THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 7417, 12 January 1888, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

The Harbor Board met this afternoon ; present —Messrs A. H. Ross (chairman), Barnes, Adams, Mackerras, Reid, J. B. Thomson, A. Thomson, Wales, and Law. The Harbor-master’s report stated that the soundings on the bar on the 7th inst. showed the least depth at low water to be 21ft. During December sixty-eight vessels, of 32,170 tonnage, arrived at this port; and sixty-nine, of 34,383 tonnage, sailed.—The report was adopted. The Engineer reported that during December the Vulcan had been employed patly at widening the channel opposite the Victoria wharf and partly in the steamers' basin. Her output was 18,072 cubic yards, at a cost of 2ld per yard. The cost of putting deposits on the Board’s endowments by the various cranes and derricks ranged from 3?, d to 8d per yard, the higher rates including cost of levelling. Quarrying had been going on at Goat Island, whence 2,165 cubic yards were taken and placed on various works at a cost of per yard. The wool-dumping plant was at work, and giving satisfaction to the lessee. At the North Heads 8,771 cubic yards of stone and spoil had keen used, at a total coat of la 10fd per yard, which includes getting and filling, haulage and tipping, mining and blasting. —The report was adopted. claim X-'OR compensation. The following communication was received : To the Harbor Board, Dunedin. Take notice that William Barrett Marsh, of Dunedin, formerly collector of dues but now out of employment, intends to bring an action against you for compensation for loss of office as collector of dues, his services ns such having been dispensed with. Dated this 7th day of January, 1888,

Basil Sievwright, Solicitor for W. B. Marsh,

Without discussion, the Board resolved that the communication be minuted as “ received.” THE PELICHET BAY RIFLE RANGE. Major Callau and Captain Proudfoot waited on the Board as a deputation from the Volunteers to ask permission to erect mounds, from which to shoot, on the foreshore of Pelichet Bay; and also to form a narrow footpath leading to the mounds.— It was resolved that the application be granted, subject to the supervision of the Board's engineer.

FINANCE. The Secretary submitted the annual balance-sheet and accounts m accordance with the Harbors Acts Amendment Act of 1885. The Finance Committee reported as follows (1) lie the future position of the Engineer : The Engineer's memo, having been considered, the Committee recommend the Board that his present salary be continued till March 31, and thereafter be fixed at L3OO per annum, with the use of offices ; his duties to be as specified in his memo., and to be terminated as therein specified. (2) Budget statement for 1888, as asked for by General Fulton’s motion at a recent meeting, was dealt with in the following special report:—

The Finance Committee, as Instructed by the Board, have to report as follows 1, The balance of loan account available for works as at 31st December, 1887 £ll,Oßl 8 4 Liabilities under contract and Engineer’# estimate to complete works sanctioned .. .. £O.BIO 13 11 Engineer’s salary, 13:8 .. .. 400 0 0 Leaving the small balance of L 370 14s 5d to cover contingencies and make good email unforeseen items. Under this head therefore the Committee recommend that no further new works be undertaken, and the greatest care be exercised to prevent any excess of the Engineer’s estimate. 2. The treasurer’s estimate of revenue lot 1888 is L 44.600, and of expenditure L4E.400, showing a probable deficiency of LBOO. The Committee have pressed upon the heads of depaitmentsthe necessity tor retrenchment, and after very careful consideration are unable to recommend any further reductions in expenditure than these given, consistent with the efficiency of the Service. The balance at the credit of general account on December 31 was L 17.774 8s sd, which, with an available asset of twenty-six released bonds in the hands of our London bankers for sale, taken at L 2,600 (the last sale having been effected at a par of 30 per cent), wHI leave, after payment of the interest due on January 1, a ba'anco of say, LI,BOO, to the credit of this account.

The Committee do not think it would be wise, therefore, to increase the dues, as this balance will be available to meet any shortcoming in revenue for a year or two, by which time it is hoped that trade will revive and bring increased revenue; besides, the arge endowment now available for leasing will be gradually taken up and yield increasing revenue. The Board have the power at any time, when the necessity arises, of increasing the dues to an extent to provide for any possible falling off in revenue. Memo, from treasurer and engineer, and harbormaster's estimate of expenditure attached.

On the motion of Mr Mackerras, it was resolved to postpone consideration of the report till next meeting.