THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 6472, 13 December 1883, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Board to-day was attended by Messrs Rosa (in the chair), Ritchie, Elder, Reid, A. Thomson, Barnes, J. Roberts, J. B. Thomson, John Hislop, Wales, Cargill, and Captain Scott, R.N. On the subject of extended wharf accommodation, Captain Scott urged that about 300 ft of wharfage and one large shed would be sufficient to meet pressing requirements. Mr Barnes moved, and Mr Hislop seconded that the tender of Findlay and Co. be accepted, and the work proceeded with without delay. The mover and Mr Reid contended that the only economical way of obtaining the needed accommodation was to accept the tender in its entirety, if the large steamers were to come up to town. Mr Reid, in the course of a strong speech, said that he was not desirous of acting in a dog-in-the-manger spirit. He had not, like Mr Roberts, any doubt about the money being available. Neither was he desirous of seeing the whole of the steamers’ basin dredged out. He wanted to see the wharves at Port Chalmers rendered available for the shipping of all classes, but he also wanted to see additional wharf accommodation, that was so pressing, obtained at Dunedin. He would be content for the present with one large shed. Mr J. B. Thomson also supported the acceptance of the tender. This wharf was absolutely indespensible, and should be proceeded with without delay. The Board, in his opinion, were to blame for dilly-dally-ing withjthis matter. Mr A. Thomson moved that the matter be referred to a committee consisting of Messrs Ritchie, Roberts, Elder, Cargill, and Captain Scott. Mr Ritchie opposed the motion, alleging that the new members of the Board had not yet had sufficient information before them to warrant them in accepting this tender. After considerable discussion, it was resolved, on Mr Cargill’s motion, to defer consideration until Friday, the 21st inst., at 2 p.m. The Harbor-master reported for November as follows: On the 28rd November soundings were taken on the bar, the depth at low water reduced to zero being ls)ft and 25ft at high water, and again on Bth inst. with the same result For the last five weeks there has been considerable swell setting in from the eastward, which has caused the bar to shoal about 18in. Since the soundings taken on November 8, only one load of 1,000 tons has been dredged at the bar since the 27th October. In accordance with instructions Coxswain Milne has been appointed a licensed pilot at a salary of L2OO per annum, and Thomas Greaves, boatswain, promoted to coxswain at a salary of Ll2O per annum. The light vessel in cross channel, Lower Harbor, has been taken to Port Chalmers to have her bottom cleaned and otherwise overhauled, the lighter Hope taking her place until the work is completed. The three black and red beacons in Lower Harbor are much in want of repairs, the cross railings and diagonal pieces being wormed and decayed. Re wharfage accommodation at Dunedin. The lineal measurement of the whole wharfage amounts to 3,369 ft. Jetty street wharf (1,175 ft) is only available for vessels of light draught, the depth being Bft at low water, and no shed accommodation; at present is only suitable for coal and timber vessels. The back of the wharf is reclaimed for a little over one-third of its length, the remaining portion being useless for cargo purposes. The cross wharf (660 ft) has fair shed accommodation, with about 13ft at low water The Rattray street wharf (1,584 ft) has for 300 ft at the lower end a depth of about 17ft at low water. The dredging there has so loosened the piles that they arc held in position chiefly by the upper structure of the wharf. The remaining portion has an average depth of lift to 12ft at low water, and the shed accommodation is insufficient. To give the required accommodation it will bo necessary cither to build the proposed new wharf and sheds or dredge out the whole of the space between Jetty and Rattray street wharves to a depth of 17ft at low water, then widen the wharves, so that the outer row of piles bo driven in deep water, putting sheds on Jetty street wharf, and increased shed accommodation at Rattray street wharf. It should be borne in mind that dredging between the wharves is absolutely necessary to allow of vessels being swung, even if the wharves remain as they arc.

Shipping returns for the month Arrivals: Foreign vessels, 8 of 6,484 tons; intercolonial do, 8 of 8,595 tons; coasting do, 54 of 9,204. Departures: 1 vessel of 1,116 tons, 7 do of 8,009 tons, 62 do of 17,245 tons. On the subject of wharf accommodation, Deputy-harbor-master Stevens reported as under Agreeable to your instructions to report on wharf accommodation at Dunedin, I beg respectfully to state that the present accommodation is not sufficient for the proper working of the shipping that comes to Dunedin. Since the opening of the Victoria channel we have had a larger class of sailing vessels, also a greater number and larger steamers at the wharf than formerly. I have often five steamers up at once, and they take up the greater part of Rattray street wharf, and having only one deep-water berth, if it is occupied by a sailing vessel, I have no berth for a big steamer. The cross-wharf is used mostly for intercolonial, Mauritius, and American vessels, and for lighters occasionally. The accommodation at Jetty street wharf is limited, and can only be used for vessels of light draught.” The sub-Committee on Finance reported as follows: The Committee have had before them the statement prepared by the secretary as to the bead# uadtr

which the present ones are raised, which is attached Vmrfito Tfiev find that the total levied on imports and on wool imported LI.2W; and a raising of tbs former by CO per cent, and ofthe latter toMperbal* will give an increased revenue of about L 6,000. to to ffibat probably some part of tee i loti, owing to a division of part of tho tonnage W tn« railway J but it ie impossible to amve at a reliabl* estimate ®f the amount. . The Committee are ouanimous mi the dues on imports s!»sW be extent of the powers of the Board, and thoseion wool to 9d per bale. Kven this will not P rovl “° . required revenue, but the Committee re s£““f a further increase be postponed until an effort is me, during next session of Parliament, te obtain a rep»fc of the differential rates between Port Chalmers and Dunedin, whieh, in their opinion, are in evejo. wayunfair, and seem to serve no purpose but to enhance the revenue of the railway at the expense of the Harbor Board and commerce of Otago. The amonito lost by the differential rate (Is instead Of 2s) for year 1883 would be ovetWW^.' The following is the Secretary's mmcr.-retenred to. in the last report. The return is of_ dues collected from January 1 to Nd\ember 29,1883, inclusive ; ana from January 1 to December 31, 1882 MB3. 1882.

The Engineer reported as follows The operations of dredging and discharging have been considerably retarded by the unusually stormy weather which has prevailed, rendering tlto output ot work very small as compared with ordinary resultsThe Vulcan is still in the ordinary channel, but will be ready to leave its present position so soon as tht» dock can bo got for her accommodation during a n overhaul. Dredge 222 has been the whole of November, with the exception of only one day, dredging as the Port Chalmers wharves. There was only that one day favorable for bar work, and then she lilted and discharged at sea 1,000 tons of sand. It is now fully six weeks since she had any continuous work on the bar, and I am watching an opportunity of calm weather to have some soundings token, so that w» can ascertain exactly what amount of making up haa occurred during that continuance of bad weather. While on this subject I desire to bring under your notice the fact that, before any permanent works for the bar improvement can be gone on with, the sanctfon of the Governor-in-Counml will be required, and the getting of this will necessarily require some tuna and the submission of drawings and specifications. V would therefore request authority for the preparation of these. I have found it necessary to make strong representations to the contractor ot Logan Point on account of the unsatisfactory manner in which be was carrying on the work. Better progress is now being made. The formation ot Jetty street, and also thestrengthening of Jetty street wharf, are now comThe following works should be taken in hand at once, and authority for the same is now requested (1) Wharf cranes to be painted. (2) New Era and side-dredge to fee docked, cleaned, and painted when the Vulcan and steamers are also being done, and the crews of these available for the work. (3) God tract* to be prepared for provision of drainage to the recia* mation area at Ravensboumc, the natural watercourses being blocked up by the Boards deposits, (4) The remodelling of the marking of the Victoria channel, so that some of the present piles be drawn and clusters of piles put at longer distances apart. (5) Tenders to be called for the Boards cartage in Dunedin. „ _ It was decided to have the ordinary reports to the Board ready in time for publication before the meetings of the Board. It was resolved# on the motion of Mr J. B. Thomson, seconded by Mr Babnes—“That the previous resolution of the Board re baths be confirmed.” [Left sitting.]

Goods landed at railway wharves, £8,033 £3^18 Port Chalmers .. Goods landed per lighters, at Dunedin 1,609 2,040 „ „ at Dunedin .. 1,740 1,351 Timber landed at Dunedin 1,012 1,435. Berthage at Dunedin 464 392 Exports—General „ „ Wool 3.896 1,177 3^200 2,359- - — " £12,888 £14,200