LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11752, 2 December 1898, Page 6

LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD.

The usual meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board was held yesterday; present Messrs F. Graham (chairman), E G. Wright, J. Joyce, D. Buddo, E. Pitcaithly, D. M’Millan, W. Dunlop, I’. Waymonth, I. Gibbs, Captain T. M’Clatchie and the Hon J. T. Peacock. The Chairman’s report stated that the receipts since last meeting consisted of ,£899 11s 7d wharfage, £403 6s lid pilotage and port charges, and £409 12s 7d towage, storage, &c., making a total of £1732i lls Id. No further word had been received respecting the dredge Manchester, but according to previous advice her overhaul and outfit were to be completed before Dec. 6, and it was expected that intimation of her departure for New Zealand would be cabled during the week. No information had yet been received respecting the route thedredge would tal e t' the colony. Captain Clark, the ha;" ou master, reported on a letter from aio Sumner Borough Council, asking that the Council might he allowed to make a series of trials of the lifeboat with a view df ascertaining in what time the crew could be got together. The harbourmaster was of opinion that it was inadvisable to allow trials as suggested. Every information had been given to Pilot Day as to the use of the liieboat. The Council also wished that some arrangement should be made to provide for cases of emergency that might arise in the absence of Pilot Day, The report was received, and it was decided to adopt the recommendations of the , harbour master _ to provide for the key of the shed, etc., being available in Pilot'Day’s absence. -■The harbour master also reported on a letter • from Capt.,, Richardson of - the. Waikare, to the effect. that his vessel had grounded upon the occasion of her departure from Lyttelton, when just Clear of the moles. The steamer was drawing 20ft 7in forward and 20ft 10in aft; The - letter and report were received.

The chairman reported on the position of the dredging loan. He 'stated that a sum of -£17,600 had been subscribed, and the Bank of New Zealand-was how issuing the debentures at par. Mr Wright thought the Board should instruct the bank to stop the sale of the (debentures at par. The Board had advertised for the loan at a time of the year *when money was scarce, and he was of opinion that the thing should be allowed to lapse for the time being and the loan re-advertised a few months lienee, when, on account of the prospect of/the harvest, money was likely to be plentiful. Mr Dunlop thought they should be satisfied to raise the loan at par. Mr Peacock agreed that the issue of debentures should be stopped for the time being. Mr Wright moved that the hank should be instructed to stop the issue of the debentures at par. Mr Peacock seconded the motion.

The Chairman said he thought that it ■would be a mistake to stop the issue of the debentures.

Mr Gibbs would like the j>oint cleared up as to whether the Board could accept less than £IOO. ' The Chairman read the Act dealing with the subject, showing that it was' legal to sell at par. ■ i Mr Wright concurred thst-the -action.-

was legal, but he thought that the Board s security was more than par. , Mr Waymouth moved, As an amendment, that the loan agents should bo instructed to sell no debenture for less than -£IOO ss, which was the average amount of the ■£16,941 tendered for. Messrs Wright and Peacock agreed to this, and the amendment was carried. Accounts amounting to £1328 3s 2d were passed for payment. The Harbour Improvement Committee reported having considered the matter of the grounding of the ship Norwood. The committee was of opinion that no blame was attached to the head pilot on the occasion., The question of the grant-in-aid to the Lyttelton Fire Brigade, was deterred, as the necessary information enable the Board to come to a decision on the matter was not forthcoming. A letter was received from Professor K. J. Scott, respecting some damage done to his yacht. Zephyr, on the occasion of the docking of the Maori. The Board was opinion that it had no responsibility in the matter. Reference was made to the fact that Messrs Boyd and Keir’s contract for the supply of black birch timber, was overdue. A motion to grant an extension of time for one month was lost. Regarding the work being done behalf of the New Zealand ’T st and Loan Company in preventing t’» fh> Rng of lands by the Heathcote P 1 er near Perrymead, it was decided to : ;k .uat a plan should be supplied, and t iat the Company should be reminded that the Board had not given its consent to the work. The Chairman reported that the two boiler's taken out of the electric light station had been sold for £SO. Mr Croll’s report on the boilers of the tug Lyttelton was to the effect that those now in use were in a very had stole, and would require careful use to enable them to stand while the new boilers were in course of construction. It would be necessary for the Board to arrange for a qualified engineer to be in attendance during the construction of the boilers. He asked that the plans should be left at his office to be checked. Tire Chairman said that the plans had been prepared by Mr Turpin. Captain M’Clatchie thought that the time was opportune to increase the tug s power when new' bailers were being pub in. Mr Peacock said that as sailing ships were almost a thing, of the past, it seemed unnecessary to talk of giving the tug new engines now. It was decided that the plans prepared by Mr Turpin should be submitted to Mr Crnll, and that upon the receipt of his recommendations tenders should be called for the new boilers. Messrs Wood Bros, wrote respecting a disagreement regarding the charge for storage of butter in the cool stores at Lyttelton. A report on the matter from, the manager m charge of the cool store was received. The Chairman, said that the tariff provided only for a three months’ storage. The matter was referred to the Chairman, to see-that the changes made were strictly in accordance with the tariff.

The next meeting of the Board was fixed for Thursday, Dec. 29.-