HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12569, 2 August 1901, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting .of the-Lyt-teltewtt Harbour Board was held .yesterday afternoon; present—-Messrs E.; Waym.ou.th (chairman), T. M'Clatchie, W. Dunlop, 0. Hay, R.: Pitcaitmly, A. Kaye, J. Connal, J. Beanie, F. Graham and J. Brown. -■■ The' Chairman reported that, since last meeting, the following sums had been paid into the Board's account at the Bank of New Zealand:—Wharfage £lsll 6d, pilotage, etc., £1651»19s sd, rent,'towage, etc., £1227 7s. Id, total £4497: No. 1 current account was in credit £7779 Is 2d, and there was on fixed deposit £IO,OOO, and on i-enewal fund £5355 2s 6d, making a total of £23,135 3s Bd. There was *bo a receipt coming in from No. 2 shed of £3750 before the end of the year. The No. 2 account (dredging) stands in credit £857 4a 2d, on fixed deposit £6OOO, total £6857 4a 2d. The accident fund, on fixed deposit; > ■ was . £101: . 10s. . There wea-8, outstanding liabilities on timber contracts amounting to nearly £IO,OOO, payable before tne ciose of tins year; also for tug boilers and renewals contracts, amounting to £4BOO. The harbour improvements already authorised •'•his year consisted! of the extension of No, 2 and 6 jetties and low level breastwork. The revenue for the six.months ended June 30 last is:—Wharfagedues £9998 15s 4d or £234 9s 8d in excess of the same period last'year j on pilotage and port cnarges £3457 19d 6d, or £1443 9s lOd more than the same period -last year, and the other sources of revenue were equal to last year's. The work being done by the dredge Manchester was vtiy satisfactory. It had dredged 267,400 tons during the sevjn mouths ended July 31,' ISOI. Comparing th* .quantity of dredging work done by the Mamch«Bter.with that-done by dredge 222 when under'charter to the-Board, the comparison shows that dredge 222 for three months ended July 31, 1895, dredged 84,350 tons,-While the dredge Manchester for three months ended July £>J, 1901, dredged .144,400 tons. The. best week's work ever got one of dredge 222 with seven miles steaming to- - the depositing ground, snd that ooly on one occasion, was 12,600 tons, whilst the dredge Manchester, steaming- the same distance, dredged in June last 13,750 and 14,000 tons two weeit3 in succession, and in July 12,900, 13,000 and 12,000 tons three successive weeks, an J this without working overtime. This went to show that the dredge Manchester, being in. good working order, is both an efficient and economical dredger. Th 9 Chairman then said he would likt "> »-*— j~^.-w-...—^-—-» mention-

ed in tie minutes. He explained that the affair took place, as follows: —Mr Laurenson came to h:«i and, said that a certain man in the Board's employ uas carrying tales, and that this man had said that his. superior officers were-.-not carrying cut their duties. At Mr Laurenson's request he saw the man. He did nob take him aside, but spoke to him. in 'the presence of the Secretary. He simply warned him, as he had 'been warned before, that he was talkI ing too.-freelv. If ho had any complaints, Ihe should first coma to the Board. If it failed to do anything, then he might approach individual members. . The Board then went into committee ta consider the suspension of the second mate ; of the- dredge by .the Harbourmaster: When ; the Board resumed, the Chairman repented that the services of Mr Morrison, the second mate of the' dredge, had been dispensed, with. The Chairman also' reported that Mr F. Bell had .been appointed third engineer of the dredge. : The Chairman's action in moving the lamp near 'Nc-..5 Shed was confirmed. The acceptance of tenders for t-imbsr was confirmed. The Harbour Improvements Committee : reported that, having given due consideration to tie letter from the Railway Department, which' expressed -the opinion that it was the duty of the Harbour Beard to provide a heavy lift crane for use on the 'wharves, the committee could, only again ; record ■ its previously expressed opinion, " that inasmuch as the) loading and discharging of vessels is in the hands of the ! Railway Department, the- duty of providing the necessary. cranes devolves upon it and not upon «the- Harbour Board." The Railway Department had, for the past twenty-five years, provided all the steam and other cranes used on the Lyttelton wharves, and received all the revenue- derived therefrom. The committee also re- ; commended that the Lyttelton Harbour Board's'accident reserve fund should be in- ; creased from £SO; per annum to £250 per annum. This clause was referred back to the committee. In reference to leasing the ] workshop site by tender, the committee recommended that" further action in this matter should' be deferred. ■ The report was adopted. The Finance Committee's report recommending certain increases' of salary, was. adopted. ■ The Board expressed its .very high appreciation of the .services rendered bv tbVSecretnry and other -officers. Accounts amounting to £456 3s 2d on No. 2 'account, and £7370 6s 8d on No. 2 account were passed for payment. The Sumner Borough Council wrote with : regard to the vesting in the Council of the strip of beach, lying between the Ha-r----toiir Board's high water and 'the: •Esplanade React Reserve,, in order '-.that. the Council might proceed with improvements. The ChairmanVhought that the Board should go very- cautiously ; in the matter, .and eventually.'it was referred to the Improvements Committee with power to act. The schente of Mr, E. T. Bickertc-n .for signalling steamers aib night by various rockets was also referred to the Improvements Committee. ' The Secretary reported that hfi had' seen the Secretary of Marine with regard to the landing- of explosives at, Lyttelton. As '-explpsives'are net allowed to be landed in the,ordinary way, and very large quantities are. being brought for, railway works, the ,'cdses ,ij're'landed at Baker's,Bay, and carted 'fytpjtigb, Lyttelton to' the-, train. This sesjfikt'jnore dangercros than.landing atthe ' Gladstone- Pier.woi!kl;.be,; and the Board decided that the authorities and the Lyttelton Borough Council be approached. A telegram was received from •Mr T.' C.' Field, itating.'.that the Department- of Agriculture was anxious for increased accommodation at . Lyttelton for freezing, The Chairman said' that without further information nothing could' be done, but if the work was required -for next season it should be -begun :at-'once. ; ... •'■ r The matter was. referred to the Harbour Improvements Committee, Mr Field to .be asked to ascertain what the Government required. Mr Connal drew attention to the fact that the licensed porters -were allowed to charge Is for each pared, ho matter how email or light, they carried. Mr Kaye' mentioned the docking of the Tomoana, and the Chairman and Secretary said that the, vessel could be docked at Lyttelton. i. The meeting then closed.