HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8035, 24 August 1887, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD.

Thk regular meeting of the Auckland Har« boar Board was held yesterday. Present: Mr. W. R. Waddel (chairman), Messrs, J, Winks, M. Nicco!, C. E. Button, T. Rendersou, A. H. Nathan, A. Devore, F. Phillippe, D. H. McKenzie, J. M. Clark, and C. B. Stone. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed, and headings of correspondence forwarded since last meeting were submitted. South Australia. —The secretary of the Marine Department forwarded a copy of the annual report of the Board for 1686. It was agreed to send an acknowledgment. Frkeman's Bay Reclamation.—A letter was received from the Marine Department conveying the Governor's approval of tho plan of reclamation for Freemau's Bay. Tho letter was received.

HobsoK-stkkkt Dkaiss.—The City Engineer wrote asking the permission of the Board to make certain alterations aud improvements in the drainage of Hobeon-stroet, by substituting permanent drains for wooden shoots. The Board's engineer in his report recommended the Board to guard against the discharge of sewage in tho drains at any future time. It seemed to him that an intercepting sewer would have to be constructed along Customs-street when it wae formed to its permanent level, and the whole of the drainage west of that line delivered into the main sower. Tho matter was, on tho motion of ihe Chairman, referred to the Finauco and Legal Committee. Scppliks.—John Birch aud Co., of Liverpool, wrote offering to supply auy maohinery or tooU required by the B)ard. Forwarded to the eugineer department. Tally Clbkk —Mr. Geo. G. Wills, of Wellington, oti'ored hie services as tally c'ork, if the Board adopted the system of working their wharves as they were worked in Wellington. The applicant was informed that there was no work open at proiont. WkSTPORTi —Tho secretary of the Westport Harbour Bo*rd askod the Board to allow specifications tor 7 ton crane to remain on view at the office till the 20th inst. The letter was received.

Calliopk Dock—Ballast for Caisson. —Mr. Erringtou, 0.K., aubmittod specification for supply of permanent ballast for caisson. Ho said :—" As it would rather interfere with tho present contract to put down the metalling or asphalt just now, I think this matter could stand over. The siukins: of the wells could also be deferred, as fresh water for the boilers could be procured from the present bore-holes. Steam was got up on the centre boiler to 601b, and drainage engine and pump tried, and worked well." Calliope Dock —Progress.—Mr. Errington, C.E., reported that the works generally—that is, contract; No. 1, engine and pumping machinery, and caisaon—are progressing satisfactorily, and he enclosed copies of inspector's reportn. Tho report was received.

Calliope Dock.—Contractors Complaint—Mr. Pierce Lanigan, contractor tor the Callope Dojk, writing nuder date August '23, said : —"I have the honour to inform you that I hive been very unwilling to make any complaint to your honourable Board, although I hare been seriously delayed, aud subjected to great loss and inconvenience throughout m> contract by the neglect of the engineer to supply me with detail drawings, according to clause 5 of tbe general conditions. But, after exhausting every other means, I am compelled to look to the Board for redress. I have to com plain : First, thr.t instead of written in» struotions and detail drawings, I have generally only received verbal instructions from the engineer and inspector, and as these geotlemen do not always agree in their ideas, I have frequently had dilliculties in deciding between them what to do, and have consequently been feeling my way sometimes to undo or alter things to my preat loss of time and labour. Secondly, there are details which I am waiting for now, and instead of ■ getting these dotails some time in advance of the work, bo as to permit of my having materials ready, 1 am put otF till the but moment, and suffer lose of time and money through having to obtain the materials hurriedly at any cost. Aβ a case in point, I received details of dolphins only m few days ago, although I have frequently asked for them for mouths past. The details contain exceptionally large sizes of totira, and your owu experience of the difficulty of obtaining ordinary piles will enable you to judge of the trouble I shall have in getting those. 1 shall not get the timber nnder three months from now, which means four months before the job can be finished, and I think it most unfair to ask me to do this work at this stage of the contract. You are aware that I have spared neither trouble or expuneu to get my contraot fininhed within the specified time, and had 1 not been delayed, as I have stated, and by other causes which I am not responsible for, I would now be clear of the job, bat it must be apparent to you that my being prevented from completing my contract for say six month* will completely eat up any profit that might bo in it, and I look to the Board to take this into consideration when estimating what compensation lam entitled to." The chairman said there was a great itiiliaulty in proouriug tho piles of the length required. The letter was received, and on the motion of Mr. Clark it was referred to the dock engineer for a report and explanation: Shoal Bay.—Mr. William Webster requested permission to make a survey and take borings in Shoal Bay, with a view of opening communication by steamer to the head of the bay. With the Board's sanction, and favourable prospects, he should be pleased at tome future time to submit certain proposals for the Board's consideration. The permission asked for was granted. Wobks and Tariff Committee.—Thia committee's report recommended that the dredger be worked on the system suggested by Mr. Scott, and if the engineers declined to work amicably with the dredge master, the first and second engineers he discharged, and freah engineers appointed. Re land taken for defence purposes at Devonport, the committee recommended that no claim be made for compensation Th-.i report was adopted.

Finance and Leoaf, Committee.—This committee submitted the accounts passed by them for payment. In regard to a letter from tho manager of the New Zealand Sugar Co., dated 29th July, protesting against the wharf dues charged ou coke landed at the company's works, and requesting that the charge be made 6d per ton, the committee recommended that the request be not entertained. In regard to a letter from the manager of the Bank of New Zealand in reference to charges for commission paid to brokers on certain allotments of debentures, and as to the amount of tho proceeds of the £100,000 worth of debentures passed to credit by tlie bank, the letter n»a read. Payment of accounts:— General account, £559 14s 5d ; loan account, No. 2, £25 ; loan account, [So. 3, i<447 : total, £1031 14s sd. Statement of funJa:- General account: Balance in hank, credit, £6377 17s si; cash in hand, £73 12s : total, £6451 9j s<l; accounts to be paid as above, £659 14s 5d ; balance, oredit, £5891 Ist. Loau account, No. 2: Balance in bank, credit, £6503 14i Id ; accounts for payment na above, £25; balance, credit, £6478 143 Id, Loan Account, No. 3: Balance in bank, credit, £3952 5a lid ; accounts for payment as above, £447 ; balance, credit, £3305 53 lid; cash ou deposit, £54,000. The report was adopted.

Fbrry Jetty. —Tile engineer submitted a design for a tollhouse and goods shed, to be orected on the shore end of the new ferry jutty. To work the traffic properly it will be necessary to arrange the building as shown on sketch, so that the ordinary daily traffic, and the extraordinary holiday traffic c»u be conducted without crushing. The building consists of a general waiting-room and ticket office, with lavatories, parcels, aud manager's offices, fronting Quay-street, and a goods shed 50ft x 24ft Is piaced on tha west side of the tall house for working the gross" traffic only. The Chairman thought the matter could bo arranged on more convenient lines, and ho moved, "That the report be referred to the VVorks and Tariff Committee." This was agreod to. Kαllast for Caisson.—Tenders for shicgle ballast for Calliope dock caisson were received as follows :—M. Hogan, 5s per cubic yard ;J. J. Craig, 6s per cubic yard. Mr. Hogan 'a tender was accepted. L'ommittek Mkmbkk. — The chairman moved, " i hat the name of Mr. A. fct. Nathan be placed upon the Works and Tariff Committee." The motion was agreed to.