Harbor Board.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5913, 19 August 1890, Page 3

Harbor Board.

The Board met at 2 p.m. Present : Messrs. Vautier (in the chair), J. H. Twigg, J. C. McVay, F. W. Williams, W. J. Willcocks, P. Dolbel, H. Williams, R. Harding. CORRESPONDENCE. From Colonial Secretary, asking for a return re salaries and office expenses.—lnformation to be supplied. From Marino Department, asking that the harbormaster might be allowed to act under Sc-Ction 223 as to deck-loading of steamers —Board approved of the harbormaster acting. From National Mortgage and Agency Company, stating they proposed cabling to duplicate tho shipmeut of cement on board The Assaye, as it was feared that vessel was lost.—Board would not accept a second 500 casks as the stores weie full at present. From same, offering 2000 tons cement at contract rate.—Not required at present. From N.Z Shipping Co., stating the two casks of cement ex Mataura, for whioh a claim was made, wero wet by tho lighter swinging off the ship's side. The ship was not responsible.—Copy of letter had been sent to the contractors. From Brown, Lennox, and Co., London,

stating mooriug cables had been shipped.— Received. From Harton and Co., Calcutta, stating coir rope had been forwarded.—Received. From Peter Palleson, master of sohooner Spray, asking for a refund of pilotage.— Refund to bo paid. From John Double stating ho had boon fined for his horse trespassing on the era - bankmeiits atong the swamp. His horse had not been there.—No action. From Waipawa County Council forwarding resolution that they did not approve of the collection of harbor rates by the Council.—Received. From Sainsbury and Logan re expending part of the loan or general revenue in making a road from the breakwater to Coote road, they wero of opinion (given with hesitation) that the Board could not legally do so. The road was no part of the original scheme, for or incidental to the construction of the breakwater. Tho estimate of Mr Goodall did not specifically provide for the construction of the road, though ho did refer to it in his report of the 30th Juno 1884, aud they doubted whether it could bo considered as included in the con-

tingencies as to whether the road' could be made out of revenue. They were of opinion

that any bondholder or ratepayer could successfully object to such a course. They suggested that some eminent counsel's opinion should bo taken on the two points. —Mr Swan thought as the road was absolutely necessary for the working of tho

;raftic, the opinion of counsel should be

taken.—Mr Dolbel would oppose such a step, as it was putting the Board to expense. Even if it was legal to make the road it was wrong for tho Board to make roads for the Corporation. Tho Corporation would skin tho Board if they could and they were a strong clique. If tbe thing were carried out the country ratepayers would never sanction another loan for the purpose of finishing tho breakwater.—Mr Harding would strongly object to money being spent on legal opinions. Tho road might bo

necessary for the town, and whiitever tho opinion might be, and they wore only opinions after all, country residents would tost the matter and before they paid the rates they would take tho matter to the Supremo Court.—Mr McVay seconded Mr Sw-Hi's motion. Tho harbor could not be worked without a road, and a direct road. No demur had been made as to tbe expenditure for carriages for tbo conveyance of passengers over the Board's line. That ex-

peiiuiture must be equally illegal. Members wero not consistent in their actions. It was no part of the Council's duty to mako this road. There were nuisances which required mating —Mr Dolbel: " Sewage" — not sewage, but these works may bo enforced by the Council. The members of the Board who wero members of tho Council had no separate interest.—Mr Netil reminded tho members that the property over which tho road would bo made was not the Council's but tho Board's. In paying half tho cost tho Council met tho Board liberally. In the town the rate was double what would be imposed in tho country.—-Mr Harding said it would become a matter for those who voted for it, as tho country people would test the matter,—Mr McVay : We aro tiot afraid of taking tho risk.—For the motion Messrs Swan, McVay, H. Williams, and N'jhl ; against, Messrs Harding, Twigg, F. W. Williams, Willcocks, and Dolbel. Thi» motion was therefore lost. From Union Company, objecting to pay the amended scale of pilotage and port charges. The rates would make a difference to them of .£2BO per annum. —Received. From J. H. Vautier, refusing to grant permission to trim the face of suburban section S'2 boloniring to tho estato of the Lite J. A. Smith. Tho land was for salo.— Received. From F. Rhodes, stating he would recommend tho trimming of tho cliff of suburban section S3 to Mr Joseph Rhodes, tho Board to pay all expenses.—Received. From Town Cleric, stating tho Council would grant £250 towards road to breakwater—Received. From Railway Commissioners, offering 6 old trucks at £10, or they would build G at j £00, for use at tho breakwater.—Mr McVay moved that a reply be sent to Mr Ortnond that, according to tho solicitora' opinion, money could not legally bo spent on such plant.-—Mr H. Williams seconded tho motion.—Mr Harding moved as an amendment that consideration of tho matter be postponed, which was only fair to Mr Ormond, who had asked that that might be done—Mr F. W. Williams seconded the amendment, —The motion was withdrawn, and tho amondment was carried.

The pilot reported a depth of 14ft. on the bar. in tbe channel between the piers 13ft. at high water slaok. Sinoe last report the weather had been so unsettled that he had had no opportunity of doing any soundings at tho breakwater. He would do so at first opportunity.—Received. ENOINKEB'S EKI'OBT. Contract No. 27. —Second Section of Breakwater.—With the exception of tho quarryi tig of rubble nothing has been done on this contract for more than six weeks, owing to the continuous easterly weather. Contract No. 35.—Third Section of Breakwater. — Messrs Pallisor and Jones, of Timaru, tho contractors for this section of tho breakwater, wired yesterday that they will bo hero next Monday to mako arrangements for erecting tho mixer, and to arrange for commencing work a.s soon as the present contractors have completed their contract.

Cribwork Protection.—Tho continued heavy seas of tho past few months necessi-

tated a considerable expenditure upon the maintenance of the cribwork protrection of the beach towards tho Spit.

Wharfage Accommodation for tho N.B. and H.B. Freezing Co.—l havo received a letter from the manager of tho above company pointing out that the lower wharf at their works was erected on the understanding that tho Harbor Board would doopon the channel so as to permit tho Ahuriri to load alongside, and that tho secretary of tho Board wrote on 22nd Juno, 188'J, advising thai tbe drodgkig would at onoo bo carried out; that nothing has beon done, and suggesting that it would probably bo cheaper to extend the wharf than to dredge. In .submitting this proposal to tho Board he requests that somo assistance bo rendered to tbo company in carrying out the work, and asks the Board to take into consideration the advantage derived by tho Board's property by tho erection of protective works on tho foreshore of tho section leased by tho company ; in conclusion, the manager states that during tho past twelve months tbe company has paid wharfage to the extent of £ti.">9 "s Bd. With regard to the extension of the wharf I find from soundings taken by myself that an extension of 77ft would on!)' givo lo intihi'S morn depth of water than at tho present end of wharf, the depth at the latter being 3ft at Imv water ordinary spring tides, and that it would require an extension uf about 88fc to give sufficient depth. I would therefore recommend that the bouldor bank which forms tbo obstruction to tho wharf bo removed, by blasting and ill-dining, to a depth of Bft at L.W.O S.T.

The Freckling Company also request permission to insert two culverts under tho road and through the stonework of tho approach to the western mole, to provide freo outlet for water of lagoon behind the freezing works. I see no objection to this, provided that the outlets of culverts are

protected to prevent damage from scour, and beg to recommend that permission be grunted. Drudging.—Since the last regular meeting of the Board it became necos.-arv to take

immediate steps to dredge along the Western Quay again, owing to the very large quantity of hilt brought down by tho July floods. A special meeting of the Board was therefore called on the 29th inst, and it was then decided to call for tenders for dredging, and in the meantime to carry on the dredging in the most economical manner possible. Tenders will ho laid before you to-day for diedging and depositing spoil in lagoon for various periods from one to five years. Dredging was commeno'vl on the 31st July and has been carried on expeditiously ever since, tho amount dredged iv fourteen days having been 2100 cubic yards, and the cost, including supervision, having only amounted to Is GJ-d as against ls7i-d the oost of last contract.

Western Quay.—l have received a letter from tho Railway Department notifying that traffic will bo stopped on tho western quay after Saturday next, August 23rd, owing to the foundation of the sidings being unsafe. 1 received this letter on Saturday last. Tho piling of tho breast-

woi-k has been oxiimined for the frruater pait of the length of qu.-u- hy th-.-diver, and fMiind to !>•.'in it very lotteri state, there |„ in/ nialiy largo holes in tho breastwork, llivoit!.-h which the rubble harking falls out and thus ctiiws siib.-idenco of tho surface of (ji.ny in very wot weather. Owing to the muddy .-i.-ile <i the water at thin season of ilio vi.-ar it has not bueu possible to repair -..uy -: i t'i,e.-v. places. Something more than ;m;iv patching will have to bo dime at this breastwork at. oii'v, and I would again rc-i"on>moii-i that a piio.' platform or wharf bo ■built outi'idc the breastwork at a height of •i l'i.'L'-t. ti ineii--t> a'uovi: Oio present lovel of iittav. r h'ul hoc■ i! i'i"hii\ ; i> l;ejn abl" to lTi-,- --OIIIP'. t • pl-UM I.H-fo.',- tho Board to-'dtty for tlii.-, v.-oi'i.'. and ab-o lot' the formation of | & dock along this quay to prevent the

fully taken up with the dredging and other matters, and I would now suggest that a committee be appointed, consisting of members witto are well acquainted with the requirements of the port, to confer with mo as to the best manner in which tho wharfage accommodation of the inner harbor may be improved.

Dredging Plant.—The whole of the dredging plant is in a very unsatisfactory state, and will require a considerable sum expended upon it before much more work can satisfactorily be performed. lam informed that it will be four years in January next since the dredge punt was on the slip and it will consequently require a thorough overhaul; it should be taken on to the slip at least once every twelve months and scrapped and tarred; the dredge requires new tanks which should be of thin steel; the present ones aro zinc and are worn out; the punts all require repairs of a considerable nature. I should estimate roughly that it will take about £400 to put the dredge and punts in good order to hand over to contractors. The present bucket in use is nearly worn out. I am informed that it cost the late contractors £20 to keep it in repair during sixteen months. The other buckets also require a good deal expended on them before they can be used to advantage. J. T. Oabb, Engineer Napier Harbor Board. The engineer to try dynamito on the boulder bank, and that the matter be farther considered at next meeting. Permission granted to insert two culverts under the wall, the company to bo responsible for damage, and permission to be liable to be withdrawn at any time._ Mr. Ormond to be communicated with as to the stoppage of the railway traffic on tho wharf, and that trucks bo allowed on the wharf even if the engine could not go on. ■WORKS AND HARBOR COMMITFKE. Your committee having considered tho letter sent by tho secretary of the Wharf Laborers' Union, asking the Board to provide a shelter for the wharf laborers, recommend thU a lean-to (13ft inside in the clear) be erected at the eastern end of the wharfinger's shed. The key of the shelter shed thus provided tajbe left in charge of the wharfinger. ACCOUNTS. Vouohers to the amount of £2069 13s 7d were passed for payment, namely £367 16s lOd on general account, contractor's deposit £4 10s, on loan account £1697 6s 9d.

(Left Sitting.)