HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6525, 12 January 1883, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held yesterday. There were pre-, sent: Messrs K. Ramsay (chairman), J. Mill H. Guthrie, H. S. Fish* W. Bridgman, W. j; M. Larnach, R. Paterson, and A. H. Ross, CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr W. Craig (of Invercargill) wrote to the Board suggesting that the bar at Otago Heads should be improved bysystematio "harrowing," Thismethod, the writer believed, would be more

effective and more economical than any other. —The letter was received, and referred to the Works Committee, the Chairman remarking that it would no doubt be gratifying to the writer of the letter to know that harrowing apparatus came out with the new dredge, and that the engineer had boen asked to consider the desirability of having the apparatus fixed to the stem of the dredge, for harrowing when she could not dredge. Messrs Dalgety and Co. wrote to the Board enclosing an account for towage of the ship Zealandia, whicli had been rendered necessary by the mooriug-buoy of the Railway Pier giving way, and requesting that the matter should be inquired into. —Referred to the Works Committee.

A letter was received_ from Messrs James Rattray and Co. complaining of the discharging berth given to the Rose Hill, and stating that they would hold the Board responsible for damage, if any, caused to sugar put in the sheds because of the dilapidated state of the buildings.—A reply had beeu sent denying liability, but the Chairman stated that he had authorised repairs to the roof of the sheds to the extent of £10.—Letter received, and repairs authorised by the Board. Mr T. H. Dodson offered the Lillio Denham for sale to the Board for £1500. —Referred to the Works Committee. WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. '■ The following report was read :— Your Committee have to report on remits as follows :— Messrs Thomson Brothers' offer of sale or charter of steamers Jane and Peninsula, or either of them.— Resolved to recommend that the offers be not entertained. Messrs R. S. Sparrow and Co.'a letter re repairs to New Era's buckets. - Resolved to recommend Board to adhere to former resolution. Mr Tunnage's lettor re damage to boat.—Resolved to pay the amount of damage. Engineer's rocommendation re experiments of Duckham's principle of discharging silt.—Resolved to advise the Board to consent to the neceasary outlay— £200. Engineer's recommendation re experiment of working sand by action of centrifugal pump.—Resolved to recommend the necessary outlay -£60. P.ans of works proposed at the bar.—Resolved to delay reporting on same until all information required is completed. Tends rs for craves.—Messrs R. S. Sparrow and Co.'s tender being lowest, has been agreed to be accepted for two, subject to certiin conditions as to price in the event of four being ordered within three months.

Management of dredge 222.—Resolved to recommend as follows :—That the dredge 222 be set apart for ono month to work at the bar exclusively—that ls to say, so long as thero is no appearance of continued bad weather (iv which case she will return to Port Chalmers), to remain stationed at the Heads, and every available opportunity taken advantage of for working during daylight, the crew to bo paid£l per month extra. A Bpccial agreement to be prcparod, to bo signed by each man, defining the conditions of engagement. That in accordanco with tho harbourmaster's suggestion, and undor tho powers given to the Board by clause.76 of " The Harbours Act, 1878," Mr M'Cormack be examined for appointment as a pilot, and bo placed in chargo for one month, and to be allowed £16 until permanent arrangements be mado.

On the recommendation of the engineer the Comraittco havo authorised tendors to he called for duplicate parts of dredgo fittings for 12 months. Reclamation of Crawford streot block, subdivisions 2 aud 3.—Tho engineer has been instructed to prepare specification as soon as possible, with a view to calling for tenders for samo. Operations on the Bar.—Tho engineer hai been instructed to proceed with all convenient speed to get up tbo necessary information for Sir John Coode. Application has been mad* to tho Land Board for permission to quarry stone at a place set out on a tracing furnished by the engineer iv the event of the works proposed bt him being proceeded with. Your Committco recommends that a competent inspector of machinery aud works be advertised for; salary, £300 per annum. Steam Hopper-tug.—The engineer, after consultation with Mr Cook, inspecting engineer for the Union Steam Ship Company, has recommended that no further action in this matter bo taken until tho results of the experiments recommended iv clauses 4 and 5 of this report be ascertained.

Ariangements have been made with Mr Logan for obtaining supply of i\ck n-a'eiU! Irom Lovun'a Point quarry.

On the motion of Mr Pish the report was adopted.

• HiBBCtSaAS-I^P.'«l BESDST. The Hatbourmaatat-. fir-ported to ths follow

ing effect;—(l) That the channel across tha bar maintains its depth, ths ship Canterbury (drawing 18ft 9in), being the largest vessel that passed through last month. If the present depth is maintained vessels drawing 22ft can safely pass. (2) In reference to the use of harrows ou the bar, he was of opinion that if the roll was too great they could be wrought, and he would suggest a trial. He detailed the circumstances of the breaking away from her moorings of the ship Zealandia, which, in trying to get clear of the Loch Dee, had gone on to tho bank, although afterwards floated by tho rising tide. He attributed the breaking of the chain fo a defective link. Owing to the arrivalof five cargoes of sugar at the same time, the shed accommodation was barely sufficient, and through-abuses having crept iv through goods being allowed to remaih too long in the sheds, importers had been put to considerable inconvenience. In reference to the school at tho Heads for the children of the pilots, he stated that since the removal of the pilots to Port Chalmers the teacher's salary had not been supplemented by the residents, and he requosted that the Board grant £30 per annum for the purpose. The shipping returns were as follow :— Inwards—Foreign, 10 vessels, 6367 tons; intercolonial, 9 vessels, 7995 tons; coasting, 79 vessels, 13,833 tons ;—total, 98 vessels, 28,195 tons. Outwards—Foreign, 4 vessels, 3526 tons ; intercolonial, 9 vessels, 7204 tons; coasting, 68 vessels, 12,940 tons ;—total, 81 vessels, 23,670 tons. '

The report was received, and the recommendations referred to the various Committees of the Board. - -

engineer's report.

Tbe Engineer of the Board reported that during December dredging had been executed as follows:—Dredge No, ,222, Port Chalmers, 7729 cubic yards, cost of dredging and depositing, 11'4d per yard ; Vulcan, steamers' basin, 23,120 yards, B£d; New Era, Victoria Channel, 9092 yards, 11M; side dredge, dock, 1080 yards,, ls lOd ;—total quantity dredged, 41,021 cubic yards. The dredge No. 222 was working 13 days at Port Chalmers and two.days on the bar, but was under repair the remainder of the month. The Vulcan had been employed at the steamers' basin with good results. The annual overhaul of this dredge was now in hand. The New Era was at work steadily on the shoal at Ravensbourne. Fresh arrangements would have to be made for the repair of punts and steamers, as the contract with the Floating Dock Company would terminate shortly. Operations had been commenced at the Heads in sounding, boring, and quarrying, so as to obtain the fullest information necessary before the proposed works for the improvement of the bar were entered upon. With fine weather it was anticipated that theso operations would ba completed in about four weeks.—The report was received.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £540 lis ld. The Board then went into Committee. -