LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8730, 28 February 1894, Page 6

LYTTELTON.

ORDINARY MEETING,

An ordinary monthly meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board was held at 2 p.m. yesterday, when there were present—Messrs F. Waymouth (Cnairman), Hon. J. T. Peacock, Captains McClatchie and Parsons, and Messrs P. Cunningham, F.. Graham, W. Langdown, J. Thompson, 1. Gibbs, H. W. Peryman, J. E. Thacker, and J. Joyce. The Chairman reported as un^er—Since our last meeting the following sums have been paid into the Board's current account: Wharfage £450, pilotage and port charges £568 5s 4d, towage, storage, &c, £216 9s Sd, transfer from fixed deposit £1000, interest on fixed deposit £325—total, £2559 14s 9d. The bank-book on the table shows a credit balance to our current account of £549 18s lOd. A report will be read from the Harbourmaster in reference to the s.s. Flora grounding between the end of the Gladstone Pier and Dolphin at the end of the breakwater. It appears this happened through tbe steamer backing in too close to the breakwater when leaving the inner harbor. Letters will be read from the Canterbury Progressive Liberal Association, and from the Knights of Labour, re prison labor. I may point out with regard to the employment of prison labor on the reclamation work to the westward of Sticking point, that the Harbour Board never had anything to do with the carrying out of this work. It was undertaken by the Government in the year 1882. All that this Board did at that time was to agree that when the time arrived when the Lyttelton Harbour Board required to use that portion of tbe reclamation, they would then be prepared to pay for the same, at a'cost not exceeding that of similar work done by the .Board in Lyttelton. The Harbour Board do not at present require this reclamation, besides which, the heavy stone embankment which was to form the outer and chief portion of this work, has not yet been constructed, and the result is, that a considerable portion of the reclamation has been washed into the harbor. I think the Canterbury Progressive Liberal Association, aud the Knights of Labour may rest assured that the Harbour Board have no intention of employing prison labour upon any of their works.

Mr H. W. Peryman proposed—" That Mr John Joyce be elected Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year." Mr Gibbs should be elected to the position by rotation, but he found his duties would not allow of his undertaking the position.

Mr Thaceer seconded the motion.

The Hon. J. T. Peacock said that as the Board's finances needed careful consideration, he would like to see Mr Waymouth undertake the duties of Chairman for another term. He moved in that direction.

Mr Joyce seconded the amendment, -which, after some discussion, was carried unanimously, the motion being withdrawn. Mr Waymouth returned thanks for the honour they had done him in re-electing him to the position of Chairman, and he would in future, as in the past, use his best endeavours in the interests of the Board.

The Harbour Master's report on the grounding of the Flora was read, also a letter from Messrs Shaw, Saviil and Co. regarding the berthing of the s.s. Hawke's Bay. The Harbour Master's report upon this subject was read, and he suggested that the berth at the ocean steamers' wharf should be dredged a little deeper. Mr CusraiNGKAM said it was absolutely necessary that a deeper berth should be provided. On the motion of Mr Joyce it was

resolved to inform the captain of the s.s. Hawke's Bay that provided there were not two mail steamers in at the date of his arrival, which was unlikely, his vessel could be accommodated with a berth at the ocean steamers' berth, where there was ample draught of water. The Finance Committee reported—" That the revenue of the Lyttelton Harbour Board *. having been seriously affected by the falling off in tj_e production and shipment of grain from the Port of Lyttelton, and by the recent reductions made in the wharfage and other charges, your Committee is of opinion that, shomld the decreased production continue, it will be necessary, in order to prevent the Board's expenditure exceeding their revenue, to consider the tariff of charges."

The report was adopted, and the Finance Committee was instructed to report upon the advisability of investing • portion of the sinking fund in freehold securities. The Sumner Foreshore Boundary Committee reported as follows:—" Your Committee, after holding two conferences with the Sumner Borough Council's Works Committee at Sumner, recommend the adoption of the foreshore boundary, as set forth and marked in red in Messrs Mclntyre •ild Lewis' survey plan attached hereto; and in the event of the Board approving of the same, your Committee further recommend that the Government be asked to amend the proclamation defining the Lyttelton Harbour Board boundaries to the extent shown in the attached plan." The report was adopted. Mr Pope's letter re ironwork was referred to the Harbour Improvements Committee. The letters from the Progressive Liberal Association and Knights of Labour were received, and it was resolved that replies be cent to the effect that the Board never had employed prison labour on the Harbour works, and had no intention of doing so. Mr Joyce obtained leave to alter'the motion of which he had given notice, and moved as follows:—" That the Government

be written to drawing their attention to the

washing of the reclamation made by prison labour at Officers Point, and that the memorandum of agreement mentioned in the Government's letter of th£ sth May, 1881, had not been completed." Captain McClatchie seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Accounts to the amount of £663112s 6d were passed for payment. The Board then adjourned till 2 p.m. on Friday, 30th March, at Lyttelton,