GREY HARBOUR BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1933, Page 5

GREY HARBOUR BOARD

LAST EVENING'S MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board, held last evening, was attended by Messrs P. J. McLean (Chairman), D. Tennent, J. Ryall, W. Clayton, G. E. Perkins, and G. A. Perry. The Chairman apologised for the absence of the secretary (Mr W. B. Gilbert), who, he regretted

to say, was indisposed; also for the absence of the Engineer (Mr T. A. Johnston), who was in Wellington. The Treasury remitted wharfages and special rate on coal £736 7/10, £2 1/-; rents and royalties £ll2 11/3. The Harbours Association forwarded a rejport on meetings with the Railways Board, regarding railway competition with coastal shipping and port trade; also a copy of a letter to be forwarded to the General Manager of Railways. The Chairman said that they could not get anything definite 'from the Railways Board at the present time, but, later oh, a joint conference might be held. Copies of the Harbours Amending Bill were forwarded by the Harbours Association, for the Board’s perusal. The Chairman said that the Bill, which was now before the House, was very important to Harbour Boards. It would safeguard Boards in many ways, and would make conditions much better, generally. The Town Clerk (Mr F. H. Denton) forwarded a copy of the Borough Engineer’s report on the supply of water to shipping. The Chairman stated that it was rather a large report, but it did not deal with the particular matter at is-

sue, at all, that of a reduction in the charge for water supplied to shipping. They could acknowledge receipt of the report, and ask the Borough Council if it was their intention to reduce the charge. It was no use the Board going into the report, as it was all detail for the Borough Council. He moved that the Council be asked whether it was their intention to put the Harbour Board on the same footing as other large consumers: of water. The resolution was approved.

Writing on behalf of the Borough Council, the Town Clerk asked if the Board would remove the outer rail from its line along Mawhera Quay. The Chairman stated that the Board’s Engineer was of opinion that the removal of the rail would not interfere in any way with the Board.

So long as one rail was left, the Board’s right-of-way would be secure. The matter was referred to the Chairman and the Engineer, to confer with the Board’s 'solicitor. The secretary of the McLean Park Management Committee wrote asking if they could make use of the two old

barges lying on the green flat, to cart

soil to McLean Park. The matter was referred to the Engineer, with power to act.

Messrs Guinness and Kitchingham forwarded a re-draft of the clause re-

serving tramway and prospecting rights, for insertion in the new leases granted by the Board. The clause was approved. John Wright, of Stillwater, applied for the following grazing rights at Stillwater: (a) Three acres extending northward along the west side of the Stillwater-Kokiri Road, for 12 chains by 2J chains from Stratford, Blair and Co’s tramway; (b) 22 acres between the Midland railway and the Arnold River, and extending from Williams’s track for 38 chains to Arnold Siding. The application was granted, at the usual rent.

HARBOURMASTER’S REPORT.

The Harbourmaster (Captain F. W. Cox) reported as follows: During October the bar maintained a fail’ average depth and the weather, generally, has been favourable for shipping movements. The depths at high water for October were: Springs—October 5, bar 21ft. 9in.; river 22ft. 3in. October 20, bar 22ft. 4in.; river 23ft. 4in. Neaps—October 13, bar 21ft.; river 21ft. October 27, bar 22ft.; river 21ft. Month’s mean average—Bar 22ft., river 21ft. Sin. Rainfall for October was 10.43 inches and fell on 20 days. Shipping return for October was: Inwards: 20 steam —11,567 tons; outwards, 20 steam —11,020 tons. The

dredge “Mawhera” is at present undergoing the annual inspection; extensive repairs are being carried out oh the port boiler, similar to the work done | on the starboard boiler about five years ago. The vessel should be ready for commission about the latter end of December. There is nothing else of importance to report, tile ordinary routine duties having been regularly attended to and satisfactorily carried out.

The Chairman said that, so far as possible, the work on the dredge was being carried out by the Board’s staff. The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT’ The Engineer (Mr T. A. Johnston) | reported as follows on the work carried out during October:— Cobden Quarry:—Work carried out at the quarry during the month consisted chiefly in the removal of spoil from the western face, with a view to I undermining some large stones on the | upper part of the mound. The output from the steam shovel reached the record monthly total of 3,673 tons, excavated and loaded at a cost of 2Jd per ton. The output for the month was as follows:—First class stone 69 tons, second class stone 96 tons. 165 tons to North Breakwater. Second class stone 155 tons to N.Z.R. Third class stone 796 tons. Spoil 3673 tons, ' 4469 tons to spoil dump. Total output ] 4,789 tons. 1

South Breakwater; Heavy seas experienced during the month did a certain amount of minor damage to the superstructure of the staging. No movement took place in the stonework of the new mound.

North Breakwater: Good progress was made with the construction of the staging, in spite of the unfavourable sea conditions which prevailed during the greater part of the month. Two main piles were driven in pier 47, and three sheet piles were driven between piers 45 and 46. The stringers and trackwork were placed on the) latter bay. Two 45ft piles failed in driving, one breaking off 9 feet above the shoe and the other breaking off immediately above the shoe and splitting for a length of 12 feet at the lower end. Both piles -were recovered and will be used on other work. Railway Maintenance:— Maintenance repairs were carried out on the quarry sidings and on the line to the north breakwater. ' I

General: Repairs were carried out to the tendering at the tug berth, and to the staging at the signal station. Fifty reinforced concrete slabs were made for the railway crossing at the northern end of Cobden Bridge. Plant: Maintenance' repairs weYe' carried out on the dredge, quarry cranes, locomotives, and on the piling winch at the north breakwafer.

The Chairman commented that very good work seemed: to be going along on the north breakwater..

The report was adopted.

FINANCE COMMITTER

The Fiiiahce Committee pfesehted’ the following report: — Receipts: The following, accptfrits have been received since da'te of last meeting: Wharfages £640715/io'; special rate on coal £97/13/-; shipping dues £229/15/-; royalties £ll2’ 11/3; tents £34/16/-; hire and sale of plant £25/18/7; refund cdst boring, Taylorville £29/13/9; accident compensation £53/12/6; deposit hire plant £5. Total £1229/15/11.

The Harbour Fund Account has a credit balance of £2624/11/10.

Accounts amounting to £1366/8/3 were passed for payment.