HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8089, 2 November 1887, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

The Harbour Board held their ordinary fortnightly meeting at their officee, Quay-streot, yesterday afternoon, when tho following members were present: Messrs. W. R. Waddel (presiding), A. H. Nathan, M. Niccol, C. B. Stone, T. Honderson, F, Phillipps, C. Laßooho, A. Devore, and J. Winks. Harbours and Lighthouses.—A copy of the report on harbours and lighthouses, submitted to tho Queensland Parliament, was received. The Loss of the Wistaria.—The Marine Board of Brisbane forwarded a copy of the roport and decision upon the circumatancea attending the loea of the barque Wistaria at ! One-tree Island Reef on the 14th ultimo. The Board further notified that Jamea Rodger, who had acted as mate of the vessel, had failed to deliver up his certificate as requested, and had apparently loft Queenslaud ; and they therefore requoetod that the Auckland Harbour Board would take steps to assist in preventing Rodger serving ae an officer afloat during the suspension of his certificate. It was resolved to comply with the request ho far as lay in the power of the Board. Extension of Time.—Mr. W. Perkins, on behalf of the New Zealand Timber Company, applied for an extension of time of the lease* held by that body for a period of six months, at the current rentals. The mattor was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee. Pilotage.—A letter with respect to the question of pilotage waa reoeived from Mr. T. Henderson, buaineae manager Union Steamship Company. Ho had noticed that the Awhina Tug Company, who had been acting as tho pilots for tho San Francisco mail steamers, had applied for an increase of the amount allowed by the Board for pilotage, and that tho request had been refused, and he now asked what steps the Board pur- j posed taking in the event of the present pilot not being available on the arrival of the e.s. A lameda on the 6th inst. The Chairman eaid that Mr. Compton, manager of the Awhina Tug Company had hioltly accepted the position entailed as the result of the Board's resolution, and the port was recognieed by the Government as free. He asked Mr. Henderson whether he had any reason to doubt whether Mr. Compton would deoline to pilot the mail steamer upon her arrival. Mr. Henderson replied that he had. Mr. Stone said that tho pilotage did not pay Mr. Compton, and he would of necessity have to discontinue the eervice. The Chairman remarked that Mr. Compton had not said that he would not pilot the mail steamer. Mr. Henderson: No, he does not say that, but there is a great probability of hie rafusing to pilot the vessel. The Chairman eaid there was also a probability of Mr. Compton'a outrunning the Harbour Board's vessel, should the latter body charter a boat for the pilot eervice. Mr. Niccol submitted that the proper course was to communicate with the Board's pilot, since at the last meeting they had assumed a position ignoring Mr. Compton. The Chairman pointed out that the Board's pilot woe in Mr, Compton's employ. He remarked that they owed a duty in reapeot to providing pilotage, this being the port visited by the mail steamers. Mr. Niccol moved, "That a reply be sent to the Union Steam Shipping Company, asking them to communicate with Mr. Compton, and in the event of hie declining to pilot the mail steamer into port, the company communicate with the ohalrman of the Board." Mr. Stone seconded the motion. Mr Winks understood that there were two pilots independently of Mr. Compton—Messrs. Sainty and Cook. The Chairman : Yee, but they are in Mr. Compton'a employ. The motion was adopted.

The Proposed Road at Fiiekman's Bay. Meser*. VVhitaker and Russell, on behalf of the Auoklaud Gas Company, wrote respecting the dispute existing between the Board and the company with reference to the formation of a road to the company's works at the foot of College Hill. The latter were willing to accept terms if tho Board would make the road within three years from the present date, though inasmuch as nearly a year had elapsed since the original terms were first arranged, the company thought that the Board , should at once make a road sufficiently good to give carte access from College Hill road to the company's land, the road to be continued to the end of the proposed, or any future reolaniation, bo as to give access to the water of the harbour. They requested that a level of five feet be granted. It was resolved, "That the plans of the work be approved, subject to the approval of the Council." Patent Sklf • Discharging Pontoon.— Mr. J. J. Haelam again wrote drawing attention to his patent self-discharging silt pontoon. It was decided to reply that the matter would receive consideration when the Board contemplated increasing the staff of punts. Totaka Timber.—Mr. John Milne, liquidator Hokianga Sawmill Company, wrote respecting the disposal of a quantity of i totara timber, for the supply of which a contract had been entered into with tho Board's engineer, the timber, however, notbeing received owing to a resolution eubae- , quenuly passed by the Board. Mr. Milne ■ requested that the Board would receive the timber referred to, and also grant an order , for the supply of twenty to thirty braces which wore now at Hokienga awaiting ship- [ ment. It was resolved to purchase any of the timber which proved suitable for the

purposes of the Board. Office at Devonport .—-Captain Wm. Webster, manager A. and N.S. Ferry Company, applied for permission to erect an office on the Davenport Wharf, for the convenience of passengers travelling by their steamers. It was resolved to comply with the request on tho condition that the office be uaed by the general travelling public. Thk Hannaford Bbaook.—Mr. Thos. B. Hannaford again wrote with reference to the "Hannaford. Light," requesting that the Board would visit the offices of Messrs P. Herapath and Son, architects, for the purpose of impeding model and detail drawings of the beacon ; and should they deem the invention suitable, that they address a petition to the House upon the subject. It was decided to attend at Mr. Herapath's offices as requested, to-morrow (Thursday), at three o'clock p.m. DttKDGKB No. 121.— J. Scott, dredgemaster, wrote reminding the Board that the three months during which the trial of the altered conditions of working of Dredger No. 121 was to take place had expired, and he expressed his willingness to enter upon a throe years' engagement as" master. If do suob agreement could be come to, he -would prefer to leave the service of the Board in a fortnight from date. Mr. John Darling had told him, before he left home, that there would be no difficulty in getting an engagement for three years in tho service of the Board. The Bcard'e engineer, Mr. McGregor, submitted a report showing the amount ol

work performed during the paste throe months by the dredger, which had been working with a crew of three bands fewer for that time, the working expenses, of course, being reduced in proportion. It had been evident to the engineer for some time that owing to the depth of the water required to keep the dredge afloat, she was working at a disadvantage during the ordinary daily working hours, so far as dredging close in to the southern foreehore was concerned. It was only very rarely that the top of high water was caught during ordinary working hours, when the dredger came to her moorings to load spoil, and only an occasional load could be secured from the shallow foreshore, where dredging was most important. To overcome this difficulty, he had arranged with the maeter that dredging should bo done at the top of high water only, and that he should follow the tides night and day, working as close in to the shallow ground as possible ; and Mr. McGregor had now come to the conclusion that all future work with Dredger No. 121 must be carried out in this manner. The only drawback to working at night was the deficient light of the ordinary ship's lamps, and he had been considering the question of providing the dredger with the electric light. The engine, dynamo, electrio lanape, and wires now etored at the graving dook would suit admirably for this purpose, and oould be fitted on board at a cost of abont £50. This report, with Mr. Scott's letter, was : referred to the Finance and Legal Committee. A lengthy report, respecting the necessity for a supply of chain aad other dredging gear, at a cost of £539 19s, was submitted by the engineer, who stated that the quality and sizes of chain required and mentioned in the schedule were not kept in stock here, and would, therefore, have to be imported. It was, he remarked, a pity that the local prices for this work were so high, because it oould be done perfectly well here. The matter was referred to the Finance and Legal Committee, Mr. McGregor to submit an estimate, showing the work which could be done in Auckland, with its price. The Harbour Leaseholders —A letter was received, signed by Messrs. Brown, Barrett, and Co., Coupland and Co., John Buohanan, S. Jagger, a. Cochrane and Son, Thomas Eussell (per 11. Green), and City of Auckland Tramways Co., who referred to the suffering and hardship entailed upon them in respect to tho leases held by them from the Board. They requested that a committee be appointed to consider the several methods of effecting relief:—(l) Allowing a lease to be surrendered ; (2) a revaluation of the allotments; (3) an abatement, say, for a term of ten years; (4) a full or partial valuation for improvements on expiry of leases (as in the case of several public bodies in the South of New Zealand); (5) a deletion of the clause increasing the rent 50 por cent, in 21 years' time. The matter was referred to the Finance and Legal Committeo. Kkbvtb of Hakbodk Does.—Messrs. J. Buchanan, W. Johneton, and l<. O. Young, trustees in the estate of D. H. McKenzie, wrote, applying for a rebate of harbour dues of £32, paid in respect to the brigantine Maria Virginia, which had subsequently been aold at auction for £46. The matter was referred to the Finance Corn* mittea.

The Rival Ferry Companies. — Mr. Alexander Alison, manager Devonport Steam Ferry Co., wrote, calling attention to "the danger to life and property consequent upon the new ferry steamer Kagle not running to the advertised time-table." Continuing, Mr. Alison said that the steamer seemed to be most unmanageable, to put the least objectionable construction upon matters, and during the past week had on two occasions run stem on at fast speed into tho Britannia. The writer referred to the collision which occurred on Friday last between and pointed out that on that occasion the Eagle had started from Auckland wharf a quarter of an hour late. It was decidod to inform the Auckland nnd North Shore Ferry Company that unle»s the time-table wore adhered to their license would be suspended, | Wokks and Tariff Committee. — This committee recommended :—l. That the time table submitted by the Auckland and North Shore Ferry Company be approved. 2. That the western berth on the ferry jetty be allotted to the Devonport Ferry Company, and the eastern berth to the Auckland and North Shore Ferry Company. 3. That permission be granted to the Auckland and North Shore Ferry Company to ereot ft temporary offioe, six feet by eight feet, on Queenstreet Wharf, euch office to be removed when required. 4. That the Board consent to a roadway being made from Mechanics' Bay to St. George's Bay, and allow such sandstone as may be required in the formatiou of the road to be removed from St Barnabas' Point upon the expiration of Mr. Harker's lease. 5. That Mr. Birtley be informed that tho Board cannot allow the dockyard fence to be removed as requested. 6. That the harbourmaster be instructed to take soundings, and report the effect of the dredging already made, between the Railway Wharf and Hobaon-street Wharf. 7. That no action be taken in reference to the fittiug up the Alpha dredger at present. 8. That communication bo made with the Lyttelton Harbour Board re hopper barges, and with tho Otagc Harbour Board as to the oost of silt boxes. 9. That, as the Board has under consideration the question of forming Quaystreet from Qaeon-strost to jetty No. 2, Qjay-street, the City Council be requested to furoUh as soon as convenient, for tho {•uidanoo of this Board, an estimate by tho City Engineer of the cost of forming, kerbing, and channelling Quay-Btreot, as above indicated, to meet the requirements of eection '22 of the Auckland Harbour Board Act, 1885. The report was adopted. Finance and Legal Committhe,—This committee recommended as follows:—1. That the consideration of Messrs. Fraeer and Sons account for extras, etc., in connection with work at Calliope Dock be deferred ; the secretary to examine into the matters and consult Mr. Waro thereupon. 2. That the New.Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company be informed that tins Board is prepared to offer without prejudice aud as payment in full of all demands made by Mr, Magaire on account of the railway reclamation contract, the sum of £340, being payment at the rate of 4d per cubic yard, for material removed (20,400 cubic yards), as per account, and to remit all time penalties whioh. may be due from the contractor to the Board. 3. That in future all acoounta to be submitted to the Finance and Legal Committee be forwarded to tho treasuror not later thau noon ou the day of meeting of committee. — The report was adopted. Tenders.— The following tenders were received for the erection of goods sheds and offices at tho naw ferry jetty :—Heywood and Martiu, £772; Wm. J. Smith, £526 10b 8d ; J. Wateon, £660; F. Duder, £599. The engineer's estimate was £500. The lowest tender, that of Mr. Smith, was accepted. _________