TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11539, 28 March 1898, Page 2

TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board was held on Friday; present—Messrs J. Fraser (chairman) Sullivan, Thew, Lyall, Manchester, Macintosh and Skinner. The Chairman in his statement said the past month had been a satisfactory one for the trade of the port, the receipts being .£1534 —almost a record. During the month three Home-going steamers had called, one of them, the Tokomaru, taking over 33,000 sheep. The pump-dredge had been thoroughly overhauled, the pump re-lined, and she was now as good as new. The buoys and moorings had all been overhauled. The Chairman referred to the alleged bumping of the Aotea, and on the evidence of the harbourmaster, who was on board; of the Secretary, who examined the vessel in Lyttelton Dock; and of men who had been working in the hold, he said they could justly conclude that the thud which Captain Scotland mistook for a bump, was caused by cargo shifting, and that the vessel did not touch the bottom at all. The Kailway Department wrote offering to let at a peppercorn rental a piece of railway land next the Board’s offices, for the Sailors’ Best. The Chairman said this was not approved, as the site would cost a good deal to fill, and no tenure was offered. Besides, there was some idea of getting the same site for a Custom-house. The honorary Secretary of the Wharf Labourers’ Shelter-shed Committee wrote, and Messrs D. Stuart and Hathaway waited on the Board to ask for a new site for the shelter-shed, as the Railway Department required them to move. The Board agreed to allow them to occupy a site on the reclamation, about 300 ft seaward of the Harbour Office. The Levels County Council asked permission to take stone for road metal from the Board s quarry. This was declined. The Harbourmaster reported on the Aotea incident, that on taking her out on Feb. 28, the tide being three-quarter flood, and a heavy south-east sea running, a slight shock was felt, evidently caused by cargo shifting, as the vessel was rolling heavily, and there were nine feet of water clear under her. The Standing Committee recommended that the harbour rate levy should be the same this year as it (was last year, and that as it cannot be made till late, it should be made payable in one sum; that a chain fence should be placed across the cart road to the breakwater, to prevent luggage, &c., being shipped at night without paying dues, and reported that the tender of T. Sinclair,at 10s per foot, had been accepted for lease of part of lot 6, at the roar of the Board’s office, for forty feet of frontage running a hundred feet back. The recommendations were adopted. The dredge engineer, W. Hendry, reported that the dredge had been thoroughly overhauled, and was now at work as good as new. Mr ,I. P. Maxwell, consulting engineer, now on his way Home, wrote offering his services whilst there on behalf of the Board. It was decided to ask him to inquire the cost of a Welman pump to fit the dredge Timaru, to replace the less efficient expensive pump

bow in use, lie to cable the figure when the Board will decide whether to order one or not. The Chairman said the present pump coat about a year for repairs, without counting loss of time in repairing. The Board had been unable to get an estimate for a Wei man, but the cost was understood to be about .£ISOO. Accounts amounting to £578 9s 3d were passed for payment.