OAMARU AND THE TIMARU DREDGE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10514, 23 July 1910, Page 4

OAMARU AND THE TIMARU DREDGE.

(Timaru Herald.) At the meeting o£ the Timaru Harbor Board yesterday, tho Oamaru Harbor Board applied for .some reduction in the charge, of £55 per day for the loan of dredge 530, on June 29 and 30," as it had been impossible to do any dredging on these days. Tho Resident Engineer advised that bo could not recommend any reduction. ■•Mr Rolleston said ho thought they should give some reduction to the Oamaru Board. The two Boards should endeavor to work together so far as dredging was concerned. In 12 or 18 months the dredging required at Timaru Harbor would be done, and tho Board would then have a dredgo costing £30,000 on their hands. It would surely be good policy on the part of the Timaru Board to endeavor to lend the dredge to the Oamaru Board for three or six months of the year; and with the revenue so derived they would be able to pay interest on tho cost of a tug, which was now required at Timaru. All other ports of similar size possessed a tug, and it was highly desirablo that there should be one here. There was no doubt but that dredge' 350 could work both ports. All the berths at Timaru, with one exception, wero now dredged to a depth of 30ft, and though the schemo was to dredge the whole of tho inner basiu to this depth, he could see no reason why they 'should hurry about that so long as" all the berths were 30ft, as with 26ft outside at low water they could wait for the tide to bring vessels in or take them out. If they canie to some working arrangement with Oamaru they would be doing a good turn to the southern Board, and at the same time would benefit themselves. Mr Skinner could not agrco with Mr Rolleston in advocating a reduction in the charge for tho loan of the dredge. The Oamaru Board had taken dredge 350 because alter trying all other ports they found her the cheapest. And then, when rough -weather came on, they bundled her out of their harbor and back to Timaru. They might at least have waited until tho weather calmed before sending her back. Under these-circumstances the Oamaru Board was entitled to no consideration. Mr Thew also said that the Oamaru Board had taken dredgo 350 because she was the cheapest dredgo they could get, and pointed out that the Timaru Board had to go to additional expense' in insuring the dredge while at Oamaru. (This cost £150.) Mr Armitage spoke against giving any reduction.

Sir Young thought they should meet the Oamaru Board ,in soma measure; and he spoke in support of the suggestion that the one dredge should serve the two ports. The dredge could do the work of both.easily. Mr Thew: There is no doubt about that.

Mr Young said that before sharing the dredge with Oamaruj they should get Timaru harbor dredged inside and out to a depth of 30ft. It was not the fault of the Oamaru Harbor Board that the dredge had to be sent back sooner than anticipated; and they did not "bundle" her away as suggested by Mr Skinner.

Mr Stickings said they might have let her remain until fine weather set in before sending her back to Timaru. Mr Hayman thought if thejl got the actual cost from. Oamaru they should be satisfied; thej' should not try to make money out of the loan. Mr Turnbull remarked on the heavy charge'made against Oamaru for relaying the moorings of the dredge—£l6 and proposed that Oamaru be granted a rebate of half tins 'amount. Mr Rollestorj/'secohded. .

An amendment* was proposed by Messrs Armitage and'Stickings that the original agreement with Oamaru be adhered to. On a vote being taken five voted for, and five against both motion and amendment. . - .- V '*' Mr' Turnbull then proposed, that Ss ; three members were absent'the matter should be hfeld over until next meeting, and this course was adopted.