HARBOUR BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 179, 24 April 1908, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD.

WHARF WORKERS' AMENITIES. SATISFACTORY SINKING FUNDS. ■ Tlio monthly mooting of tlio Harbour Hoard was held yesterday, when there were present Mr. T. 31. Wilford, M.P. (chairman), the Hon. T. Iv. Macdonald, Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan, J. G. Harkncss, C. E. Daniell, F. G. Boltou, F. H. Fraser, M. Cohen,, and C. W. Jones. The Chairman stated that tho wood-block-ing of Jorvois Quay was proceeding s satisfactorily, tho City Council and. Harbour Board co-operating harmoniously in tho' matter, i Accounts were passed as follow:—Bank Pass-books—Current account, credit balance, £16,141 17s. Bd.; imprest account, credit balanco, - £906 125.; on fixed deposit, £60,000. ' Payments—For interest, Evans Bay reclamation scherao, accounts, and wages, £15,278 15s. lid.; for progress payments on .< contracts, £2417 25. ! Bd.; for salaries for April, £797 12s. 6d.; total, £18,493 lis. Id. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. Tho 1 Chairman reported that the tondorof Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd-., Christchurch, for tho supply of hoop steel and studs for the sum of £2718, being tho lowest and, in order, had been accepted, arid that the sum of £250 in lieu of sureties .had been placed on fixed' deposit for six months at tho National Bank of New Zealand, Ltd. He moved.that the seal bo affixed to the agreement of contract. s . The' motion was adopted. . . . , ' Mr. Wilford also-reported that'the Chair-, man ' and Secretary had examined '.the tenders for supply of coal, and had accepted those of the New Zealand Stato Coal Mines and of Messrs. Thompson Bros., Ltd., tho same being in order, and tho • lowest for tho' respective schedules- tendered -for';- that the Chairman and Secretary had acoopted the tender ofMrs.,, J. J. Moore'and: Son. for removal of rubbish. -■ ■ , ~. . On the recommendation of the Wharves and Accounts' Committee, it was decided to approve, subject to the consent of tlie .Governor in Council, tho re-erection of the PeGone Navals'. Boats Skids'at a site 'near Nelson,. Street, Petone. WORKMEN'S WAITING ROOM. The Acting-Secretary reported that,, at a conference between representatives of 1 the '.employers', and of the .Wharf Labourers'-, Union, the question of tho place of engagement of labour 'was discussed, and the,con-' ferpnee. decided to recommend the 'Board th'at provision should for , a waiting room, on the ground floor,', with' tho object of. facilitating''the._engageincnt of, the men, in or near the building. . ■ ... It { ,was , explained that the. present room is. upstairs, and,inconvenient'of Access. Tho. Chairman said he: thought tho .Board should ! carry out the recommendation, 1 if possible, but ho .feared that tho particular shed, which it suggested should be'used wjts 'awkwardly; constructed for the engagement of.men. .'He doubted whether tliero was, a• 'satisfactory room available: on,, the ground floor,. but provision should bo ; made as soon, as possiblo to meet the men's wishes., -After; an informal v : diseussion, -the-'.Chair*, man moved' that the;, matter; should bo re : ferred to . the Wharves; and - Accounts Committee; for a.- report, arid • this, , course was adoifted. V •'■ .- / • The. Acting-Secretary 1 also' reported that, on behalf of the Board, he had joined .with the- other':employers and tho Wharf;. bourers' "Union ;in an agreement' under tho new'award, continuing in the meantime | the •places of. engagement of, labour heretofore •fixed. " v ..- 1 ' ' WORKERS' BATIIS. , ~ > .. ■ Tho quostion of providing, baths . |o'r .wharf labourers was also discussed. ; Mr. Ferguson had, reported that a'range of a dozen.cubicles,, with hot water, baths, could be installed in. ouo'^pfiiho;sUeds,. l but / therc. .wpulcl 1 be'no space'-left .for lockersi ...and, jvithy'ut .'.these.'.'ho; did ; riot: ,think tliat. tho scheme .'would be' practicable. ! \ -Mr. Wilfortl .said 'that the workers wero divided ,in opinion, on this, subject, somo, favouring .hot.' waterbaths, and others; only asking for facilities to, sluice theriisolyes and take the rough, off." He Amoved .that provision be'made for, sluice or shower, baths.' Mr. Bolton seconded, the 'motion. • • •'. Mr. Rv Fletehei' riioved that the. proposal to provide baths,_w)iich the Board had already approved in principle,' sliould bo referred, back to! the ;AV.haryos' aiid rAccounts- Committee. Tho amendment' was carried. ■ . ' • CLERK OF WORKS. ' The Board. l 'wont, into ..committee to' consider certain matters. When it resumed tho Chairman reported, on the business done as follows: ', ,• '. V .-' The lowest tender had been accepted,'for 500 running sheaves for , hydraulic'jiggers for, King's Wharf stores. ' s . : ■ : - .' Tho Wharves and Accounts Committee recommended that the engineer bp instructed to engage for the:dock arid other works ,in course.of construction such officers as clerks of works as. ho may. deem necessary, any capable officer at, present in tlie ' Board's service'to have preference if he can bo spared from other .duties, and the engineer to have power, to suspend oij' 'discharge kt any. time., The Chairman moved that this recommendation be .approved./ .V;. /■■! Mr...Fletcher/moved as an .amendment tliat tho_ Board should invite applications-for tho • V" Mr. M'Eu'an seconded tho amendment. The .Chairman said that the ..Committeo had. considered the- matter, exhaustively, and had decided i that as_Mr. Cachemaillo would have charge of; tho> works, and would bo, responsible for their proper carrying' out, he should also, be responsible for tho selection' of clorks of : works, and should bo tho solo judge of their efficiency'. No member of tho present' staff, would! be prepared 'to accept! One of i the positions without, extra remuneration; because the conditions' would not make it'worth. his while to undertake the work. The amendment was lost, on a division, and the Committee's recommendation approved. ; ; EVAifs BAY RECLAMATION. ; The (Legislative Committee recommended that it : be authorised to affix tlie. Board's seal to tho agreement. ; with the ' Miramar Borough Council in respect of tho. Evans! Bay reclamation scheme. The recommendation was approved. ~ . INSURANCE OF BUILDINGS. 1 Mr. Bolton moved ;in accordance with notice; —That steps be taken to msuro the buildings of tho Board against damage • by earthquako. and fire resulting from earthquake, such 'insurance to bo effected locally if: at satisfactory.'rates, and, 'if not, in London at Lloyds. ■' '' ' , The Chairman stated that the local. rate of insurance against loss by earthquake, exclusive of-fire, \yas 6s. 3d. per cent., which in tho Board's ease would 1 mean a sum of £223, and tho rate.of insurance agairist,both earthquake and fire, 10s.» 6d.' per cent., which would amount to £381. .. . .<- Mr. Harkne^s, moved, as an amendment; that,consideration of this matter bo deferred until next meeting. Mr. Jones seconded the amendment,.which was adopted. , THE WHARVES AND THE PUBLIC. , ' Mr. Bolton also moved, pursuant to notico: "That a wicket gato be provided at the extreme south of Jervois Quay: and that all wicket gates ; leading to the Queen's ■Wharf and to'the Waterloo Quay and Jervois Quay Breastworks bo kept open for tho convenience of the public from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.. except as heretofore when in the opinion of tho secretary,. owing to tho berthage or departure .of vessels or otherwise, it is desirable to closd tho; gates." Mr./Rolton expatiated on the inconvonienco that'was causod to' tho public/by closing tho wharves in tho evening. Mr.. Cohen seconded tho motion.

• Tlio Chairman stated that ho was in favour of opening tlio wicket, gates, but tho. Board had rccbived legal advioo in 1901 to' the effect that if they were left open after dark, tho Boardwould bo responsible for placing lights 011 all goods occupying tho wharves, and that if they did not provide'-' such lights, thoy would bo liable for any accidents-that might occur. ' Mr. Bolton drew attention to tho safi> <oiurd £rorided ia tlio. last claaae a£ iis

motion. Ho urged that the public knew how to take care of themselves. • _ The motion was carried with one dissentient. It;wns agreed that public telephonic communication be established with the Taranaki Street Wharf. WHARF LIGHTING. Tho Hoii. T. Kennedy Macdonald moved that a report be presented to tho Board as to the. lighting, of each of the wharves'showing: Whether'lit by gas or electricity, number of lamps, and candlepower respectively of gas and electric lamps, probablo cost, and efficiency of gas and electricity- per 1000 candles respectively, recommendations for more complete and effective lighting of tlie whole of the wharves if such is deemed necessary. The mover said , ho-had long thought that tho'whole system of lighting tho,-wharves was mn& and .it was time tho matter was considered. , : . ' . ' Mr.' Flotcher seconded-tlie motion, which was adopted. - ... : 'SINKING FUNDS. . The Baid that as tho question of sinking funds seemed-, to havo great interest for the public, and rightly so, it would not be out of plaeo for him to say something regarding tho sinking funds of .tli'o Board. Tlie Commissioners of tho sinking funds: wero Mr; D. .T. Stuart and Mr. Nicholls (acting secretary), 'and lie had received their report for the half-year ending March" 31, 1908. This show<s that the amount of £92,765 16s; Bd. was invested - by tho Board at the present timo ; On this sum, which was interestearning, there was due, on March 31, £12 17s. 7a. 'for interest, which had since been paid, so that there was no intcrjst due now. On September 30, 1907, the amount of' the sinking funds invested on behalf of the Board was £88,333 65.; so that tlio\growth of thefunds in. six months was £4427 10s. ,Bd.;*TOiismust be considered a most satisfactory, state of things, and tbo mortgages were all-oil securities which the Commissioners considered undoubted. ■ .Tho rates of interest were.from 5 per cont: to 4.per cent;, and-the avorage 'rate' of interest, received.', on' the Board's investments was a little . ovei; 41: per. oent; during the half-year under, notice.-For the coming half-year the average would be slightly higher. A l 'great deal ,of the money had boen'lent to, otTier. local bodies, including. .the -Masterton Trust Land Trustees, Karori, Miramar,'Masterton- and Stratford Borough' Councils, and tho Wellington. City Council, Melrose tramway extension scheme. The Commissioners reported that the investments were 'thoroughly satisfactory, .and lie thought that the Board \ras to be-congratu-lated on tho position. - ' WHARF BARRICADES. The - question of - the removal. of the barricado. and bookstall, oil tho 'Queen's .Wharf, reported ..on by the■>late, engineer,- was considered.. Mr. Ferguson had reported against removal; but he- thought that -these'-things' inight.be 'madtf more ornamental.:' Considera-tion-of-the report . was held over from a previous meeting; v. . ,:. ■ Mr. Fletcher moved that .the report bb not adopted. Ho thought that the. traffic; could 1 be -regulated at the .main .gates,' and that tho barricade was not needed. ; -i, :. ■ Mr. Fletcher's motion was lost; and the question was referred, to- the ; Wharves and Accounts Committee.