PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 2 September 1919, Page 3

PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The usual monthly meeting of the Board was held yesterday, \vnen there were present: Messrs' Christensen (chair), Grainger, H. Dickie, Pacey, Corrigan, and Verry.

• BENZINE REGULATIONS

The Marine Department forwarded a copy of a. report made by a Customs ofneer sent from Wanganui as to the dangers attaching to the unloading oi: benzine at the Fatea wharf.

The chairman said that there unquestionably was extraordinary carelessness, and if men were so careless of their own lives as to stand alongside stacks of benzine striking matches andy smoking they could not help that, but they, could see that they had regulations making them careful of other people's lives. He would be sorry to see any regulations that might restrict the quantity* of benzine that was shipped through the port; there was any quantity of storage, and it was a comparatively new industry to the port. He thought that the two shipping companies might arrange for a supply of current for electric lights when working at night. Unfortunately, although the Harbor Board owned the wharf, the Railway Department conti'olled the working of it, But no doubt regulations to prevent the risk of accident should b«^ brought into force. If two or three large stacks of benzine caught alight it would not only mean the destruction of the wharves, but of any vessels that might happen to be there. He sug- | gested that a committee should go into the question of regulations. Mr Grainger said that ample regulations were already in existence if they were applied, such as barricades a-nd danger notices, red flags and red lights on the ship, etc. Previous to the restricted, railway traffic they had had no congestion of cargo such as benzine, but during August, for example, benzine was lying for a fortnight in trucks with railway engines shunting up and down past it on parallel lines, and with, the consequent danger of ignition from sparks. A committee consisting of the chairman, Mr Grainger, the harbormaster, and deputy-harbormaster was appointed to go into the- question of regulations, and with power to act.

GENERAL

The,chairman and Mr Grainger were appointed delegates to attend a proposed conference of local bodies at Wanganui in connection with a proposed expansion league. The chairman reported that the committee appointed for the purpose had interviewed Mr Heskett in regard to his ironsand lease. He was informed that, subject to the Board's approval, he could get a monthly lease-at the same rate of rent as previously. In the meantime he had been appointed caretaker without salary.—The committee's action was endorsed. ■

The Board received the following resolution recently passed by the Motueka Harbor Board: "In view of the inability of small harbor boards to^, provide themselves with the necessary^ plant, the Governniejtib be requested to purchase a sea-going dredge that may be hired out fox* such necessary works as may from time to time be required." —No action was taken.

ENGINEER'S REPORT

The engineer reported as follows

Breakwaters Extension Contract — During last month good progress was made with the above contract. On the eastern breakwater two caissons, Nos. 42 and 43, were deposited and consolidated, and two caissons, Nos. 49 and 50, in the yard. On the western breakwater two caissons, Nos. 26 and 27, were deposited and consolidated, and two caissons, Nos. 32 and 33, manufactured in the yard. The total length of the western breakwater extension to date is 179 ft 6inv, and the eastern breakwater extension . 331 ft 6in, which now overlaps the western breakwater a length pf 120 feet. For work done in connection with the eastern breakwater a progress payment amounting to £1558 17s 6d has been certified to, and for work done in connection with , the western breakwater the payment is £1134. Regarding the material in stock there is at present in stock 159 tons cement, 5 casks oil, 900 feet 3-inch',. steel wire rope, 1500 feet 2-inch steel wire rope,. 1500 yards hessian, and after due .allowance has been made for material brought into' stock and material used put of stock there is a, balance of £153 ,3s 3d due by -'the contractor to the Board. Position of contract, including to-day's payments: Eastern breakwater £24,921 6s 3d; western breakwater £20,978 2s lid, cap eastern breakwater £3431 3s 6d; total payments £49,330 12s Bd. Total advance made to contractor in cash , for material £9763 17s 9d, amount refunded in cash £5450 0s lOd, advance balance £4313 16a lid. Total amount of contract £g7,500. cap eastern breakwater £5164 145—£72,664' 14s, less total payments £49.330 12s 8d—£23,334 Is 4d, less advance balance £4313 16s lid, balance due £19p,020 4s sd. Removal of Blocks alongside the original Eastern Breakwater—One of the above blocks has been removed, and given suitable weather , conditions , the balance will be removed during the 1 coming spring tides. j Dredge Wallac<3—This dredge has been employed dredging in the channel below the town wharf and removing snags from the channel adjacent to the viaduct. From this locality a large number of snags have been removed, the largest being 25 feet long with a diameter of oft 6in. Since the 4th ult. the number of loads removed is 39,- equivalent to 2340 yards,- whilst the total time spent snagging is 68 hours. '

Wool Store—A quantity of hides, tallow, cased meats, etc., has been received at this store for shipment, besides a quantity of general cargo for inland distribution. .

The chairman reported that the Board's engineer had unfortunately been laid up practically the whole of the past month. The work, however, | at the heads was going on satisfac- , torily, and' so far as the dredging was concerned enormous quantities of snags had been taken out opposite the viaduct. One very large log was giving them a lot of trouble, but they were hopeful of being able to remove it so soon asUhcy "had dredged around it. The pilot reported that the channel over the bar was straight, with about 12 or 13 feet at high water spring tides and about Bft 6in at hiefh water neap tides, with a width of 180 ft. He Rounded the bar oh the 15th with the dredge Wallace, and found 12ft between the ends of the wall and 13ft on the bar, with 9ft showing on the tide irauge. There were 16 arrivals fl-ud 15 departures since last report. The launch whs not running satisfactory, and he had asked Mr Peterson to have a look at it.