HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 890, 21 February 1879, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The first meeting of the new Board was held to-day, at the Harbor Chambers. There wore present —Messrs. Sumpter, Steward, Shrimski, Menlove, Hassell, Reid, and Aitken. Mr. Shrimski proposed Mr. Sumpter as Chairman, saying that that gentleman was well acquainted with the business of the Board.

Mr. Reid, in seconding the motion, said the Board could not get a better Chairman. Mr. Sumpter had always given great attention and used his best efforts to further the interests of the Board.

The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Sumpter ihanked the Board for the h"iior conferred upon him, and stated that he would-endeavor to discharge the duties »f Chairm;.;i in the future as lie had done in ike jj.i.si. The minutes of the previous meetinc; were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved.

The f'ill'Hviii'_r draft of a letter to l>e forwarded to the Secretary of the Australian and Xew Zealand ["nderwritcrs" Association, in reply to a letter published in the Shipping Ga/.ette, was read and aU<i.>ica :

• Minai'U. Kebniary-I, 1879. Snt. —The attention of the Oamaru Harbor Hoard has been drawn to the enclosed extract from the Shipping 'lazctte, and as it considers that if such damaging statements were not taken notice of. injury to the character and trade of this port would probably result, the Board deems it advisable to oiler a few comments.

It is much to he deprecated that anyone occupying the position of a member of the

A, ri'iiM N.a. Ciidei.writer:/ .'|s!:cci;>tior-a position in \vhi.;h lie should, be v.oll able to obtain information—should commit himself to statements so incorrect and unfounded. The Board is inclined to believe that the letter has been written with the view of

damaging the maritime interests of the ports : referred to, and Oamaru in particular, as the , writer altogether ignores the fact that most etiicient protective works have been coii- . struetcd at Oamaru. consisting of a breakwater 940 feet in length and 1247 feet of I v,harvci. Although ';eyeral valuable vessels and uiirgocii v,eve lost miring the to IS7-3, yet the indisputable fact that no casualty ha.s occurred since the construction of the present breakwater clearly proves the advantages that have been derived from its construction and the total change which has been effected in the character of the port. The fact that such vessels as the Ceylon, Celestial Queen, Aikshaw, and William i Wii.oi: Jiave loaded with safety is ample I evidence that the statement,* have ! : LOn (i.ado j tarcliMr-ly. ami although vc-ascls of heavy draught (pendingfiirthoriinprovcnients being I made for their accommodation) may not be ! able to come under the protection of the [ breakwater, still vessels of medium draught [ pan !■•* *::••!>-encouraged to trade at this port, r Tic- writer or" the letter altogether ignores ■ :]■„■ :'acl that during the time the Lapwing. | Kiiiuy, and .Melrose Were cast ashore at t Timan;, there wi-re three sailing vessels,viz., I the Kthcl. the Duneiiin, and the Franklyn j [ Hoik?, anil the steamer Samson lying [in peiie'-t j-nfetv uiiuur UiC cUclicr tit I • : the breakwater ac Oamaru. He further!

appeals to be ignorant of the fact that ti*i.o Aikshaw did not arrive at the port of Oamaru until eighteen days after the gale which caused the wreck of the three vcsiilii at Tjmaru, as otherwise it is inconceivable how Ins could poisibly &ay that sin. would hive met with the same fate had she remained here another two days.

With regard to the barque Cabarfoidh, the writer will be surprised to learn that this vessel has for some time past been a frequent trader to this port, and is chartered for several more trips, and regularly discharges and loads alongside the wharves under shelter of the breakwater. I beg to forward a photograph of the works, in which the Ceylon, of ;)4(j tons register, is lying tinder shelter of the breakwater: and, judging by the tenon of the writer's letter, it will be disappointing to him to be informed that his prognostications as to accidents arc entirely erroneous.

iThe writer's statement that none of the insurance companies will take risks on the cargo ia al?o finite incorrect, the fact being that the insurance companies asked such a rate of premium in comparison to tho risks that the shippers declined to pay the rate, preferring to take the risks themselves. The hoard cannot help thinking that the reason so high a rate is demanded by the insurance companies as regards Oamani may probably l>e traced to the fact that the directory of the various local companies consists of merchants and others who are interested in fostering the interests of the large ports, even at the expense of Oaniaiu. j ' I have, &c., I Geo. Su.mptek, Chairman.

Tho Chairman was also requested to send a similar letter to the Otago Daily Times with a request to publish it in its monthly sunimary. Mr. Loring again wrote pqinting out the necessity for placing a traverse table for moving railway trucks from one side to the other of the Xormanb}' Wharf, stating that the want of such a traverse table caused the department very considerable pxtra expense, and entailed unnecessary .delay to ships and railway waggons. The 'writer also stated that unless the matter

was attended to lie would be compelled to bring it under the notice of the General Manager. The Secretary said that the work would cost about L2OO.

The matter-was referred to the Standing Committee, with power to act. On the motion of Mr. Steward, seconded by Mr. Hassell, it was. resolved, " That the members for the district be requested to introduce a Bill at next session to remove the limitation as to amount to be borrowed contained in -clause 2 of the Oamaru Harbor BoardXh-dinance Amendment Act, 1878, and that the Union Bank of Australia be directed in placing the L30 ; 000 first issue of the LIOO,OOO loan on the London market to intimate that it is the intention of the Board to issue the remaining L 70,000 as soon as legislative authority is obtained for the purpose."

A letter was read from the Marine Department consenting to the flagstaff at the port being removed to the cliff immediately above the Breakwater. A lengthy letter from the Harbormaster with reference to several matters of detail was referred to the Standing Committee.

A letter was read from Captain Paterson, of the Isabella Pratt, complaining of the delay occasioned in the unloading of his vessel' through the want of railway trucks.

It was resolved to again call the attention of the Government to the great want of trucks, and to the advisability of keeping a number of trucks specially for the work between the Breakwater and the town.

Messrs. Sumpter, Steward, Aitken, Hassell, and Shrimski were appointed a Standing Committee. Messrs. Sumpter, Reid, and Hassell were appointed a Finance Committee. On the motion of Mr. Steward, it was resolved, " That the Finance Committee be deputed to interview the bank with a view to obtaining an overdraft of a sum sufficient to enable the Board's works to be proceeded with, pending the placing of the new loan."

On the motion of Mr. Steward, seconded by Mi*. Hassell, it was resolved, " That the Engineer be directed to prepare plans for extending the Macandrew \Vharf 200 feet, and for extending the Breakwater proper '2OO feet, the Engineer to be requested to meet the Board therewith at next ordinary meeting." The Engineer wrote enclosing the final certificate for Messrs. Miller and Smillie's contract.

On the motion of Mr. Shrimski, it was resolved thai a .statement should be laid on the table showing the amount of the original contract of Messrs. Miller and Smillie, and the extras allowed. On the motion of Mr. Steward, seconded by Mr. Shrimski, it was resolved— *■ That on payment of Messrs. Miller and Smillie's final certificate they be required to give a discharge in full of all claims whatsoever against the Board, either in respect of their original contract, any contract subsequently entered on, and all works of whatsoever kind, including a]i extras, executed by them." Mr. Shrimski spoke in terms of high commendation of the manner in which Messrs. Miller and Smillie had carried out their contracts, and moved— *' That the Board desires to express its satisfaction at the manner in which Messrs. Miller and Smillie have carried out their contracts."

Mr. Steward seconded the motion, which was carried ananimously. In putting the resolution, the Chairman fully endorsed the opinions expressed by Messrs. Shrimski and Steward, and sivid that he was quite sure that '■vary iuember of the Board was highly pleased at the manner in which the contractors had carried out their work.

Permission was given for the Governors of the \\ aitaki High School to meet in tiio Board room. Accounts to the amount of L 1129 8s 2d were passed for payment, and the Board rose.