LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7484, 25 February 1885, Page 6

LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

The "first meeting of the newly-elected Lyttelton Harbour Board was held at the Board's Christchurch office at 2.30 p.m. yesterday ; present—Hon E. Richardson, Messrs C. W. Turner; W.White, E. G. Wright, B. Allan, T. M'Clatchie, K. Westeura, X. Graham, H. Allwright and A. Chalmers. The Secretary, Mr C. H. Williams, reported the result of the recent biennial election of members of the Board.

ELECTION OP CHAIRMAN. 'Mr C W. Turner proposed Mr E. ii. Wright as Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. He felt that there was no need for him to say. anytling in support of the proposition, as Mr Wrio-ht had been a member of the Board for many years, and his services were well known. ',■,., The Hon E. Richardson seconded the motion, remarking that he had no doubt Mr Wright would fulfil the duties of his office as'ably as his predecessor. The motion was then carried ncm con. Mr Wright took the chair, and thanked the members for electing him to the honourable position of their Chairman. He especially thanked his proposer and seconder for their complimentary remarks. Though no more great works were likely to be carried out for some time to come, the Board would still have the important work of fostering the trade of the port of Lyttelton. He hoped their work in the future would be marked by the same good feeling and regard for the public interest, which had distinguished the Board in the past. APOLOGIES. Apologies for non-attendance were received from the Hon J. T. Peacock and Mr C. R. Blakiston. A letter was read from Mr C. Napier Bell, stating that he had been detained in Westport longer than he had anticipated, owing to the necessity for getting ready certain portions of the work in connection with the harbour there. He would, however, be in Christchurch before the next meeting. VOTES OF THANKS. Mr R. Allan moved—" That a cordial vote of thanks be given to the Hon J. T. Peacock for the manner in which he has discharged the duties of the Chairmanship during the past year." Mr H. Allwright seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. chairman's statement. The Chairman made the following statement'-. — 1. The following sums have been paid into the Board's account since our last meeting :—Wharfage to Jan. 24, 1885, .£1222 9s sd; pilotage and port charges, £604 Os 4d; towage, dock dues, &c, £259 15s Od. Total, .£2086 4s 9d. 2. A number of accounts for payment will be laid before you to-day. The total amount to be paid is £1246 63 Id. 3. Tenders for the shed have been advertised for, and will be opened to-day. 4. The Chairman, in reply to an application made to him by the Government, consented to allow a temporary site being occupied for tb.3 purpose of mounting one of the 64pounder guns near Officers' Point. This will enable the practice of gun drill. 5. The Committee appointed to make arrangements for more suitable offices in Christchurch, after inspecting several suites of offices, decided to recommend the Board to take offices in the New Zealand Insurance building in Cathedral square. The rooms consist of two rooms 18 by 16, and a strong room on the ground floor, fronting the square, and another room on a higher floor. The rent is £125 a year, and the terms would be for five years. The central position of the offices is most convenient, and the rent is very reasonable. As the tenancy of our present offices ends on March 31 next, the change of office can be made by that date. 6. Our .Engineer reported that the proposed shed on the Port Levy jetty could be erected by day labour at a cost not exceeding £SO. The Chairman authorised the work being put in hand at once, as the shed is greatly needed during the grass seed season. It will be necessary the Board should confirm his action. 7. The Committee appointed to deal with the ironwork tenders recommend the acceptance of Mr P. A. Pope's for ordinary wrought ironwork, and Messrs Scott Bros.' tender for boiler work and castings. Mr Forbes' tender for the supply •f stores for the current year has also been accepted. 8. A letter will be read from shippers of cocksfoot grass in reference to the Board allowing transhipment wharfage charges being made upon it when sent into private stores. As the application seemed to J be but a fair and reasonable one, Mr Peacock has asked the railway authorities whether there is any objection to treating it in the manner applied for. The Traffic Manager's reply will be read. 9. The Engineer's report on the work done at Sticking Point by prison labour will be read, also reports from Mr Ashcroft, who is in charge of the electric lighting. 10. A third letter has been written to the Government on the subject of a lifeboat for Akaroa;' and as regards the ocean currents off Banks Peninsula. A reply has not yet been received. 11. Mr Croll, the Government Inspector of Machinery, recently

inspected the tug and steam hopper barges. The result of his inspection is that it has been found necessary to dock the tug and have some repairs made to her boilers and machinery. She is expected to be ready for work again by Thursday next. 12. An application has been made for the use of the tug to take the Orphanage children to and from Quail Island on Feb. 2,7. Mr Peacock has also been spoken to about allowing the tug to run the Timaru excursionists round the harbour on the occasion of their proposed visit to Lyttelton. The Timaru Harbour Board allowed the use of their tug under similar circumstances. • ELECTION OF COMMITTEES. The following Committeeswere appointed for the ensuing year:—Harbour Improvement Committee—Hons J. T; Peacock, E. Eichardson, Messrs H. Allwright, T. M'Clatchie, C W.Turrier, E. AUftn. four to form a ojuorum. ' Finance Committee Messrs C. E. Blakiston, W. B. Tosswill, F. Graham, C. W. Turner, A. Chalmers and E. "Westenra, three to form a quorum. Sailors' Home Committee—Hon J. T. Peacock, Messrs C. W. Turner, H. Allwright, T. M'Clatchie and E. Westenra, three to form a quorum. The Chairman was appointed a member ex officio of each Committee. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of .£1240 6s Id were passed for payment. TENDERS. Nine tenders were opened for the construction of the shed on the reclaimed land, and that of Messrs Stinson"a'nd Thompson for £1452 Is 9d was accepted. cocksfoot. ' A letter was read from several shippers of cocksfoot seed, complaining that they had two wharfages to pay for, and requesting that the Board would place private sheds on the same footing as the railway sheds. A memorandum from the Eailway was read, stating that there was no objection to such an arrangement as that suggested being made. . The Board agreed to acquiesce in the arrangement. GREAT GTW. A memorandum from the Government was read, stating that one s of' the 64pounders was to be mounted near Officers' Point. This was sanctioned. tvt m NEW oWices. Mr Turner mentioned that thougli very wlwT-^ Uld ve obtained in Hobbs Buildings, the rooms selected by the Committee in the New Zealand Insurance Building were more suitable in some

respects. He proposed that'these rooms be taken for five years. . . , This was agreed to.

Mr White suggested that the rooms should be at once connected with the telephone exchange, as well as with the Heads,as the present offices were. This would be a great convenience to the public, who could thus learn the latest shipping news. LSTTELTQN TUG. The Chairman asked if the Board would sanction the use of the tug for excursionists from Timaru, where a similar courtesy had been extended to excursionists from Christchuroh. Mr Allwright objected to any interference with private enterprise. The Chairman thought that there would be so many excursionists that private enterprise would not be interfered with. Mr Allwright thought the Board should not incur any liability, in case of an accident. Mr Turner believed the railway authorities wished the concession. Mr Westenra thought it would be very ungracious to refuse the request. He moved that it be granted, subject to the tug not being wanted for ships on that day. Mr Turner pointed out that the tug's trips might be so arranged as not to interfere with the steam launches. He would second the proposal, provided no precedent were established. - Mr Allwright said the owners of the steam launches would take passengers to Governor's Bay and back for something like Is 6d on the day of the excursion. He was opposed to the motion. _ The motion was put and lost on a division. HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE. A number of matters were referred to the Harbour Improvements Committee, who are to meet to-day to consider them. NEXT MEETING. The next meeting was fixed for Thursday, March 26, at 2.30 p.m., in Christchurch. This closed the meeting.