NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7547, 22 September 1886, Page 3

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Tuesday, Seitkmder 21. The Board mot at 2 p.m. Present — Mr J. D. Ormond (chairman), the Hon. J. N. Wilson, and Messrs J. H. Vautier, T. Tanner, J. M'Vay, G. H. Swan, P. Dolbel, J. W. Ncal, and H. A. Cornford. CORRESPONDENCE. Tho following correspondence was read and dealt with : — From Messrs Mcrryweathor and Sons, offering to supply to tho Board a combined steam tug and iiro engine —Received. From Mr Wilfred Badger, in referenco to his " Local .Government Guide." — The work wns spoken very highly of by tho secretary, and it was resolved to order a copy. From the Marine Department, forwarding a copy of the Harbors Act Amendment Act. — Received. From tho Union Steamship Company, applying for a waterman's license for Mr G. lulvington, who was to take charge of the s.s. Boojum in the absence of Captain Setter, A certificate of fitness from the pilot accompanied the letter.— Granted,_ From tho Government Auditor, inquiring the reason for the delay in forwarding a copy of the Board's balance-sheet.— A. reply had been sent explaining that tho Board were waiting for the Governor's validation of the harbor plans. From tho Marine Department, stating that tho Governor-in-Comicil had approved tho harbor plans. From Messrs Johnston and Co., applying for permission to transfer portion of the cargo of cement to tho Hastings Town Board. — Tho Chairman stated that the requisite consent had been given, the Town Board having agreed to pay all expenses incurred by the Board.— Action approved. From Mr D. Cotton, offering £8 for tho old boat-shed. — Held over till next meeting. From Mr R. Dochorty, complaining that £5 had been deducted from his account for punt discharging, for violation of clauses 7 and 8 of liis agreement. He desired either a refund or an opportunity to explain the matter. —Tho Secretary explained that he received a note from the harbor-master, to the effect that MrDoelierty had discharged a punt very near the pier heads, and that tho stuir would got back into the channel. When spoken to on the subject Mr Docherty used very insulting language. The regulations provided for penalties being imposed, and Mr Dochorty had been several times warned that if ho did not carry out his contract better the penalties would be imposed,

Since the penalty complaiucd or had been imposed Mr Docherty had carried out his work much better. — It was decided to allow Mr Docherty to make any written explanation of his conduct lie thought desirable.

From the pilot, reporting that the late heavy. /?ea \n the. bay. had caused a considerable shoaling ot the Water On the bar between the piers. Tho. channel was at present improving, and thero'was a depth of 12 feet of water on the bar, but the channel inside still remained very narrow. —Received.

From the Bank of Australasia, enclosing a financial statement in reference to the arrangements for paying off the old loan, the debit balance against the Board being £552 ISs 3d. The bonds not required could be destroyed in London, or sent to Napier for that purpose. — It was decided to ask the bank to cause the bonds to be cancelled and forwarded to Napier". From Messrs Glendinning and Gnffen, applying for an extension of time for the completion of their contract in the ' Iron Pot. — It was decided that the Board would consider any reasonable grounds for delay' in completing the work prior to the final payment being made. engineer's report.

The following report from the engineer was read :—

Contract No. 2, Steam Locomotive Crane— This crano will bo tested in a few days. Jlr Andorson has arrived from Christchurch to bo present at the trial. Contract No. 3, Cement.— Tho Falls of Clydo arrived with a consignment of 3000 casks of cement. Of tlieso 45, bolng damaged, wero rejected. The rest wns housed in the stores of Mr Wnito. A contract for building n cement storo was let, and tho work has been begun. Contract No. 9, Boach Protection.— This work is being carried on as fast as weather will permit. Tho scour on tho beaoh, in advance of tho work, has boon so groat that it was found impractioablo to proceed any further in a straight lino, iho ground having become too Jcop. Tho lino lias, therefore, boon turned towards tho shore, to get better holding for tho piles. Contract No. 10, Breastwork in Iron Pot.— This work is now being pushed on as vapidly as possible. Tho induced scour boing still very great, tho contractors havo boon instructed to proceed with squaro piling only until tho end of tho work at tho bridgo is reached. The sheet piling will then bo started from that end. By this means it is . hoped that tho scour will bo bonollcial, instead of injurious as it no w is. A ships' borth has been made availablo nt tho beginning of tho work and has been used as such.

Contract No. 13.— Tho contractor hnsclearcd a great quantity of dobris, and has pushed on •with thp protection of the sea-wall. Ho is busy in malting preparation for block making. Tho root ot tho broakwator will be started ns soon as tho quarry crano is erected, it boing required to lift tho heavy timber framo3 that will bo used for moulding tho concrete This quarry crane. I am informed, is well nd vanced, nnd will bo Shipped in a foW days. I ltopo to bo ablo to roport next month that tho root of tho breakwater has been begun, and that concrete blocks nro nlso being built. Dredging. — Tills work ia being carried on in tho Iron Pot, and tho spoil is boing deposited behind tho new breastwork.

Rails,— Twchty tons of 10 rails, and one ton of S3. as a sample, wore purchased from tho Bluff. They are not in as good a condition as I would like, bilt Will servo to carry on tho works. I beg to roqitost permission to proouro from England the balance of tho 100 tons asked for at last mooting. Removal of Cottage.— Tenders havo boon called for removal of boatmen s cottage, and now aWait acceptance. Two culverts have been put through tho road at Battery Point, and tho tido now runs in and out of tho inner lagoon. Tho crano offerod to tho Board by Mr M'Gill has bcon altered to suit tho requirements of tho Board, and is in propor working order.

Mr Swan drew the attention of members to the necessity -for completing the piling work in the Iron Pot as rapidly as possible. The captain of the Lochnagar, which had just arrived from Nelson, had told him (Mr Swan) that if' a berth had been guaranteed the vessel could have been brought in. Knowledge of the fact that wool vessels could load inside would be advantageous, and he thought that every nerve should bo strained to get the improvements in the Iron Pot completed within the shortest possible time. The Chairman explained that the stoppage of the sheet piling had been rendered necessary by the heavy scour. It had therefore been decided to complete the square piling and then to start the sheet piling from the end near the bridge. The Engineer stated that he was making arrangements for another berth, and hoped to have it open before next meeting. Mr M'Vay quite concurred in all that Mr Swan had said, and urged that the work of providing extra berths should bo pushed on. The Engineer stated that the whole of the work would probably bo completed by the end of two months. After some further discussion it was decided to instruct the engineer to prepare for next meeting a report on the best method of utilising the berthage space. THE BREAKWATER. ■The Engineer stated that at the next meeting the Board would, be able to fix upon a day for laying the first block of the breakwater. Mr M'Vay was very glad to hear what had just fallen from the engineer. There was a very widespread feeling of disappointment on this matter, as it had teen considered, that the Avorks proper would have been commenced before now. The work in connection with the large blasts had -very much retarded progress, but it must be admitted that the work generally was very much behind time. \ PORT REGULATIONS. ' A letter was read from Mossrs Murray, Roberts and Co., in which the writers desired to know if the, Board intended to take action in the direction of obviating inconveniences in connection with the examination shed, as referred to in a previous letter from the firm. 1 It was decided to postpone consideration of the letter till next meeting, and that in the meanwhile the secretary should make enquiries into the matter. REMOVING BUILDINGS. The tender of William Rose to remove the boatmen's house for £24 16s was accepted. LEASES. • On the motion of Mr Cornford, the secretary was .instructed to bring up at ,the next meeting of the Board a list of the properties that might be leased, together with othor necessary details. ACCOUNTS. Vouchers to the amount of £12,729 16s were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.