HARBOR BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 16078, 1 April 1916, Page 1

HARBOR BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Harbor Board was held last evening, and attended by Messrs J. M. Dickson, M.P. (chairman), T. Soollav, W. Wilkinson, H. E. Holler, J. H. Walker, J. Loudon, F. 0. Shaddock. H. A. Le Cren, E. C. Hazlett, H. L. Tapley, J. EL F. Hamel, T. H. Russell, and G. R, Ritchie. Tire bank book showed a credit balance of £17,696 10s Id. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Loudon, the following resolution was carried :—“ That this board place on record their appreciation of the valuable services rendered by the late Mr John Davie in the early history of the board, and desire to express their sincere sympathy with the , widow and members of the family in their sad and irreparable loss, a copy of the resolution to bo forwarded to Mrs Davie.”—Mr Hazlett mentioned that Mr Davie was a member of a committee set up in 1874 to decide whether the affairs or the harbor should be under the control of a board. At the time of his desh he was the last surviving member of that committee.

Mr C. E. Murphy, on behalf of the Alexandra branch of the Otago Expansion League, forwarded a petition for signature in connection with conserving land for fruit and mixed farming at Little Valley.—lt was decided to support the petition. —lncrease in Wages.—

The Standing Committee recommended that the application of four deck hands on tugs for an increase, held over from last board meeting, be further held over till next meeting, the secretary to submit a statement as to what an increase to the lower-paid men on the tugs, dredges, quarries, general works, etc., would represent; further, that the engineer’s report on the conditions under which the- men. on dredge 222 wore working at the Heads be received.

Mr Hazlett moved the adoption of the recommendation. ,

Mr Scollay thought the two Port Chalmers members of the board, the chairman, and the harbor master should have a talk to the men and see what they had to say on the matter and then report to the board. He would move that as an amendment.

Mr Shacklock said he would propose a further amendment, that a deputation of two representatives of deck hands on the tug and two representatives of the crew of 222 should meet the board in committee.

Mr Mollcr said he was prepared, to move a still further amendment. He had been approached by the maintenance men that owing to the cost of living they were entitled to an increase. He wanted to see them all get justice. Eventually the committee’s recommendation was adopted. —Standing Committee.—

The following other recommendations by the. Standing Committee w-ere adopted ; With respect to the letter from W. Bowles forwarding petition (83 signatures) from residents of Smith's Bay asking erection of shelter shed at petty, that the committee’s recommendation to the last board meeting be adhered to. With respect to the letters from A. Moritzson and Co. asking reduction of import charges, that the writers bo informed that no remission could be made in the case, but that the matter would be considered at the next revision of the board’s tariff. Tqnt the letter from 'Mr Wilkie accepting_ board s offer of the position of resident engineer bo received. That tho engineer be instructed to report on the feasability of nsing an improved hand crane for the old dock. That the authority of the sub-commit-tee set up in connection with the sale of dredge 404 be extended to give power to hire as well as sell.

That the reports of the engineer with respect to the rearrangements of staff in consequence of the Vulcan being closed down, etc.,_ be received, and that the usual retiring allowance (six months’ leave of absence on full pay) be granted to four men retired on account of age, also to E. Hennig.

—Deborah Bay Dredging.— Mr Scollay moved—“ That that portion of the resolution of the hoard of February 8. 1916, relative to dredging Deborah Bay to a width of 350 ft fee rescinded, and that the dredging be carried out to a width of 500 ft.

After_ discussion Air Soollav withdrew his motion on the understanding that he would give notice of another motion to include Harrington Point.

—Dock Trust.—

Mr Scollay moved, and it was carried—- “ '-That, pursuant to section 16 Otago Dock Trust Merger Act, 1908, upon payment of the sum payable bv the Corporation of Port Chalmers in respect of the. year ending December 51, 1916, in terms of the deed dated July 17, 1905, made between the said corporation of tho one part and the Otago Dock Trust of the other part, the hoard do refund, to the said corporation the whole of such sum.” —Tug Plucky.—

Tho Standing Committee also recommended that the report of the harbor master with respect to keeping the Plucky in commission he received and noted.

The report was as follows;—“ There are several reasons against tho hoard parting with tho tug Plucky. Toe Dunedin is a salvage boat, and is liable to Ire away for a lengthened period, in which case the harbor would bo without any tug. Tho Plucky can do and does a lot of light work, such as towing email vessels, punts, pile-drivers, hulks, etc., assists to dock and undock tho smaller class of Union Company steamers, does the sounding, laying and lifting buoys, etc. As the Dunedin burns about, 12cwt of coal per hour against tho Plucky's 6cwt per hour, t-ho coal bill at tho end of tho year is a consideration. Tho Dunedin has to undergo an annual survey, and usually takes = a week for overhaul, and tho "Pluckv is there to lake her place. If an urgent call comes tho Plucky can lie got ready in half an hour, whereas the Dunedin takes a full hour. Tho Plucky being a mud’ Lighter draught vessel can go to places in this harbor where the Dunedin could not go on account of her heavier draught. Sometimes both boats are at work. Should the board decide to put the sheer!ogs on to a pontoon and they are required in Dunedin it would require tho two tugs to brine them up.” The reconiir.endat.ioii was agreed to.