LYTTELTONHARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 8395, 2 February 1888, Page 6

LYTTELTONHARBOUR BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the Lyttelton Barbour Board was held yesterday afterBoon; present—Mr P. Cunningham (Chairmw) Messrs E. G. Wnght. F. “Sam, Parsons, Peryman, Webb. Stinson. Turner, and the Hon J-T. L Leave of absence was granted to the Mon E Richardson and Mr Tosswill. . chairman’s statement, The Chairman read the following statead port Charge.. *786 l»i totjjl, 21(333 18s 10d. Our balance at the Bank the Harbour Improvement Committee wi l b* brought up to-day, also annual renort of the Lyttelton Sailors Home. (31°A.CCounts for payment, ° 2IBBS Ba, will come before you. Ihese amounts have been examined by Captain FfCaoaa, a member of the Finance Committee. (4) Members of the Board •will have learnt that the May Queen was stranded at the Heads on ?Kay last. The magisterial enquiry inftp the circumstances, of the case is being proceeded with at Lyttelton * day. (6) I received a letter from the , Government asking for the Board’s reasons for _ declining to issue a pilotage exemption certificate to the master of the steamer Gerda, and in reply Lforwarded the papers on the subieST The Minister of Marine now replies that’he does not see any good reason for exercising the powers 80 of “The Harbour Act, 18/8. —(b) a. letter will he received from the Governments respect to re-defining the limits of SSWt of Lyttelton. The further inferTTvatfaW promised therein is not yet to hand. ~/7Y Correspondence with the Controller ahd Auditor-General in reference to Harbour Board’s overdrafts will he read/«i The storea departmental report tor tne iyLfh will be laid before you. (9) Tenders fMSbour at stores, for supply of coal, and fer supply of stores for the ensuing twelve nwnthswill be opened this afternoon. (101 A letter will he read from the Sinking Fond Commissioners of our 2200,000 loan, in . reference to the investment of the Stoking Fund for the year 188/, and interest, amounting mallto 21509. The meeting fixed by law for the Section of Chairman fur the ensuing year wfll have to take place on Tuesday, Feb. and it will be desirable to hold our ordinary meeting on the same day. • harbour improvement committee. The following report was read(l) Be services of the tug to Pigeon Bay.—The Committee decided that the agents of the B|ji, Akaroa be informed that the services of the tuiz, to convey passengers and cargo tQ pigeon Bay on Jan. 24,26, and 27,_ while fha Aimrivi. fc laid np, will not be available, M the Board have so recently decided not to allow the tug to carry passengers, and only maUa under exceptional circumstances. (2) Re Insurance on tug Lyttelton.—The recommend the Board to continue the insurance policy on the steam tug ".Lyttelton.” (3.) Insurance Bates on Harbour Board Sheds, Lyttelton.—The Committee advise the Board not to insure +hyr sheds in Lyttelton at the rates nuoted by the Insurance Companies. (4.) Osble at Heads.—The Committee decided that it is not necessary at present to order the new submarine cable for the Heads. (5.)* Site for Lawn Tennis Ground.—The Committee recommend that permission be granted to Lyttelton Lawn Tennis Club to temporarily occupy a small section of land on the Reclaimed Land in Dampier s Bay, at a rental of 21 a year, and subject to three months’ notice. .. .The report was considered clause by clause. . Clause 1 was agreed to without discus*iou. On Clause 2 being discussed, Mr Wright moved —"That the Committee’s recommendation be not adopted.” He thought it would be , as well if the Board set aside, say, 2400 a year as an insurance fund, and thus become their own insurers. The present policy did not cover damages of a less amount than 2150. Then the policy restricted the movements of the tug. In one case a special charge of 225 was demanded for permission to send the tug to tow off the Clematis. This had prevented tho services of the tug being rendered. It might he said that the tug could be sent away at /w whenever her services were required, but when the arrangement of a charge for the extra risk came to be made, the Board woulji be at a disadvantage with the Insurance Company. Opt* l ’" Parsons asked for what amount the tug was insured. Mr Wright said 25000, and the charge was 2242 10s. Captain Parsons thought tho recommendation of the Committee should be adopted. The tug was a peculiar risk. Mr Wright said the Committee’s recommendation had been carried by four votes to three votes. The Hon J. T. Peacock supported the Committee’s recommendation. The tug’s service was particularly hazardous, and the Underwriters, for the small percentage charged, took all risks, including collisions. He would object to the tug running without being insured. Mr Stinson seconded Mr Wright’s proposal. Mr Turner would vote for insuring the tug as well as the buildings. In the event of loss the Board could not levy on the ratepayers, and could not re-instate their property, except out of ordinary revenue. As to the case of the Clematis, the charge Of 225 was, no doubt, preposterous. Mr Wright replied that the Board’s revenue would soon put the Board in the poseession of funds to replace the tug were she lost to-morrow. The charge of 5 per cent was very large compared with that made to the Union Comptmy, when the comparative risks were considered. The amendment was put and lost, three voting for it and five against. IiEAVX OF ABSENCE. Mr Turner here asked leave of absence for Messrs Westerns, Tosswill, and White. It was granted. INSURANCE ON SHEDS. On clause 3 of The Harbour Board Improvements Committee report, Mr Webb supported the recommendation, as the appliances for extinguishing fires at Lyttelton were so good, the Brigade excellent, and the tug being available. Mr Turner would wish the sheds to he insured, but would like the rates to be lower. He moved a resolution to the effect—“ That the Committee offer 12s Gd per cent for the Gladstone shed, and continue the other buildings at the present rates.” Mr Wright moved the adoption of the recommendation. The Chairman said policies to the amount Of 24500 would lapse at once. Captain Parsons thought the recommendation meant that the present rates were too high. The Hon J. T. Peacock would have seconded Mr Turner’s motion. He would move it now, and hoped Mr Turner would - second it. He moved —“ That the Chair- . man be authorised to arrange cover at a $ rate not exceeding 12s Gd.” The Chairman would like more definite instructions. Mr Webb moved the addition to the recommendation of the words, “viz., 15 per cent.” Mr Wright thought the Board would act xnpre-wisely by adopting the Committee’s recommendation. This would strengthen the hands of the Chairman more than the proposed amendment. Captain Parsons thought that the Chairman’s name should be mentioned, so as to leave the matter in his hands. Mr Peryman suggested that the amount insured should be reduced. The Chairman said this had already been done. The amendment was lost by the Chairman’s vote. Mr Webb moved—“ That the Gladstone shed and sheds Nos. 1 and 5 be not insured at the rates now charged by the Componies,” Turner would leave original

could obtain a redaction of 2s 6d on the wood and iron buildings they were to bo insured. The Board adopted this view. At this stage Messrs White and Weatenra took their seats. Clauses 4 and 5 were agreed to, and the report as a whole was adopted. sailors’ home. The Sailors’ Home Committee’s report was read as fellows : “ In presenting the fourth annual report, your Committee has to state that during the year the Home has been painted, and various repairs effected, which have added to its comforts. After allowing for the amount expended in special repairs (235 6s lOd), there is a debit balance on working expenses of about 219. A library has been formed, at present consisting of 135 volumes. Donations of books have been received from the Union Steamship Company, Messrs P. Cunningham, G. Batten, K. D. Thomas and others, for which donations the Committee desires to express its thanks. The number of seamen accommodated during 1887 was 236. This is a considerable reduction on the previous years, and is owing to the scarcity of shipping during 1887. The amount deposited for safe-keeping during the year was 2349 sa. The accounts now handed in show as fol-

The report was received. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of 21885 8s were passed for payment. Tho amount included 21000 on account of the Sinking Fund. THE MAY QUEEN. This subject, as the enquiry was now going on, was postponed. THE BOARD’S JURISDICTION. The Government’s letter was read, suggesting a new limit line, less than a radius of five miles as at present existing. OVERDRAFT. The Controller-General wrote to the effect that he would have to surcharge the overdraft unless it was paid. The Chaiiman said this had already been done. ANNUAL MEETING. At 3 p.m. the annual meeting was resumed. The Chairman read the following statement :

To the memoers oi me uywsiwu awbout Board. Gentlemen, —The financial year closing on Dec. 31 makes it necessary to hold an adjourned annual meeting at this date, to give sufficient opportunity to the Treasurer to compile his accounts and have them audited. A copy of the Treasurer’s annual statement has been forwarded to each member of the Board, and will be found to give the fullest possible information of the year’s operations. It will be satisfactory to members to notice an increase in our revenue over that of last year, and the Treasurer’s anticipations of a further increase during 1888. I believe it will be found that the Treasurer has undervalued the revenue for 1888, but it must ba borne in mind that the estimates are merely drafted for the guidance of members, and are jq,ot intended in any way to forecast a policy which the Board may elect to pursue. I think a large increase will take place in the income from the export of farm produce, and I have no reason to think that the returns from other sources will in any way decrease. Last year’s increase of revenue was sufficient to enable us to complete the extended work of dredging. I am informed by competent authorities that, for the class of steamers now trading to our port, it will be unnecessary again to resume dredging operations for four or five years, except on a small scale and with the aid of machinery such as the Pitman dredge now used in the Minnie Bell. The Board will have to decide whether further steps will have to be taken to assist in the disposal of tho now unnecessary dredging plant. The working of the tug Lyttelton appears to involve the Board in a loss, but I think the pilot service should be debited with a sum each year, which, if fairly stated, would more than cover the deficiency of 2400 or 2500 per annum. The Storage Department of the Board’s business leaves a satisfactory result, whilst at the same time affording considerable facilities to the farming community at a reasonable cost. Judging by the numbers regularly attending the Sailors’ Home, it would seem that this institution answers the object the Board had in view in establishing it, and does so at a very small annual cost. The accounts have been examined by the Inspector of Audit, and the question has been raised whether, in the present state of the law, we have power to contract an overdraft with our bankers. Correspondence on this subject will be laid before the Board today. It will he necessary to keep this matter before the notice of the House of Representatives, and press for an amendment, if necessary, of the Harbour Act, as it appears quite impossible to conduct the business of a Board like ours without, at times, having to obtain a temporary overdraft from our bankers. The members will no doubt agree with me in thinking that the accounts show a very satisfactory result considering the amount of work of a permanent character done last year. So far no provision of a satisfactory kind has been made for the renewal of the timbers of the jetties and breastworks, and I think the time will soon arrive when we shall have to allot a certain proportion of our annual receipts as a winking fund for the renewal of all works of a perishable nature. Hitherto we have deducted 2} per cent from the value of this class of property, but 1 think it would be more satisfactory if a vote of a few thousand pounds each year were invested as a reserve fund for tins purpose. The operations of the Board for the eleven years during which they have bad the Port of Lyttelton under their control appear to have been carried out to the satisfaction of the public of Canterbury. Almost the only misfortunes we have to regret are the damage to the barque Conference at the graving dock, and the loss of the May Queen a few days ago, while beating up harbour. I would ask the Board to consider whether it is expedient to continue the present system of docking, in which we run great risk, without sufficient compensation. Daring this year the question of the extension of works by prison labour will also probably come under the consideration of the Board; nor should the extension of the limits of the Port of Lyttelton and the Board’s endeavour to obtain possession of the foreshore be lost sight of. The defences ofthe port have been underthe attention of the Government, and are in a fair way of being completed at an early date in a satisfactory manner. I have reason to believe that both the premises and plant belonging to the Board are in a thoroughly efficient condition, and will require little or no outlay for repairs during the next twelve months. No further steps have been taken by the Government in reference to the acquirement by them of the shed accommodation in Lyttelton. The staff have earned out their duties to my satisfaction daring tho past year, and I think, from the Secretary downwards, are to be complimented on their performance of the work of the several offices. Mr Williams should be especially commended 1 on the clear and explicit manner in which the annual accounts are from time to time placed before the Board. The relations of the Board and tbeir officers with the officers of the Railway Department continue to be amicable and satisfactory. It will be neces-

sary at once for the Board to take into consideration the appointment of a Chairman to succeed me, my term of office expiring next month. Meanwhile, I have to express to the members my thanks for their regular attendance at the ordinary monthly meetings, as well as at the numerous Committee and sub-Committees held throughout the year, and for their co-operation in endeavouring to carry out successfully the important duties entrusted to us by the public. The Chairman said that the accounts could not bo adopted, as they had not yet been audited. If the members wished the annual meeting could be adjourned till the end of the month. The annual meeting was adjourned till Feb. 28, at 3 p.m. Ordinary Meeting Resumed, tenders. Tenders were opened for labour at the stores, stores, and coals. They were referred to the Harbour Improvement Committee. SINKING FUND. A letter from the Commissioners recommended the investment of 21500. The recommendation was adopted. Mr F. Graham moved—“ That the Harbourmaster be instructed to report on the shallowing of the harbour by the silt driven up from the works now being carried on by the prisoners.” This was seconded and agreed to. NEXT MEETING. The next meeting was fixed for Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m., in Christchurch.

Iowa Amounts received, 18 : 7 ••• £583 13 1 Good outstanding debts 31 / A £617 0 3 Expenditure, 1837 ••• ••• £671 6 £54 5 3 Special repairs expenditure 35 6 10 Loss on working expenses £18 18 6 The cash account shows : — Balance in hand as per last account* Deo. 31, 1883 ZiS IA Outstanding accounts received ib»/ <*• iy 13 8 Beoeipts board and lodginj 1837 1 Beceipts in advance, 1883 i / £601 6 7 Grants from Dyttelton H’tbour Board SO dnrin; 1:87 £771 9 7 Paid for provisions, tc., December, 1886 ... ' •• 58 7 2 Disbursements as per working account, 1837 ... 612 4 8 670 11 10 Balance in hand 100 17 9 £771 9 7