BREN CARRIER TO BE PURCHASED BY HARBOUR BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 3

BREN CARRIER TO BE PURCHASED BY HARBOUR BOARD

The Greymouth Harbour' Board decided last evening that its engineer (Mr D. S. Kennedy) inspect Bren gun carriers which the War Assets Realisation Board has for sale, and put in a tender for one, which will be used as a stand-by haulage plant. The engineer, in his report on the proposal, stated that a Bren gun carrier at a cost of about £2OO would provide the board with a cheap stand-by for haulage work.

The board also authorised the engineer to proceed with the construction of a strongroom in reinforced concrete to ensure the safety of the board’s plans, at a cost of about £l2O. A further recommendation by the engineer that the board revise its insurance policies with a view to increasing the cover was adopted. After a discussion on the question of insuring the dredge, it was decided to make inquiries from an insurance company concerning the cost of covering the dredge at a valuation of £20,000. Mi' E. W. Heenan presided at the meeting, and there were also” present Messrs W. Clayton, M. Wallace, J. B. Kent, J. J. Devine, R. Clark, W. E. J. Steer, and F. Williams. . The Treasury Department wrote remitting general wharfages totalling £3OB 13s lOd, wharfages on State coal £459 10s 3d and £622 12s Id, weather reports £9 7s 6d, rents from State Advances Corporation £lO Ils 6d.

The building controller, Housing Department, wrote declining the board’s application for a permit to build a new workshop, but granting permission for the construction of an extension to the store. ■ The Professional Engineers’ Association of New Zealand wrote stating that as it was not making a general application for permission for increased salaries to engineers, it would be necessary for the board io make its own application to the Director of Stabilisation for permission to increase the engineer’s salary. —lt was decided to make the application. Offer for Fire Bricks Mr G. J. Beynon wrote offering to purchase 1000 second-hand fire bricks from the old Brunner brickyard.—Accepted. The Advance Blaketown League wrote asking for information concerning the erection of a new Gresson street bridge to Blaketown.—lt was decided to advise the league that the construction, of a new bridge was involved in the harbour improvements scheme and that no final decision had been made.

An application by the Wanganui Harbour Board for the use of the dredge Mawhera was referred to the engineer. It was stated, that the hire of the dredge to Wanganui was dependent on the progress of the Greymouth Board’s dredging programme. It was decided to offer no objection to an application by W. Barber and others for a coal prospecting licence covering 19 acres 32 perches in block 10, Arnold Survey District. The Public Works Department forwarded a Gazette notice proposing the taking of land leased to W. T. Ogilvie.—lt was decided to lodge an objection on the ground that the area of land concerned may be involved in the harbour improvements scheme. Good Depths on Bar The harbourmaster (Captain H. Moar) reported as follows: —During the month the bar maintained exceptionally good depths, whilst sea and weather generally were good for shipping with the exception of a short spasm at the middle of the month. The depths at high water were: Spring tides, July 3, bar 26ft 3in, river 21ft 3in; spring tides, July 18, bar 29ft 4in, river 24ft 4in; neap tides, July 10, bar 26ft 2in, river 21ft lin; neap tides, July 25, bar 26ft lin, river 21ft lin. The mean averages for the month were: Bar 26ft 9in, river 21ft 9in. The shipping return for July was as follows:—Arrivals, 18 vessels (10,542 tons); departures, 18 vessels (11,489 tons). In view of the excellent depths on the bar, vessels are loading to their maximum draught. In consequence considerable inconvenience is found in manoeuvring vessels in the upper half of the river owing to shoaled conditions. The report was approved. Finance Committee The finance committee reported that the harbour fund has a debit of £7434 10s 5d and that the following accounts had been received since the previous meeting:—Shipping dues, £452 6s Id; rents, £l3O 10s lid; hire and sale of plant, £l4 13s 6d, wharfages, £1390 16s 2d; weather reports, £9 7s 6d; total, £1997 14s 2d.

Engineer's Report The engineer (Mr D. S. Kennedy) reported that during the month prior to the meeting dredging was held up because heavy repairs to the door chain and union screw gear became necessary. The annual survey of all plant was made and everything was found to be in first class order. Good nrogress was made with the wnarl repairs and building extensions. Thirty-four three-ton concrete blocks were cast and 26 were placed on the half-tide wall. In addition 252 tons of stone were also placed and 120 tons stacked for delivery. Dredging of the river berthages was carried out on three days of the month 4500 tons'of shingle being lifted and disr charged. -