HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9092, 1 May 1890, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

LYTTELTON. An ordinary meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board was held at the Board’s offices at 2.30 p.m. yesterday; present— Messrs W. White, jun. (Chairman), E. G. Wright, T. M'Clatchie, J. B. Milsom, H. W. Peryman, R, W estenra, P. Waymonth, P. Cunningham, Prank Graham, C. W. Turner, Hon J. T. Peacock, and Captain Parsons. chairman's report. The Chairman’s report was read, as follows :—. The following amounts have been paid into the Board’s credit since our last meeting:—Wharfage, .£1139 12a 2d; pilotage, &0., .£BO9 IGsSd; towage, &c., .£209 2s sd; total, £2158 11s 3d. Our credit balance on fixed deposit is .£7500, and credit balance current account, .£1075 Is Bd, making a total of .£3573 Is Bd. .£6OOO, interest on our debentures, was remitted by thirty days’ draft, on April 18 ; the exchange amounted to .£6O. Accounts amounting to £7OOO 12s sd, which have heon examined by the Finance Committee, will be laid before you for payment to-day. The Finance Committee’s report on the question of investing the Board’s accrued sinking fund will brought up for your consideration this afternoon. Departmental reports on storage, towage, and electric lighting, are on the table. It will be noted that our grain stores are nearly filled up with grain. I propose to notify, as hitherto, by advertisement, as soon as they are full. Considerable inconvenience was experienced in our storage business in consequence of the recent accident to the Lyttelton Gas Works, as we had for a time to discontinue the use of our store-lift, which is driven by a gas-engine. Tenders will be opened to-day for tho repairs to the dredge and barges. Acting under the Board’s instructions I engaged Mr H. Turpin’s services to prepare the specification and to superintend the carrying out of the contract for such repairs. His engagement is a temporary one, but on the same terms as to salary as he was previously paid by the Board. I will ask you to confirm my action. The question of what work is to be undertaken by the dredge when the repairs are completed (which will he in about a month) will have to be considered by the Board, also the matter of engaging a staff for this temporary work. A number of applications for employment are already to hand. I w.as obliged to defer calling the Harbour Improvement Committee together, as the information relating to No. 5 shed and to the question of electric or gas lighting, came to hand too late to consider before Board meeting held today ; in fact, I only received the plan of No. 5 shed from Wellington yesterday. I notice the Gladstone sheds are marked on the plan as being vested in the Kailway Commissioners. This, as you are aware, is not the case. As directed, applications were advertised for for the office of night watchman on the wharves. In response, a very large number of applications have been received, which will require your consideration this afternoon. I have had a full list of applications prepared for your information. I have received an application from Mr James Sinclair for the temporary use of a site near the dock on which to build a yacht. The Harbourmaster’s report on the subject will ba read. Mr T. H. Smeaton, of the Young Men’s Christian Association, also applies for a site near Sumner, to erect a building in which to hold meetings. A letter will be read from the Secretary of the Canterbury Exhibition Committee for Dunedin Exhibition, asking for monetary assistance from the Board to assist in clearing off the deficit. I regret that the provisions of the Harbours Act prevent any grant in this direction being made. Inspector Derfeidge reports some repairs as being necessary to the Governor’s Bay jetties and also to the boat landing. As they were small matters, and not admitting of delay, I ordered them to be put in hand, and I will ask you to confirm my action. A letter will be read Scorn the Independent Order of Good Templars, asking for permission to place notice boards on the Board’s property in Lyttelton. A report has been made by the Harbourmaster on the condition of the Minna Bell; his report will be read. FINANCIAL. On Mr P. Cunningham’s motion, the report of the Finance Committee was received and adopted. On the motion of Mr Way mouth, seconded by Captain Parsons, accounts to the amount of £7OOO 12s 5d were passed for payment. The action taken by the Chairman in business mentioned in hia report was unanimously approved of. THE NIGHT WATCHMAN. Tbe Board then considered applications for the position of night watchman, of which there were a large number. Mr Wright suggested that a Committee, consisting of the Chairman, with Messrs Peacock and Westenra, be formed to consider the matter.

The motion was duly seconded and carried. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Smeaton’s application for leave to build a room 20ft x 15ft in the vicinty of the fishermen’s cottages near Sumner, for the purpose of holding religious services, was discussed. It was decided that the Board see if they have any land in that vicinity, with the view of granting the request. The letter from Mr J. J. Kinsey, re the deficit of the Canterbury Executive of the Now Zealand Exhibition, was considered. Mr P. Cunningham remarked on the poor support that had been accorded to the Committee, who appeared to have done their work very well. They had a deficit of £230. He thought they might pay storage on the Board’s exhibits at the Exhibition. The request was allowed to stand over until next meeting. On the motion of Mr Frank Graham the request of the Lyttelton Good Templars to be allowed to put up a notice board on one of the sheds at Lyttelton was granted. The report of Mr Matthew Brown on the grab dredge hulk Minna Bell was read stating that it would cost about £SO to repair her. Mr Graham moved—" That the machinery be taken out of the hulk, and that she he sold for what she will fetch.” The motion was seconded and carried. The application of Mr James Sinclair for space on the reclaimed land on which to build a yacht was granted,'on the motion of Captain M'Clatchie, subject to the conditions named by the Harbourmaster. Two tenders were opened for repairs to the Board’s dredge and hopper barges ; that of Mr John Anderson was £Bl2, and Messrs Scott Bros. £671 10s, the latter firm estimating for a funnel to one of the barges only. The matter was relegated to the consideration of Mr Westenra, the Chairman, and the Eon J. T. Peacock, with power to act. The Board adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on June 4 at Christchurch.