FLOATING DOCK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1698, 10 June 1867, Page 5

FLOATING DOCK.

A deputation, consisting of Mr James Rattruy (president of tho Chamber of Commerce), Mr G. M'Lean, Captain M'Kinnon, and Mr J. S. Webb (secretary to tho Chamber), had an interview with His Honor, tho Superintendent, on Saturday forenoon. Mr M'Leax said that the deputation had come with respect to the proposed Floating Dock. It was understood that the Government and the Council had sanctioned the construction of a dock l~)0ii \<>\\% ; but there was already a slip that could take up vessels of that length; and what was wanted was a Floating Dock, 250 ft long, so as to take up the Melbourne steamers and Home ships. Ho understood that those concerned as to tho building of the dock wore quite as willing to make it the larger size as the smaller one, the only question invohnd being the guarantee on the greater amount.

The Sui'BKiirTESDEirr said that there was nothing decided in the matter. The deputation had no doubt seen in tho newspaper all that had passed. A proposition was sent in by Mr Murray, of Port Chalmers, as to building a dock; and ho (the Superintendent) transmitted it to the Council. He intended, when the Government came to negotiate with Mr 'Murray, to suggest that a longer dock should be constructed; and ho thought it very likely that that could be arranged, without very much increasing the cost. If the proposal of Gapt. T. Robertson, which bad been before the Chamber, had come before the Government in the same shape as ' that of Mr Murray, it would have been a preferable plan for a dock, and he believed it would have been as readily agreed to by the Council; The merit of Mr Murray's proposal was, that the Government had not to provide money for the work. He thought there would be no difficulty in getting Mr Murray's dock mado considerably longer than 150 ft. ; but to make it 250 ft. long woiiM be almost to supersede the stone graving dock.

Capfc M'Kixnox did not agree that fetich would "be the case. Already, vessels 150 ft. long could be taken mp and repaired. The Superintendent : You cannot take up a vessel of 500 tons. •• . ; Capt. •M'Kisrxosr : That could be done if a sum of about L4OO was expenclod on tlio slip. ! Tlie Supkkt^texdent ; I look upon this floating dock as a make-shift. \ Capt. M'KrtfNOir: It would be so, as noc interfering with the stone-docks But a Floating Dock, 150£t long, would; do ho more than could be done now ; : and what was wanted was, that whatever was supplied temporarily should be capable of enabling repairs to be done to the Alhambra the Otago, or the Albion, or to any

of the Home ships, up to 1000 tons. He believed that Mr Bf uryayArus quite willing to make a dock of such a size, if the Governm^it^ould, agree to it. The' said that Mr Murray had called, and was to come again onjMonday ; when he (the Superintendent) would see wlut could be done. It was rally intended to endeavour to get a dock of a greater length tlum 150 f t; but how much'greater, was an undiscussed question.

Capt M'Krs'NON believed that Mr Murray, to use his own words, was willing to build a dock that would reach from Fort Chalmers to Dunedin, if the Government would proportionately extend the terms for which lie had asked.

The Sai'EiasTBNDEST : I do not think we should like to propose.to go far beyond tho limit already named to the Council. Capt. M'Kinkon :• That would really be flinging money into the sea ; because— leaving myself wholly out of tho case— wo have already at the Port the means of dealing with vessels 150 ft long. The Sui'UBi.vTKXDfcXT: I suppose we shall have to make tho dock somewhat longer than 150 ft, if only to guard against infringing tho monopoly you have got. Capt. M'Kinnon : I should be quite willing to give up that. The SuPEiu>-TKxr>KXT : I have never seen the agreement between you and the Government; but I assume that if it exists, it is binding, and that we should be very likely to have to make the dock more than 150 ft long, uo as to get rid of any liability to you under the agreement.

Mr M'Lkan said the Chamber thought the question of the aize of tho Floating Dock to be so important, that it was advisable to come to the Government before there had been any settlement of details.

The SuPERrxTEN'DBNT understood that Mr Mun-ay, in making his proposition, did not entertain the idea of doing anything to supersede the stone-dock. If LIOOO over the L3OOO odd, named by Mr Murray, would l>e enough for a satisfactory enlargement of the scheme, the Government might be warranted in so increasing the amount on which the guaranj.tee should be given. i ~- • ; Capt..M'Kinnon desired to leave the j stone-dock out of the question, at present. What wjis wanted was something to meet the requirements of the Port, Ymtil tho stone-dock was ready ; and, as a practical man, he submitted to the Go•vernment that the least they could do was to-provide something at least 250 ft long. The Albion and the Otago were about 230 ft long. My Rattuay said that Mr Martin was to have been of the deputation, but he was unwell. Tho stone-dock should 'liardly be discussed in Mr Martin's absence.

Oupt, M'Ki.vn'on- had heard it stated that the only objection on Mr Murray's, part to offering to make the Floating Dock 2oO£t. long, 'was the fear that the Government might think it would interfere with the stone-dock. Mr-Murray did not sco the tiling in that light, at all. The Sui>Eiii.vTßXDK.vr believed that '.as soon as one iloating dock -was- fairly in hand, private enterprise would offer to construct another. There ought to be at least a dozen vessels on the stocks here, being built He was very much surprised that, in a community with so many merchants, so largely interested in shipping, there should be so little enterprise as to ship-building and owning. Mr Ratteay did not feel so sanguine, as His Honor, with respect to ship-building paying. The SupERrsTEXDEXT did not believe that people went on ship-building unless it paid. In Auckland, there were not half as many merchants as there were in Dunedin ; but look at the number of vessels built there.

Mr M'Lka.x hoped that the Government would not conclude as to a Floating Dock, until there had been an opportunity of ascertaining whether, in the opinion of practical men, what had been proposed would meet the requirements of the Port.

The Supeiunteni>ext said that there would be no such haste as to prevent the fullest inquiry. Mr Webb handed to His Honor the plans prepared by Capt. Robertson, for a Pontoon Dock, "which hud been before the Dock Trust,

The deputation withdrew, after thanking His Honor for the courteous reception given to them.