TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7122, 19 July 1888, Page 6

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

At the meeting of this Harbor Board yesterday it was stated that the Railway wharfage returns for four weeks amounted to £307, aud this opened a discussion on the returns generally. The Secretary said that in June of last year the amount was £510, but he found a difficulty in checking his returns with those of the Railway Department. The latter's four weekly period, for instance, ended on the 23rd June, whereas the Board's returus were compiled from month to montli. He had just totalled the figures for the quarter, and found that 20,000 tons had been landed, the largest quantity ever landed here. In the discussion it was suggested that that as the return laid before them was lower than they expected, authority should be asked for their Secretary (Mr Tennant) to examine the books of the Railway Department. It was stated that the Secretary to the Oamaru Board had been given this authority. It was added that the Timaru Board had no reason to think the returns furnished by the department were incorrect. The Harbormaster reported the arrival of 23 steamers and 6 sailing vessels of an aggregate registered tonnage of 10,716 tons, and the departure of 24 steamers and 4 sailing vessels of a total tonnage of 10,920 during the month ending July 30th. Duriug the month heavy seas had been experienced. Mr F. W. Marchant, Eagineer, reported that continuously heavy seas had almost prevented any work being done at random block lifting. The seas had also prevented him from making a proper survey of the beach. He had, however, sho.vn the high water mark on the record plan as it existed before the 30th June, from which it will be seen that the shingle beside the breakwater has receded 40ft in the last six months, and now stands at exactly the same position as it did in October, 11 it 57; But seven days' work had beendone by the dredge since last meeting, rough weather and the crew's other duties having prevented it. Work at the north mole was proceeding satisfactorily, and it was now about four chains out from the shore. The plan showing the shingle boundaries as asked for by Mr Lecren was laid on the table, and Mr Marcliatit explained some of the details. The bank in receding did so unequally. An enormous change had taken place near the reef opposite Bruce's mill, the shingle having gone right out to the island. Shingle had piled on the breakwater during the late heavy seas, but he believed very little had got under the wharf and into the harbor. He had studied the matter closely, and thought there was very little silt indeed corning into and settling in the harbor.