LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD

Press, Issue XLI, 25 February 1885, Page 5

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD

The first meeting of the newly-elected Harbor Board was held at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. Present—Hon. E. Richardson, Messrs C. W. Turner, W. White, E. G. Wright, B. Allan, McClatchie, R. Westenra, F. Graham, H. Allwright, and the Mayor of Lyttelton. The Secretary read the result of the elections of members. Mr C. W. Tubneb proposed that Mr E. G. Wright be elected a3 chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. Mr Wright had been a member of the Board for many years, and it was not necessary for him to speak further of the services rendered by him to the Board in that capacity. u Hon. E. Richardson seconded the motion, and felt sure that Mr Wright could fulfil the duties of the office as ably as those who had preceded him. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Wright thanked the members for the honour done him. Though no great works were likely to be carried out for some time to come, the Board would still have the important work of fostering the trade of the port of Lyttelton. He hoped that their work in the future would be marked by the same success as that which had attended their operations in the past. Apologies were received from Hon. J. T. Peacock and Mr C. B. Blakiston. A letter was read from Mr C. N. Bell, stating that he hoped to be in Christchurch before the next meeting. He had been detained in Westland longer than he anticipated. Mr Allan moved—" That a cordial vote of thanks be recorded to the Hon. J. T. Peacock for his services as Chairman of the Board." It was not necessary that he should say much in moving this motion, except to point out that the Hon. J. T. Peacock had been for some thirty years identified with the port of Lyttelton, and that it was a matter for congratulation that he should have occupied the position of Chairman of the Board. £Hear, hear.] Mr Allwright seconded the motion, which was carried. The Chairman made his usual statement. The sum of £2086 4s 9d had been paid in to the account of the Board since last meeting. An application by the Government, for a temporary site to mount one of the sixty-four pounder guns near Officer's Point, had been consented, to by the Chairman. The Committee appointed to obtain more suitable offices, recommended the taking of those offered by~ the New Zealand Insurance Company in Cathedral square. The Chairman nhad authorised the erection of the shed on the Port Levy Jetty by day labor, as it was greatly needed during the grass seed season. The following tenders had been accepted, viz.—Mr Pope, for ordinary wrought iron work; Messrs Scott Bros., for boiler work and castings, and Mr Forbes, for stores. A third letter had been written to the Government with reference to a lifeboat for Akaroa, and the ocean currents off Banks' Peninsula, but no reply had yet been received. It had been found necessary to dock the tug, but she would be ready for work on Thursday next. An application had been made for the use of the tug for the Orphanage children's picnic, and Mr Peacock had been spoken to about allowing the tug to take the Timaru excursionists round the harbor free of charge, as was done at Timaru. The following gentlemen were elected as the Harbor Improvement Committee, via.— Hons. J. T. Peacock and E. Richardson, Messrs MoClatchie, Allan, C. W. Turner, Allwright, W. White, with the Chairman em officio. The Finance Committee was elected as follows:—Messrs C. B. Blakiston, A. Chalmers, F. Graham, W. B. Tosswill, C. W. Turner, B. Westenra and the Chairman c* officio. The Sailors' Home Committee was constituted as under:—Hon. J. T. Peacock, Messrs McClatchie, B. Weßtenra, C. W. Turner, H. Allwright and the Chairman ex officio. Accounts to the amount of £1246 63 Id were passed for payment. Tenders were opened for the erection of the shed on the reclaimed land, and that of Messrs Stinson and Thompson for £1482 la 2d was accepted. A letter was read from exporters of cocksfoot, asking that the Board would place the private sheds on the same footing as the railway sheds, by charging a full rate of wharfage on seed, and then when shipped that the half charge should be made. The matter had been referred to the Traffic Manager of the Railways, who had no objection. It was agreed that private stores should be placed on the same footing as the railway with reference to cocksfoot The action of the Chairman in granting a site for the sixty-four pounder gun at Officers' Point was approved. The recommendation of the Committee appointed to obtain other offices for the use of the Harbor Board, that offices be taken in the building of the New Zealand Insurance Company, was agreed to. It was also agreed to connect the new offices with the telephone exchange. The granting of the use of the tug to the Government to take the Timaru excursionists round the harbor was opposed by Mr Allwright, who thought it was unduly interfering with private enterprise, but it was pointed out that there would be a larger number of persons than the tug could accommodate, bo that the vessels belonging to private individuals would have a chance of doing business. Mr Westenba moved —''That the request be granted," and pointed out that it was only a fair return for the courtesy extended to the Christchurch people by the residents of Timaru. Mr Tubnib seconded the and pointed out that the tug could be restricted to going to the dock, to Sticking Point, and the works of the Board. He would support this motion on the ground that it was not •toira-n as establishing a precedent. Mr Allwbioht once more protested against the Board granting the tug to the excursionists, as there were plenty of launches, Aa, to take all the excursionists. He *»«"* spoken to some of the launchowners, and they had agreed to reduce their prices for that day. The motion was then put and lost. Ayes —Messrs Tamer, White, and Westenra. Noes —Messrs Allwright, McClatchie, Allan, and the Mayor of Lyttelton. ' The consideration of several works in connection with the harbor was referred to the Harbor Improvement Committee. The Board then adjourned, to meet at Christebnjchat2.3op.ni.onMaroh36Ui,