OTAGO HARBOUR

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 13

OTAGO HARBOUR

BOARD'S MONTHLY MEETING The \)tago Harbour Board held its monthly meeting last night; present Messrs J. Loudon (chairman), H. M. Driver, F. E. Tyson, D. F. H. Sharpe, T. Anderson, A. Campbell, W. Begg, J. B. Waters, H. C. Campbell, and Captain Coll M'Donald. FINANCE. The debit bank balance was reported to be £13,057 6s 2d. Mr Sharpe remarked that the balance was growing. QUESTION OF DUES. The By-laws Committee reported having thoroughly investigated the question as to whether a reduction in outward dues on produce would encourage the shipment of increased quantities from this port, but regret that, in its opinion, no'reduction could be made in the meantime. The committee therefore recommends accordingly. The committee had considered the question of the board obtaining power to alter its charges more easily than by the existing method, and excommended that the matter stand over meantime. The committee had also considered letters from Messrs Cooke, Howlison, and Co. Ltd. and Ford Motors (Dunedin) Ltd. asking reconsideration of the inward dues on motor vehicles on wheels, as contained in its bylaw, and recommended that these firms be advised that the board regretted that no reduction could be made. The report was adopted. TO WHARVES. ■ The Standing Committee reported that it had carefully considered the communications from the district engineer of N.Z. Railways forwarding schedule of repairs reported as necessary by the bridge inspector, together with the report of the board’s engineer, and now recommended as follows: (1) That the engineer be authorised to make the necessary repairs to Birch street wharf to meet the requirements of the railway engineer at a cost not exceeding £500; (2) that the engineer be authorised to make the necessary repairs to the export wharf to meet the requirements of the railway engineer at a cost not exceeding £850; (3) that the question of repairs to George street pier be left in the hands of the board’s engineer; and (4) that the question of repairs to Bowen pier stand in abeyance meantime. The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer (Mr J. M‘6. Wilkie) reported that during the month the dredge Otakou carried 28 loads (41,400 cubic yards) of material, which was 'deposited at the > dredge Vulcan. During the month the dredge steamed 397 miles add consumed 88J tons of fuel oil. During the month the dredge Vulcan pumped 42,920 cubic yards of material' received from dredge -Otakou into the South Endowment reclamation area.

During the period of three weeks ended January 30, 2,225 cubic yards of stone were desposited on the Mole, and 196 cubic yards of debris to the Port road repairs. On Saturday, Januaary 16, No. 21 tunnel shot was fired, with satisfactory results. Repairs were carried out to. the locomotive, steam shovel, and cranes, and to the track. The railway crossings for the Victoria wharf were expected early in March, rand on their arrival the work of laying the decking would be completed. To date a length of 4,290 ft of the seaward face of the south endowment wall had been pitched with stone. The greater portion of the roadway at Coates crescent had been completed, and the work was suspended on February 12. Excavation work in connection with the widening of the canal was in progress both above and below Anzac avenue bridge on the north side of the canal. The steam pile driver pontoon had been slipped for cleaning and repairs. The survey launch had been slipped for repairs and overhaul of the engine. The old Back Beacon had been dismantled and was being re-erected on the new site at Harrington Point. Material and the pile driving plant had been sent to the Spit to erect a new front beacon at Hewlett Point. Hayward Point Light.—Repairs had been carried out to the aerial tramway for conveying gas cylinders from the boat landing stage, and repairs ha.d also been carried out to the boat landing [stage. Two vessels were docked at Otago Dock during January, and three pumps were in operation. Two vessels were also docked at Port Chalmers Dock,, two pumps being in operation. The drainage (lumps were in operation for 361 hours 25 minutes. The report was adopted. CHANNEL SOUNDINGS The Harbour Master (Captain J. MacLean) reported that, during January soundings were taken in the nortn channel, the least water at'low wter on the line of leads being 34ft at the outer end. The south channel was scouring out slowly, and the least depth at low water was 26ft. Arrangements were under way to shift the leading beacons to show the deepest water in the north channel, which was 38ft at present. . The Lower Harbour was still maintaining a depth of 30ft at low water; the least width was in Deborah Bay, which was 300 ft. . The Victoria channel had a least depth of 20ft '6in at low water. Plans of Dunedin and Port Chalmers wharves would show the depths at the various berths. The report was adopted. ACCIDENT RISK. The board adopted the Standing Committee’s recommendation that the board’s accident risk for the ensuing year be divided as at present between tl 3 four New Zealand companies, and the State, the Standard Insurance Co., being tlie next on the rota, to be the distributing company. LANDING AT HARRINGTON POINT. The Standing Committee recommended in the matter of the communication from the Portobello Railway Ferry asking the board to provide a landing at Harrington Point that Mr A. Campbell, the engineer (Mr J. M‘G Wilkie), and the harbour master (Captain J. M'Lean) be authorised to confer with the interested parties and report. , . , , It was decided that owing to the absence of the engineer the matter should stand over. HARBOUR MASTER’S REPORT. The Harbour iMas.i reported that during January 21 coastal vessels (14,884 tons) arrived at Dunedin, three'intercolonial (4,051 tons), ten’overseas vessels (41,395 tons), and three warships (366 tons), a total of 37 vessels (60.696 tons). The arrivals at Port Chalmers were: Three coastal vessels (2,032 tons), and three overseas vessels (17,661 tons), a total of six vessels (19,693 tons). The departures from Dunedin were: Twenty-two coastal vessels (17,719 tons), three intercolonial vessels (5,040 tons), nine overseas vessels (35,327 tons), and three warships (366 tons). From Port Chalmers the departures were: Two coastal vessels (1,218 tons) and six overseas vessels

(37,778 tons). Pilotage figures were: Inwards 13 vessels (59,086 tons), outwards 15 vessels (61,135 tons), and removals 4 vessels (18,069 tons), total of 32 vessels (138,290 _ tons). 'Xhe tug Dunedin was sixty-six _ hours under steam, steamed 344 miles, and the amount of coal consumed was 47 tons 15cwt. The report was adopted. LEITH CANAL FLOOD PROTECTION. The Standing Committee recommended for approval the final plan of the Leith Canal proposed flood protection scheme. The recommendation was adopted. FINANCE. The Chairman reported that the bank balances showed a net debit of £13,057 6s 2d. , , , The Chairman said that they had received the balance-sheet from the auditor, duly certified to. There weie no tags, ACCEPTANCE OF TENDER, The tenders for steel reinforcement rods for the Leith Canal were referred to the engineer, the committee being authorised to accept the most eligible tender as approved by the engineer. EMPLOYEE’S REQUEST. The Engineer forwarded a request from an employee of tho_ board for permission to teach an evening class at the Technical College. Mr Anderson said that he did not think the board should allow him- to take on the extra work. He believed in “ One man, one job.” The applicant was in employment, and the board should not allow it. Mr Driver said that the work was being done in the employee’s own time, and he could see no objection to it. The Chairman said that similar applications had been granted in the past. On the motion of Mr Driver, seconded by Captain M'Donald, the request was granted. 1