OTAGO HARBOUR

Evening Star, Issue 20979, 18 December 1931, Page 13

OTAGO HARBOUR

BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING The final meeting of the Otago Harbour Board for 1931 was held last night, the board first meeting in Standing Committee. Mr John Loudon presided over the following members; — Captain Coll M'Donakl, Messrs H. M. Driver, H. C. Campbell, J. M‘C. Dickson, T. Anderson, A, Campbell, J. B. Waters, W. Begg. A FISHING MATTER. The Port Chalmers Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Ltd. asked that a shelter be erected over the staging to protect fish waiting shipment by rail and for the enlargement of the hut. The board decided to refer the matter to the Railway Department, the department to be asked to erect the shelter. ' The engineer’s report on the application was received. s SALE OF SECTIONS. The board’s solicitors forwarded a clause for insertion in the “Wash-ing-up ” Bill empowering the board to sell sections 16 and 17 to the Drainage Board, the money received from the sale to be applied towards the redempion of debentures falling due on January 1, 1934 The clause specifies that in the meantime the money should be invested by the board or deposited in the bank. Members approved of the draft clause. LEITH CANAL. In reply the board’s request for a 10ft strip of land required from the Albany Street School area on the northern side of the Leith canal in connection with the proposed works, the Education Board wrote granting the land. A letter of thanks to the Education Board was approved, as were also letters to the Hon. W. Downie Stewart and Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., and the Marine Department and the City Council. Authority was granted the engineer to call for tenders for the necessary steel required for the Leith, works. The quantity of steel has not yet been computed. Captain M'Donald and the chairman were authorised to open the tenders. ST. LEONARDS BEACH. The request of the Burkes-St. Leonards Progressive League that a further load of, sand be deposited on the St. Leonards-beach was granted. , DEMOLITION OFFER DECLINED. Tho Dunedin Demolition Company wrote making an offer for the purchase, for removal, of tho buildings on tho section purchased from Miss Sundstrum in Lower Rattray street. On the recommendation of the acting secretary (Mr J. Renton), tho board decided to decline tho offer. 1 ENGINEER’S CONFERENCE. The Now Zealand Society of Civil Engineers wrote asking for the attendance of Messrs Wilkie and Swanson at the annual conference in Wellington in February next. The board decided to send one engineer to the conference, the representation to be left in Mr Wilkie’s hands. The board also agreed that if a second engineer desired to attend the conference, leave would be granted, without the payment of expenses. OTAKOU’S BUCKETS. Final letters in. connection with tho settlement of the dispute between the board and the builders (Messrs-Flem-ing and Ferguson) over the defective buckets on the dredge Otakon were noted. The chairman said tho settlement had now been finalised. DUES ON PRODUCE. In further reference to the application for a reduction in dues on produce consequent on a reduction in sues 011 fertilisers, Messrs Eraser and Co* wrote asking the board to explain why it did not think the exports of produce and manures were analogous. The Secretary reported that ho had replied reaffirming the board’s previous statements and pointing out that the reduction in fertiliser dues was made to develop an export trade in manures. Produce was an established export. Mr H. C. Campbell said that dues, on a - broad principle, would he most equitable on an ad valorem basis. Mr Anderson warned the board that there would be cutting in dues in every port from Auckland to tho Bluff. The board would have to look out for business. Mr Waters said that, owing to tho drought in th? north, produce shipping from the south would be more exten sive, and the board should consider its charges as compared with those in force at Bluff. N The question was referred to the Dues Commit!#; to investigate and to make a recommendation to the board. STAFF APPOINTMENTS. Consequent on the recent deaths of Messrs E. Head (harbour master at Port Chalmers) and D. Simpson (assistant signalman), Mr ,F. MTvenzie was appointed piermaster and Mr A. R. Ness was appointed assistant signalman for a probationary period of three months Tho recommendations were made by the harbour master (Captain Mac Lean). ■ The board also adopted his recommendation that no appointment to the pilot launch be made m the meantime, owing to\ the depres sion in shipping, and arrangements could be made for the work to be carried out by tho present staff as required. FINANCE. The neb, credit balance at tho bank was reported to be £937 15s 7d. EXTENSION OF RAILS. Tho General Manager of Railways, writing regarding the board’s request for an extension of rails on the George street pier, stated that be had inspected the wharf, and had come to the conclusion that the expenditure involved in making the extension would not be justified. Mr A. Campbell: They must be in a tight fix for money if they cannot afford that. l Tho letter was received. FERTILISER DUES. Correspondence was received from the Dominion Fertiliser Company regarding fertiliser dues,—The Chairman said the board should be congratulated on having arrived at a very satisfactory arrangement. HARRINGTON POINT WHARF. Some discussion took place on the matter of the lease to Mr R. S. Miller of the Harrington Point wharf. The Marine Department advised that the matter was being investigated. MiMiller wrote stating that after building up a trade to Harrington Point wharf be conceived the idea of leasing the wharf on condition that ho kept it in a good state of repair. Under the circumstances he did not see why his competitors should be given the use of the wharf without assisting in the cost of keeping it in repair. It was not the writer’s intention to charge all users of the wharf sixpence. On the motion of Mr Dickson it was decided to Hold the matter over till a reply from the department was received.

LEVEL CROSSING. The Dominion. Fertilise! - Company wrote approving of the board’s proposals for constructing a level crossing to give access to the Ravensbourne wharf. The reply was received. VICTORIA WHARF RAILWAY. The sub-committee set up to go into the matter of railway connection with Victoria wharf reported having given careful consideration to the question as to the best method of bringing pressure to bear on the Railway Board to make the connection to Victoria wharf and to eliminate or reduce the proposed haulage charge of 2s 6d per ton from the goods yard to the lie-lines at Victoria wharf. Finally the following resolution was adopted by the committee, a copy thereof being duly forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce: —“That it would bo advisable for the Chamber of Commerce, the Importers and Shippers’ Association, and other bodies interested to meet the Harbour Board in conference to discuss the question of railway connection with the Victoria wharf via Wicklilfe street, and that the Chainber of Commerce be asked to convene such meeting. The Harbour Board is of opinion that the conference indicated should take place at the earliest possible date.” The Chairman stated that no reply had as yet been received from the Chamber of Commerce, and the matter was allowed to stand over. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted : For kerosene: Shell Oil Co., at current rates. For fuel oil: Vacuum Oil Co., at lid a gallon. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr J. M‘G. Wilkie) reported that during the month 25,160 cubic yards of material were pumped into the south endowment reclamation area. Mule Reconstructon.—During the period of four weeks ended December 5, 1931, 3,810 cubic yards of stone were deposited on the mole, and 625 cubic yards of debris on the root of tbo mole. Stonework has now reached within eight bays of the end of the structure. The usual maintenance repairs were effected to the quarry machinery. Victoria Wharf Reconstruction.— Three hundred feet of backing was repaired and 700 ft renewed. The sleepers between rails on the open portion were adzed ready for crossings and decking. Fish Landing Stage, Port Chalmers. —The work of covering the deck of this staging with a concrete slab and the installation of a concrete gutter was completed. Wharf Lighting.—Two electric light poles were erected at the Port Chalmers wharves. Broad Bay Wharf.—Repairs were effected to a portion of the outer end of this wharf where damaged by a ferry steamer. The small boat lauding steps and a portion of the decking were repaired where necessary. A new roof was fitted to the waiting shed to replace Die one blown away by the recent storm. Sea Wall and Boat Shed, Ravensbourne.—A portion of the wall in the vicinity of the Ravensbourne Boating Club’s shed was repaired with stone removed from the upper end of the half-tide wall. South Endowment Wall, —To date a length of 4,059 ft of the seaward face of this wall was hand pitched with stone. Roads.—The work ot permanently forming the board’s roadway from T. to X sheas is progressing. A length of 360 ft by 28fb in width was completed, and a further section of the same dimensions is nearing completion. Relief Works.—Relief workers were engaged erecting walls for reclamation purposes at the Leith estuary area. Leith Canal.—Excavation operations were commenced with relief labour on that portion of the Leith Canal proposed to be widened between Harbour terrace and the Highway Bridge.' A considerable quantity of plant comprising barrows, picks, shovels, and planks was acquired. Portable sheds for storing gear were removed to the site and conveniences erected.

The report was received. HARBOUR MASTER’S REPORT.

The report of the harbour master (Captain J. Mac Lean) stated that during the month twenty-live coastal vessels, aggregating 15,043 tons, six intercolonial vessels, aggregating 8,642 tons, and six oversea vessels, aggregating 31,333 tons, arrived in port. ClTannel Soundings.—The lensUwater in the North Channel from soundings taken on December 2 is 33ft low water on the line of leads, the hank extending more to the westward. In the near future some alteration will have to bo done in connection with the leading beacons. The South Channel is scouring out around Taiaroa Heads, the least water being :26ft low water, and the width of this 26ft patch is only 800 ft. The Lower Harbour is maintaining a depth of 30ft at low water, with a least width of 300 ff in Deborah Bay. The Victoria Channel is maintaining a low water depth of 20ft Gin. The report was received. GREETINGS. The Chairman wished members the compliments of the season, and expressed his gratification at the co-opera-tion shown in a difficult year. Mr Loudon also thanked Messrs Wilkie, Renton, and Walsh, and Captain MacLean and the other members of the staff for their loyalty and sincere services. He described the staff as “a fine body of men.’* Members reciprocated the chairman’s greetings, and they were later entertained at a social hour.