THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 9185, 14 July 1893, Page 1

THE HARBOR BOARD.

There were present at yesterday's meeting Mr H. Gourley (chairman), and Messrs J. Robin, E. G. Allen, W. Barclay, J. T. Mackerras, J. Carroll, W. Murray, G. M. Barr, J. R. Monson, and H. Guthrie. The bank book laid on the table showed a credit of £1,85119s Id.

CORRESPONDENCE. The Anderson Bay Ferry and Baths Company asked for the use of the Board's Priestman dredge and punts for about a fortnight for the purpose of deepening the water outside of the bridge, and thus permit the ferry steamer to run at all states of the tide.—The Chairman suggested compliance with the request.—Mr Barclay seconded the motion to that effect, holding that it was the Hoard's duty to encourage enterprise such as that displayed by the company.— Carried without dissent.

Mr J. N. Merry, of Filleul street, addressed a lengthy letter to the Board setting forth his statement of the circumstances under which he was dispossessed of his lease in Beach street, and asking for an audience if the Board desired a fuller explanation of his request for consideration.—On the motion of Mr CARROLL, seconded by Mr Barclay, it was resolved to refer the letter to the Reserves Committee for report. WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. .Messrs Gourley and Carroll only being in attendance at the usual meeting of the Committee, they had referred to the Board the letters from the Anderson Bay Ferry Company and from Messrs Allan and Ellis, and also alt the correspondence having reference to repairs done to the shoots of dredge 222 at Wellington. It was suggested that a copy of Engineer Smith's letter of July 1 be sent to the secretary of the Wellington Board for any remarks he might have to make, so that this Board might have both sides of the question before them, and that in the meantime no opinion be expressed. The inspector of works had prepared a specification for metalling the roadway at the Jetty street wharf, the estimated cost being £7l. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report, and in doing so explained that, a deputation having waited on the Board with reference to the state of Jetty street, Mr Barr and himself went and had a look at the place referred to, and found it in a very bad condition, not iit for any traffic. Mr Barr seconded the motion.

Mr Barclay said that the work might be necessary, but had the Board assumed the responsibility over this road ? Mr Barr : There lias never been any.question about Jetty street; it was the cross wharf there was the dispute about. Mr Carroll supported, the motion; but, seeing the nccessit}' for economy, it was only right fhat those persons having control of the tugs should be careful about the consumption of coal. The Chairman remarked that Mr Robin had intimated his intention of raising a question on the subject after the adoption of the report had been carried.

The motion was then put and passed. TUB KOPUTAI.

Tho Harbormaster reported that the Koputai's low-pressure cylinder, air, circulating, and feed pumps required overhauling, and the vessel required to lie docked for cleaning and painting. She was last docked in October, 1892. The Inspector of Works reported that the combustion chamber of the middle furnace was very much wasted hi five places, involving the necessity of removing the lower back plate and the two bottom 2)lates. The repairs would cost about £SO. As the work was of a very intricate'nature and would require the utmost care to ensure a good job, he thought it would be more satisfactory to have it done under the annual contract rather than by tender, all the more so as it was impossible to see the full extent of what might be required until some of the plates were removed. Mr Robin said that he should first like to have an explanation of an account passed by the Committee in favor of Mr Gardener, engineer, for repairs to the Koputai while the l'luoky was laid up. Why was Mr Gardener employed when the engineer of the Plucky was laid up ? He had been told that Mr Matheson, engineer of the Plucky, was not capable of taking charge of the Koputai. If true, this was strange; and if untrue, it was a reflection on Mr Matheson's abilities, and he should be vindicated.

The Chairman said that the Koputai was a vessel that not one of the engineers visiting our port could do anything with at all. So he had been told. And seeing that Mr Matheson's services were required on the Plucky while the repairs were going on, he (the chairman) had -suggested that Mr Gardener should be employed. That was the explanation. The Koputai was a boat that not even the engineers of the big ocean steamers could manage. She was a most unfortunate vessel.

Mr Rodin : It is a great pity we have got her. The Chairman signified assent to that opinion. Mr RouiN said he also noticed that during June the account for coal for the two tugs came to £4B 17s 6d, and there were only five towages in that month.

Mr Baku remarked that there was nothing to show that this' coal was all used.

Mr Mackerras thought that the information should be supplied. The Chairman said he would ask the, harbor-master in the morning. Mr Robin said he would move that the secretary procure a statement as to the coal for the last six months. This was seconded and carried. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. A reply had been received from the Government Insurance epartment to the Board's application for information with regard to the investment of funds, but the chairman thought it would be well to make some further inquiries, and accordingly entrusted Sir Robert Stout with the matter referred to. The treasurer's monthly statement of revenue and expenditure and the list of outstanding accounts were submitted, and the treasurer also laid before the Committee a statement for the half-year ended the 30th June, upon which return a conference with the Board was desired in committee. Acting on the last-mentioned request, the 'Board went into committee,