HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9577, 31 July 1923, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

O ; MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of iho Harbor Board was hold yesterday; present : Mr. G. Smith (chairman). Dr. Collins, and Messrs. A. 11. Wallis, It. M. Birrell, T. Corson, R. Dymock, I. Mil-field, 'J'. Todd, .1. Tomblcson, C. 11. Williams, G. Witters, W. G. Shcrratt. Tlie engineer's monthly report was as follows: The maintenance work in connection with the harbor lias been carried out as usual during Hie month. The dredge “John Townloy” has been employed to the best advantage as weather condition- would permit and the grab dredge operated as required at the different berthages. The recent heavy rains altered the channel to some extent, both the depth and width having been increased. Shoaling occurred at the river liinuth; subsequent .southerly weather dispersed portion of'this and increased tho depth of water. During the month the iboilers owned by the Board have been inspected and passed by the In specter of Machinery. The erection of tlie building embodying motor garage, laboratory and cycle shed at the rear of present offices was commenced on June 21). L)2.‘i. and is well advanced. This work is being curried out by the Board’s staff. The installation of inter-office telephone system has bren commenced by Hie contractors —Messrs. Richardson. .McCabe and Go.—and is not yet completed. Quarry investigations are proceeding and the result forms the i;nbject of a separate report. Boring operations for engineering data Lave been carried out, including a boro on the eastern end of the Awapuni lagoon.— The report was adopted.

The Harbormaster's report was as under : A heavy easterly gale with heavy rain was experienced during the montp. It commenced on Saturday, July H. and lasted till Tuesday. IT!Ii. The river* were in flood, (lie wafer being heavily charged with silt. The AVaipaoa, or Big River, on Monday night threatened to overflow its bank but the protective works belt! and no flood was experienced in the Taruheru river. The Waimafa river was running 5 io C knots., on Sunday and Tuesday, but on Monday night’s tide the current must have been accelerated for Hie harbor from the bridge to the entrance was scoured. A considerable improvement bqfb in depth and width of channel was found on close soundings being taken. The entrance of the harbor was not improved, for there is now a bank cone shaped. the apex extending 175 to 200 ft beyond the breakwater extension, with 9ft of water and sft of water nt Debase abreast of the breakwater light. The sea will break very heavily on this bank in southerly weather as it is quite exposed. Judaing from past experience I expect this bank will gradually deepen. Tlie buoy marking Tohornaru Rock carried away its moorings during tlie heavy southerly weather on July 7 and came ashore on AYniknnno Beach. The buoy will be replaced ns soon as possible. The navigation lights are all in good order. Shipping.—l 3 vessels have worked the port from .Tune 22 to July 24—oversea steamers 4, 19.769 (nett tonnage), 30.896 (gross); coastal 20. 17.741 (nett). 33.472 (gross); inner harbor —steamers IG, 2,249 (nett), 5.312 (gross); nailers 3. 398 (nett). 495 (grass): totals 43, 40.1G0 (nett). 70,17 a (gross).—The report was adopted. Messrs. Chrisp and Chrisp wrote orwarding tlie result of the appeal case against Air. Justice Reed’s judgment in respect to the Lysnsr case. —The letter was received, the chairman remarking that he had received a telegram from Air. Myers, stating that the judgment was a complete vindication of the Board’s actions.