GREY HARBOUR BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 April 1933, Page 11

GREY HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD. The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board, held last evening, was attended by Messrs P. .J. McLean (chairman), G. E. Perkins, D. Tennent, J. Ryall, J. W. Greenslade, ,G. A. Perry, and W. Clayton. The Treasury remitted wharfages: and special rate on coal rents and royalties £383/8/7, sale of quarry stone £B6/5/6, wharfage and special rate on State coal £403/15/-. Conditions regarding the hiring of the drilling plant were forwarded by the Mines Department. The Chairman explained that he instructed the Secretary to secure the conditions, in yiew of the Briandale Mining Company’s application for the plant. So far, nothing further had been heard from the company. I

Messrs White and McDonald wrote stating that they did not require the hand-boring plant, meanwhile. Advice as to the " shipment of the radial drilling machine was received'. The Honey Export Control Board wrote, agreeing to the charges submitted by the Board for the grading of honey, and forwarded instructions covering shipments and list of grading dates. The Harbours Association forwarded a copy of the decision in the case of Wilson’s (N.Z.) Portland Cement, Ltd. v. Whangarei Harbour Board 1 , regarding the power of Harbour Boards to levy and collect by by-law a Harbour Improvement Rate. Mr Justice Herdman decided in favour of the Board. “There is no reason,” said His Honor, inter alia, “why a Board should not strive to make those who use a harbour pay for its use, and for work done to improve it, and to abstain from making a levy upon ratepayers, many of whom may only indirectly derive some benefit from the Board’s operations.” The Marine Department forwarded amending regulations regarding the election of members of Harbour Boards.

The Lands and Survey Department forwarded sketch plan of an area of approximately 23 acres on the south side of the Grey River, between Dobson and freehold section No. 573. — Referred to the Engineer. G. K. Keown applied for a chain and a-half frontage to area at NineMile, Coast Road, in lieu of one chain, granted on March 7, 1933.—Granted. R. McAlpine applied for a section of two acres on the sea side of the Grey-Barrytow,n Road, opposite the Bg-mile peg.—Held over for Engineer’s report. The Chairman expressed the opinion that the area applied for was too large. William Moore, application for renewal of prospecting license, 50 acres, between Stoney and Langdon’s Creeks, on Paparoa Range, Stillwater.—No objection. The Chairman remarked that such applications were matters for the Warden to decide. Maurice Moore, application for renewal of prospecting license, 100 acres, between Stoney and Langdon’s Creeks, on Paparoa Range, Stillwater. —Nd objection. Maurice Moore, application for license for claim, 19 acres, southwestern corner of prospecting license site.—No objection.

M. Southam applied for permission to erect a garage on the swamp at the corner of Arney and Swanson Streets, the size to be 12ft x 18ft.—Referred* to the Engineer. J. Hambleton’s application for annual leave was referred to the Engineer to make the necessary arrangements. HARBOURMASTER’S REPORT. k « The acting-Harbourmaster (Captain H. Moar) reported as follows:—During March the bar maintained a good average depth, and the weather was good for shipping movements. The depths at high water were:—Springs —March 12, bar 25ft Bin; river, 21ft Sin. March 27, bar 24ft 6in, river 22ft 6in. Neaps, March 5, bar 24ft, river 20ft. March 20, bar 23ft lOin, river 20ft lOin. Month’s mean average, bar 24ft Sin; river, 21ft Sin. Rainfall for March was 6-73 inches, and fell on 15 days. The shipping for March was: Inwards, 24 steamers, 13,174 tons; outwards, 24 steamers, 13,455 tons. The tug Westland was placed on the slip on March 13 and went through portion of her survey, and came off bn the 14th. Captain Cox went on annual leave on March 27. There is nothing els e of importance to report, the usual routine duties being carefully attended to and satisfactorily carried out. The report was adopted.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr T. A. Johnston) reported as follows on the work done during March: — Cobden Quarry: The greater part of the month was occupied in clearing third-class stone and spoil from the western face preparatory to removing further quantities of large stone from the mound. Towards the end of the month a good fall of stone was obtained, several of the larger blocks being over 50 tons in weight, and of a good quality stone. The output for the month was as follows:—Firstclass stone 295 tons, second' class stone stone 189 tons, third-class stone 166 tons; 650 tons to South Breakwater; third-class stone, 563 tons to New Zealand Railways; third-class stone, 154 tons, Railway embankment, south side; spoil, 4117 tons dump. Total output, 5,484 tons. South Breakwater: The formation of the northern bank has proceeded during the month. Although the quantity of stone deposited during the period has been small, comparatively rapid progress has been made owing to th e sheltered position of the head and the consequent absence of storm damage. The total quantity of stone deposited up to the end of the month amounted to 22,726 tons, and the work done during the month is shown in green on the progress plan. Railway Maintenance: The line to the south breakwater has been lifted and ballasted between No. 2 and No. ( 3 bridges. Stone was deposited at a number of weak points along the embankment on the west side of the lagoon and also on the bank along the river at the shore end’ of the breakwater. Maintenance repairs were carried out on the line to the spoil dump and also on the quarry sidings. Wharf Repairs: New fenders have been fitted at piers 105, 111, 169, 175, 176, 223 and 228. General: Iron chafing plates have been fitted to the belting of the dredge and the sump of the automatic tide gauge has, been cleaned. Repairs have been carried out on the flooring of the engine-shed at the power-house and on the platform of No. 4 hydraulic crane. The gorse has been cleared’ round the signal cottages and the fencing on the western approach to the footbridge over the lagoon has been rebuilt. Approximately 38 tons of scrap iron, including a number of old dredge buckets, were sold during the month. Plant: Maintenance repairs were carried out on the dredge, tug, cranes, shovel, locomotives, and IngersollRand air compressor. The report was adopted.

FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr Perkins) presented the following report: — Receipts: The following accounts have been received' since date of last meeting:—Shipping dues £559/8/9, royalties £383/8/7, rents £46/2/2, hire and sale of plant £lB/12/9, sale quarry stone £B6/5/6, accident compensation £3l/14/7, interest insurance fund account £69/12/3, wharfages £llO5/0/6, special rate on coal £248/9/-; total. £2,548/14/1. The Harbour Fund Account has a credit balance of £3,713/14/-. Accounts amounting to £3,140/12/9 were passed for payment. STEAM SHOVEL ECONOMY. That the Bucyrus steam shovel had paid for itself during the eleven months since its installation at the Cobden quarry, was a statement made by the Chairman. The figures for the eleven months ended March 31, 1933, are as follow: — Costs: Average cost of loading with cranes 2/3.7 per ton; cost of loading with shovel 6.53 pence pel’ ton; amount saved 1/9.17 per ton.

Output from shovel, 24,008 tons; total amount saved, £-2117/14/1; cost of shovel, £1,537/8/3; net amount saved, £5BO/5/10. The costs include interest at 5 per cent., and depreciation at 10 per cent. RAILWAY CHARGES. Arising out of a complaint made with reference to wharf charges at Greymouth, the Chairman stated that it was cheaper to ship goods to Westport, and transport them by motorlorry to Reefton, than to land goods at Greymouth and rail them to Reefton. This was due to the lower wharf charges at Westport, compared with Greymouth. It did not seem right that such a difference in charges should be made. He took the matter up with the late General Manager of Railways, at Wellington, but could get no satisfaction. ’ “They have their

way of doing things,” he said, “and they cannot be moved.” Mr Greenslade: No doubt the heavy charges here retard the progress of the district, to a great extent. We don’t seem to be able to move the Government, with regard to railway charges, and' the Board is not in a position to take on the business itself. The Chairman said that the port was certainly being handicapped. Mr Tennent moved that further-re-presentations be made to the Railways’ commercial manager, when he visited Greymouth.

The resolution was seconded by Mr Clayton, and approved.