THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 6151, 28 November 1882, Page 1

THE HARBOR BOARD.

The adjourned ordinary meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon; present—Messrs K. Ramsay (in the chair), Jf. 8. Fish, M.H.R., IT. Guthrie, J." Mill, A. Burt, R. Wilson, and A. H. Rosa. WORKS REPORT. The "Works Committee reported as follows : (1) Messrs Macfarlane and Watson's application for hire of waggons agreed to at the rate of Is per waggon per week, to be returned in like good order and condition. (2) Messrs R. S. .Sparrow and Co.'s account for work done to buckets for New Era: The Engineer's report i» attached, frota which it will be seen that no direct authority had been given to proceed witk the work. The Engineer's suggestion that tho plant l>e used as required, and be paid for a» delivery is taken, is recommended for Adoption, and intimated to Messrs Sparrow. (3) Removal of wa'ennen's boats to Stuart street, as suggested by the Harbor-master, has been agreed to. (4) The Engineer's suggestion that the NewEra should go to the Victoria channel has bee* agreed to. (5) Question of holidays: It appe&isi that the following are the holidays that hitherto have been kept, vie.;— New Tear's Day and day following, Good Easter

Monday, Queen's Birthday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day-seven in all. Resolved—"The only alteration to be recommended is the substituting the Piinee of Wales's Birthday for Easter Monday." (0) Minister oi Public Works: As instructed, a meeting was arranged, when a deputation of members of the Board waited on Mr Johnston, and the chairman of the Board brought under his notice the several questions of removal of line from Crawford street, new passenger station buildings, connecting railway with wharves, haulage rates, differential daea, and dredging at Port Chalmers wharves. Minister having asked for a precis of correspondence re railway station site, the secretary prepared the same and forwarded it to him before hia leaving for the South and Lakes. Tne different subjects brought up he promised to consider and reply to upon his return. (7) Agreements appointing valuators: Those have been sealed and signed, as required by law, and the solicitors are proceeding with the necessary steps prior to a re-sale of the leases. (8) Cartage: Messrs A. Mollison and Co.'s tender being lowebt has been accepted. Coals : In accordance with Engineer's recommendation, Messrs Ciarke and Wright's tender has been accepted for coala. (9) Repairs to Dredge 222: The Engineer has been authorised to accept the lowest tender. (10) Mooring punts: Resolved to recommend that, as suggested by the Engineer, it be arranged that the masters of the steamers be instructed in rotation to see to the proper mooring of the punts each night. (11) An application for the use of the Iron Age by the employes of the Board for themselves and families on Boxing Day has been agreed to. (12) Two clocks for self-registering tide-gauges at the Head-' nnd near Port Chalmers respectively have authorised to be purchased, (lo) The Engineer's general report: Your Committee having given moat careful attention to this report, have adopted the following resolution:—"Agree to recommend the adoption of that portion as amended referring to Upper Harbor, and that hia proposals re improvements at the bar be considered at a future meeting." The Committee deem it desirable that the whole of the work of reclaiming the area south of Jetty street, between Crawford and Cumberland streets, -Hid the area north of Rattray street, be accomplished with as little delay as possible. The amendment referred to in resolution ia embodied in a memo, from the Engineer, attached, giving estimate of additional plant that would be required to carry out the work in accordance with the Committee's views as to time of completion. Mr Fish moved the adoption of the report. It would be seen that the recommendations of the Committee differed from the original report of Mr Barr in two respects. First, the Committee recommended that the work of excavating the channel to the decreased width and depth, as recommended by Mr Barr, should be carried on with greater celerity than was allowed for in his first report. The idea of the Committee was that, although this course would involve increased expenditure, it was better to adopt it on account of the reproductive nature of the work. The principal item of expense would be the building of a new steamer, which would be constructed on the hopper principle, so that it could be used either following purposes or for taking the silt from the harbor outside the Heads. It could also be utilised for the conveyance of stones and other material to the northern channel should the Board decide to stop that entrance. The other recommendation Avas to postpone the consideration of the improvement of the bar until another meeting. He would say with regard to that recommendation that although he did not absolutely disagree with it, there was not much cause for delay. Looking at the matter in all its aspects, he saw nothing open to the Board but the adoption of tho plan recommended by the Engineer, whoso ideas were in accordance with those expressed by Mr Simpson and Sir J. Coode. They should either make up their minds to adopt the recommendation of their Engineer, or call for competitive designs for deepening the channel, with estimates of cost. They had already got the opinions of three engineers, and he did not think they could get any outside these which would be worth much. Delays were always dangerous, and he thought a delay in this case would be a weakness rather than otherwise. He was prepared to discuss on its merits any proposition Mr Burt might make for inviting competitive schemes, although he did not think much good would result. If Mr Burt was not prepared to bring anything definite forward at next meeting, lie would move a motion to adopt Mr Barr's scheme for the improvement of the Lower Harbor.

Mr Wjls'ox seconded. He reminded the Board that they were only to spend the loan at the rate of L 63,000 per year. It would not do for them to be again going into the market in two years or so ; for even if they got a loan the question was Would they be able to pay the interest falling due'/ He thought they should go on quietly and avoid failing into the old mode, use caution, and husband their resources a little more. They knew what it was to be hard up, to go to their bankers with their hats in their hands, and to send deputations to Wellington. He waa getting thoroughly sick of that style of thing. Messrs Ross and Mill objected to the construction of the steamer at the present time.

The Chairman agreed with Mr Fish that the matter should be settled as speedily as possible. The dredge was not doing what was expected of her, and the Board ought to go about some works that would give them confidence that they would obtain a certain depth on the bar, such as those proposed by Mr Barr. He had sufficient confidence in the Board's Engineer, and would be prepared to second Mr Fish's motion at next meeting.

Mr Burt thought that the dredge might be expected to do a great deal of work during the summer. He would like to have more light on the matter before voting for carrying out the proposed works. Mr Guthrie was of opinion that the channel would be deepened much more cheaply by keeping one dredge constantly working on it, but he quite agreed that if two were to be employed, a steamer and extra plant were requisite. The report was adopted, Mr Mill alone dissenting. CLEARING THE BAR. E. J. Fermor Willson wrote : Having been engaged in America for a number of yeara in the work of deepening rivets and harbora and rendering them navigable for the largest vessels, I may bo pardoned for intruding an opinion at the present time. I have read the reports of your Engineer and of the ether engineers employed and consulted by the Board, and while admitting that the bar will be improved by tiie works proposed, the coat both of construction and maintenance will be (exceedingly great. I am under no obligation to give the hoard and the public the benefit of my experience without equivalent remuneration, and I cannot, therefore, put the Board in possession of my plans, as they would become public property. I have therefore decided to submit an offer for the construction of the work, as follows:—For the sum of Ll2 000 I undertake to clear the bar at Otago Heads to the depth of 23ft at low wa.er, and to the full width the tidal How will admit of, and to maintain that depth of water for a period of five years to the satisfaction of the Board. I ask no payment until the work is done; and if the Board will assist me with plant a corresponding reduction can bo nrndoin the cost. The terms of payment to be ; L-j.OOO on the bar being removed to the stipulated depth; L 2.000 three months thereafter ; and JLI.OOO at the end of each year from date of contract. These terms should, I submit, be a sufficient guarantee of the Lona Jules of my coffer. . I undertake (hat ths passage of vessels during the progress of the work shall not be interfered with j and I further undertake to use all available labor, and to construct the work with the utmost expedition, so that the r,a#e may 1)3 completed within eight months; and U r completed within that time, I would ask a bonus at the rate of LI.OQO a month for expedition. My plan of construction is eminently suited to ssecure and maintain for all time, and without the aid of dredging, a deep-water entrance to the harbor of Otago; and ibis, I presume, is what the Board desire to accomplish.

Mr Bdet said the oiler seemed a direct one—no cure, no pay.

Mr Mill suggested that possibly the scheme might do the Board's present works an injury. „ Mr BURT moved that the letter be reierred to the Works Committee so that the plan might be examined. It was evident that ihe writer had someone at his back, as he stated that he was prepared to lay out L1'2,060 ou his scheme. The Chairman pointed out that instead of spending L 12,000 on the work, Mr Willson wanted the Board to pay him L 12,000 for doing it—whicli was a very different thing. Mr BPKT persisted in Ins contention that Mr Willson offered to lay out Li 2,000 on the nvork, and he must therefore be backed up fcy a banker or some man of substance. Mr Fish said the first point for the Board's consideration was that they were advised by their Engineer that the bar could not be iremoved for anything like so small t .yum as Llf ,000; secondly, would they be justified in trying experiments put forward by unknown men? He held that it would be unwise to entertain offers of the kind, unless the projector was willing to lay his scheme before the Board with the least stipulation possible. Mr Rosa also thought it would be a grievous mistake for the Board to depart |rom the usual mode of procedure of bodies

constituted like themselves. They had an Engineer of their own, and all plans should come before the Board through him. The Chairman said that before the Board could entertain any such offer as that of Mr Willson the plans must be submitted to them, and they, of course, would not make any improper use of them if they did not see tit to accept the offer ; while, if Mr Willson was afraid that they would make use of his ideas without paying for them he could protect himself through the Patent Office. If the plan was found to show any hope of clearing away the bar he would be very glad to try it; but the Board must remember that they had already received about fifty schemes from amateurs, and it was simply impossible for them to take them up. The last offer came from a Mr Mackenzie, and that also was declined.

Mr Mill agreed with the remarks as to the danger of experimenting, and added that it was the Board's duty to put its foot down on amateur engineers and say that it would have nothing to do with their plans unless they were first submitted to the Engineer. Mr Burt said that he was not satisfied with the Engineer's plans in reference to the bar, and he would at the proper time vote against them until he had something more definite brought before him. He was satisfied with the other works in the harbor, but he would give notice of motion that competitive plans be brought forward in connection with the bar. Sir John Coode had put down over L 1,000,000 for that work, and Mr Barr proposed to do it for LSO,OOO. However, Mr Mackenzie and Mr Willson were entitled to the courtesy of the Board, and their letters should be answered.

On the motion of Mr Fish, seconded by Mr Guthrie, it was resolved—" That this Board are not prepared to entertain any propositions for the improvement of the l)ar at Otago Heads unless they emanate from professional men, and that Messrs Mackenzie and Willson be informed accordingly." The motion was carried on the casting vote of the chairman, Messrs Wilson, Burt, and Mill voting against it.

THE WRECK CHART. The following letter was read : Marine Department, Wellington, November 23rd, 1882. The Secretary Harbor Board, Dunedin. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th inst. with further reference to the method of marking the wreck chart published by this Department, and in reply I am directed to inform you that the copy of the ' Nautical Magazine' referred tois in the possession of this Department, but it would appear that the remarks quoted by you refer to the tables and not to the charts published by the Board of Trade. Care, however, shall be taken in future that only serious casualties shall be inserted in the wreck chart appended to the Annual Report of this Department. The necessarily small scale of the chart renders it impossible to place the symbols in every case in the exact spot whore the casualty occurred.— I have, etc, William Seed.

The Chairman : Well that is satisfactory in so far as our having gained our objectnamely, to have only real casualties marked against our harbor. The letter was minuted as read. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The Secretary to the Chamber wrote by directions of the chairman, in reference to a newspaper report of a recent meeting of the Chamber, that at all times at which the committees of the Chamber had occasion to apply to the Board for information such had been most fully given, and that so far from having complaint to make, the Chamber would desire to place on record their acknowledgment of the completeness of the returns furnished by the Board and tho care and attention bestowed on their compilation. The foregoing was minuted as "read, and satisfactory." miscellaneous. The Town Clerk wrote stating that with reference to the Board's recent application for permission to remove material from Jones street, the Council were willing to grant such permission, provided the method of working adopted was satisfactory to the Council's Works Committee.—Referred to the Workß Committee. A letter was received from Mr James Seaton, thanking the Board for sending a steamer to Portobello, and thereby enabling friends of the late Mr Seaton, M.H.R., to attend hia funeral.

Messrs E. Pritchard and Co. wrote that through a misunderstanding with the Public Works Department they had overshot about 450 cubic yards of material—mostly earth from Maitland street into the Board's lagoon adjoining their contract. The firm asked the Board to allow them the actual expense incurred—ls per cubic yard—in placing the material on the Board's property. —Referred to the Works Committee.