Harbor Board

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 27, 1 February 1901, Page 1

Harbor Board

The monthly meeting of the Board took place yesterday. Present: Messrs John Townley (Chairman), Clark, Maefarlane, Hepburn, Sievwright, and Cooper. Before the ordinary business was taken a resolution of condolence in regard to the death of the Queen was adopted on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Maefarlane. A full explanation was given by the Harbormaster in regard to a complaint that the Waihi had not been given a berth on a recent occasion, when the big steamer was late and there was a falling tide. Members considered the explanation quite satisfactory, the Chairman and Mr _ Sievwright speaking to that effect; but it was held that reports should always be given when there was complaint. Messrs Anderson and Co., in reply to a telegram from the Board, wrote stating that the work on the new dredge was now well advanced. In reply to Mr Sievwright, the Chairman said the contract time was up on the 10th of the month. He was disappointed at the amount of work done. The matter was also referred to in the Engineer’s report, and members were not at all pleased at the slow progress made. “ We will have to hurry them up,” said Mr Hepburn. Iu reply to a question the Engineer said all the material required was at hand a month ago, though the material first required did not come to hand till the last.

Mr Sievwright said that when ho was down at Christchurch a fortnight ago the hands were very busy on the dredge, but he could not state whether they were doing what they should. The Engineer said that he thought the men were being taken off to be put on other urgent work. When he was down 25 men were put oil, and he was assured that they would be kept on, but ho did not think, if that number were kept on, the progress was being made that one would expect. Mr Clark said he thought they ought to write a strong letter to them. Mr Cooper said at that rate the thing might be kept on till doomsday. “ I am afraid,” said the chairman, “ that it is a case of those who press the hardest getting their work done first; —that was the case generally with foundry works just now.” The specifications were examined to see what power the Board had to expodite matters or impose a penalty, and it seemed that there was no excuse, the - matter, Mr Sievwright said, really resting in the hands of the Engineer. Mr Cooper : Put on the penalty. The Chairman said that practically the only thing was to send the Engineer down to expedite matters. It was decided, on the motion 'of Mr Sievwright, seconded by Mr Cooper, to write a strongly-worded letter before other steps were taken. The Harbormaster’s report was as follows : ' “ I have the honor to report to you that since my last report we have experienced some severe weather and heavy seas breaking over the breakwater from the south-west end up to the large crane, and as the color of the water gave evidence of containing a large quantity of sand, I was somewhat afraid that a large deposit would be left in the channel along the line of breakwater, but by soundings taken since and soundings taken this day it is proved there has not been any deposit left to bar the usual navigation of the river, which you will see is an improvement on soundings given in my last report. I have with the report attached a letter explaining the cause of the landing of passengers from the tender s.s. Waihi on Sunday, December 16th, whioh is a truthful statement. Steamers: Arrivals 30, departures 32. Sailing vessels : Arrivals 12, departures 11. Soundings taken this day: 300 ft out from end of breakwater, 22ft Gin; 200 ft out, 22ft 6in; 100 ft out, 20ft Gin; end of breakwater, 22ft 6in; 100 ft from end of breakwater (30ft off), 13ft; 200 ft, same depth; 300 ft, 12ft; Snark’s landing, 20ft off, 12ft; large crane, lift 3in; buoy in river, lift 6in ; stockyard, lift Gin; halfway up wharf, lift 6in: top end of wharf, lift.”

Engineer’s Report. The Engineer reported: “ I have the honor to report on the Gisborne Harbor works for the month ended January 30th, 1001. The filling for road purposes between the new part of the wharf and Read’s Quay is nearly completed, 3500 enbic yards of material having been dredged from the harbor and deposited at the back of (the wharf to give the necessary road accommodation. The quantity of material dredged fsom the channel and harbor from October 29th, 1897, to January 30th, 1901, is 21,571 cubic yards of rook and 41,668 cubic yards of mud and silt, total 63,239 cubic yards. This includes 3500 cubic yards deposited at the back of the new wharf, and 4194 cubic yards deposited at the back of the western training-wall. A large portion of the material has been taken from the channel at the breakwater. An accumulation takes place there from time to time during rough weather, and when the river is in a flooded state. The completion of the western training-wall will to a large extent remove this trouble. Much less dredging will then be necessary, and a better channel maintained. The channel is new in fairly good condition, and cannot be much improved except by the removal of a considerable amount of rock, and for that purpose heavier and more suitable machinery is absolutely necessary. In comparatively shallow water loosened rock can be lifted fairly well by our small dredger, but in deeper water it does not work well. The new dredger Is now Viry much wanted for the removal of rock from the channel between the breakwater and the training-wall, and every effort should be made to secure its speedy completion and delivery to the Harbor Board. Please find herewith Mr Anderson’s report on the progress made with the construction of the new dredger. Specifications, etc., have been prepared and tenders advertised for the supply and delivery of the whole of the timber required for the proposed extension of the western training wall. The tenders are to be in before the next meeting of your Board. Copies of the working drawings for the training wall extension are made, and may be forwarded to the Marine Department in accordance with the request of the secretary. Leading lights : I have this matter under consideration, but have not yet been able to obtain all the necessary information to enable me to lay before you at this meeting plans and an estimate of the cost. Soundings at low water reduced to zero of the Kaiti tide guage of the part of the channel opposite the breakwater are attached hereto. There is a shallow part in the channel near where the black buoy used to be. The bottom is rock. I propose suspending the dredging in sand at the harbor for a time and blasting the rock at this point. As the rock is not hard, and as it breaks up in small pieces, onr dredger will operate on it very well, and the material can be conveniently dumped at the upper end of the new wharf. Repairs to the Kaiti wharf and viaduct have been effected from time to time during the month. The rimu'deck planking i 3 more or less rotten throughout, and repairs from time to time are absolutely necessary. The weighbridge has been cleaned and adjusted. The pressure of the earthwork against tha metal frame caused a bulge,

which at times pressed against the platform and rendered the machine unreliable. A stiffening girder has been put in to take the earth pressure and relieve the metal frame, which has been adjusted to its original intended clearance. Those using the goods shed on the wharf complain of the floor. It will be remembered that additional planking was objected to when the shed was built, because of the expense. It is found to be very inconvenient, and planking is necessary to obtain an even surface for working on.” Messrs Kennedy and Evans also wrote in regard to the old flooring of the new shed, and it was resolved to have the matter attended to. The following letter was received from the Board’s solicitor :

“As requested I have considered the matter of the burgess roll at tho forthcoming election. “The subject is by no means free from doubt, and It is very hard to say, in view of the conflicting statutes, with reasonable certainty, what should bo the basis of tho voting roll. “ It appears to me, however, that, for the Borough, the returning officer should use: — “ (a) Tho burgess roll in force for the time being comprising all names (whether freehold occupiers or residential) and “(b) The voters list mentioned in sections 7 and 8 of 1 The Gisborne Harbor Act, 1884.’ “ Each owner on the combined burgess roll and list will exercise one vote only, except in cases where the voter is on the burgess roll and also on the voters’ list, in which case such voter will have two votes—one for tho burgess roll and one for the payment of wharfage or harbor dues. “I may state that I have given tho matter very careful consideration, and that I can arrive at no other conclusion.”