THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 6512, 31 January 1884, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Board was held this afternoon, and wa9 attended by Messrs Ritchie (in the chai;), Wales, A. Thomson, J. B. Thomson, Elder, Mill, Reid, and Captain Scott. BY-LAWS. A special meeting of the Board was first held to consider the question of confirming the proposed bylaws increasing the harbor dues. Mr J. 13. Thomson suggested an adjournment of this particular business, as there was but a bare quorum of members present. Mr Ei.hkr objected. He considered that there should be no dci.i.T i» » matter involving increased revenue to the Board. He proposed that the bylaws should be adopted in the form drawn up by tho hoard's solicitors. Mr A. Thomson seconded. Captain JScoit moved as an amendment that consideration of the matter should be postponed sine die Mr J. 11. Thomson seconded. The amendment was lost on the vote of the chairman, the voting being—For : Messrs J. B. Thomson, Wales, and Captain Scott. Against: Messrs A. Thomson, Elder, and Mill. Mr Walks pointed out that tho usual course pursued by a chairman in giving a vote was to leave matters as they were. The Chairman said that it would be too inconsistent for him not to vote in favor of his own proposal, and he believed the majority of the Board were with him. f'v. The motion was then carried. """* CORRKSrOXDESCE. Mr J. K. Logan, Inspector of Telegraphs, wrote stating that the cost of a special telephone from tho Board's ollices to Port Chalmers would be about LllO, and the annual cost of maintenance L2s.—Consideration was deferred. The Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce applied for the repayment of LlO 10s advanced in payment of a moiety of the expenses of Mr Larnach incurred when forming one o: a deputation to Wellington during tho passage through the Assembly of the Pock Trust Bill. The Government had declined to pay the amount on the ground that the Trust was not then in existence.—Mr Eldks. said he had looked into the Act and be found that the Board were not permitted to pay anj thing outside of the expense of building a dock.— The Skouktarv: This expense was incurred before tl.a Act waa paised.—Mr Rmr> moved, and Mr. Mir. seconded, that the amount be paid. —Mr Eldku proposed, and Mr A. Thomson seconded, that the Board 6hould refuse to pay the amount.—The motion was carried.— Mr Vj,v,m said if the Board's auditor admitted the amount; ho would be satislicd. Mr A. J. Burns, secretary of the Westport Coal Cornpan v, applied for the use of the Board's harrows ii» order to try their effect on the Duller bar.—Granted. A return of the vessels arriving at Port Chalmers during last year was laid on the table. A telegram from Wellington was read stating that the lion. Major Atkinson had authorised the remission of one-half of the dock dues for the Rotomahona up to the date when the dock was vested in the Board. ENGINEER'S RF.rORT. The Engineer reported as follows : Dredge 222.—As the buckets of the big dredge were mostly in an unsatisfactory condition a pattern bucket was made for the purpose of seeing if suitable ones could be manufactured here at a moderate cost; but the result was not quite satisfactory, the difficulty being the want of material and appliances such as were available for similar purposes in Britain. He however thought by having a modified pattern a few could be manufactured which would do until others could be obtained from the Old Country. The ones now on the dredge cost about LSO, and a total outfit of the game design would cost aboutL2,9oo. He thought by varying the design and calling for tenders, a complete set could be got in Britain for probably L 2.000 or L 2,200. In the meantime, however, it would be necessary to make provision for uigent wants by getting say eight or ten hack' made at once, at a cost (with links) of from L 320 to L4OO. These would, of course, be of the best material ebtnmable here, but still inferio l to the caststeel ones which could be got in Britain. It would be necessary also to have either a new top tumbler or the present one repaired. The cost for repairs would be L6O, and for a new tumbler LOO. Training-wall at the Heads.—He handed to the chairman copies of Sir J. Coode's drawings and report, which he had taken to Wellington with him. He now forwarded duplicate tracings, shoiving the nature of the works proposed to be carried out, for submission to the Governor -in - Council for approval. These did not differ, except in the extent of the work and some details of construction, from those previously forwarded by him in April last, and subsequently submitted to Sir J. Coodc for his opinion. That opinion had been embodied in the drawings now forwarded, except in such cases as a modification in the direction of economy, having regard to the timbers of the Colony and the capacities of the manufactories here for ironwork. In connection with the speedy execution of these works, which were absolutely necessary for the permanent and radical improvement of the bar, he would recommend that the Board should call for tenders for the formation of the railway from the quarry site to the beginning of wall (estimate L30O), and to make application to the Government for the assistance of prisoners in carrying out tho work. Vulcan and New Era Dredges.—He had found it necessary to start the New Era to some urgentlyrequired dredging while the Vulcan was laid up, the crews being furnished from the steamers and the dredge Vulcan, with the exception of one or two minor appointments made temporarily. He would recommend that the two dredges he still kept at work until the dredging alongside Port Chalmers wharf, beinr done by the Vulcan, is completed. Old account of Messrs Sparrow and Co.— Messra Sparrow and Co. had delivered up a portion of plant belonging to the New Era, but not in value representing the amount of their account. There was much in that account which he could not certify, partly because he was not cognisant ot the work being done, and partly becaso the prices charged appeared to him to be very high. On the latter point perhaps it would be advisable to have the opinion of a neutral expert. It was resolved, in reference to the first clause of the report, that the recommendation of the.Engineer i c tumbler be agreed to (cost, LOO); also as to eight or ten backs (cost from L 320 to • L 100). It was resolved : "That Mr Wales and the Engineer confer with Mr Darling, of the Union Steam Ship Company, about ordeiing duplicates of all such parts of tho working machinery of dredge 222 a3 may apr.ear desirable to keep her in constant working order, specifications of such estimate of cost to be presented to the BoarJ." Tho second clause was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs Walc3, A. Thomson, and Captain Scott. KITOI-T OV I'KARO.n'B CONTRACT. The report with reference to Mr Fearon's contract was adopted.