MEETINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 766, 5 November 1886, Page 23

MEETINGS.

WELLINGTON HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Harbor" Board was held yesterday afternoon week, present Mr J. Duthie (in the chair), Messrs J. Chew, Williams, Wheeler, Petheriok, and Booth. FINANCE.- . ; : The Chairman stated that the credit balance in the Bank amounted to £522 4s lid. It Was decided to withdraw £IOOO from the fixed deposit account. RECLAMATION AGREEMENT. The Chairman stated that a draft of the agreemsnt between the City Council and the Harbor Board, relative to reclamation works, had been received. The draft was agreed to, and it was resolved that the seal of the Board should be affixed to the deed. DREDGING WORKS. The plans for the construction of an iron barge in connection with the new dredge which has been ordered from Home, were laid oh the table. It was decided that tenders for the construction of a barge should be called for. ; j WELLINGTON ROWING CLUB. Mr Ludwig attended on behalf of the Wellington Rowing Club, the object being to obtain a site for a boat-shed for the Club. Mr Ludwig explained that" the club desired to obtain a site opposite the Post Office, overlooking the Boat Harbor,, on which to erect a boat-shed. The Club was a young, and consequently a struggling one, and they hoped the Board would meet them in a fair spirit. The Club was aware that an objection had been raised that the building the Club contemplated erecting would not be as substantial or as grand as that built by the Star Club. But the Club was merely in its infancy, and for that reason he trusted the Board would deal liberally with them. Mr Ludwig having withdrawn, it was resolved that, as the requirements of the trade of the port must necessarily be of primary importance, the Board declines to entertain the proposition of the Club, but resolves that a suitable site between Taranaki and Torystreets be offered to the Club. APPLIANCES FOR LIFTING HEAVY WEIGHTS. The Engineer forwarded a report on the question of erecting machinery for lifting heavy weights. The Engineer pointed out that in his report of March Ist, this year, when the question of erecting a wharf from the Te Aro foreshore was before the Board, he drew attention to the want which existed for a large crane or shears. Mr Ferguson in bis report states that there is no suitable spot in the port adjacent to deep water where a crane or shears could be conveniently erected. Apart from the objection of the loss of a berth at the Queen’s Wharf the report says that the structure itself would not be suitable for the carriage to and fro of heavy weights, such as a 30-ton marine boiler. The Engineer expressed the opinion that the best position for a crane would be on the breastwork facing the proposed new 100 ft street, from the Queen’s Wharf to Cuba-street. He proposed the erection of a pair of shears, as being cheaper and quite as suitable as a large crane. The shears could be worked either by steam power, or, preferably, by hydraulic, from the proposed main. The cost of a 30-ton shears would be (including foundations and erection) about £2OOO. The report went on to say that the greater portion of such a shears could be made in New Zealand, the screw for travelling and some other parts being probably imported. The Engineer, however, while recommending a fixed shears, expressed the opinion that shears or crane, arranged either to haul or slowly propel itself from berth to berth, would prove most satisfactory. The cost of a floating shears would probably amount to from £6OOO to £BOOO. The Engineer recommended that he should be empowered to obtain estimates of cost of machinery in connection with the matter under consideration. The report having been adopted, the Board adjourned.