HARBOOR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6838, 17 October 1883, Page 6

HARBOOR BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. Stone (in the chair), Waddol, Walker, Aickin, Harper, Owen, and Mays. Notices to Mariners.—The Marine Department forwarded copies of notices to mariners respecting the Auckland Islands and Hokiauga Bar. Sugar-refinixg CoiiPAsy.—A letter was received from the Marine Department containing approval of the Governor to plans ot the Colonial Sugar-refining Company, subject to condition that reclamation do not go further into Duck Creek than the dotted line marked on the plan.—Resolved that the attention of the company be drawn to the letter.

New Zealand Timber Co.'s Wharf.— A letter was received. from the Marine Department containing approval of the Governor to plan of the New Zealand Timber Co.'a Wharf.—Resolved that license be granted. Patronage.—Mr. M. Swallow requested the patronage of the Board to his concert on the 25th inst.—Lettor received.

Coveri.sg Boilkr.—E. Hadrill tendered for work of covering boiler of dredge with his non-conducting composition at 2s pur foot ; or he would cover two-thirds of the boiler (all that was necessary) for £21. Referred to Engineer to report upon. Wkao Creek.—Captain Burgess, Harbourmaster, reported against marking of the channel of the Whan Creek. It would cost £50, and the traffic did not warrant' this outlay.—Resolved that the Harbourmaster be instructed to cause the channel to be properly marked with stakes.

Board Offices.—Mr. D. Ross, architect, reported that he had carried out the instructions ro plans of Board's offices; he had taken tho liberty of altering the time of receiving tenders from November 13th to October 30th.—Mr. Harper said he had been informed by Mr. Ross that he had taken this step in the interests of the Board—Mr. Walker asked if authority had been given to Mr. Boss to make the alteration? If it was competent fer the architect to make an alteration in this direction, he could do so in another, and thus stultify the action of the Board. —The Chairman said that authority had not been given.—lt was resolved that Mr. Ross bo instructed to alter his advertisement for tenders for offices, and to carry out the-re-solution of the Board.

AVorks axo Tabifes Committee.—The Works and Tariffs Committee reported as follows :— Sew Zealand Freezing Company's reclamation : A lotter from the Government in reference to the approval of plana for the proposed reclamation near the breakwater for the Freezing Company, and drawing at-

! t'entibn to the fact that no provision is made for extending tho;Biaia sewer, and requesting the Board to affbrd every facility to Government in obtaining another site for a timber slip, having been read, it -was resolved : 1. That this committee recommend that a subcommittee consistingof the Chairman, Messrs. McKenzis, Lamb, and Harper, be appointed to confer with the representatives of the Government 'in Auckland in reference to site for timber slip in connection with the railway. 2. That the Government be imformed that the land to be reclaimed near the Raitway Wharf, referred to in letter from the Marine Department, dated 28th September, has l>eon leased to the Now Zealand Frozen Meat Company, and that the matter of the extension of the main sewer therefore rests with the company and the City Council. 3. That the City Council be informed that the foreshore at the month of the main sower has been leased to the New Zealand Frozen Meat Company, and requested to make provision with the company for the extension of the main sewer through the land leased to the company. Hulk Cautero : That tho Union S.S. Company be informed that the hulk Cantero is considered dangerous and unsafe; that the hulk will require to be removed, as directed by the Harbourmatter, so as to offer no obstrnction to navi- ] gation, within three months from tho date of notice, and if the hulk should founder or I any accident occur to her, endangering navigation of the harbour, the company shall bear all cost in connection therewith. Hydraulio machinery: That Mr. McLeod be. informed that the Board do not at present require * machinery of the description indicated in his letter. Hobsoastreet Wharf: That the plans of Hobsonstreet Wharf marked A, and reclamation as marked B on plan with timber facing on the whole of the eastern side, be' approved, and tenders called for the work. Devonport Wharf:, That the plans be approved, and tenders.called for the work. Storage charges in shed : The committee recommend that a sub-committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs. Mackenzie, Owen, and Harper, be < appointed to consider and revise charges for storage, &c, in sheds on wharves, and to report to this . committee.—The report was adopted. Storage in Sheds.—The report of the sub-committee on rates of storage in sheds on the wharf was read.—-The report was adopted, and ordered to be submitted to the solicitor of the Board. Finance and Legal Committee.—Mr. Fallon's contract :_The committee rccom-

mended that Mr. Fallon be informed that

this Board cannot legally allow any oompen- 1 sation for loss sustained by him on contract No. 2, Calliope Dock. Damage to boiler : That the Union Company be informed that under _the circumstances the Board cannot recognise the claim, and that a copy of the DeputT-Harbourmaster's report be forwarded to them. Cutting down Emily Place: That pending the receipt of fuller information in regard to the quantity of materials to be removed, and probable cost of same, this committee cannot recommend any action in the matter. Damage to Devonporc Wharf : Tbat the offer of the

New Zealand Timber Company to settle action re damage to Devonport Wharf for the sum of £50, be accepted. Conveyance of land to Mrs. White : That, upon the payment of the Bum of £10 expended by the Board, the land be conveyed to Mrs. White. The report of the committee was adopted. Dredging.—The Harbourm?.ster reported that in his opinion the most suitable dredge for the Board's purposes wonld be a singlestern ladder bueket dredge, capable of iiredgin.l? to a depth, of thirty feet, and 200 tDus per hour. A plan accompanying the report showed the extent of mud in the harbour which it was desirable to remove, and this could be done with the extra machinery recommended within three and a-half years. The mud could be deposited in Freeman's Biy, which, if reclaimed, would give the Board twenty-one acres of land.—The Chairman mored that the report be referred to the Works and Tariff Committee.—Captain McKenzie thought the whole scheme was

premature. The expenses of the port should be reduced to encourage shipping, rather than they should expend a l»rge sum in dredging. The dredging, except that at the end o£ the two wharves, was useless. Nature had provided Auckland with a good harbour; therefore why should they do this useless work, and at such a cost ?—Mr. Aickin thought the Engineer had made out a very good case indeed. The cost per diem would be no more for a big dredge than for the dredge Alpha; the reclamation would be very cheap indeed. A large revenue would be received from the reclamation of Freeman's Bay, and ample deep water accommodation would be provided.—Mr. Mays saw, some years ago, that the dredging work recommended would have to be carried out. There was sufficient wharf accommodation. As a matter of finance, the report was the most sensible which the Engineer bad ever made. The work would be a good one, both at a shipping and commercial speculation. He cordially supported the report.—Mr. Waddel and Mr._ Harper supported the motion.— The motion was carried, and the report re. ferred to the Works and Tariff Committee. Dock Works. — The Engineer recommended that the work of cutting the cliff at the dock be made a separate contract from the construction of the dock.—Referred to the Dock Comraittee. ,

Totar* Piles.—A recommendation of the Engineer to purchase eighteen totara pile* for new wharf at the North Shore, was agreed Cable to Tibitxri — In reply to Mr. Aiekia, the Chairman said he had no farther information re cable to Tiritiri. As soon as the wire was received the work woald be gone on with. Qdauterly: Statestext or Accounts.— The Chairman said copies of the qnarterly accounts had been circulated amongst members of the Board. No doubt they had noted with satisfaction the increase in the quarter as compared with the same period last year. —The statement was ordered to lie on the table. Dredger Bust— Tenders were opened > or a dredger punt, as follows :—J. Bigelow and Co., £550.; Hewson and Melville, £512 10s. The Engineer's estimate wa3 £400.— The Engineer recommended that the lowest tender be received.—Hewson and Melville's tender was accepted. Tenders tor Totara. PiLEs.-Several tenders were received for supply of totara piles.—lt was resolved to call for fresh tenders ; returnable in a month.

CttuoPE Dock.—The Chairman moved, Xhat upon the approval by the Governor. lu-Councilofthe plans and specifications of Calliope Dock, tenders be called for the work in Melbourne Sydney, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland. Tenders to be returned on the Sth January, ISS4 "— Mr. Mays seconded the motion.—The motion was amended,—referring it to the Dock Committce.