LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5601, 6 February 1879, Page 6

LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board was held yesterday morning in the Provincial Council Chambers ; present —Hon B. Richardson (Chairman), and Messrs P. Cunningham, D. Craig, H. P. Murray-Aynsley, H. Sawteli, C. W. Turner, and R. J. S. Harman. ACCOUNTS. He Chairman said that he had called the meeting as there were several large sums to be paid on account of contracts, and he wished the authority of the Board to the payment. He enumerated the several accounts, which amounted to £4OBB. On the motion of Mr Murray-Aynsley, seconded by Mr Craig, the accounts were ordered to be paid.

THE TUG LYTTELTON. He Chairman said he wished to speak with reference to tne tug. The Harbour Master had mentioned the matter to him the other day. He (the Chairman) considered that the tug had not done as much work as it might have done. He Harbour Master had told him (the Chairman) that he felt himself in a delicate position, unless he received definite instructions to push the employment of the tug. He (the Chairman) had informed the Harbour Master that it was his hounden duty to take proper steps to let the masters of all vessels coming to the port know that the tug was available for their use, and upon what terms. He Harbour Master would follow these instructions for tbe future, and he might say they had already been attended to. with good results. He (the Chairman) had no doubt that the Board would agree with what he had done. He could not conceive that the Board could wish otherwise.

Mr Turner asked if the master of the tug had been instructed to watch for the arrival of vessels and to go out to meet them, just as the master of any other tug would. The Chairman replied that instructions had not at first been given that the master should look out for vessels. A case had occurred last week where a vessel had been signalled and the tug was not taken out to meet her. He had told the master that he must keep a better look out, and go to meet vessels for the future.

Mr Aynsley made a remark which was not clearly audible at the reporters’ table. Mr Turner said that arrangements as to terms could be made with the agents days before vessels arrived, as the Harbour Master was always m possession of information as to what vessels were due.

The Chairman said it would be a great convenience, and would greatly facilitate the movements of the tug, if the Harbour Board were to arrange to run a telegraph wire down to the Heads. That was one of the things which would have to be dealt with at an early date by the new Harbour Board. HAHWAI TBHCKS, &C,

Mr Turner asked if the Chairman had received any further information relative to the supply of trucks, and to the steam cranes. The Chairman replied that he had been informed that one crane was completed, and had been tested on Tuesday. The crane which had been promised to be brought from Moeraki had been impounded by the Moeraki Harbour Board, which still existed, and the Lyttelton Board was not likely to get that. With regard to the trucks, he had been informed on Tuesday that 110 or 114 trucks had been turned out recently; that the material, including axles and wheels, for 400 more was here. Ships now due had on board a quantity of ironwork, and as soon as this was delivered about 80 trucks a week could be turned out. enoinbeb’b eepoet. The Engineer’s report of the progress of the works at the Harbour was read. iahgdgy/n’s whaep, Mr Turner asked if the Government was making any preparations for laying down rails on Langdown’s wharf. The Chairman said that letters had passed upon the subject, and he had been informed that application had been made to Wellington for approval of the expenditure necessary. Mr Turner thought it would be better for the Board to guarantee the money, rather than that any delay should occur. The Chairman said that Mr Conyers, before going South, had told him that the engineers had made up their minds to commence at the screw pile jetty and lay all the rail* permanently. They would make the connections as soon as the Harbour Board were ready. raE QBAVINa dock. The Chairman stated that the plans for the graving dock had been forwarded to Wellington, and had been the subject of a great deal of correspondence. The plans had been forwarded on Jan. 2, together with a letter. (Letter read.) The letter had remained unacknowledged for some time, and he had telegraphed two or three to know what was done. At length, on Jan. 28, alerter from Wellington had been received, containing recommendation that the dock should be made at least two feet deeper on the sill, > and a request for duplicate and detail p.ans.

In reply to this he had, after consulting with the Hon John Hall and other members, telegraphed to the effect that the present Act did not require i the Board to. forward duplicate plans. A reply had since been; received that duplicate plans would not ;be required, but. that detail plans would. He was now having tracings made as fast as possible, and-as soon as they were ready they would bo sent up.

THE NEW HAEBOUB BOABD. The Chairman stated that there was an irregularity with respect to the elections for the Harbour Board, for which there was ho doubt there would have to bo a validating Order in Council. Until such an order was received he very much questioned whether the Board could hold a meeting. Certainly the newly-elected members would not he able to sit, and there would bo three of these. The point that had caused all this trouble was this —that the Act of 1878 did away altogether with the existing Harbour Boards. Seeing that such was the case, and that no action in the matter had been taken by the Government, he hod thought it only fair to call the attention of the Government to the fact that the Board would expire, and that some action should be taken. By his instructions the Secretary had written to the Undersecretary to the Marine Department, calling his attention to the whole facts of the case'. (Letter read.) No notice had been taken of that letter, butafter attention had again been called to the matter, eventually a reply had been sent to the effect that it was not a question for the Government to advise upon, but'that it was for the Board to give effect to the provisions, of the Act, and should the necessity arise the Government would give any relief that it was advised to give. He had also received a telegram from Sir George Grey, with these words —“ Will certainly rectify as' youwish.” The Board would have to. send up to Wellington the full particulars of the irregularity, and then get an Order in Council to set the matter right. There was a clause in the Act which stated that in the event of a meeting being held, and there being any doubt about the validity of the election of any members,; any action of tho Board taken at such meeting should not on that account be invalidated. ,

Mr Murray-Aynsley pointed, out.that the clause only provided that where some of the members had not been properly elected the action of the Board ahould not be upaat. That, however* did not apply to a , case fo which the whole of the members' Were nbt validly members. It would he advisable for tho present members to: sign all documents which would require signatures before tho new Board could legally meet.

The Chairman asked if it would be conve-', nienfc for. those present to meet for a short time on. Saturday. After some further discussion it was resolved to hold a special meeting on Saturday, at half-past twelve. NEW OFFICES. ] The Chairman stated that four sets of offices had been ■■ offered for the use of the Board, but no selection had yet been made. He would probably be able to report definitely at the meeting on Saturday.