LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5681, 3 December 1883, Page 3

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Carrying out a promise made to the Pigeon Bay Road Board, the members of of the Harbor Improvement Committee visited Pigeon Bay on Friday last. The trip was made in the Board's tug steamer Lyttelton, and Mr C. W. Turner, the Chairman of the Board, availed himself of the occasion to display his well known spirit of hospitality by inviting the members of the Board to take their families and friends with them. The steamer left Lyttelton at about ten o'clock with a party numbering about 100, of whom more than one half were ladies. On arrival at Pigeon Bay the members of the Board landed, and were met by the members of the Road Board, who requested that a jetty should be provided alongside. After hearing the views of the Road Board members, it was agreed by the Harbor Improvement Committee to recommend to the Board the erection of a new jetty at a point immediately below the present wharf. It had been suggested to extend the eld wharf, but it was found that deeper water would be got by putting out a new jetty at the point just referred to, and the cost of the work would be about the same, probably less, than were the old jetty lengthened and repaired. A further request had been made by the Road Board, namely, that the Harbor Board would grant a site for a public library somewhere along the foreshore. Hearing the request, one of the members of the Harbor Board expressed his astonishment, as well he might, that the need of a small piece of land for such a purpose had not been supplied by some of the wealthy landed proprietors who live in Pigeon Bay, immediately such a want was made known.! Mr Turner, in his remarks to the Road Board members, incidentally hinted that some of themselves could have done so without incurring an appreciable loss, bnt as the request had been made it was promised to recommend to the Harbor Board the granting of the use of a piece of ground (site pointed out) for the library, subject, of course, to the usual condition that it is held for library purposes on sufferance, the Board having no power to give a freehold right. . I The business part of the programme j being over, the members returned to the Bteamer, on arriving at which the Chairman "summoned the brethren" to escort the ladies to refreshment. Quoting from Mr John Ollivier's eulogistic toast to "The Chairman of the Board," that

gentleman had ordered "k\ sumptuous repast," which, under the efficient management of the accomplished chef, Mr J. Buggey, was thoroughly enjoyed. The steamer was then headed for Holmes' Bay, where the party were landed, and where an hour's stroll over the picturesque estate of Mr Holmes was (by kind permission of the owner) gladly shared in. Re-embarking at about half-past four, the anchor was again weighed, and the steamer headed for Lyttelton, where she arrived at six o'clock. .