NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10361, 22 July 1896, Page 4

NAPIER HARBOR BOARD.

I Tuesday, July 21. ! Present— Messrs G. H. Swan (in tho chair), K. Whito, P. Dolbol, J. W. Neol, T. Crosao, G. Kyuior, J. H. Vautier, F. Williams, nud Captain Davidson, CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was dealt with :— From tho Hydrographic Department Admiralty, S.W,, covering a plan of tho harbor, produced from various plans obtained from the engineers ot the Harbor Board and other sources, and asking the Board to make alterations (If ony) in rod ink. — Left to the secretary and engineer to slve further information. From tho same, nuking for Information i as to the poats at whioh self-registering tide gauges are in operation. — The secietary said they had no self-registering tide gauges. — The engineer said the Government had supplied one to the Gisborne Board. — It was decided to reply asking if the Admiralty can snpply a solt-rcgiater-lng gauge gratis. Fiom the secretary of tho Wellington Harbor. Board, forwarding a copy of the Boards Cosstitntioa Reform Act, 1896, with remarks thereon, and suggesting a conference or local bodies ai Wellington to dlscnsa the matter. — Keferrad to In the Works Committee's report. From the secretary of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, forwarding copies of a memorandum ot correspondence relating to tho disallowance by tho Government of certain byc-liws framed by that Board for Hcenalns Rteam tnga at the Port of Lyttflton, end nsklug the co-operation of the Board in making representations to tho Government on the subject. — Referred tn the Works Committee to take action at the next meeting, THE WHARFAGE QUESTION. Messro T. and W. Prebble wrote as follows:—. Napier. July 18th. 1890, To tho Chairman Napior Harbor Board. Sir,— We beg to loy before your Board one of the many complaints we receive from day to day as to your excessive wharfage rates, especially to theatrical companies. Pollard's company complain very bitterly. They paid 'Si Ci per ton, and are now charged 2s por ton outwards with no allowance, as tho company went ovorland and left their effects with us to forward on. The enclosed letter from Williamson and Musgrovo's agent will explain the matter fully, which we hope will have your favorable consideration. The company is expected here shortly with a large quantity o£ scenery and effects (to play only four nights), on which they are charged in and out wharfago 5s 63, haulogo Is each way, making in all 7s per ton, which we hope you will bco is excessive. Your faithfully, J. and V/. FbebisliE. The enolosed letter from Mr J. St. Clnir, ageßt for the Koyal Comic Opera Company, to Messrs J. and W, Prebble read as follows :— Napier, July 11,1896, ME33BS PBEBBLE AND Co,, Dear Sirs,— ln regard to our visit to Napier I should feel obliged if jou will kindly give mo information re the following :— Are all boats at present landing cargo on the bre&Kwater, and what are the harbor charges for scenery and wardrobe in and out ? lam told that your Harbor Board charges 3s per ton each way, viz. 6s in and out ia that a fact ? If that is so I shall havo to mako somo other arrangements to get onr effects in and out of Napier without utilising your wharves. I should imagino that the outward chareo3 should bo remitted, as elsewhere, when we are only charged one way, and that never moro than 2a per ton. Would you kindly see tha proper officials in this matter, and let mo know results as soon as possible. Should tho Board not feel inclined to mako us proper concessions I shall bo compelled to make arrangements with the railways to take all our effects from here to Napier on return trucks, which wo can hare very reasonably, and which wo can load to suit ourselves. By the time we pay your Harbor Board Ga per ton dues and tho carting from almost the Spit to tho theatre return, I feel sure it would come to moro exponßa than it would to send all our effects per rail direct, so in this case the carting would be less, and our outward wharfage here is free anyhow, besides which our scenery would receive less handling, which is always a big consideration. Of course wo should only do this latter ahould you Board insist on these fearfully heavy wharf charges, which I may say are always a great drawback on our visiting your town. Do the best you can in this matter and acquaint me with results, also Inform Trhat your scale of ohargcß will be for the carting, —I am, &c, J. St. Clair, KOyal Comic Opera Company. A discussion followed, in whioh it was pointed oat that Mr St. Clair had been misled as to the charges, which were mnoh leas than he stated ; the Board oould not reduce the haulage charges, because they themselves had to pay fees and labor. The Secretary pointed oat that theatricals were allowed half a ton of luggage each for every member travelling on the boat, and that the Wellington Board made no snoh concession.— On the motion of Mr Neal It was decided io reply quoting the inward and outward rates charged, and drawing attention to the fact that half a ton was allowed each passenger whether luggage or not. CLAIM FOR REBATE, A letter was read from R, Puflett, local manager of the Union Steamship Company, as follows :— Spit, 20th July, 1890. The Chairman, Napier Harbor Board, Sir;- On tho 25th June last tho Waihora arrived from tho ' North, and found that owing to tho heavy range at tie Glasgow wharf she could nob berth there, and nad theroforo to He off tho wharf at anchor, whoro she wna tendered by tho J.D.O. for landing and shipping her passengers, and owing to heavy rain had to carry on her cargo to Wellington for transhipment to the Fiorai Tho ship was put to considerable oxponse in not being able to go to the wharl, inoluding a charge made by the Customs on behalf of tho Board of Id por ton for harbormaster's fees, amounting to £5 5s 9d. Again, ou tho 30th Juno tho Flora arrived from the South with a largo cargo, including the over-carried portion of tho Waihora's, and she experienced tho same trouble in not being able to got alongside tho wharf, although a strong effort was made to do so, having been partly mado faßt, but had to clear out t)jrouc;li the linos patting, This Btoamor went to anchor off tho wharf, but owing to rain could not diaohargo, and Bho was detained until noxt day in viow of getting better weather, but it unfortunately turned put woreo as far as tho mngo was concerned' and jtho services of tho Ahuriri and Trusty for cargo and passongers had to be engaged at a very heavy cost, Ao in the case ol the Waihora, this steamer wa3 also ohargod harbormaster's fees amounting to £3 93 uld. Now, sir, seeing that wo havo been doing our very best to work the Glasgow wharf, not only with thoso two steamers, but with all our Btcamers, at tin.es under extreme difficulties, I trust your Board will take into consideration tho heavy oxpenso wo have been subjected to, and romlt tho chargo made against the Wathora and Mora for harbormaster's fees whioh we paid on the demand of tho Collector of Customs, and who has reforred us to you for ref undi I havo the honor to bo sir, your's obediently, R, Pufiett, Manager, Captain J)ayldson moved and Mr Williams seconded that tho remittance be made aa requested. Mr Neal and other members pointed oat the danger of making a precedent, and the former pointed ont that agreement to the concession wonld at once entail a demand from this agent of Huddart, Parker and Co. — The motion vm declared lost on the voices, and the letter received, THE RUNNING OP CARGO, The following communication was re« geived from Joseph Saunders, the breakwater sontraotor \ — Napier, July2oth, 1806, The Chairman Napier Harbor Board, Napier, Sir,— l find that the running of the cargo for the Board from the Glasgow wharf greatly interferes with the working of my cootract. It necessitates the removal of a man from the misting machine whenever the locomotive is required, ana thereby hinders tie progress of block-making, which is an important item. I would be pleased if the Board would relievo me of tho cargo running and to be dono by yourselves, hivo'ry facility will bo given, by mo to keep the road open when the engine is running to and from the Spit. Trusting you will favor me in this matter. I remain, Yours faithfully, Jobeph SaunderSi The matter was referred to the Workß Committee. HAEBOBMASTER'S EEPOET. The harbormaster reported that daring the month 51 vessels had entered port, 31 into the inner harbor, six into the onter harbor, nine at Glasgow wharf, and fonr tendered under lee of the breakwater. The depth, of water pontlnned good at all points, engineer's eeport. The following report from the engineer describing the dumuge done by the recent storm, and making estimates of the probable cuefc of repairs, was received : — I. Breakwater Contract No. 51.— During tho past four weekß the sea has been almost continuously breaking over tho breakwater, bo that no progress with the repairs at end w»a possible. Wave-breakers to tho extent of 1072 cubic yards were due over on the apron, and 1858 cubio yards of rubble wore deposited upon tho foundation. The contractors havo been making tho now block mouldsand otherwise preparing to mako blocks on the new block-making ground. From tho 23rd Juno to the 15th inst, very heavy seas wore almost continuously breaking over tho works, tho heaviest seas being on Thursday, the flch inst, on which occasion tho ss. To Anau could not bo tendered in the bay, and had to j?£Bs on. Tho great ocean waves from tho north-nnsD which rolled into tho bay and broko all scrosa it on that day, struck tiro breakwater wjth groater force than th c heavy seas of June, 1891, which did so much damage to the breakwater. A careful examination of tho breakwater since thosea subsided reveals tho fact that tho damage done to the structure by tho late hoivy seas ia oxtremoly trifling, considering the magnitude and naturo of the work ; It dpos not amount to as much as ia dono almost annually in many a small Road Board district by a heavy downpour o£ rain. Had tho apron been coraplotcd to its full width and height, tho damage dono would havo been still less. It Ib, I think, mattor for congratulation that tho structure withstood ;tho late vorysevero trial so well, very heavy seas having been striking it with great violence almost incessantly for tbroe weoks. J;o3cription of Damage.— Out of 45 monoliths either repaired dud raised, or rebuilt since the June storm of IS9J, SO are uninjured, with tho exception of a fow yards of cobcrote Knpokert off the top edges o£ several which aojointhoßp injured ;threohavebeen shunted bodily in towards tho harbor 2ft Gin, 2ft, and oft respectively, bnt not otherwise cracked or injured ip any w»y; cix ai'u cracked longitudinally along iha centre, having been so cracked by the Btorm of Juno, 189J, the oracSß having now reappeared through tho layer of concrete put on the top to raise them to tho iproperlevol; one has had tho seaward faco damaged to a depth of fift to Bft into the breakwater, whioh portion will have to be removed and renewed down to the blocks ;

! dug haa had the outor half entirely removed down to tlio blocks and Bomoof t ho top blocks disturbed, tho inner half being perfectly sound ; one tins bad both tho outer and inner faces roruoved and tbo top of tho centre piece hnooked off to the old level; and threohavo had some of the new work knockoa off tho top above high water mark. Tho apron has been flattened out to.a good slopo aa required. Tho rails havo been swept oif tho surface for a considerable length along tho outer straight, ■ and 80 sleepers have been carried away. I have roughly measured up the quantity of concroto required to repair tho damago done, and find that it will tako 513 cubic yards. Tho ccmt of replacing the concrete and sleepors at tho contractors' schedule rate, including cement, would be £483 10a; allowing for cementing up crackß, &c, tho total extent of the damage may bs put down at £550, As tho process of obtaining large wave-breakers from tho cliff is necessarily alow, owing to the nature of tho cliffa, and as there is now a good broad apron below water, I beg to recommend that the apron bo completed by putting over a large quantity of concroto blocks with tho boulders, thrown in pell-moll. Thoy will, on account of their shape, brook up tho seas hotter thin tho boulders, and bo more pormanont; tho quantity required to uiako a pormanont apron would bo vory much lesa than if bouldors woro used, ns tho latter being genorally of a round nature roll easier under tho action of tho book- wash, so that tho cost in tho end would not bo more than if bouldors were exclusively used. The greatest ad vantage, of course, would be tho much greator speed withwhioh tho broakwater would bo proteoted from fnrthor damage, Tho oudofthe breakwater, that is tho last 230 foot, which was damaged in 18M| and haa not yet been ropaired, ana tho buttress, which was also not repaired, do not appear to havo sustained any further injury by the late heavy seasi 2. Glasgow wharf. - The spring fender piles have been completed along the western side of the wharf , During the bad weather, when the s s. Walhora was berthed along the eastern side, one of the spring piles was damaged at low water mark, and it will be necessary to drive a fresh pile on each Bide of it, this should be done at once. The small shed authorised for the use of the harbor master's gear is being erected. 13. Cribwork.— During the lato bad weather tho cribwork erected for tho protection of tho beach between the engine shed and tho Spit suffered considerably, about) 13 bays oMhe sheet piling boing destroyed, and tho stone filling scattered. 4i Western Mole.- Tho stone filling of this mole subsided in aoveral places, and has boon made good. Tho stonework approach to tho molo also suflored, and is being repaired. D. Western Spit Cribwork. — Tho beach having been scoured away from tho end of tho oribwork, the stone has all been washed out of tho two end bays. Preparations have been made to shoet-pilo the end and re-flll the two bays with stone. Tho stone filling in various places all along the oribwork has settled, and stone is boing carted to mako good tho damage. d River Cuts.— Tho rlvor cuts authorised are being madej the smaller one being completed. 7. Tho Weir.-Tho lato flood has flattened tho river down in sevoral places, and rendered it weak and liable to further da> age if not repaired before another flood. I bog to recommend that £G0 be expended at once in bng and willow work. Tho reclamation in tho lagoon by tho late flood was very considerable. Id waa decided to read the Worka Committee's report, as follows, before discusslug that of the engineer : — WORKS COMMITTEE'S KEPOET. 1. Taifc and Mills' Letter re Wharfage on Pipes.— The committee havo authorised a refund of the wharfage paid on tho pipes which wore broken. 2. Repairs.— Tho committeo have given authority for the engineer to proceed with following necessary repairs, viz, :— Western Spit-Cribwork _ „ £150 Wo3tern Spit -Western Mole .. 60 Eastern Spit— Cribwork _ „ 150 3. Tho Local Boards Constitution Reform Bill. 1896.— Your committee having considered tliis bill, also a circular on tho subject by tho Wellington Harbor Board, recommend that tho Board etrongly object to the bill becoming law, as it would largely increaso the cost of electing members to tho Board, whereas the present law is satisfactory in ita working, aiid is carried out at a minimum of expenditure. Under tho proposed bill it would necessitate tho preparation of costly special rolls being prepared in the several counties in ordor to enable the elections to be carried out, and would farther ontoil" a special election to give tho Mayor of Naplor a soat on the Board, instead of. as at present, being ox-offlcio a mernbor. Tho Mayor is elected to his office diroctly by tho ratepayers, so that thoro can be no necessity for a special election being held to enable him as Mayor to become a member of tho Harbor Board. Tho proposal to throw upon tho secretary the onus of giving a casting vote Bhould there be an equality of votes at tho election of chairman would place that olflcor in a vory Impropor and unfair position, whereas the present Bystem of deciding by lot in the event of a tie is free from any such objection. Your oommittoe recommend that the secretary draw the attention of tho other looal bodies in this d'Btrict to the bill, and aßk them to join in opposing tho measure. In the event of a conference beine held at Welling ton, as suggested by the Wellington Harbor Board, your committee rocomtnend that tho Son, J, D. Ormond, M.L.0., chairman of tho Board, bo the Board's ropresontativo. and that copies of this resolution bo forwarded to tho members for the rating district) Mr Crosse asked if Che report of the eDglneer showed the fall extent of the damage done by the storm. The Chairman said the information was given in both reportß, Mr Rytner: That Is about £900 altogether. The Chaitman : Yes. In response to a question the engineer said the concrete blocks which he pro* posed patting down would be more expeneive than the stone, but ranch more permanent ; for Instance, a3O ton boulder oost £7 10s, while a block of concrete of the came weight would cost £11. Mr Dolbel Bald the concrete blocks onght to make an improvement. The fault before had been that) there were too many small stones in the apron. He had noticed that day 1 that the backwash had strewn plenty of them along the beach oppositci the town. The Engineer said those were from the foundation. Mr Vautler: How many concrete blocks will be needed— 500 or 5000 1 The Engineer : I could not say, Mr Crosse : Will our means allow it ? The Chairman : Well, authority has already been given to pitch over boulders to form this work, bnt this is a new proposition which Beems to me to be more desirable than any we have adopted. It can be done more speedily, and the cost will practically be less on account of the i dtfferenca in shape and the greater durability and less likelihood of being shifted. The Engineer said bo had noticed that where they hod thrown piecea of bloiska over after making repairs they had resisted the storm better than the bonlders, and had assisted to hold the rest of the apron in position. A member : Can you give ua any idea nig to how the foundation haa utood. Has ib flattened out ? The Engineer ; I oivnnot aay until the sea has gone down sufficiently. So far as I can see wo have got 40 feet level at the bottom, Mr Neal Baked if it should be level at the bottom for blocks ? Mr Cross thought It would not require to be so level for concrete ao for boulders. Mt Williams remarked that it would add 50 per cent to the coat, The Engineer admitted that. Mr Williams said the question was whether they would aove money by the ; additional durability. Mr Dolbel agreed that blocks wonld {ill up better than stones. Captain Davidson agreed with that opinion. Mr Neal waa of opinion that if the blocks rested on an inclined plane they would have a tendency to roll to the bottom in a storm. He thought a Hat bottom would be better. Tha Engineer said their idea in building it up as had been done was to allow the sea to comb }b down. Thin oca had combed it down too much. Mr Willlaniß said they wanted a little more Information ao to how far the apron bad subsided before making up their minds on the tubjaot, The Engineer said he only proposed to finish off with Hooks. There were places where these might ba put down immediately, bub obhers would require filling np again before the blocks conld be placed in position. They had recently put In a blast and bronght down 180,000 tons of staff ; ont of that they would get about 5000 tons of wave-breakers, and if they went on doing that they would have more small rnbblo than they required for the works. Mr Williamß said the greatest difficulty they had was to geb material of wave* breaker elza. Mr Vautler sold they would want a good base for concrete blocks. He did nob think they had got that. The Engineer : That remains for examination. Mr Williams thought tha engineer ought to be plear about the base before putting the blocks down. The Chairman thought it wonld be better if the matter were referred to the Works Committee, tbo eDgiaeer to work up any further information in the meantltDP. The Engineer : I doubt whether I shall be able to do It this month. Wo are nut likely to gst a quiet sea this month. Mr White asked if it would not be bs well to call for tenders. The Chairman explained that the work wub helng dono at schedule rr.tco. They conlii uoi) have another contractor on the work?. Mr Vautier thought that any dangerous apot3 should be attended to at once. Mr Williams agreed. In answer to Mr Vautler the engineer said conic of the blocks now protecting the root of the breakwater from tho soa might be used as wave- breakers. The top layer might be taken off. Eventually ib wns decidfd to refer the engineer's suggestions aa to (he substitution of concrete blocks instead of ordinary wave- breakers to tha Works Committee to report, tha remainder of the auegestlons iii the reports of tae engineer and Works Committee being adopted. MISCELLANEOUS. , The following accounts were passed for payment:— General account £578 153 31, loan account £1053 U« 4d. The secretary applied for ten days' leave of sb?ence, — Grunted. Tha meotlrig then adjourned.