HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10106, 3 August 1893, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

LYTTELTON. Tho usual monthly meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board wag held yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs S’. Waymouth (Chairman), R. Wesfcenra, W. Peryman, J. E. Thacker, J. T. Brice, J. Gibbs, P. Graham, Captain Parsons and Captain M’Clatchio.

chairman's statement. _ The Chairman reported that since the last meeting the following sums had been paid in to the Board’s current account, which stood in credit £5261 9s 4d:— Wharfage, £1426 Oa oil; rest Fo. 5 shed, £312 10s ; towage, storage, &c., £3BO 5s 6d ; pilotage and port charges, £4BB 18s. Total, £260713s lid. Tho severe weather on Friday, July 7, broke the cable at the Heads, and he at once communicated with Inspector Meddings, who recommended the laying of the Board's new cable. '1 he work was successfully carried out under his supervision, aud telephone communication with the Heads was resumed on Julv 17. Ale ter would be read from his Excellency the Naval Commander -in - Chief on the Australasian station, the Board for the information furnished him as to the facilities at the port for man-of-war vessels. It is proposed to furnish him with the result of the fresh soundings. Plans, and list of timber required for widening the Screw-pile Jetty, had been prepared by the Inspector, Mr Derbidge. If they were adopted by the Board, it would be necessary to have duplicate sets of these plans prepared and forwarded to Wellington for approval by the Governor-ia-Coundl. The’ Traffic Manager wrote, saying that there was no objection, so far as" the railway was concerned, to the width being it creased from lift to 13ft, the Board’s intention being to give au additional 2fb space for foot passengers between the centre lines. As desired by the Board, a letter was addressed to tho New Zealand Railway Commissioners in regard to the prohibitive hauluge rate for insulated trucks of 2s Gd per ton, which waa fixed at the beginning of last year, or immediately after the Harbour Board’s cool chamber was opened to the public. Tha Railway Commissioners replied that they could nob reduce the charge in question, but added that the Haibour Board was at liberty to pay for the building of two insulated trucks for use on the wharves at a coat of £4OO. He thought, however, it was for the Harbour Board to say whether it was right or proper that it should bo called upon to find funds to provide the necessary rolling stock for ordinary and reasonable traffic requirements of the New Zealand railways. The reduced pilotage, port charges and wharfage by-laws, came into force on July 22. PAYMENTS. Accounts, amounting to £1312 sa, were passed for payment. The account for soundings, £69 14- 9d, w>ia also passed. NEW CABLE. The report of the H übourmaster on the cable was rend. The Chairman said that Mr Mcddinga had for the la t ten years done all the cable work, &0., for tho Board, and hud expended a great deal of time aud skill on its bebaif in many ways. On the motion of Captain Parsons, a bonus of £SO was voted to Mr Meldings. MISCELLANEOUS. Regarding an application by the Lyttelton Yachting Club for staging, the Board decided that sufficient accommodation was already provided. The report of Inspector Dsrbidge on tho Screw-pile Jetty was adopted, together with tho plans and opacifications. The Lyttelton Borough Council wrote that it could not accept aay responsibility in connection with the wooden bos drain through the reclaimed laud. The Chairman said it was a pity the Council failed to sea its duty in this matter. The Board was in a position to tell the Council that all drainage must be taken beyond the moles. The drains at present carried a great deal of silt into the basin. It waa decided to again inform the Council that it would be held liable for any damage done to the drains through the reclaimed land. railway Tariff. The letter from the Railway Commissioners was read. Tbe Chairman said that although hia statement tvs to the prohibitive charges for insulated haulage were somewhat inaccurate in details, they were substantially correct ; in fact, hio misconception with regard to the date on which the tariff had been increased had resulted in his ascertaining facts which placed tha case in a stronger light still. Kn still considered that tbe Railway Commissioners were acting most unfairly and taking advantage of tbe position of affairs. It was very hard that the produce from tho cool store should be bo heavily taxed by the Railway Department by the high rates of haulage. He suggested writing to the members for tho district and to the dairy factories. This suggestion war, adopted, MISCELLANEOUS.

The Board wens into Committee to consider the application of Messrs Nelson, Moat© and Co., to lease storage accommodation from the Board, The matter was referred to the Harbour Improvement Committee.

Captain Moore’s complaint that hia vessel, the Clio, had been unnecessarily shifted about in the harbour was considered anal the Harbourmaster's report thereon read. It was decided to send a copy of the report to Captain Moore. Offers of dredges, submitted by Mr Darling and the Melbourne Harbour Trust, were referred to the Harbour Improvement Committee, as aWo were the new soundings taken by Messra M’lntyre and Lewis.

Mr Thacker presented a letter from the Akaroa County Parmer/ Association, complaining of tho high charges made for storage in the cool chambers. The Chairman said that last year tho Board had lost .£2OO on the store, ami had since then reduced tho charges. Tho Board could reduce tho charges if sufficient stuff was put through, but at present the store was being worked at a loss. On tho motion of Mr Gibbs it was decided to inform the Association to this effect. TKNDRRS.

Tenders were opened for the supply of timber, and that of Mr A. Perhsm was accepted for black birch, and that of Messrs Murray, Arnold and Co. for Australian timber. The meeting then terminated.