GREY HARBOUR BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1934, 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), J. W. Greenslade, G. E. Perkins, J. Byall, W. Clayton, and G. A. Perry. The Treasury remitted wharfages I and special rate on coal, £853 5/--; wharfage and special rate on State coal, £313 12/-; rents and royalties, £219 19/5 and £59 10/4; sale of quarry stone, £54 3/10 and £l2 5/-. The District Public Trustee forwarded a statement of sinking fund I account for the year ended March 31 last, showing a credit balance of I £95,923 6/2. The Chairman stated that the total

indebtedness of the Board amountet to £164,077. Considering their diffi culties, he said, they had not dom so badly. They had no outstanding liabilities, but had considerable assets A synopsis of the legislation foi 1933 was forwarded 'by the secretarj of the Harbours Association. The application of J. M. Reeves foi annual leave was referred to the Harbourmaster. A complaint regarding the removal of sand from the Blaketown beach was forwarded by W. A. West, who asked that steps be taken to prevent the practice. The Engineer stated it was correct that carters were taking sand away, but the beach made up fairly quickly. He had never seen it in a dangerous condition. On the motion of the Chairman, the matter was referred to the Engineer and the Overseer, to investigate. 11. J. Youngman applied for opos-sum-trapping rights over a block of land at the Twelve-Mile, Grey-Barry-town road, north of Gregg’s farm. The Commissioner of Crown Lands forwarded an application by J. W. Whitelaw for an opossum trappinglicense over 300 acres between the Ten-Mile and Twelve-Mile.' The Chairman stated that the areas applied for were outside the Board’s district. He had consulted the Board’s solicitor, who was of the opinion that royalty could be charged. Meanwhile, said the Chairman, he thought it would not be advisable to grant permission, seeing that the areas were outside the Board’s district. He sug-

gested that the matter be referred to the secretary and himself, to obtain further information. Mr Ryall agreed, stating that a large area was involved, and the season would not open for some time. The Chairman’s suggestion was adopted. Messrs Guinness and Kitchingham forwarded lease of Section 138, Blaketown, in the name of R. J. Williams, for completion.—Approved. Mr W. P. McCarthy forwarded an application for a water-race, by Irene Wafer, at the Nine-Mile Creek, GreyBarrytown road. On the motion of Mr Ryall, it was decided that no objection be offered. The danger of the Teremakau River breaking through into the Orangipuku River, was the subject of a letter from the Acting District Engineer, Public Works Department, who asked if the Board would contribute towards protective works. The Chairman said that the people most affected were the Railways Department, who were not cited at all. The Engineers, Messrs Milne (Harbour Board), Fairmaid (Borough Council), Trotter (Power Board), and Higgins (County Council) were to make an inspection of the locality. The danger was quite appreciated, but it was thought that the Railways Department should also assist, as they would lose more than anyone. He moved that consideration of the mat-

ter be deferred, until the Engineers

had made their inspection. In seconding the resolution, Mr Ryall said lie understood the position was considerably worse than it had been in the past. The Railways Department should co-operate with the local bodies. The resolution was approved. AERODROME SITE. The Town Clerk (Mr F. H. Denton) forwarded a copy of the report of the Director of Air Services on the proposed aerodrome sites in the vicinity of Greymouth; also a report of the meeting of local bodies, held last week. The Chairman said that Mr D. Tennent and himself represented the Harbour Board at the meeting. The Board’s quota towards the construction of the first runway on the site at the rear of the Grey Hospital was £l2O. Personally he thought that, as the proposed base was adjacent to the Board’s sections at Blaketown, it was only right that the Board should offer every assistance possible. So far as the tidal area of the lagoon was concerned, the Engineer had investigated the reclamation proposition. If it were decided, later, to make a runway across the lagoon, the work could be done in such a way that it would not interfere with the Board’s conservation of water. Meanwhile, he thought it was only right that the Board should do what it could to assist the scheme, provided the other local bodies also did so. Unless the other local bodies came in, he did not see that the Board had any more to do with the scheme than they had. The Board would be justified in incurring an expenditure of £l2O for the first runway, and he moved tc that effect, on condition that the other local bodies paid their respective quotas.

In reply to Mr Perry, the Chairman said that the Greymouth Borough Council was at present controlling the scheme, but it might be decided, later on, to have an Airport Board, in which case the Harbour Board would be entitled to representation. He considered that the Board would be improving its own property by assisting in the scheme. The resolution was seconded by Mr Ryall, supported by Mr Perkins, and approved.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr D. C. Milne) reported as follows on the work done during March: — Cobden Quarry—Work at the quarry was carried out on two shifts during the month, and -was confined chiefly to the removal of spoil. A certain amount of first-class stones were obtained from the upper portion of the mound, and these have been stacked in convenient positions for loading for the north breakwater when a sufficient quantity has been accumulated. The system of working the quarry in two shifts, -which had been in operation since January 16, was discontinued on March 29, and the normal method of one shift was resumed af-

ter the Easter holidays. The output for the month was as follows: Third class stone, 216 tons to New Zealand Railways; spoil 4353 tons to spoil dump. Total output 4569 tons. South Breakwater.—Moderate sea conditions were experienced .during '/ the month, and the newly-formed head has not yet been subjected to severe wave action. No novement was observed in tne stonework, which is still maintaining a slope which will become unstable under the influence of heavy seas. No stone was deposited during the month. Railway Maintenance.—Repairs were carried out on the line to the North breakwater, and on the quarry sidings. Wharf Repairs.—New ironbark fenders have been fitted to piers 112 and 124, and where hecessary the fenders, braces and wallings between piers SO and 122 have been rebolted. A considerable amount of maintenance on the wharf is due to the one-inch diameter bolts which are used throughout, and which are much too light for this type of structure. All one-inch diameter bolts which shear are being replaced by bolts li inches in diameter, and this will have the effect of considerably reducing the expenditure in this connection. General.—Preparatory work was ; carried out in connection with the laying of tar and sand on the foot- ■

path to the south breakwater. The reinforced concrete railway crossing at the northern end of Cobden bridge was completed on March 29. Four tide gauges were installed at various positions in the south lagoons, to enable tidal data to be collected in connection with the proposed aerodrome site in this locality. Plant.—-The overhaul of Loco 81l

was completed on the 21st., and the locomotive resumed work at Cobden quarry on that date. The loco “Ahaura” has been withdrawn from the quarry, and is now at the Board’s workshop undergoing overhaul. The teeth on one of the bevel wheels of the travelling gear of the steam shovel were stripped on the 21st., and the shovel was out of action for nine days, while this and other repairs were being effected. A new bracket was fitted to the frame of the after port winch on the dredge “Mawhera.” Staff.—l recommend that J. Bruer-

ton, who has been employed by the Board as a fitter and turner on their temporary staff for the past six years, be transferred to the permanent staff, and thus place all employees in the Board’s workshop on the same basis. In reply to the Chairman, Mr Milne stated that one stone handled at the quarry recently, was estimated <to weigh 800 tons, •while another block, secured from the top of the quarry, 165 feet up, was estimated at 1500 tons.

The Chairman complimented the Engineer on the reinforced-concrete crossings, which cost much less for maintainence, and were very satisfactory. There had even been some talk about them in Christchurch, he said, adding that it was an original idea of Mr Milne, to put down the crossings in concrete.

The report was adopted, the recommendation regarding Mr Bruerton being approved.

HARBOURMASTER’S REPORT.

The Harbourmaster (Captain F. W. Cox) reported as follows: —During March the bar maintained a fair average depth, and the weather generally was favourable for shipping movements. The depths at high watei’ for March were: Springs—March 2: Bar 21ft. 10in., river 22ft. 10in.; March 16: bar 24ft 4in., river 22ft. 10in.. Neaps —March 9: bar 20ft. 6in., river 21ft. Gin.; March 23: bar 21ft. Bin., river 19ft. Sin. Month’s mean average: Bar 22ft. 6in., river 21ft, Sin. The rainfall for March was 8.52 inches, and fell on 14 days. The shipping return for March was: Inwards, 20 steam—l2,3s2 tons; outwards: 21 steam 13,682 tons. On March 31. the dredge was placed out of commission, having dredged the berthage, lower reach of river, and just within the mouth of the lagoon, taking to sea 23.500 tons of debris and several snags. On March 15 the tug was placed on the slip for inspection, cleaning and tarring, was taken off next evening, and was ready for service on March 17. W. Anderson started his holiday on March 6, W. Thompson acting in his position as wharfman. There is nothing else of importance to record, the ordinary routine duties having been regularly attended to and satisfactorily carried out. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee reported as follows:— Receipts.—The following accounts have been received since date of last meeting: Shipping dues £450 16/8, royalties £284 3/6, rents £56 9/2, hire and sale of plant £l4 6/-, sale of quarry stone £66 8/10, wharfages £974 3/10, special rate on coal £192 13/10, refund of cost boring at Taylorville £l9 12/9; total £2058 14/7. The Harbour Fund Account has a debit balance of £2993 7/6. Accounts amounting to £3151 10/9 were passed for payment.