HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 5 November 1880, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held to-day, there being present—Messrs. Sumpter (Chairman), Menlove, Aitken, Shrimski, Gibbs, Borrie, and Miller. Mr. M'Gregor (Engineer) was also in attendance. The minutes of last meeting and of a special meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and adopted. The Secretary stated that the lowest rate he could get for insurance on the harbor works was 17s per LIOO, and the offer of the Colonial Insurance Company was accepted at that figure. The Board then considered a number of by-laws and harbor charges, which were adopted. It was resolved to request the Harbormaster to revise the signal code before publication. The following report from the Engineer was read and adopted : Herewith I beg to submit, for the consideration of the Board, an estimate showing the cost of carrying the railway line along the reef from quarry to old boat landing place on a rubble embankment instead of timber trestles, as provided for in contract. In Messrs. M'Gill and Forrest's schedule of prices there are certain rates for "rubble protecting embankment in front of reclamation," and for soil from quarry deposited in reclamation on the fcesach, as the mole advanced seawards, I now propose that the reclamation and the rubble protecting embankment should be formed on the reef, carrying the railway on solid ground from the quarry to the beach, instead of so much timber work, and reclaiming an area 15Q feet wide, with a water frontage 2g chains long. The relative coist to the Board would be as follows The sum of LBQQ being the value of ballasting, gleppera, rails, and platelaying, is oommon to both schemes, LI 146 is saved on the construction of the railway, and LI76S is expended on the rubble embankment to carry the railway and form the protecting frontage for reclamation qn the reef. But as the rubble swn the quarry will cost the sftm e whether deposited on the beach ftV on the. reef, the value of the timber and labor will be saved by depositing the rubble on the reef, and using it for the railway line. I presume, there cai be no difference of opinion as to the relative values of the land reclaimed on the reef and on the beach. As I have stated before, the fyontage on the reef would be 25 chains by 100 feet wide, perfectly level from the top of Normanby wharf to the corner of beach. Several lines of rails could be laid down between the Breakwater and north mole or railway-station when required, and the present line (at a highey level) could be used for a dray road if considered necessary, Accounts amounting to L 3382 12s 3d were passed for payment, and the Board rose.