OAMARU HARBOR BOARD.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2106, 1 February 1879, Page 2

OAMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Harbor Board was held at the Harbor Chamber* yesterday morning. There were preient when the meeting opened Messrs Sumpter (chair), Lemon, Meek, Shrimski, and the Hon. H. J. Miller. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was approved. A report from the Stauding Committee was read, recommending certain steps to be taken in regard to tho future management of the harbor. Among other matters it referred to the receut discontinuance of the boating service, and the consequent discharge of the boatmeu. It had been found l>y the Harbormaster that he would require four men to do the ordinary work on the wharves, which work had before constituted part of the duties of the boatmen. He had, therefore, engaged four of the old hands, and had asked the committee what remuneration the Board was prepared to give them. The committee now recommended that they be paid at the rate of Lll per month. The crane men had applied for permission to charge overtime to the , vessels on their own account, and the committee not acceding to this, recommended that 30* per quarter be paid each man in lieu of overtime charges. The Secretary laid on the table the statement asked for by Mr Shrimski, showing the number of the Board's servants and the amount of salary received by each, in accordance with the recommendations of th« Standing Committee. The Chairman asked if members had anything to say on the subject before he pat the question of the adoption of the report to the meeting. Mr Shrimski : To tell you the truth, I haven't been paying mu.cn attention to

the reading of the report. Dom it ecutain any dobateable question, or does it merely refer to the past ? The Chairman amid, in so far m regards (he question of the remuneration of the wharf hunds, tho report was prospective. Mr Shrimaki : Then I object to it altogether. I don't think it should rest with the Standing Committee, the clerk of works, or anybody else to lower the wages of anyone, or dismiss him, or to engage any person and rais* wag**. Here is a man who has hitherto been in the receipt of LIC per month, and now he is to be 1 reduced to Lll. I tbink such matters as these should be dealt with by the Board alone. I disapprove altogether of this cutting down the wages of the men. The Secretary: I wish, Mr Chairman, you would inform Mr Shrimski that I have never interfered in the matter of the increase or the reduction of wages. | Mr Shiimski : I protest against the {Secretary making any explanation as to what he did and did not. I repeat that it i* a wrong principle for any committee to make arrangements of this sort They should only recommend to the Board, and tho whole Board could then take action. Mr Lemon : If Mr Shrimski had only paid a little attention to the reading of the report, he would have seen that the committee have only made a recommendation, and it is for the Board to approve or reject that recommendation. Mr Shrimski : The matter ought to be held over for the consideration of tho full Board. Such a matter as this is for the new Board to determine. What reason is there tor reducing a man's salary from Ll6 to LIL The Chairman explained to Mr Shrimski the position, which waa shortly this: The boating service having been discontinued, the men employed therein, had of course, been discharged. It had been found, however, that three or four men were required to do the tvharf work, and, in justice to the old hands, these had been selected from among their number. The rate- of payment was recommended to be Lll per month. Thus it would be seen that the wages of the men were not reduced. Their services in one capacity had been dispensed with, and when it became necessary to engage men to do other work at a salary commensurate with the nature of the work to be performed, it became optional on the men's part whether they would accept the situations or not. The Board was not bound, moreover, to fix the salaries at tho amount suggested by the Standing Committee, and they would, he felt sure, be only to glad to acquiesce in any proposal for an increase, it Mr Shrimski or any other member cwld see his way clear to make such proposal. The Hon. H. J. Miller: I think \m ought to be very grateful to the Standing Committee, instead of finding fault with what they have done. They have undertaken a most disagreeable and thankless task — that of fixing the wages of the men ; but they have evidently been guided by a determination to do what was right. We must remember that we are entrusted with the disposal of public funds, and. although it may be a very cheap way to bid for popularity by raising the wages of the Board's servants, still we must take care that in so acting we are not doing an injustice. We ought to be glad the committee have takeu such pains in the matter, and approve of the report as it stands. Mr Shrimski : lam quite willing to believe that the duties imposed upon the Standing Committee were very onerous, but I cannot agree with what they havo done, and shall raise my voice against it. On this list I find that a bo»t-carp«nter is included at a salary of Lib" per month. Now you say the boating service has been discontinued, aud yet a boat-carpenter is still employed. If there is to be a reduction in one direction, why shall there not be in the others. The Chairman said that the title " boatcarpenter " was simply the one used when he was appointed, and it had not been thought necessary to alter the name. He need hardly inform Mr Shrimski, however, that the duties attached to the office were multifarious. He was storekeeper, and at the present time was superintending the erection of additions to the Mae* andrew wharf. Mr Shriinski : It doesn't matter. If a reduction is made in one instance, it should be made all round. Mr Meek pointed out to Mr Shrimski again that no reduction had been mad*. The rate of wages was similar to that in force at LyttelUtn. Mr Lemon : For my part, I caunot see the use of the Standing Committee at all. I think Mr Shrimski : That's what I aay ! Let the whole thing be managed by the full full Board. Mr Lemon : I think the whole duties of the Committee might very well devolve upon Mr Shrimski. (Laughter. ) The Hon*. fl. J. Millar moved the adoption of the report, and Mr Shriinski moved that it be held over till next meeting. No one seconded Mr Shrimski's amendment, and that gentleman jnmped up and seizing his hat mad* for the dour, remarking exultantly just as he neared it " Well, gentleman, I shall leave you to yourselves. There will be no quorum now, and yon can't get on with the business." He then left. After a short interregnum the Hon. R. Campbell fortunately turned up, and the business was proceeded with. Mr Shrimski, however, returned shortly afterwards to see Mr Sumpter, and apparently not observing Mr Campbell when he peered round the door, he said, " Ah, this is an illegal meeting," and despite the assurances of Mr Sumpter that it was legal enough, was evidently not at all satisfied. The report was then adopted, with the exception that the wages of the wharf hands was raised to Ll2 per month. The following letter wan read :— Canterbury Foundry, Christchurch, 21st Jan., 1879. The Chairman, Harbor Board, Oamaru. Sir, — I have the honor to enclose you an extract from the Shipping Gazette, which I think deserves the attention of the members of yoar Harbor Board, as such assertions remaining unchallenged will do much to damage the interests of your port. lam at present experiencing some difficulty in seenrmg direct charter to Oamaru, caused, no doubt, by the letter abort referred to. I have, &c. t John Akdkbsox. [EjrCLOBCTtI.] THE AUSTRALIAN AND 9KW ZEALAND UNDERWRITERS' ASSOCIATION. Extract from a letter received by one of the members of the Association, dated Dunedin, 25th Sept., 1878 :— "As homeward bound flhips are again commencing to load at Oamara and Timaru, two very dangerous op«n roadsteads on the East coast of this island, I consider it my duty to write you on the subject, in order that, if yon think it advisable, yon may [ bring the matter under the notice of your I Marine Underwriters' Association, of which I 1 understand Mr Bristow is president. ! "Large square-rigged vessels ceased to load at Oamaru after th« disasters cf 1868, when the Star of Ta«naui». Water Nymph, and several smaller vessels were cast ashors there. They ar«, however, beginning to go there again, tempted by the freights offering, aud the facilities with which they appear to be able to obtain insurances in London from underwriters who cannot possibly know the risks they are running* "Om or two v vessels may load there with impunity, bat so sure as the practice if continued, it

will end in serions disaster to the insurer*. A barque called the Aikshaw loaded at Oamaru recently, and got away all right, but had the remained another two days she would have met with the same fate as the Lapwing, Fanny, Melroae, and a host of ■mall craft which were cast ashore at Timaru. The ship Celestial Queen and barque Caberfeidh are just about to proceed to Oamaru to load for "London. The cargoes are, I understand, insured in England. None of the companies here would take a risk by them. I shall not be at all surprised if by next mail I have to advise you that one or both of them is a- wreck on Oamaru beach," Bearing on the subject, the following has been received from the Sydney Under* writers' Association by the same Assocft* tion :—: — . " Sydney. 10th Oct., 1878. " At the last meeting of the Association 1 was directed to bring under your notice the absurd rates charged in London to some of our more dangerous Colonial ports. To Townsville, via Sydney, including transhipment, 25s per cent To Timaru, viaDunedin, 30s per cent. The former risk was transhipped into the Agnes, lately lost oa the voyage from Sydney to Tofrnarjlle, for which latter voyage we get here 2 per cent. Timaru is a fearful place. The rate from here to that roadstead is 3J per cent. "K. A. Pkars, Secretary." Some discussion took place on the subject of the letter, several members remarking that such false report* should be corrected. Ultimately, a Committee consisting of the Chairman, the Hon. H. J. Miller, and Mr Meek, was appointed, to take action in the matter. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Treasury, informing the Board that the sum of L902 10s, being iuterest for six months at the rate of 5£ per cent, on tha debenture* of the Harbor Board, of the value of L35.000, held by the Postmaster-General, will be due on the 31st inst., and to request that the same money may be paid in by the Board to the credit of the Post Office account at Wellington on or before that date. Accounts amounting to L1460 2s Id were passed for payment. The annnal balancj-sheet and statement of accounts were read. The annual report was read as follows :—: —

ANN DAL RSrORr. In the report published with the statement of accounts for the year ending March 31st, 1877 the policy of the Board a* regards Harbor improvements was indicated. It was pointed out that by provi ling berthage accommodation within the shelter of the Breakwater, simultaneously with the extension of that work, considerable economy could be effected in loading and discharging vessels, and greater despatch afforded, and a statement of the works projected to this end was emlwdied in the report. These works are now completely finished; the principal wharf, mentioned in the report as Wharf No. 2, having been opened for traffic on the 7th of September, on the occasion of the visit of His Excellency the Governor and a large number of members of the Legislature to the works, when, at the request of the Board, His Excellency named the structure " The Normanby Wharf." The other portions of the inner wharfage have since been finished, the total lengths of the work now completed being as follows : Ft. Breakwater 940 Normanby Wharf — West Quay, or Steamer Quay ... 288 East Quay 237 Head 82 Macandrew Wharf 350 No. 3 Wharf 310 Total Wharf Frontage 1247 A proposal was entertained to feuder-pile the Breakwater, so as to form an extension to the Macandrew Wharf, and the necessary piles have been obtained for the purpose; bat this work has been allowed to stand over, pending the construction of further ex* tensions of the Breakwater. The proposed extension of the sea-wall referred to will consist of 450 feet additional Breakwater and wharf, with 200 feet returnwall towards the west. For the execution of this work, tenders for 1300 tons of Portland cement were called for, and the tender of Messrs Oliver and Ulph, for the New Zealand Hardware Company, to deliver the quantity at L4 fie per ton.— Accepted. Tenders for the labor of constructing the wall will in all probability be called for with* in a short time. The whole of the works are in the most satisfactory condition, no damage having been done, by se* or otherwise, during their construction, or sinoe their completion. To facilitate business between the harbor , and the town, a telephonic apparatus has been erected, connecting tbe office in Harbor street with the office at the Breakwater, which bids fair to become of great utility. In accordance with the provisions of the Harbor* Act, 1878, tbe Board's accounts have been balanced to the 31st December, 1878, instead of the 31st March, 1879, tkere. by closing the returns for nioe months instead of twelve. This makes the returns inootnplete for comparison with other yean. In preparing the statement of imports and exports subjoined, twelve months business has, however, been tabulated, beginning from the Ist January, 1878. Herein the statement shows an apparent diminution in the export of wool, annag from the fact of tbe present wool season being later than usual. There is every reason to suppose that au increase instead would be exhibited if the returns were made up on the 31st March, as heretofore. There is a slight falling off in general merchandise, consequent upon the competition of the railway with the shipping, but in other items there is a marked increase, especially in the import of timber and the export of agricultural produce. This increase is greater than is shown by the return, on account of the increase in the number of bags to the ton made from time to time to make the Board's rates uniform in that respect with the railway. Three hundred and thirty-four vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 46,094 tons, have visited the port during the nine months, which shows au increase in the tonnage of 6884 tons over the tonnage of vessels entered m the corresponding period of the previous year. It is pleasing to note that, after a lone interval, direct shipment to London and other distant ports' has been resumed, vessels having Veen despatched to London direct, one of which took the greater part of its freight of grain trader tbe shelter of the breakwater, and three veesels have cleared from the wharves to the Cape of Good Hope, ,aud one to Batayia. The completion of the wharves now admits of six or seven vessels being berthed at the same time. A special berth for steamers has been reserved on the west side of the Normanby wharf, thereby ending the vexatious recurrence of removals which so greatly delayed the despatch of the shipping at the Maoandrew wharf, Th» boating sen ice has been entirely discontinued, and the whole work of the shipping greatly simplified. Although much has been accomplished for the protection and accommodation of shipping, the time has not arrived when we can say that enough has been done, and the prospect of trade with the Hone country and the more distant colonies, as well as the increasing coastal traffic, points to the necessity of providing more shelter and more wharfage accommodation. The proposed extension already referred to will in a measure fulfil these requirements. The water now protected will be enolosed and rendered more still in rough weather. The range or send will be ditninidhed, and vessels of greater draught and tonnage enabled to anchor in the ba'tn, 'and H* alongside ike wharves, ,tb.e expenditure oh mooring tackle and assistance being at the same greatly reduced.

With a view to supplying Sir John Cootie with the data required by him for the preparation of his proposed report on the harbor and its capabilities, as well as to deteimine the quantity of nilt overlying tho rock bottom of the harbor, a series of soundings have been taken, as weather permitted. The chart is nearly completed, and will be submitted to you with tho other data required by Sir John Coode as soon as the Harbor- j master can take the few remaining lines of | ■oundings. It was recorded at the end of the last financial year that the works then authorised would absorb the whole of the capital borrow ed under the authority of the Oamaru Harbor Ordinance, 1874 (L100.000), and that the Board had resolved to ask the members for the district to promote a Bill ?iving the Bsard increased borrowing powers, o this end a measure was introduced during the last session of Parliament by ,NnT. W. Hislop, M.H.R., and authority vvjii received from the Legislature to JBftw an additional LlOO,OOO, the issue dWi-g the two years next after the passing of the Bill to be limited to L30.000. The thanks of the Board have been recorded to Mr HieW and his colleague, Mr Shnmski, and the Hon. Mr Miller for their efforts to obtain the additional borrowing poweis referred to. , Steps are being taken to float the authorised L30.000 in the London market, through the agency of the Union Bank of Australia, which so successfully arranged the former loan for the Board, and under the same terms as the former loan. The amount saved by the entire discontinuance of the lxuting service will more than cover int3rest ou the additional amount proposed to be borrowed, and to show that the Board's resources would be competent to meet the charges on a mnch larger loan, it need only be mentioned that the Board's Otematata Endowment, which at present yields L730 per annum, or something like 3d per acre will fall mm March, 1881, and it is anticipated that tins property can be re-let on such terms that the Board's income from this source alone w ill be increased by L4OOO or L3OOO per annum, independently of the natural increase of business, and such additional trade as may be expected from the development of outlving distucts, through two of which, the Hakateraneaand Waiho, railway extensions will be laid of 50 miles and 30 miles respectively within the present year, in addition to the extensive mileage already centred in Oamaru. As the establishment of a sinking fund becomes necessary in ISBO, it is of consequence to know that the requirements of this branch of the Board's finance has had attention, care having been taken that the estimates which guided the Board in the reduction of dues exhibited a margin of revenue which could be put to this account, and the comparative statement shows that revenue has exceeded the expenditure each year, so that the aggregate surplus revenue carried to capital amounts to L8364 2s Bd. The statement of accounts and statihtics appended indicate the Board's position to be highly satisfactory, it3 efforts in all departments having thus far met with entire success. The economy of providing wharfage accommodation mentioned in the first paragraph of this report deseives a passing notice. In 1874 the Boating Companies were paying nearly LBOO per month for wages alone : the wages of the Wharf department will not now exceed Ll3O per month. The number of the Board's employed in that department in December, 1875, amounted to 41 persons : in the present month, January, there are are 11 persons employed in the Wharf depai-t-ment, the sw ing effected having been chiefly devoted to the reduction of dues. On the motion of the Hon. R. Campbell, the ballance-sheet and the report were adopted. The Chairman said as this was probably the last time they would all meet together, he would like to say just a word at parting. He thanked them all very much for the j>reat kindness and courtesy they had always extended to him during his term of office. He had given his time cheerfully, although at some cost to himself. He then referred to the progress made in the baibor works during his term of office, and his sei vices in connection therewith, and in conclusion again thanked the Board. The Board then rose, after a vote of thanks to the chair.