HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 12875, 26 July 1906, Page 5

HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinaiy meeting of the Otago Harbor Board, held this afternoon, was attended by the Hon. H. Gourley (chairman), the Hon. T. Fergus, Mr W. Barclay, Mr 0. W. Rattray, Mr E. F. Huthie, Mr D. A. De Maus, Mr J. T. Mackerras, Mr J. Watson, Mr E. G. Allen, Mr J. Rpbin, and Mr T. Ross. Mr Begg sent wi apology, and was granted leave of absence during a visit to the North. —General.— The bank pass book, laid on the table, snowed a credit balance at current account of £8,052 9s 6d. A Jetter was received from Sirs Seddon acknowkdgfng the Board's resolution of tympathy ’in regard to the death of the ate Premier. —Removing Cargo,—• Messrs Briscoe and Co. addressed the Bf)ard by letter with reference to the recent pressure re removal of cargo from tho wharf. While appreciating what the Board have done during recent years for merchants generally, especially in tbs improved wharf and shed accommodation, tho writers pointed out that they at times labored uiider great disadvantage owing to the extremely poor facilities for shilling . heavy goods. Mr Robin said he understood that, a ves- . • come to this firm laden heavily that some special arrangemont had been made whereby Briscoe an/1 Lo were discharging this cargo themselves and not through .Messrs John Mill and Co., who had the contract; also that this special arrangement was one out of which the Board benefited not a single sixpence. He would like to know what inis arrangement was, and how it came out of fhe usual procedure as to receiving and ingMr Mackerras, referring to Briscoe and Ln s letter, said it was full and explicit, and lie thought they should ask the secretary to report at length to the Board in writing so that the matter should lie fully before the Board. Mr. Ross said that- this brought up the question of getting away goods within the two days, and lie would move that it be referred to the By-laws Committee. decided, on the motion n,.rw M^ k fr M Gf oonded k y Mr huthie, to^th^^iarf air Mason be asked t0 re Port The Hon. T Fergus: What now about the Question that Mr Robin has raised? I should hke to know, if this was done if the chairman authorised it. The Chairman said that he did not recollect anything about it. ~ Secretary (Mr J. Blair Mason) said that the question of a former shipment of tilea consigned to Briscoe mid Co. had come before the Finance Committee. That firm complained that they had been put to great expense and trouble in receiving and delivering these tiles under the contract system, and sent in a, claim to the Board for rebate. Tins claim was referred to the Finance Committee, who reported that they could not sec their way to make a rebate. I he question was then asked if the Board would allow Briscoe and Go. to receive and deliver their own cargo. During the consideration of this matter by the Finance Committee it was elucidated that it had oeen the practice of the Board in the pant to allow similar fragile cargoes to be received and delivered by tue consignees themselves. The matter was submitted to John Mill and Go. (the contractors with the Board for the receiving and delivery of car g°)> and they insisted on delivering the goods themselves. He had noted this” and on the last application by Briscoe and Co. h© had again referred the matter to John Mill and Co., who this time had agreed to allow the consignees to receive and deliver their own cargo. Therefore he had given consent to this being done. Mr Fergus said that he sympathised with any dugper taking delivery of fragile goods, hut that sort of thing should be arranged by the Board. Mill and Co. had contracted to receive all cargo at a certain figure, and the Board got certain money out of them. Were the Board’s interests being protected? The chairman and members did not know that this had been allowed. Were the Board to get the difference between what they paid the contractors per ton) and the rate imP< T d PBr Briscoe a "<J Co. suffered loss through damage to their tiles if received and delivered by the contractors, the latter were liable for the damage proved. If the Board had been applied to they have agreed to the consignee receiving his own cargo in this particular case, but each specific case should be submitted to them. The Secretary replied that the Board had contracted with the contractor to receive and deliver certain goods, and unless with the consent of the contractor neither the wharfinger nor the Board could deliver. The Hon. T. Fergus; Have you arranged for the Board getting the revenue? And have you made this arrangement without consulting the chairman? A Member ; The chairman knows nothing about it. The Secretary : The Chairman does not remember. Mr_ T. Ross said that he remembered a claim of £4O or £SO from Briscoe and Co. over the last cargo of Marseilles tiles. The Board then charged bv their own measurement, whereas experts might stack th© ijlea in such a way as to ineasure fg-r Jess than the Board’s own employees made _ it. It was agreed then that when Briscoe and Co. had another shipment of such tiles the firm would be a u°F a with to make up for a refute ove l the previous shipment pot being granted. Mr Rattray said that he was satisfied if it iras made clear that a case of this kind ihoujd come before the Board. Mr, Robin said that if the Board bad had the matter before them they would have don© exactly what Mr Mason had done, with the proviso that the per ton be-fore-mentioned would have been paid to the Board. Mr Dntbie pointed out that Briscoe and Co. ’s only reason for asking ‘to handle their -own cargo was the nature of the work. In the previous shipment tons had been damaged, whereas in the last shipment no damage had been done to the tiles, due to slow and careful handling. The matter then dropped. -r-Reports. Tbt-I&rbonxaster wjoited wto ibe-aoiai'

mum low-water depths as per latest sound ings :—Entrance to the harbpr, main channel, 39ft; Victoria channel, ft. The shipping returns for June showed an inward tonnage of 84,722, outward 74,728. Mr Robin moved the adoption of the Works Committee’s report (published yesterday), and this was adopted, - The Finance Committee reported that the following highest tenders had been accepted for the 5 per cent, consolidated debentures, available for sale by the drawing of the sinking fund on June 50:-—Eight at £ll3 12:.’ 6cl, four at £llO ss, Jive at £llO ss, apd thirty-two at, £llO Is 6d, the average price being £llO 13s B|d. —Report adopted. —By-laws.— The Board went into committee to further consider the new by-laws.