. Accounts to tho amount of £2743 4s 4d were passed for payment. An account of .£lO9 lis 4d from the legal adviser of the Board, including counsel's fee in Ware and Jones v Harbor Board, was laid before the Board by the Finance Committee for their consideration. After some discussion it was resolved to submit the account to taxation. Mr Alt.wright called attention to the great delay which had occurred in putting the sites for stores, &c, in the market for leasing. Ths Chairman said that had the Board tried to put these sites on the market during the period of depression which had existed the Board would not have been able to get anything like the price for them that they would now. The Chairman read a letter from the Government, stating that whilst the Government would be prepared to bear the cost of providing railway facilities for connecting the wharves with the railway system, they would not bear the cost of the sidings to stores and sites from which the Board derived a revenue. These would be treated on the same system as private sidings. It was resolved that the letter be referred to the Harbor Improvement Co*nmittee. The action of the Harbor Improvement Committee in accepting the tender of, Messi_ Stinson and Thompson, £4460 9s

lid for constructing the road to the breastwork at Peacock's wharf was approved. Mr Wright asked the question what wat the meaning of the words " sailors and others " used by the Chairman in conneclioa with the Sailors' Home. The Chairman said that when the Home was not occupied by sailors, others working in the Port would be allowed to participate in the benefits derivable from the institution. Mr Wright said he took it then that the institution would be a kind of common lodging-house. Mr Allwright objected to the institution being made use of by every one who might come along. The Home was intended for the use of sailors, and not every one who might hire a room there. He also wished to know who was responsible for the rules which|had been framed and were before them. The Chairman said that the rules were passed at a meeting of the Committee held on the 26th ult., at which Mr Allwright wa3 present. They were discussed item by item. Mr Allwright —Then I must have been asleep. | Laughter.] Mr Wright said he would move that the words "and others" should be struck out. The onus would then rest on tie Committee to admit any one who might apply, whether a seaman or not. Mr Allwright called attention to the standing orders, and submitted that Mr Wright's motion could net be put. The Chairman said he would withdraw the rules now before the Board. There were certain seasons of the year when the Home would not be required for seamen. Then it was thought that those engaged on the wharves, &c, might be allowed to have the benefit of the institution. This would also have the effect of rendering the Home self-supporting. Of course it would be left to the discretion of the Superintendent. Mr Dixon agreed with the Chairman that they should make it popular as well as profitable. The matter then dropped. Mr Owen Jones brought under the notice of the Board that the new issue of the Admiralty chart of Lyttelton Harbor under date of April, 1883, gave the length of the dock as 400 ft, instead of 450 ft This appearing in the authorised chart of i the Admiralty was a serious matter. The Chairman said means would be taken to correct what was evidently a misprint. j The Board then adjourned to meet at Christchurch on December 27th, at 2.30 '■ p.m. i