HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13583, 12 September 1908, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board, in committee, was held yesterday afternoon, those present being the chairman (Hon. E. Mitcbelson) and Messrs. H. D.- Heather, J. B. Macfarlane, H. Bradn«y, G. W. Basley, J. K. Kneen, A. Keyes, W. E. Hutchison, C. C. Dacre, - A. E. Glover, and Captain Mackenzie. Patent Slips: Consideration of correspondence from the New Zealand Shipowners' Federation, urging the provision of patent slips, was deferred, the chairman stating that until the Loan Bill was passed by the Legislative Council the Board had no money for such works. Departures at Night: The committee considered a letter from Mr. J. C. Spedding, asking that some provision should be made so that intercolonial and Home going vessels could leave the Auckland wharves at night time. The harbourmaster stated that when such a course was allowed, several years .ago, the Board's officials were kept waiting about until all hours of the night, and were then very often told that their cervices were not required, the captains putting off the departure of their ships until daylight. Mr. Heather did not think that such a privilege would be availed of largely by masters. Mr. Bradney suggested that the proper course to adopt was to pass a by-law allowing masters to remove their slurps from tho wharves at night at their own risk. The matter was referred to the Bv-laws Committee. Yacht Anchorages: A short discussion took place regarding the destruction of yacht moorings in Hobson and Judge's Y'.iivs through logs being towed in to the timber mills. The harbourmaster suggested that the .best way to get over the difficulty was to provide a clear passage for the rafts, and to leave sufficient space between the yacht moorings and the shore for their anchorage. The matter was left over in order to give the harbourmaster sufficient time in which to submit a full report. Calliope Dock: Admiral Poore's letter relating to the proposed alterations to Calliope Dock was received. Mr. Kneen suggested that something should be done whereby the dock could be pumped out more quickly. The harbourmaster said there was no doubt that the gate arrangements could bo greatly improved, and the matter was left over. Wharf Shed: The removal of the wharf labourers' waiting room on "No. 4 Jetty to No. 3 Jetty was approved. Acetylene Gas for Buoys: A representative of the firm of Messrs.* Hawkins and Rowo gave a demonstration of an appliance for illuminating buoys in the harbour with "acetone" gas. This proving highly satisfactory, the Board decided to accept an offer to fit up 'a buoy in the harbour with the apparatus, and in the event of it giving good results, after a two months trial, to purchase it. ' Railway Wharf Sheds: With regard to the proposal to complete one of the Railway Wharf sheds temporarily, pending the arrival of the permanent material, it was decided that the tost would be too expnsive. and the proposition was accordingly abandoned. , Yew Ferry Buildings: Plans of the proposed new ferry buildings were submitted to a sub-committee,, with instructions to , report at next meeting.