PORT OF OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 21013, 29 January 1932, Page 1

PORT OF OTAGO

HARBOUR BOARD'S MONTHLY. MEETING

The first monthly meeting of tho Otago Harbour Board for 193 U was held last evening, the chairman (Mr J. Loudon) presiding over an attendance which comprised the following:—Messrs W. Begg, A. Campbell], H. C. Campbell, J. M‘C. Dickson, H. M, Driver, J. H. Duncan, H. E. Moller, D. F. H, Shax-pe, F. E. Tyson, J. B. Waters, and Captain C. M'Donald. FINANCIAL. A financial statement showed that thei’e was a net debit bank balance of £15,569 17s. On the recommendation of the Standing Committee accounts totalling £8,178 5s 6d were passed for payment. DREDGE OTAKOU. ,A letter was received from Messrs Fleming and Ferguson Ltd. acknowledging final payment in regard to tho purchase' of the dredge Otakou. “ This cleans the whole thing up,” remarked the Chairman. DONATIONS BY BOARD. The Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association wrote requesting a donation to the Sanders and Cornwelll Cup contests. Mr Moller moved and Mr Duncan seconded that £2 2s be donated. Mr Tyson considered there should be no donation to this or anything else as long as the board’s finances were in their present state. As things were, he said, it was not right to give to anything except the cause of unemployment. Messrs Campbell and Waters opposed the idea of a donation. * Mr Dickson: If we are not in a position to give £lO 10s it is, not worth while giving anything. Mr Duncan: When the cups are raced for in Dunedin the contests bring a great many visitors to the city, and money is spent here. It is also good for the Otago Harbour Board. Messrs Driver, and Begg also spoke against the motion. Mr Tyson; We could send individual subscriptions from members, but I do not think the board should donate anything at the present time. After Mr/ Sharpe had spoken in similar strain Mr Moller said he was willing .to withdraw his motion. Without further discussion this course was adopted. VISIT OF VERONICA. Commander Morgan, of H.M.S. Veronica, wrote asking if it would be convenient if he brought his ship on a visit to Dunedin from Thursday, February 11, till Tuesday, February 23. .: It was decided to reply that all fad- ■ lities would bo given with pleasure. REDUCTION IN RENT. The Standing Committee recommended in tho matter of a communication from Messrs M. Stevenson • Ltd. requesting a reduction in the rent of section 27, block LXIII. (which they repurchased at tho recent sale of leases), that they be advised that the board regretted that the law did not permit of any reduction being made. The recommendation was approved. CONDITION OF WHARVES. . The Standing ' Committee recommended, in the matter of the communications from the district engineer of railways forwarding bridge inspector s reports on the condition of the Birch street and Port Chalmers wharves, and the engineer’s report in connection therewith, that the matters of the Birch street wharf repairs and railway connection with Victoria wharf in relation thereto, also the repairs to Port Chalmers wharves, as requested by the Railway Department, bo referred to a committee consisting of the chairman, Messrs A. Campbell, Moller, Tyson, Waters, and Captain M'Donald to report. , The recommendation was approved. LAY-UP BERTHAGE. A sub-committee consisting of the chairman, Mr Tyson, and Captaiiv M'Donald reported haying considered a minute from the acting-secretary with respect to the lay-up berthage rates as contained in the proposed new by-law 22 The committee stated iliat the adoption of the by-law would involve the board in loss of revenue. The committee expressed tho opinion, however, that tho by-law was in the best interests of the port and the province, and should be adhered to.. Accordingly it gave its recommendation m that direction. ~ Captain M'Donald said it was thought they would have to put the port on an equal footings with the other centres and encourage ships to lay up ‘ iere - They had no roadstead to speak or, and their channel was narrow. The province would gain what tho hoard lost in revenue. The report was approved. BYRD ANTARCTIC TRIP. The Standing Committee recommended that an invitation be extended to Admiral Byrd to use the port as a base in connection with. jus further proposed Antarctic expedition on the same terms as on his first visit. This was agreed to, as was also an invitation to Lady Yule to visit the port in her yacht Nahiin. SALE OF BLOCK. The Standing Committee recommended in the matter of tho request of tho Drainage Board with respect to the sale of section 15, block. LXXIIL,' m connection with the Wilkie road sewer, that the valuation of the land as submitted by the board’s valuer, be approved, and the section offered to the Drainage Board at the stated price, the compensation for improvements as asked for by the lessee to be added to the purchase price. Tho price was fixed at £350, plus £BS compensation for improvements. SHIPPING RETURNS. The harbour master (Captain J. MacLean) submitted the following summary of the shipping returns; — Arrivals. —Dunedin: Coastal,.2o vessels (15,209 tons); intercolonial, 10 vessels f1\,437 tons); overseas, 5 vessels (19,853 tons) ; total, 35 vessels (49,499 .tons)., Arrivals —Port Chalmers:

Coastal, 2 vessels (2,438 tons); over-« seas, 4 vessels (28,555 tons); total, 6 vesels (30,993 tons). Twenty-three vessels had_ been piloted, and the tug Dunedin had, 1 steamed 210 miles. The least water in the north channel on the line of leads was 34ft with the hank extending to the westward. The south channel was scouring out around Taiaroa 1 Heads, the least water being 26ft, and the width of this 26ft patch was 8001 b (approx.). The Lower Harbour was maintaining a depth of 30ft low water with a least width in Deborah Bay of 300 ft. The Victoria channel was maintaining a low water depth of 20ft 6iu. : ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr J. M‘G. Wilkie)] reported as follows: Dredging.—The dredge Otakau during the period December 14-18 dredged 7,400 cubic yards. The whole of this material was deposited at the dredge Vulcan. During the period,the dredge steamed 65 miles and consumed 20£ tons of fuel oil. During the period December 15-17 the dredge. Vulcan pumped 5,920 cubic yards of .material!' received from the dredge Otakau into the south endowment reclamation area,; Docks.—During the month of December four vessels were docked. The drainage pumps were in operation for 39GJ hours, the electric crane seven hours five minutes, and the sheerlegs for two hours. _ . ■ Mole Reconstruction. —During the period of. two weeks ended December 19, 1,605 cubic yards of stone were deposited on the mole, 155 cubic, yards of debris at the root of the mole, and 370 cubic yards -of debris in the swamp alongside the railway lines. The works were closed down on December 19, except for the driving of the No. 21' tunnel, which was continued by cooperative contract throughout the holiday period in order to bo ready for firing at the commencement of the New Year. During the holidays repairs were executed to'the loco, steam: shovel, and steam crane. Victoria Wharf Reconstruction.— < During the month the following new work was carried out:—Five hundred 1 feet of timber backing was placed and fastened in position, 200 feet of decking laid and two cast iron manholes fitted to give access to an oil-filling point. Cross Wharf.—Repairs .were ese, cuted to a portion or the decking and ramp, and the old landing steps removed. ■ , . Spit Wharf.—The landing steps were renewed and 60 feet of* the approach decking repaired ' South Endowment Wall.—To date a length of 4,124 feet of the seaward face of mis wall has been hand pitched with stone. ' ■- Roads.—The work of constructing the board’s new roadway from ‘‘T’ to “ X ” sheds is progressing steadily, a length of 500 feet by 28 feet in width having been completed and two additional sections—l6o feet* by 28 feet and 175 feet by 75 feet—formed ready for metalliiift-and rmlm;.. ‘ => 'Victoria... Wharf Oil Berth.—Two heavy mooring chains, attached -o strong hackers were installed at the northern end of Victoria Wharf for facilitating the mooring of oil tankers.. An extra mooring pile was also driven, Leith Canal.—Excavation work in connection with the widening of the canal is now being earned out both, above and below Anzac avenue bridge on the north side. A pi e-drmng derrick and near was erected on the side of the bridge in order to ascertain whether the sheet Piling composing the canal wall could be economically drawn and re-driven on the new a **Slhn—The dredge anchor boat and the steam pile driver punt were slipped for cleaning and repairs.