HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LII, Issue 5805, 3 October 1879, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD.

A meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board was hold at two o’clock yesterday afternoon, at the new office in Hereford street ; present —The Hon B. Richardson (m tho Chair), and Messrs 0. W. Turner, P. Cunningham, D. Craig, E. J, S. Harman, Murray-Aynsley, and Allan. CHAIEMAN S STATEMENT. The Chairman made the following statement “1. The following sums have been paid into the Harbour Board’s account since our last meeting: —Wharfage, £1325 3s sd; towage and warps, £ll4 12s; pilotage and port charges for September, 1879, £385 4s 8d; interest on Bank account, £8616s 6d; total, £l9ll 16s 7d. 2. The Engineer’s monthly report on the progress made under the harbour works contracts will be read. Now that Messrs Langdown and Co’s contract for the extension of the Screw Pile Jetty is completed, the Board will have to consider the question of its non-completion to contract time. A letter from Messrs Langdown and Co, on the subject will be read. The Engineer reports that Messrs Hawkins and Co’s offer to repair the Officers’ Point Breakwater for £385 is based on the prices named in their original tender; I will therefore ask the. Board to accept it. 3. The dredging returns for tho month of September, 1879, is on the table. It shows a splendid month’s work to have been done, namely—l 67 barge loads, amounting to 30,060 cubic yards, or 41,750 tons. 4. The towage return is also on the table, and shows a fair amount of work to have been done considering the season of the year. 5. The tenders for the Graving Dock were received yesterday, and will be opened by you to-day. 6. A letter will be read from the Commissioner of Telegraphs stating that the Board can have the portion of the old Cook Straits cable for the purpose of laying it down at the Heads, the Board paying all the freight charges to Lyttelton, and tho cost of splicing it, &c., and also the cost of laying it, which work the Telegraph Department would undertake. I strongly recommend the Board to accept the Government’s offer, and to authorise the necessary expenditure, including the line from tho Heads to the town of Lyttelton, 7. Mr Meddings has furnished an approximate estimate of the cost of establishing telephonic communication between the Board’s offices at Lyttelton and Cristchurch, the amount being under £2OO, which includes yearly maintenance, which would not exceed £23. I think the Board would be wise to authorise this expenditure. I would also suggest that they should send Home for telephones having the very latest improvements. In addition to the great service this means of communication would he to the offices, it might be made most useful to the public, if the arrivals and departures of vessels were regularly reported at Christchurch. 8. Shortly after our last meeting a letter was addressed to the Bank of New Zealand, in terms of the Board’s resolution, asking them whether they would be prepared to take over the Board’s account on Jan. 1 next, and a reply from them in the affirmative has been received. 9. A circular has been addressed to me, as Chairman of this Board, from the Westland Railway League, in which the Board are asked to co-operate with the League in securing the construction of the line to connect the East and West coasts of this Island, and 1 have no doubt the Board will see fit to pass a resolution on the subject. 10. It will be remembered by the Board that, immediately after the south-west gale which took place in June last, the Board were led to believe that the Canterbury Marine Underwriters’ Association would grant a gratuity to the officers and men who were working on the tug during that very trying occasion. The Board also passed a resolution expressing their approval of their conduct at the time. A letter has now been received, and which will be read, from the Underwriters’ Association, stating that they do not see their way to vote the gratuity in question.

As a reason for not doing so, it stated that the Company ■which contributes most largely to the Association’s funds lost £3OOO by the wreck of the Bells. It is hardly necessary for me to point out that the occasion was a most exceptional one, and one not likely to recur in view of the increased shipping acccommodation the Board are finding witbin the inner harbour, and I think it is to be regretted that the Marine Underwriters’ Association has not seen fit to recognise the special service rendered by the tug staff, and which there can be no question whatever very materially contributed to the safety of the shipping on the occasion referred to. Under these circumstances, I would suggest to the Board the fairness of specially recognising the services of those who were at work on board the tug throughout the gale, uninterruptedly from Saturday till Sunday morning. I omitted to state that the special towage rate charged to the several vessels, to which assistance was rendered by the tug, was fixed at a very moderate sum, having in view the understood intention of some of the Insurance Companies to grant a gratuity to the staff. I think the Board will agree that had the service in question been rendered by any other steamer it would have formed a fair case for salvage. 11. A report will be read from the Harbour Master in reference to the self-registering barometer clock. He recommends the Board to procure ' a self-registering tide gauge.

engineer's eepoet. The Engineer reported as follows :■*— “ 1. I have to report on the progress of the works for the month of September, that No. 3, intermediate jetty, is complete, with the traverser bed fixed according to the Government plans supplied. The breastwork, included in the contract, has been standing some time, to allow of the settlement of the embankment: but as this seems to stand now, I have instructed the contractor to finish the timber work. “2. The extension of the screw pile jetty is completed with the exception of the traverser bed. This contract has incurred a long detention, although the contractor exerted himself to the utmost to complete it, the delays, as in the case of Messrs Hawkins and Co., being caused by the difficulty of getting timber from Australia. “3. At the representation of the Harbour Matter, I received instructions from (he Acting-Chairman, to extend the end of the screw pile wharf beyond the traverser, and to give it a rounded end. This was necessary to facilitate the turning of steamers, and to accommodate the fixed light at the end of the wharf. I have accordingly furnished the contractor with plans for this, and instructed him to carry it out as an extra to his contract. “4, At the Gladstone extension all the stone

now taking out mud close to the pi to • depth of 6ft below low water. _ T P hat been instructed not to exoa _ . deeper than this, for fear ofloosing slopes. Levels taken over this wharf do not show any subsidence. . . “ 6. Very good progress is made w» the reclamation between Officers “t 6?lS.Xi»g picked «th tgP <J»J the front of the breast-work, near the site of tb S report whettertte offer of Messrs Hawkins and ooJ to . /jjjfc in £S Z* Slh%n>r" ent hvhy them accordance with their tender, to an amount not to «oeed £3OO. 1 therefore T uotwishJto incur the uncertainty of paying for the work by the truck load of etone, set up frames or profiles to show what was wanted, and asked Messrs Hawkins to make an offer to do the work to these profiles. This offer was received by the Board, and being referred to me, I recommended it to be accepted. Messrs Hawkins calculated their offer at the price of their public tender.” OEFIOBBS’ POINT BEBAKWATBK. Mr Harman moved that the Board accept Messrs Hawkins and Co.’e tender for £335 for repairs to Officers’ Point breakwater, in accordance with the Engineer’s recommendation, and that the seal of the Board be affixed. The motion was seconded by Mr Allan and agreed to. TONNAGE BBTtTBNS. The following returns of shipping entering the port during the post two months were readl have the honour to forward for your information a return of the number of vessels and tbeir registered tonnage that entered the port of Lyttelton during the month of August, 1879: — 33 steamers 14,882 tone 8 sailing vessels from foreign ports ... 6,179 „ 10intercolonial ... 2,894 „ 43 coasting ... ... 1,647 „ 94 25,102 For the month of September: — 83 steamers 13,278 tons 5 sailing vessels from foreign ports ... 4,039 „ 9 intercolonial ... 2,664 „ 44 coasting 2,279 ~ 91 22,260 MESSES LANGDOWN AND CO.’S OONTEACT A letter was read from Messrs Langdown and 00., explaining the cause of the delay which had arisen in carrying out their contract, and asking for the favourable consideration of the Board. In connection therewith, extracts were read from the Engineer’s reports. The Chairman thought that the circumstances of the case would be met by the infliction of a nominal penalty. The expense of a clerk of works for 80 weeks had been incurred.

Mr Allan moved, that in consideration of the causes shown by Messrs Langdown and Co., the penalty for non-performance of the contract to time, be reduced to £SO. The motion was unanimously agreed to. ACCOUNTS. A number of accounts; amounting in the aggregate to £3380 7s lid, were passed for payment. SEATING DOCK. Tenders for the construction of a graving dock were received. The Chairman stated that one tender came in ten minutes after the time specified (12 o’clock noon), and asked for the decision of the Board. Mr Craig thought that the few minutes should not be taken advantage of, especially as there was such variation of time in Christchurch. He moved—That the tender be received. Mr Harman said it was of course understood that the Board had no knowledge of who the tenderer was. The Chairman stated the tender was brought in by a messenger, the Secretary having no knowledge of who it came from. Mr Craig added the words to his resolution —“ This course not to be taken as a precedent.” The motion was seconded by Mr Allan and agreed to, the various tenders being then opened, and the lowest referred to the Engineer to look over. Subsequently, on the motion of MrSawtell, seconded by Mr Harman, it was resolved that the tender of Messrs Ware and Jones (Auckland), for the construction of a graving dock at a cost of £70,844 13s 4d, be accepted, and that the seal of the Board be affixed to the contract. TBIBGEAPEIC COMMUNICATION. The following letter from the General Manager of Telegraphs was read; —“ I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Sept. 29, renewing application for portion of the old Cook Straits cable, and in reply beg to inform you that the Hon the Telegraph Commissioner has been pleased to grant that 3009 yards of the cable be given to the Harbour Board, they paying all expenses incurred in taking out of tank, joining, shipping, and freight to Lyttelton, and all expenditure made by this department in connection therewith. As the cable ship Agnes will shortly arrive in Wellington, I will get the men who are used to splicing cables to join the pieces in one entire length, and as soon as completed will advise you so that you can make arrangements for freight, &o. This department will undertake the laying of the cable if the Board should so desire.” The Chairman mentioned that he would be in Wellington again in a few days, and that he would be happy to do anytMng in the matter. On the motion of Mr Cunningham, seconded by Mr Turner, it was resolved—“ That the Board authorise the expenditure necessary for establishing telephonio communication between the Board’s offices at Lyttelton and Christchurch,”

BANKING. The Chairman read a letter which he had received from the Manager of the Bank of He w Zealand, accepting the conduct of the Board’s account from Jan. 1 proximo, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Board’s letter. The Chairman added that subsequent to the receipt of the letter he had seen Mr Coster. That gentleman stated that the Directors of the Bank of New Zealand, having read what took place at the last meeting of the Board, and having noticed that there appeared to be a very strong feeling on the subject of the Board’s deposit being confined to one bank, were perfectly willing that some portion of the funds should —if the Board so desired—he placed in another bank; or they were willing that the account should bo divided. The

Chairman went on to say that he had that day received an opinion on this matter from Mr Nalder, the Board’s legal adviser, as follows ; —“ Referring to your memo asking whether, in my opinion, the Harbour Board could legally divide their account between two or more banks, I am of opinion that the Board cannot divide their account as suggested. The Harbours Act, 1878, whilst enabling the Board to change its bank from time to time when it sees fit, clearly contemplates that only one banking account shall be kept for the Harbour fund.” Before the receipt of this memorandum, he had an opinion of a similar character from another source altogether, and lie believed that Mr Stout cave a similar opinion to theTimaru Harbour Board. Between the present time and the end of the year, members could consider whether it would be worth while to open up the question again.

Mr MurrayAynsley was in doubt as to whether Mr Nalder had understood the exact bearing of the question, whether or not there could be two separate current loan accounts. In the case of toe Timaru Board there was hardly a parallel, as they were wanting to lend money outside altogether. In reply to a remark from Mr Craig, the Secretary read a copy of his memorandum to Mr Haider, the question submitted being as to whether the Board could legally divide their account between two or more Banks, and the solicitor’s attention being specially directed to clauses 172 and 231 of the Harbour Boards Act. ■ Mr Craig understood Mr Murray-Aynsley s

proposition to be, as to whether, the ordinary banking;, account, the Board could deposit money in another. B* n k time ; if they oould take a out of one Bank and deposit them in an°*Mr Human assumed that what Mr MurrayAynsley desired to elicit was, whether if the Board it the end, of 1879 having monev in ohl, Bank, could then change to another Bank. The Chairman said ho would have the question again placed before Mr Nalder, and ascertain from him whether, if tho Board now deposited for a certain time-say for .12 monthe-thoy could, before the expiration of . that time change to another Bank. HAST AND 'WEST OOABT BAILWAY. ; A oiroulor letter was read from the Wortland Railway League, inviting the cooperation of the Board in endeavouring to secure the connection by railway of the East and. West Coasts. On the motion of Mr. Allan, seconded by Mr Cunningham, it was resolved—That this Board recognises tho importance of the railway from Canterbury to the West Coast, and will urge upon the Government to give: the. matter its earnest consideration. 1 THE PNDBEtyBIIHBS ASSOCIATION, From the Canterbury Marine Underwriters’ Association the following letter was read : " Your letter of July 80 was duly considered at a meeting held on Sept. 6, when the Association did not see its way to vote a gratuity to Ithe officers and crew of the p.s. Lyttelton tug; I think it worth mentioning that on the occasionof the gale, the offices most largely contributing to the funds of the Association lost by the wreck of the Bells £3OOO sterling. The Chairman said the representative' of one office told him that the tpg had saved the office some £16,000 on that day. Having been told by representatives of some of tho offices that they would contribute, the crew of the tug had been led to believe that they would receive some gratuity. Had the service been rendered by any other steamer than the Board’s tug, there oould be no doubt, that there would have been a good claim for salvage. Perhaps, under the circumstances, the Board would vote some gratuity to the men. The Chairman concluded by specifying some items of expenditure which hod been, incurred on account of the extraordinary work done by the tug. Mr Murraj -Aynsley quoted from a previous statement made by the Chairman to show that it had been clearly understood the Insurance Companies would contribute. He also referred to the Board’s resolution authorising the distribution of the money expected. Thai Harbour Board did not want to make money out of the matter, but considering the actual pain and suffering endured by the men, ho thought that certainly the Association should have acted differently. He would move that the Chairman be requested to communicate with the Canterbury Underwriters’ Association, with the view of inducing them to change their determination not to contribute.

Mr Craig desired to state that the matter had been well considered, by the Association, and that there was a feeling that the tug did not do more than its duty. Further, that it did not do its duty,—that if it had been out earlier in the morning there would have been no loss at all. Personally, however, Mr Craig said that were tho matter to be again brought before the Association he would —as he had done before—try to get the award carried. He thought the whole thing had been a misunderstanding from beginning to end. Messrs Turner and Cunningham spoke

against any further application to the Association, the latter urging that it was because the men on board the tug did their duty so veil and faithfully on that day, that they deserved a reward. The Chairman thought it would be much better to go in the direction indicated by Mr Cunningham, and to vote even a small sum to the men from the Board’s funds. Perhaps, Mr Aynsley would withdraw his resolution, as it would be placing him (the Chairman) in a very undignified position to send him to the Association. That body had got out of a liability by a sidewind as it were, and it was a matter for surprise that what had been hdd to be a promise, involving the Association, should have been repudiated. Mr Murray-Aynsley withdrew his motion, and the subject was permitted to drop. At a later stage the matter was again brought forward, and it was proposed that a fortnight’s pay should be given to the officers and men who were actually on board the tug during the gale, it being mentioned that some of them had since been suffering most severely from the effects of the exertion and exposure they had undergone. No definite action, however, was taken. , HABBOUB MASTBB’S BBFOBT. The Harbour Master wrote as follows: “ 1 have the honour to inform you that I called at Petersen and Co.’s, according to instructions received from you, to report on the self-registering barometer. I beg to state that the barometer is a very good one, yet the instrument would be of no importance to the Harbour Department in Lyttelton for weather warnings. The present system of weather warnings being so complete and reliable from Wellington—as all indications of changes of wind and sea have been telegraphed to me daily for the last six years, and in nine cases out of ten they have been correct. The range of the standard barometer now in my posse ision is forwarded to Wellington doily at 8 a.m., and also taken several times daring the day, and taken at midnight and at 4 in the morning by the watchman, and a record kept, besides the inclosed sheet showing range, strength, and direction of wind at 8 a.m. These sheets are kept in the office, and can be referred to at any time. 1 also forward monthly returns to the Weather Reporting Office in Wellington. I would most respectfully recommend that a self-registering tide gauge he procured either from England or from Newcastle, N.3.W., as at the latter port they have had one in use for many years, and it has proved a great convenience to the Harbour Department. The instrument with its clock attached is on the same principle as the self-registering barometer; therefore the cost would be about the same. I would suggest, should the Board approve of my recommendation, to have the instrument placed as convenient to the Screw Pile Jetty as possible, so os to be easily seen by masters of steamers and the masters of ships generally. The instrument would be of great value to the Harbour Department when mooring large vessels, and satisfactory to masters of large vessels, giving them more confidence in loading their ships to a draught suitable for removal.” On the motion of Mr Cunningham, it was resolved to authorise the ordering of a st>lfregistering tide gauge, as recommended by the Harbour Master, if under a cost of £SO.

ME TTTEPIIf’S EBPOET. From Mr Turpin, Superintending Engineer, the following report was read: “Captain Wood, master of the hopper barge Sumner, resumed his command on Sept. 16 j and Cant. Da. St. Croix went book with the Harbour Master’s staff. On Saturday, Sept. 20,1 had to stop the dredge to take out fire leaky tubes from the boiler, and put in new ones in their place; also repair a leaky place in the high pressure cylinder. T took the opportunity, while the dredge was stopped, to try the scoop and engine, made by Mr J. Anderson, which I havenxed on the deck of .the barge Heathoote. The scoop is a groat success, lifting from 15owt to a ton each lift, I lifted about 40 tons of mud in about three hours, 1 have had to get Mr Anderson to alter the slide valves of the engine, so that they will carry the steam longer through the stroke, as there was a point at which they would not start when tnere was any load on. This has been done to my satisfaction,” PILOT BZBMPTXOK. A pilot exemption certificate was granted to Harold Bilner, master of the Fawn, - SINKIHO EPND. On the motion of Mr P, Cunningham it was resolved, without discussion, that the sinking fund for the year be invested by the Commissioners. KBIT lIBBTXNO, It was resolved, that the next meeting of the Board should be held that day fortnight, in Lyttelton, at two o’clock.

The propeller plates of the Gallia, the Cunard steamship just, launched, weigh 66 owt each, and are the largest steel plates ever made for such a purpose.