HARBOUR BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 22892, 25 February 1938, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Harbour Board was held last night, there being present Messrs W. Begg (chairman), J B. Waters, R. Duncan, D. Copland, J. W. Munro, M.P*. F. E Tyson, D. F. H. Sharpe, A. Campbell, M.P., T. Scollav. J. H. Duncan, R. Harrison, A. Smith, and R. S. Thompson. WARSHIP’S VISIT. A letter was received from Captain I. G. Glennie, H.M.S. Achilles Melbourne. regarding the proposed visit of his ship from March 11 to March 14. —The secretary’s reply to the effect that the ship would be welcome on those dates was approved. GRANTS. The Standing Committee, recommended that donations be granted as follow:—Shipwreck Relief Society, £lO 10s; Ravenshoiirhe Annual Regatta Committee, £2 2s. The recommendation was adopted. GENERAL. The Standing Committee reported that it had considered an inquiry regarding a lease of approximately acres at the cement works, with buildings thereon; also_ a report by the engineer recommending that no part of this area be leased on other than a temporary tenure.' The committee recommended the adoption of the engineer’s report.—Approved. _ A recommendation by the Standing Committee was that the board affirm tlie principle that members of harbour boards should receive £1 10s a meeting. and that the Minister of Marine be advised accordingly, with a view to having such payments authorised by legislation.—Mr Munro moved the adoption of the recommendation, and, after a short discussion, the motion was carried. TRAVELLING EXPENSES. On the recommendation of the Standing Committee, a motion was submitted that the travelling expenses payable to members be increased to 30s a day. As an amendment, Mr R. Duncan moved that the amount bo fixed at 255. There was no seconder to the amendment, and the motion was carried. STATISTICS. The Harbourmaster reported that a total of 48 vessels, representing 81,247 tons, had arrived at Dunedin during January, and 21 vessels of 43,487 tons at Port Chalmers. In all. 65 vessels departed from the port. Pilotage was required bv 21 inward vessels and 10 outward, 'The tug Dunedin steamed

for 66 hours 23 minutes, her distance covered being 279 miles. ENGINEER’S REPORT. In his report the engineer stated that the dredge Otakou carried a total of 10 loads, the maintenance dredging being 2,960 cubic yards, and the development dredging 11,840 cubic yards. The dredge Vulcan pumped 14,800 cubic yards of material received from, dredge Otakou into the Mussel Bay; reclamation area. Docks.—The following docking operations were carried out: Number of vessels, 4; number of pumps, 3. The electric crane was in operation for 1J hoursLeith Canal—During the period January 12 to February 10 the following work was carried out: —The northwest grab was engaged excavating th it section between the site of the cantxiever bridge and the railway bridge, the material being loaded on trtteks and spread ■on the board’s lands adjacent to the work. The remaining portions or the cantilever bridge foundations on the north side were demolished and the ground levelled off preparatory _tn the laying of the concrete 'floor. Sixteen tie rods forming the anchorage of the north sheet pile wall were placed and concreted. A length of 198 ft olower belting along the front of the sheet piles was concreted. ■ Birch street Wharf.—One hundred and thirty new piles were driven, 18U. old piles drawn, and 60 piles prepared for driving. Fifty-two deck beams were fitted and fastened, 22 half-seta of caps were fitted and bolted up, and 175 deck sleepers .were placed and spiked down. The concrete hacker waU was extended for a length of 188 ft. A 1 further shipment of timber and piles was received and transported to th» various stacks. . . , Black Jack’s Wall.—Repairs to the seaward -face of the wall were continued during the month. Slip—The following work was undertaken at the board’s slipway The repairs to the Vulcan punt were com* pleted, the whole of the bottom haying been renewed with jarmh planking* and the punt tarred ready for ing. The launches Taiaroa, Tohu* one lifeboat, and one pontoon weri( slipped, cleaned, painted, and re< launched. The lightkeeper’s _ launch was slipped and is being fitted up for. temporary pilot service. Oil Berth. Victoria Wharf.—A man* hole giving access to the oil valves be* neath the wharf was covered over ana a new one cut and fitted with a covet to suit the new position of a filling point recently installed. A platform was also extended beneath the wharf deck to give access _to the new filling P °Boat Harbour.—A boat shed to accommodate three 14ft yachts was constructed, rental for which will be a charge, against the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association. The report, which also covered gen* ral maintenance work, was adopted.