HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6573, 9 March 1883, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Harbour Board was held yestorday. Present: Messrs H. S. Fish, M.11.U. (chairman), K. Ramsay, J. Mill; A. 11. Ross, R. Paterson, A. J. Bums, J. Barron, J. Barues, and H. Guthrie. COHUKSL'ONDKHCE. Messrs A. and J. M'Farlane and O. Watson

asked for an extension of the loan of trucks entered into with tho Board for their Oamaru contract. When they got them they woro badly out of repair, and they had been put to considerable expense in putting thorn in working order. If it was absolutely necessary the trucks should now be returned, they wuuld endeavour to arrange with Mr Proudfoot to supply waggons oqiially good, so that tho heavy expense of transit might be saved.— Referr.d to the Works Committee. The Auckland Harbour Board intimated

that it intended to proceed with tho formation of a Humauo Society for New Zealand.

The Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce ' forwarded a copy of the resolution passed at a meeting hold for tho purpose of conferring with Mr T. Guthrio (the representative of the Glasgow Shipowners' Association) on tho dolay iv tho discharge and delivery of cargo at the Port. — The Cii.ukmak said he had received the following letter from Mr Houghton: —"I have tho honour, by direction of the President of the Chamber, to hand you the accompanying printed copy of letter addressed to the President of tho Christchurch Chamber by Thomas Guthrie, Esq., of Glasgow, aud to ask you to be good enough to bring it under the consideration of your Board at an early sitting. I am further instructed to say that the Committee would be pleased to learn that stops are being taken by tho railway authorities and the Board with rospoct to the recommendation of tho Chamber for tho orection of a Queen's or other bond, to which goods impeding the removal" of other largo would bo sent, thus removing one of the chief causes of detention of ships at Port Chalmers." The enclosed lettor concluded: "I will only, in conclusion, desire to add that, having examinod carefully into the working and expensos both of Port Chalmers and Tort Lyttelton, I am pre-

pared to advise all our Glasgow owners to accept of a lower freight for ytmi- port." The Chairman said ho could not help thinking that Mr Guthrie had taken upon hiinseff a groat deal more than he had any right to do, and really his action was open to a great deal of criticism. lie thought lie had acted ratlior injudiciously. If tho circumstances of tho two ports warranted any such statement, the merchants of Dunedin were not absolutely dependent on Glasgow shipowners for tho transit of their produco.—Jlr .Ramsay agreed that the action of Mr Gutbrio was uncalled for. —Mi; Burks said there was one favourable light in which the statement might be looked at-Mt might bo used as a lover totyards getting tho wharves iuto tho Board's hands. —The matter was referred to the Works Committee.

A letter was received with reference to Cates v. tho Hoard, suggesting an equitable settlement, and was considered in Committee. SPECIAL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The following interim roport of the Special Committee, appointed to consider tho subjects of duos and legislation, was read : —

Your Committee, having carefully considered tho different matters latoly - brought before the Premier, recommend that a circular to the following effect bo forwaidcd to him for cons deration of the Cabinet :—

1. The Dunedin and Port Chalmers railway whb purchased from Messrs Proudfoot and Co. prior to tho constitution of the Board, therefore there could not bavo been any agreement as to the differential dues 'o which tho Biard was a party, in connection with the Poit Chalmers line, as appears to have been the

impression of the Premier. ■I. On tho constitution of the Board, the thou Supoiintendeut refused to delegato to tho Haibour lioard the control of the wharves at Port Chaltnert*,

and to hand over to it the trusteeship he held of the reserves set apait by tho Provincial Council for the improvement of the Lower Harbour; the reason lieifg that the Board's functions were to be chiefly confine J to tho iinp-ovcnient of the Upper Haruour 3. Tho abolition uf tho Provincial form of Government being assured, "TheOtago Harbour Board Em-po-veiing Act, ,875," waa introduced into larliaincnt t ■ secure to the Provincial district and local governing

body the benefit of the reserves that had beon set apart for the improvement ol tho h_rbour. Only tho Lv> er Haruour reset yes, however, were handed over, but power was given to the Governor to hand over the otiiers. Into this Act the clause waa introduce! limiting the harbjur improvement rate upon goods lauded at Port Cha'mers to one-half .1 that charged upon goods landed at Dunedln, tho reason again being that the.then projected iniprovotnents wero to be

limited to the Upper Harbour. Note.—The limitation of half rates only applied to the "iua-TOvernent rate," and not to ordinary wharfage dues. Thowhirves at Port Oha'mers not being gazetted cr declared to be under the control of the Board, il has had no power to charge wharfage dues. 4. Wharfago dues, as at all other porta, were c Idently contemplated by the Legislature to be levied on the railway wharves constructed under the Public Works scheme, and to bo paid over to the Hoard (sco

clause 10 *' Otago Harbour Board tmpowering Act, 1876.") That this has not been dono in our case ia exceptional and unfair to a local governing body, and should, we think, bo at onco remedied. 5. In later jears, when it became ovident hy the rapid progress being made iv Bteam c.muiuiiication, and Irate and commerce being carried lv larger bottoms, that improvement of the Lower Harbour was bocoinir.g a necessity of the immediate future, the Board resolved to have built and sent out a hopper dredge of tho very boat type, capable of and adapted for working on au open bar. Jhe following extracts Ir.m the Board's letter to the commissioners (ilosars Galbraith, Denny, and Darling), dated llth August, 1879, will shu\v tho spirit and desire of the Board at lhat time—which have not smco been changed—to grapple with the question of the improvement of the bir, and arc an unanswerable reply to the charges so repeatedly made tbat the Board has systematically neglected the interests of the Lower

[arbour. Extracts. "The objects and purpose for which the

aid of the Commission is sought is to soeuro tho providing of a hopper dredge ef the very best emstruction, according to the general description attached, it being understood tliat in all matterj of detail the Buard relics upon the Commissioners. to exercise their oe-*t judgment and experience in securing the best r sul. ." Again : " The class of machino want-d is a substantial and powerful twin screw steam hopper d tdgor suitable in oveiy way for dredging on an exposed bat-;" and "to be perfectly capablo of working and dredging iv from Bft t_ 30tt of water." Tnis dredge and her work have cost the Boird at least £00,000, and has been exclusively employed in the Lower Harbour. Tho Boarti's other dredges have also from tim j to timo don i considerable work in tbe Lower Harbour at Port < haluiers.

6. Since Aboliti n, different Uovernmont-i have been applied to as a matter of equity (it having become apparent that the functions of the Board would have to be extended to embrace the improvement of the Lower Harb ur), that the liower Baroour reserves should be vc.-tod in tho Board and the differential dues abolished; but theso requosts havo been always refused, or ut least not complied with, and theteforc

tu a large extent in respect to Lo»cr Harbour im- | provements the Board has had to expcid large Bums uf money without any means of obtaining rovci uc. 7. Were the differential dues abolished, then it would be a matter of indifference to the Hoard, from its own revenue point of view, whether the goods came by lail or by lighter, and tbo Boa'd fully believes that at a result thu rovenuo of tho railway would uot decrease whilst that of tho Board would be greatly

augmented. 8. If goods can, all things being cqua', bo carried cheaper by water or by private enterprise than by the railway, then tv force their carriage at a heavier cost by the railway is a pesitive loss to the country, as in Buch caso the cost to the consumer is increased.

0. In tbo management of the wharves, as relating to shipping, we submit that there should be no divided authority in tbe harbour of Otago any more than in any other harbour. . 10. Either tho Government or tho Board should bave the entire management and control of all matters connected with tiie harbour, and a divided authority, it is urged, cannot be otherwise than mischievous in itseirecte; and it has al*oys been the view of the Board th t th * intention or spirit ot the various Acts in regard to harbour management has been that the management and control of all harbours and harbour works was to be vested in the several Boards, the Go-

vernment retaining tho power and privilege of vetoing any proposed action of the Boards. 11. The Board respectfully submits that the Government should at once gazette tho Pure Chalmers wharves beiug under the c.iitrol cf the Otago Harbour B* ard.

Constitution of the Board.—Your Committee suggest as follows: — 1. That the numbor of members be 1-1. 2. That the representatives of boroughs be elected by the ratepayois. 3. That the representatives of county councils be

elected by the council or councils. ■ _. That the following be the representation : — 2 Members nominated by Government 3 ~ ratepayers City of Dunedin 1 „ ~ Port Chalmers 1 „ „ West Harbour and Northeast Valley 1 Member ratepayer Maori Hill, Roslyn, and Mornington - 1 Member ratepayer Caversham, St. Kilda, and South Duuedin 1 Member elected by Peninsula County Council 1 „ i, Taieri „ 1 „ „ Bruce and Tuapeka County Councils 1 Member elected by Waikouaiti County Council 1 ~ ~ Duncdin Chamber of Commerce 11 Several other matters requiring amended legislation are at present under consideration of the Board's solicitors, and will bo dealt with and reported upon aa early as possible. Tho Board might consider whether power bo given to tho Committee to forward the'other amendments proposed to the Premier co as to save time, as thore will bo sufficient time to discuss them before Parliament meets. 11. S. Fi.-ii, junr., Chairman.

Mr Mill thought consideration of the report should be adjourned to givo members an opportunity of perusing it thoroughly. The Chairman : Thore is hardly time for that. Tho Premier particularly told us that the Cabinet would be sitting upon his return to AVellington, and if we wanted to mako suggestions that would bo the time to do so.

Mr Paterson : I think a special meoting should bo called about the beginning of the week. . Mr Ross thought tliat the roport, with the exception o£ the uortion relating to the constitution of the Board,might very well be remitted to the Cabinet at once. Mr Barron* would strenuously oppose any innovation in regard to tho election of members, as tiio present system worked satisfactorily enough. . . * Mr Burns was of opinion that the Board at present consisted of too many members, and was decidedly averse to county councils appointing members. If they were going to have an elective Board, they should go to the people direct. They had had too much already of Mr Ross moved—" That the first portion of this report be forwarded to tho Government, but that the latter portion of it, relating to the constitution of the Board, be held over for consideration ut a special meoting this day wook." Mi- 'Paterson i-.econded.

The Chairman expressed the opinion that the election of members to the Board should bo popularised us much as possible. Tho motion wbg carried. WOEKi* COMMITTEE'S BEPORT. Tho following r< port trom the Works Co»----mittee was adopted :— Captidr. Ho'pkin.' letter redrt4.es idanalllnz vwwla on-vLich side they bib to pa., bes ..enrclc-wed to

the lliirbouriiKi-tcrto arrangn for liolnif carried out. lie Icier from manager tf the New Zea and Shipping Cuii'pai y as to the draught ol vessels capable of being brutialit, over the bar and laying all,,at at I'jrt Chalmers wharves, a similar answer has been tent aa to th. depth ot waier on the b.ir as lint lorwaided to tbo iiiaiiagciol the Now Zealand Iti frigerating Company, and in regard to laying all-iat at l'ort chalnn rs whams, that there is at picaoU IOIt nt low water, hut dredging'-perati-jiis will take place iuiuiediatJy whicli will increase tho d, pth to, >,a_, . 2ft. The Cominilieo recommend that us aoou as the Vulcan finishes the cut the is now working at in the Victoria Channel she be sent tv deep n the depths abovo rolerred to. Jit piles damaged by sundry steamers and vobsols, thdeiiiiiiicer haa been'ic'iueated to inquire into 'he ca^e ol damage and report, mid iv tiio meantime tendera have "been called lor replacing tho broken pilo<, and aro due tliia day. Tho eriginter has alao been instructed to rei|ucat tho Inspector cf Works to keip a registry and conduct-book of men under him, noting all irregularities, accidents, and neglect ol duty, for reference Toudon have also been ended for'-ix seta of waggon-wheels, required for Logan a Point worka. The hulk Amatour haa been ordered to bo docked for examination by llio h-übuiuniastcr and foreman carpenter piior tc calling for tenders for ropairs, if approved by tho Chairman. As to damag.a to Motley and l'liilomcno, tho harbourmaster lias been instiucto'l to dra,v the attention of tho | dots specially to the pcnullie-i attachul tv clause 01 of "The lla-hoiirs Act, IS7S," relating to accidents ari-ing through e.irelo-sncs. or other cause, iv.d generally to Inform them tbat they will be held porsoi.ally liablo lor tamo. Signal-master Loudon's letter re telescope has been received, but no spec id action is recommended. Mate Dredgo iti. Your Committee having carelully considered tho various applications, after bo:ng analysed by the llarbour llo*ird, recommond tho appointment of Mr Donald Al'Leuuan, as present mate of the Iron Ago, and who fcinco »oi*mer meeting has pasted hia cxaminati n and obtained a mate's ceitlll-.tofor river competency. Your Committee havo issued tno following general instruction :—"That for the future all orders f *r goods shall pass through an order-book, and bo sigiiol by the Inßpoctor of works, ongincor, or secretary, and that no work be executed without a price being that obtained, utile s there aro urgent reasons to tho contrary, when Btich are to bo immediately reported." Tha engineer having reported that he required for tho Board's works tho waggons loaned to MeßSra Maefatlane aud Watson, notice has been sont to them a.klng for thoir return. Guthrie and Larnach's letter re Jetty stteot: Tho Chairman and Mr llaiiisaj* having examined theioadway referred to, wuuld roconimond that power bo given to the Worka Committeo to havo a portion of it properly formed and motallcd.

KINANC'I COMMITTEE'S BKl'OllT. The following report from the Finance Committeo was adopted:—

lie Captain Canning's letter, they did not sco any rca-ion to alter tho provious iccommendation, and were of the sume opinion in regerd to Mr Jamea Mills' let'cr as to Mr Darlings travelling expenses Messrs Simons and Co.'s letter re tug stvamcr to be IHd.l (or luturc iclerenco As to Mr M'Donald's lease, thoy recommended that the proposal be agreed to, subject to tho condition that, in the event of *ho lease ot that portion on which the hotel is built not being sold to any other, tho present lessee bo bound to take up tho l.iito ; the lloa d under no circumstances to bo liable lor tenant's valuation. JU Mcs r8 Turnbull and Co.'s letter, tho Committee thought the Board could not be hold responsible for mistakes in " Brett's Almanac." Jlr Kcitli lia-nsay hits been appointed Cliai man ol Committee. Accounts to the sum of £203 1_» lOd lud been passed. HAIIBOCIIMASTKiI's HEP-OUT. The Harbourmaster reported :—

From time to timo various out--ido reports as to tho depth ol wa'cr on the bir have boen circulated, which appear to havo created n difficulty in reconciling the soundings taken by tho engineer and those taken by myself, and in explanation of the discrepant y that appears between tho two, I beg tv state that the engineer makes his reduction to the spring-tide low-water level, and I make mine to a mean low-water level, which is lft lOin above the engineer's Hero, therefore both are correct. During the last eight day, I had a series of soundings taken on tho bar at high water; amUhough the tide, woro vory poor, lho actual depth obtained" ranged Irom 22 to 23ft, which at the ordinary spriug-tide high-water level vra-ihl have been 25ft 2in ; but after al, perhaps the best aiswer as to tho depth of water on the bar is n memorandum from Captain Kennedy, of the s.s. Hauroto, forwarded herewith, showing that ho .'.-rought hia ship (drawing 20ft lin) safely over the bar very early on tho first quarter Hood, and .licking off the oud of the Bowen Her, where much dredging has been done, was very conclusive evidence that the tide was very low at the Heads when the steamer passed in. No pioper system of fog signals has yet been catab, lished on the coast of New Zealand, and aa Buch belongs to the lighthouse depa-traent, I beg most respectfully to again bring this matter undor the notico ot tho l>oaid, so that tho necossity for the establishment of a 8 earn f--g whistle at Taiaroa Heads may be urged upon the Government, in order that the approach to thin harbour may be rendered safe for navigation in foggy weather. Ko. 2 b'.ack buoy ivas run foul of and stove in on the 22nd ult., by what vessel I have not yet found out. Another buoy was at onco moored in ita place, and tho injured one'is now getting repaired. On the 27th ult. the s.s. Inn, when proceeding down the Victoria Channel, struck the bank, or Borne haid substance, with her propoller, drawing it and part of the shaft out of the vessel. I gave Captain Lydor notice to remove the samo out of the channel, and alter threo day's' search he was unsuccessful, suggested that the propeller and shaft have disappeared in the sand.

INSPECTOR OK WORKS' REPORTS. Tiio Inspector of Works reported that the reason 'why—when the boring operations at tbe bar were suspended on Tuesday last by the loss of tubes-dredge 222 was brought inside and anchored, instead of being set to work to dredge or harrow, was that after the piping was lost through lurching of the dredge, Mr Mason, who was at present in charge of the dredge, made an attempt to recover tho lost piping by grappling, and so kept tho dredge idle at hor moorings till 4 p.m. MiMason informed him that the dredge was not prepared for dredging, but gave no further particulars or reason why that was so. The Inspector of Works reported re works in progress :— The Bar.—Hopper Dredge 222 is now employed under orders from Mr Mason, the Engineer's assistant at the Heads, to harrow over the bar when practicable ; otherwise, when too rough for work on the bar, to dredge in the shipping basin at Port Chalmers. No dredging on the bar haa been done ol late. During tbe month of February the work of thia dtedge consisted o( four loads lilted and deposited, equal to 3252 cubic jards, and 82 hours harrowing on the bar, on an outlay for wages, coal, and storea of £361 D-2d. „ , Borings on Bar. -On Tuesday of this Week Dredge 222 waa employed by Mr Mason as a stationary platform, from whicli an effort was mado to take borings upon the bar, but in consequence of tho piping being lobt on the first attempt to get them down, the work was suspended pro tern., and the dredge laid up. New piping lm been sent down, and another attempt at boring from the dredge is in progress to-day. Victoria Channel. —The dredges Vulcan and New Era havo been working in the Victoria Channel near Burkes during the past month, and up till Monday last, on which day the Now Era was shifted up to the steamers' basin at Dunedin in consequence of the work at Burkes being well advaiiced,iaiid also for the reason that the Vulcan is equal to kee-s-ing the plant on the lower works fully employed. The Vutetn will continue and finish tho work in tho Victoria Channel, whbh consists of the stretch from pilo 24 down to the back beacon. Haulage. -The dredge Vulcan is tendered by the tuga Iron Ago, Balclutha, and Lillie Denham, with a full complement of punts and boxes the spoil therefrom being deposited into Blanket Bay from punts, and by boxes at derricks Nos. 1 and 2, Ravensboume reclamation. The New Era is tendered by the lona, and the dredgings from steamers' basiu deposited by No. 3derrick at Plichet Bay, and also to be discharged from punts to the _o_th of Stuart street Jetty. Side-Dredge.—Tho side Dredge is prcsontly at work in the now dock basin, off the end of Stuart street Jetty, and the spoil thercfioui deposited by derrick No. lon the Rattray street sectiou. A mud crane is also in process of being erected on Stuart street Jetty for tho purpose of discharging dredginsa from the steamers' basin.

Priestman. The I'iiestman dredge is ut present employed lifting stone, and deopening in font of the leading bank at Pelichet Bay, in order that punts may lv got alongside to load stone for a continuation ot the half-tide wall. As very littlo good has been done of lute by the present man in charge, who Bcenii afraid to work the ' Priestman properly for fear of damage, I would recommend that ho change places with some other man more competont to do tho work.

Ravonsbourne Works.—The reclamation work being carried oii at Derricks Nos. 1 and 2 will require early attention from tho engineer, with a view ot devising Borne other means for shifting the Bpoil away from tho derricks otherwise than by wheelbarrows, in consequence el the distance to shift being now too great to be profitable. Logan's Point CJuury.-Thia quarry has boon reopened, and stone is being got (or the half-tide wall, which will bo started to-morrow. The locomotive Reclaimer has beon taken from Maitland street to Logan'a Point to do the haulage, and thero arc 20 wa-igons to start with, but 11 more will be wanted Soon. Jetty Street Reclamation.- The contractor for the Jetty street reclamation is preparing for waggon roads along the sections,- aud plant to be lent to him by the Board it' ready for hai.diug over on demand. General.— Tjo usual six months' inspection of the boilers of Dredge 222 being -due end of this month, application has been made for the ueo of dock in about ten days, when a thorough cleaning and overhaul of hull, boiler., and machinery will be necessary. 1 understand that tho cylinder covers of engines have not been lifted Bince the dredge left the Clydo, and that generally any overhaul of the machinery yet effected lias boen very slight, and ouly the most

pressing wants attended to. A general report on all michincry belonging to the Board will bo prepared as soon as inspections can be made and particulars collected.

THE BOARD'S EMPLOYES. The Chairman : Gentlemen, I wish to intimate to you that Mr M. W. Green waited upon me the other day, as chairman of the Otago Harbour Board's employes' branch of the Trades and Labour Council, not complaining exactly, but stating that the men in the steamers and dredges are working on an average 10_ and 11 hours a day. They deem it necessary that they should do this, but at the same time they contend, through him, that, seeing their hours aro very long, aud they get no extra pay on account of that fact, they should be allowed to get tbe Saturday halfholiday. I-think, gentlemen, you might refer the matter to the Works Committee, and if the facts are as stated, it might be arranged that they should get their Saturday half-holiday, perhaps by working two hours or an hour earlier in the morning. Mr Paterson fiaid it was not more than three or four months ago since the matter was brought up and decided. - Mr Ramsay did not think it should bo opened up again. It had been before the Board before, aud on the advice of their responsible advisers members had como to the conclusion that they could not grant the request of tho men. He strongly objected to tho application coming through an outsider. Mr Ross said that Mr Green had called upon him, and he (Mr Ross) had told him the Board would resent all interference on tbe part of an outsider betweon it and its employes. It was resolved—" That Mr Green be informed that if the men havo any request to make, they should make it through the head of their department." expenditure ON THE upper harbour.

Mr Paterson rose to make the motion of which_ he had given notice with reference to | the tipper Harbour. In the course of his remarks he said that the Board had been constituted for the purpose of bringing ships from Port Chalmers to Dunedin, and its sole object for several years was tho carrying out of that project. So much had boen done up to the present time that if a small portion of the channel was cleared there would be a through passage for vessels drawing 16 to 18 feet, and the original intention was to get that depth of water. Vessels coming from England up till lately only registered 000 and 700 tons, but now it was proposed to send out ones of oven 3000 and -1000. Four years ago the Board took into con. idei-atiun the depth of water on the bar, and decided lo obtain tho big dredge, whioh ha'! done good work, although there were some who refused to admit it. It was generally adruitt-d that the Board muat now reduce its expenditure, and direct all its energies to improving the entrance to Pott Choi-

iners, on account of tho large steamers which woro coming. What ho proposed should be done was to let the Upper Harbour remain as it was and lay up tho drodgos, with the exception of tho Vulcan, which would keep tho channel clear to its present doptli, and do work at tho Port when required.' Twelve months ngo tho Board's idea was to spend tho £100,000 in thro years, and £30,000 hud boen spent already, lie should cortainly recommend that tho scrow should bo put on at onco, and that the £100,000 should bo, if possible, made to laat for five years. If thoro was any balance left of tbo money allotted to the 'Upper Harbour, it might bo expended on the Lowor Harbour.—(Mr Mill : Hear, hear.) Tho Board should impress Upon the engineer to roduco tho expenditure to £20,000 por annum. Ho might, as representative of tho Government, inform monitors that tho Government would bo vory likely to agroo to tho equalisation of the dues, and to roduco tho railway rates from Port to Dunodin ls por ton. Tiio Board would thus bo benefitted to the extent of 2s, and could alford to dispense with oxport duty cargoes, othor than tlioso bound for foreign ports. Ho had not tho slightest doubt that the Board would havo tho wbarveH at Port Chalmers, on wlijeh £75,000 had boon expended, handed over to it by the Governmoiit, on condition that it kept them in ropair and orectod further ones as they woro required. Tho Government-was prepared to meet tho Board in overy possible way, and it was tho duty of the latter to reciprocate. Ho would move—" That all the dredges, with the oxcoption of tho Vulcan and tho big dredgo, be laid up, and tliat the engineer bo instructed to roduco the expenditure to £20,000 per annum."

The Chairman : Yes, but then you cannot do that. , Mv Ramsay : I would point out Mr Chairman that Mr Paterson can hardly niter tho motion which he gavo notice of on a previous occasion, and which roads " that tho question of expenditure on the Upper Harbour, be ro-considorod." I think if Mr Patorson would confine himself to that in tho meantime he would get vory genoral support. The Chairman- : I would suggest you move tliat motion, Mr Paterson, after discussion, and you might fairly adjourn discussion for at least a week. In the -meantime the engineer will bo back, and we can see what would be beat to do. I do not think it would do to lay up the dredges, for we want spoil from the Steamers Basin for reclamation. Mr Ramsay : I tiiink to koop in order Mr Paterson must'eonfine himself to the motion he gave notice of,' and I do not think it is competent for the Board to go into the particulars lie has mentioned. lam very much at one with Mr Paterson as regards tho reduction of expenditure, but the matter is ono for vory serious consideration. Tho Chairman : Let us affirm the principle, and we can go into details afterwards. Mr P.iTEBSON agreed to his original motion being put. Mr Ramsay seconded the motion. Ho endorsed Mr Paterson's remarks with reforenco to the expenditure of the Board. The time had arrived for its reduction, and the Board should confino itself to the Lower Harbour.—(Mr Mill : Hear, hear). He, however, took exception to tho statement that £30,000 had beon spent during tho last threo or four months. It must be remembered that tho Board were largely in debt to thu Bank at tho time of the passing of the last loan, Mr Barr was expected to return the following day, and before the Board considered this question the Works Committee should confer with tho engineer, and bring tip a report, A meeting might be held that day week. Mr Ross said that one reason why tho question ought to be considered was afforded by tho unsatisfactory state of the Board's works at the present time.Tho Board had the Vulcan, New Era, tho side-bredge, Priestman's crane, and the dredge at tho bar all in active opeiation. The Vulcan, during the past month, had deposited 21,048 cubic yards of stuff, at a cost of 32d per yard ; the New Era 5746, at 9.|d ; the side dredge 2568, at B;|d ; and the Priestman COO, at 7^d. It seemed to him exceedingly unwise that the Board should keep all these dredges at work at such au enormous cost. The Vulcan in a little time would be able to do all tho work, with the occassional assistance of the side dredge, and the course indicated by Mr Paterson should be adopted. If Mr Paterson did not give a notice of motion for next meoting to carry out his idea, he certaiuly would. . , ~ , cnr Mr Mill -. I agree with the remarks of Mr Paterson to a considerable extent, although he has informed the Board that it was constituted for the express purpose of taking tho ships from P«ut Chalmers to Dunedin.—(Mr BURNS: Hear.) —Well, I think myself, that he has just drawn the long bow at that—(Mr Paterson : " You should not think.")—in saying that it was the intention of the Board to take the whole of tho trade from Port Chalmers. It it was, we bave convincing proof now that the Board has mado a gross mistake, That is proved to-day. He further informed tho Board that in former yeais there was only a small class of vessels coming to the Port. If he would stretch his memory he would find that just as big vessels camo in 18G2 to the Port as since. The Chili drew 22 feet, and brought a bigger cargo than has ever entered the Port since. The dredge has made a great improvement, however, and I think Mr Hugh MacNeil deserves great credit for tho strenuous efforts he mado to get it. Although by some she is considered a white elephant, she ha, done good work if she has only obtained two feet more on tho bar- With regard to "up above," I consider thero has been too large an expenditure altogether. I think that as soon as possible ono of the dredges should be sent to Port Chalmers, whero there is work to do beforo these steamers arrive. That was a matter discussed at the last meeting of the Works Committee, and it was resolved upon. If we do not curtail our expenditure, there will be nothing for it but to resort to further taxation, which we can see by Mr Guthrie's letter would be hardly tho thing. I must say I agree with Mr Paterson's motion. The Chairman : I presume tho Board may uuderstand, Mr Paterson, that you spoke authoritatively when you made the remarks in reference to the intentions of tho Government?

Mr Pateiison : I did. • Mr Barnes did not consider the dredging work was going on right. It should be let by contract. Ho disputed the corrctness of the figures with reference to the amount of spoil secured. He knew, from his experience of the last two br tliree weeks, tliat thoy must be wrong. The Board should only be guided by measurement after the stuff had been deposited. Tho work was costing two-thirds more than it ought to. ~',.. Mr Guthrie had always considered it moro economical to work with one dredge, but the majority of members had decided otherwise, and had called tenders for the construction of extra punts. What would become of theso now? , ~,, ~ Mr Paterson : The Vuicau will keep them all going. . , . Mr Guthrie: Our engineer wanted these, au as to keep all the dredges going. Mr Burns said he would make what remarks he wished to on the, subject on a future occasion. , ~.,-,, , Mr- Barron said it seemed lo linn the Jjoard were very unanimous on tho question. He certainly believed in concentrating efforts cm tho bar Mr Mill : And the Lower Harbour. The Chairman Baid there seemed to bo a very general concensus of opinion that the Board should not proceed with works as laid out some time ago in the Upper Harbour. He concurred, but would recommend the Board not to rashly come to any conclusion. It was determined in the past to deepen the Victoria Channel to 10ft, and widen it 100 ft. It was now 75ft wide, and he thought the Board should deepen it ltift, and leave its furtiier widening to some future time. The only tiling they would- require to do was this; and it was a most important factor in tbo carrying out of harbour workß: they must steadily progress with the work of reclamation, and a dredge should be kept working for the purpose of reclaiming land._ They had interest to pay on borrowed money,' and it was only by reclamation they could possibly pay that interest. That was the only way of paying it, unless they had extra taxation. It had been stated that there were a number of persons strongly actuated in their desire to stop dredging operations in the Upper Harbour by ft, fear that by reclaiming a lot of land they should bo depreciating existing property. This was an idle fear, because reclamation would be regur lated by the demand there was for the land. There was no doubt works were not being carried on as they should be, and that the expenditure was too great. It was resolved—" That the question of ex-

penditure in the Upper Harbour be re-con-sidered, and that it be remitted to tho Works Committee to report this day week." The Board then went into Committee.