HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1467, 30 May 1905, Page 4

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The ordinary meeting of tho Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon, when tho following members were present Messrs Townley (in tho chair), Harding, Clark, Mottbewson, Whinray, Sievwright, and Captain Tuokcr. VOTE OE CONDOLENCE. On tho motion of the Chairman, a vote of condolonoe was passed to Mrs W. Cooper in oonneotion with the death of Mr W. Coopor, who was a member of tho Board for some years. ACCOMMODATION AT WHARF. Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. wrote pointing out the want of attention shown by the Board to vessels discharging at the wharf. On Sunday recently the s.s. Storm had arrived, and the captain desired to start discharging cargo at 4 o’clock in the morning. He could not, however, do so owing to there being no lights in the shod and a shortage of truoks. They had also had to pay a sum of £6 for receiving and delivering the goods to carters, and 7s 6d addition for hire of truoks and sheep gangway, which amounts they asked tho Board to refund. The Chairman explained that on tho Monday in question the shedß were filled with the cargo of tho Saturday and Sunday stoamors, and the arrival of tho Storm oausod a block for a few hourß. Mr Sievwright thought tho mattor was one for tho Board to deal with, and they should endeavor to make better arrangements. Mr Harding said that ho had brought the question before the Board some time ago, but had met with uo support from members. The matter was one of groat importance, and should be gone into by the Board. The Chairman said that on the occasion referred to there wore over 400 tons of cargo landed from the three steamers. Mr Clark thought tho agents for the Bteamer wore the parties who Bhould he responsible. They oould put on their own hands. Mr Harding said that the day was not far distant when the responsibility would have to be borne by tiie Board. He had urged that the whole question of lighterage and delivery of goods should be undertaken by the Board, but his proposition had n: 4 been seconded. Tho Secretary stated that although the Storm arrived on the Sunday afternoon, tho captaiD did not interview him until 9 o’olock on Monday morning. Hu thought tho chief drawback was that thß captain found that he had to .pay 4s 2d an hour for labor to discharge the cargo, and he was unwilling to do so, It was only on rare occasions that a block ooourred, and the Storm might not again visit Gisborne for a long time to come. The Board declined to pay tho amount asked for by the agents for the steamer. HARBORMASTER'S RETORT.

The Harbormaster reported as follows : “ Tho Tuahino light is now wotking wellWe had a lot of trouble with it at the starti having to attend to it every day for the first two weejss. Wo bad. a fresh in the river during the past week, but the channel has Dot silted up much. A Band bank has formed abreast of*the big crane, extending from tho seaward end of the crano to tho beacon, with 7ft 3in of water ovor it at low water, tido gaugo at zoro. Tho channel with the exception of {his one spot is very good, Soundings taken this day, tido gauge at zoro, are as follows—End of breakwater 15ft. 3rd to 4th bollard from end 9ft 6in, Snark’s landing Bft 3in, big crane 7ft 3m, Waikunuo Bft 6;u, stookyard Bft 6in, half-way along wharf Bft 6in. Shipping eince last meeting as follows Steamers, arrivals 29, departures 28 ; sailing ships, arrivals 5, departures 7.” Tho Harbormaster said that Captain Skinner had informed him that he had seen tho light with tho aid of glasses for a distance of 10£ miles, whilst other captains had soon it for a distanco of eight miles.

This was very good for a light that was only supposed to be seen for six miles. The light was not supposed to bo a coastal

light. It was decided to pay Mr Hardy £3 per month for looking after the light, on condition that be visited it twice a week. THE DREDGE,

The Overseer reported:—"The John Townley has taken 33 loads of spoil to sea during the month. One day was lost through the breaking of one of the pinions in the crane, and a good deni of time was lost through bad weather and also taking in water, as, through the leakage in the condenser tubes a mnch larger quantity of water is required. The small dredger has deposited 17 loads of spoil on Haiti depot during 17 working days this month, and seven days not at work. The blasting punt has been at woik 16$ days during the month, and 7$ days not at work, A temporary breastwork of stone has been put in at the stockyard, filled in behind with rubble ; and also the subsidence in the siockyavd and race filled in with the same, at a cost of 118 12s Gd. Work on the t.ainiug wall has been hindered a good deal this month through rough seas. However, 80ft of sheeting, 10ft of main piling, and 60ft of rubble filling has been added this month. I expect to make a start with the first section of concrete by the end of

the coming month ; 368 bogs of cemeDt have come to hand from Wilson and Co., Maurangi.” The Engineer reported :—“ During the past month two slight breakdowns took place. The first one was the cracking of quo of the cast iron tube plates on the condenser. It is a good thing that wo had the new plates on hand, for in a very short space of time we would havo had a total breakdown. By drawing 25 tubes, and getting two iron plates, with six long halfinch bolts, the entire length of the. condenser, and by placing a plate on each end of tho condenser and passing the long bolts through, 1 managed to draw the thing together. I hope that it will last until Mr Sharp (the inspector) arrives, The second breakdown waß the slewing pinion on tho crane. It is 19 months ago since it wa3 put in ; their average life is about eight months. The stoke hole plates are done. The inspector will in all proba-

bility condemn them this time. Tbo plates, to start with, were only one-eight common black iron ; stoke-hole plateß are always made of three-eight malleablo cast, checkered. The exhaust pipe from the crane will require two new lengths. There are several other small jobs that will require doing.” Mr Sievwright: It lpojss as if the steamer were a bit shoddy. The Chairman : The inspector is expected here next week to inspect it. Mr Anderson’s representative was here lately, and camo to sec mo, asking me if there was anything to be done. I told him that if wo did want it, wo would not get it from Mr AndersoD. I referred to this plate which was cracked. Tho representative promised to see me again, but I did not see him. The reports wore adopted.