OTAGO HARBOUR

Evening Star, Issue 21879, 16 November 1934, Page 17

OTAGO HARBOUR

BOARD'S MONTHLY MEETING The Otago Harbour Board held its monthly meeting last night; present —Messrs H. C. Campbell (chairman), H. E. Moller. J. Loudon. D. F. H. Sharpe, J. W. Munro, M.P., J. 13. Waters, W, Begg, F, E, Tyson. R. Duncan, T. Scollay, and A. Campbell. FINANCES. A net credit bank balance of £5,161 IQs 9d was reported. YACHTING OPENING. The Ravensbonrne Boating Club’s invitation to members to be present at the official opening of the combined clubs to be held at Ravensbonrne on Saturday next was accepted. RELIEF WORKERS. The Dunedin Workers’ Friendly Association wrote asking that the board give those men on relief work under its authority an extra day’s work per week from now until Christmas. The Chairman: Members will realise that the board has no jurisdiction, except in providing the work. The Unemployment Board provides the board.

It was decided to reply that if the Unemployment Board granted the association’s request the board would 1 " provide the work and the supervision. Mr Begg suggested that the board should also add a recommendation to the Unemployment Board to grant the request. Mr Munro said many men were still unemployed. They had been given work by the Public Works Department, and had been taken off the list of unemployed. The figures were misleading. QUESTION OF PROCEDURE. Prior to consideration of the Standing Committee’s . report, Mr Begg moved that the report be taken as a whole and approved. Members bad spent three hours already discussing the various clauses. After several member* had expressed the view that the proposal was dangerous, it was withdrawn. CONSIDERATION OF ESTIMATES. It was decided that the estimates for the, year should be considered' at a special meeting of the board to be held on a date to be fixed by the chairman, VALUER REAPPOINTED. On the recommendation of the Standing Committee, Mr G. Simpson was ap pointed the board’s valuer for 1933. REDUCTION OF DUES. On the recommendation of the Standing Committee, the following communications were referred to the Dues Committee for a report from Irvine and Stevenson’s St. George Co. Ltd., with respect to dues on whitebait, etc.; from Keith Ramsay Ltd., requesting consideration of the question of a reduction in dues on New Zealand-grown timber. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF. The Standing Committee reported having noted a communication from ■the Mayor of Temuka with respect to the proposed conference to consider unemployment matters, and advising that on account of sufficient support not being forthcoming it had been decided to take no further action. CRANE ON RATTRAY STREET WHARF.

The Standing Committee reported that it had considered the question of transferring the small electric crane from Victoria wharf to Rattray street wharf and had received reports from the engineer and harbour master. It recommended that the small 3-ton electric crane at present on Victoria wharf be removed to Rattray street wharf and placed in a stationary position meantime at “ P ” shed. The recommendation was adopted, the Chairman remarking that the cost, estimated at £234, would be provided for in this year’s estimates. BOILER POINT LEASE. It was decided to grant Messrs Miller and Tunnage a fourteen years’ lease of the area occupied by them at Boiler Point at the existing rental of £l3 per annum. POLICY REPORT DROPPED. The Standing Committee reported that,, regarding Mr R. Duncan’s motion of January 18 last, consideration of which had been deferred from time to time, it was of opinion that the matter had now been sufficiently discussed and recommended that no further action be taken. .Mr Scollay said it was a pity that so much time had been wasted; A committee should be set up to bring down a policy. Some provision should be,made for the big steamers coming to the port. The Chairman ruled Mr Scollay out of order. He was discussing the estimates, which would come before a special meeting. Mr Scollay: Policy is a big thing and The Chairman; The board is working towards a policy now. Mr Scollay: Can it be modified and amended ? ‘ 'The Chairman; Yes, but it cannot be discussed now/ Mr Scollay said it was regrettable that no provision was being made for the big Home steamers, a very vital matter. He regretted exceedingly that the matter of policy had been dropped. The report was adopted. R AVENSBOURNE WHARF. The Standing Committee recorameumended that the engineer’s report on the harbour master’s report ns to the lengthening of the Ravensbourno wharf be received. Mr Sharpe said a serious matter was involved. He moved as an amendment that the harbour master’s report be read, that the amount necessary to cover the cost of the extension of the wharf be placed on next year’s estimates, and that the work be carried out as soon as possible. The harbour master had pointed out that a certain amount of risk was incurred to vessels berthed at the wharf through passing vessels. Mr Scollay seconded the amendment. Mr Waters explained that the motion did not mean that the question was to be set aside. It would come up when the estimates wore being discussed. As a member of the Finance Committee he objected to the board passing items involving large expenditure before the board bad gone into the whole question of expenditure. The Chairman said the board would not necessarily have the question of tbo wharf before it again. After further discussion Mr Tyson said be was surprised to learn that the board’s approval of any work was not accepted as an instruction to act by the executive officers. The board’s procedure of approving of reports was dangerous, as be held that approval was sufficient authority to proceed. The amendment was lost by six votes to four..

RAILWAY CONNECTION. The secretary's reply to the General Manager of Railways confirming the statements made when tiie board requested rail connection of the Victoria wharf with the railways system was approved. The reply stated that the board was prepared to find the cost of making the connection and to handle the traffic on the wharf, provided the Railways Board fixed a reasonable charge for haulage on the connection. In reply to Mr Scollay, the Chairman said the question of haulage on the wharf, whether by horse, tractor, or locomotive, had not yet been discussed by the board. PURCHASES APPROVE D. The Standing Committee reepmmended for approval the purchase of the following Quantity of Lowmoor iron and mild steel (dredge Otakou overhaul), approximate cost £7B; making of approximately 500 ft of steel pipes for Vulcan’s pipeline, approximate cost £44; one chrome steel impeller for dredge Vulcan, approximate cost £SB. The recommendation was adopted. R EVEN 1 INCH E A SING. The Secretary submitted a return giving details of the revenue for the month of October, with comparative figures for the corresponding months of the three previous years. The revenue for October of this year was £9,118; for October. 1933, £8,018; for October, 1932, £7.393; for October, 1931, £10,554. Those figures, it was stated, did not include refunds of relief wages. -,J’he.,eargo. handled during October of this year was 33,578 tons; for October of 1933 it was 24,398 tons; for October, 1932, 24,744 tons; for October, 1931, 27,154 tons. Shipping; returns for October of this year showed fifty-one vessels, of 79,828 tons; for October of 1933 fifty three vessels, of 75,228 tons; for October of 1932 forty-four vessels of 74,159 tons; and for October of 1931 forty-eight vessels, of 90,750 tons. ANNUAL SUPPLIES. The following recommendations of the Standing Committee in respect to tenders for annual supplies were adopted : Fuel oil for firingfunder boilers: That the tender of the Shell Company (the only tenderer), be accepted. Timber: That consequent on the six tenders received being the same, no contract be entered into, but the year’s supply be equally divided (i.e., two months to each tenderer) between the six tenderers, subject to the price being the same as in the original tender. Motor Spirit.—That Plume benzine (Vacuum Oil Company) ,be used exclusively for the pilot launch, and the balance of the year’s supply equally divided (i.e., a total of three months each) between the Shell Company, Texas Company, A. S. Paterson and Go., and the Associated Motorists’ Petrol Company. Drivers, Horses, and Drays.—'that as the prices are the same this contract be equally divided (i.e., six months to each tenderer) between Messrs M. Stevenson Ltd. and. W. Casey and Son, subject to the prices being the same as in the original tender. Drivers, Horses, and Vehicles. —That the tender of W. Case,y and Son (the lowest tenderer) he accepted. Cement.—That the tender of the Milhurn Lime Company (the only tenderer) be accepted. Coal at Port Chalmers.; —That the tender of Messrs John Mill and Co. (the only tenderer) be accepted.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr J. M‘G. Wilkie) reported that during October the dredge Otakon dredged a total of 37,000 cubic yards. Three loads, or 4,400 cubic yards, of this material were deposited at sea, and twenty-two loads, or 32,560 cubic yards, deposited at the Vulcan. During the month the dredge steamed 149 miles and consumed 07.20 tons of fuel oil. On October 4 the ’dredge assisted in the removal of the Union Steam Ship Company’s tanker Otokia from the Port Chalmers wharves to the lay-up berth in Carey’s Bay. Dredge Vulcan.—During the month of October the Vulcan pumped 32,560 cubic yards of material received from dredge Otakou into the Mussel Bay reclamation area. Mole Reconstruction. —During the period of four weeks ended October 27 the following operations were carried out a t th© quarry2,s3s cubic yards of stone were deposited on the Mole, the larger blocks being tipped on the inner or harbour side to form a protective apron. One hundred and thirty cubic yards of small stone were tipped on the inner side at the root of the Mole, while 170yds of quarry waste were used in making up the approach to the Mole, 1,030 yards of debris were tipped on the swamp reclamation. The loading lines were pulled in closer to the quarry face. A considerable proportion of the toe having been removed from the quarry face, a start has been made to drive a small tunnel with a view to cleaning back the remainder of the toe to the line of the main face. This tunnel has now been driven 20ft, and a start has been made on the cross drives. The usual maintenance repairs to plant have been carried out. Mussel Bay.—The reclamation of this area was continued during the month, when considerable progress was made along the line of the proposed storm water sewer, the ground having been raised to a sufficient height to enable practically the whole of the sewer to be constructed. The stone retaining wall has been constructed to a height of two feet above high water mark for a distance of I,oooft, the remaining 50ft being at half-tide level. The inside of the wall is being packed with scrub fascines to retain the fine silt at present being deposited. One hundred and eighty-three ciibic yards of atone wore deposited on the wall, and twenty cubic vards at Kosencatb Bcacb.

Signalmen’s Houses, Taiaroa Head.— Considerable repair work to these buildings was undertaken during the month. The old tile-roof coverings which were no longer watertight were removed and replaced with corrugated galvanised iron, and all chimneys flashed with sheet lead. To date two roofs have been completed, and a start was made with No. 3 roof. All spoutings are being repaired where necessary, and hot water systems overhauled. Relief Works. —Relief workers were employed removing detritus from the Leith Canal, cutting scrub for fascine work at Mussel Bay, and erecting walls for reclamation purposes at the South Endowment. Roseneath Beach.—The erection of the stone protection wall at this locality was continued when the tide was suitable. SHIPPING RETURNS. The harbour master (Captain J. Maclean) reported that during August the arrivals at Dunedin and Port Chalmers were:—Coastal. 37 vessels, 23,837 tons; intercolonial, 5 vessels, 7,91)9 Ions; overseas, 9 vessels, 47,992 ton?; totals—-51 vessels, 79,828 tons. The departures during October were; —Coastal. 36 vessels. 24,614 tons; intercolonial. 6 vessels, 11.317 tons; overseas, 10 vessels, 51,139 tons: totals —52 vessels, 87,070 tons. During (he month the tug Dunedin steamed 227 miles and consumed thirtysix tons of coal.

PROPOSAL NOT ACCEPTED. The Chairman moved, in accordance with notice—“ That the resolution of the board of January 26, 1923, by which the board reverted to the Standing Committee system, be rescinded. That the following committees be set up in lieu thereof:— Works Committee, Finance Committee, Reserves Committee, and General Committee.” Mr R. Duncan seconded the motion. Most of the members took part in a discussion on the motion, those against the proposal claiming that the system of the board as a whole acting as a standing committee was the more up-to-date method. Such a system, it was claimed, was adopted by most of the large public bodies. On a vote being taken, the motion was lost, those in the minority being Messrs Begg, Duncan, Waters, and Loudon.