OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6792, 21 November 1883, Page 3

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

A special meeting of tho Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present: The Chairman (Mr A. 11. Ross), Messrs Barnes, E. B. Cargil), Elder, Hislop, Mill, D. Reid, Ritchie, i Captain Scott. R.N, A. Thomson, J. B. Thomson, N. Y. A. Wales. ABOLITION OF COJIJIITTEKS. • The Chairman said it was necessary consider tho appointment of committees. Hirtherto there had been two committees— the Works and the Finance. Mr Mill said in company with one or two other members of tho Board—if the hour had not been so late be would have consulted some moro members —he had drawn up a list of names which ho hoped would be agreed to for the Finance Committee. The reason why he named this Committee was on account of the amount of money likely to be expended during the next IS months, seeing that dock construction would new lie with tho Board. He would propose that the following gentlemen be the Finance Committee:—Messrs E. B. Cargiil, Roberts, Ritchie, A. Thomson, and Hislop. He would also move that the Works Committee consist of tho following members : — Messrs Elder, Barnes, J. B. Thomson, Wales, and Captain Scott, each committee to elect its own chairman. After some discussion as to the composition oi the proposed committees, Mr Kitchie said ho was disposed to question whether it was advisable to liave committees at all. He thought it specially inadvisable that thai c should ba committees composed of entirely different men, as the labours of the two really depended on each other. He would move as an amendmeut —" That all main questions of financa and works be dealt with by the full Board, aub-committees being from time to time, if necessary, appointed to deal with questions of detail, or such matters as may bo deemed advisable to be so dealt with." After a short discussion, Mr Ritchie's amendment was carried by nine votes to four. . tlllE OF JTEEhNG. It was resolved that the days of meeting should remain as before but that the Board should meet at 2 instead of 3 p.m. DEPTH OP WATER IN THE VICTORIA. CHANNEL. A memo, was received from tho Harbourmaster stating that in his opinion it would be quite safe for the Te Anau to come up the Victoria Channel to Rattnty street Wharf on a draught of 16ft. The Chairman said he believed the Te Anau would come up to the Rattray street Wharf that evening or the next morning, as cargo was now being received at the wharf for the steamer, , DISCHARGING OP VESSELS AT DUNKDIN. 'jKPhe Dunedin Iron and Woodware Company ~ Sfjfjte forwarding a letter from Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, as follows : — We have your favour of this date regarding: the Victoiia Channel from Port Chalmers to Duuedin, and note that any ship drawing not more than 16ft of water can now proceed up to Dunedin to discharge For the list three or four years wo havo, however, despatched to Otsgo uo ships which did not draw considerably more than tho draft you name, and wo fear we would llnd it practically inipossiblo to load Bhips from here drawing only 16ft, as from their small eizo the bulk of our shippers would bo sure to object to them on acco'lot of the extra time they would take on the voyage, and also from the fact that wo should probably have to charge an enhanced rate of freight, as smaller ships are more expensive to charter than larger ones. REPORT ON THE WORKS OF THE BOARD. The following report from the engineer was received: — . I have the honour to submit the follo«ing reportupon wcrki on hand and recommendations concerning those parts more immediately requiring attention :— UPPEE HAUBJUR. VfctorLt Channel.—ln a report of date 13th September 18E3, I described generally trie condition of this Channel between Dunedin and Kilgour's Point, making special referecco to the uhoal parta at the lower black beacon near Burkes, and recommending that the Vulcan proceed at once with the reduction thereof. She was accordingly sent to that work so toon as she completed the upcElal work the was then engaged on, and has now effected the improvement desired, so that there is now a minimum depth of 33ft at low water spring tides, mid she will ceaso operations there when this is got out to a width of lOOit. The following quotation from that report describes tha capacity of this channel :— ■ " Takiug the ruling depth at 13ft (low water) wo have 16it Sin at half tde, 18ft flin at high water of spring tides, and ISf tat blgh water of neap tides. We may, therefore, calculate that the channel is now equal to the pa:sage of a vessel drawing 10ft to 17ft with easo, and even greater than tbis at favourable times of tbj> tide. In irder to properly control the currents in the neighbourhood of the banks and side channels oppoeite Burkes, it will be ueceseary to raise and extend tho present half-tide wall, and alsi to construct similar oues across tho bays at B^rke's on the northwest side of the channel. Our object now must be to cbnsrrve the depths by a proper uirectida cf the currents rather than by dredging, unless under exceptional circumsfaucep. The part r.ppo-iitc Ravensbcurce, which gave so much trouble hut year, ia now being maintained at a good workable depth—a result largely duo to the oxtension southward of tho half-tide wall. This is not yet complete, but ia being carried on by stone from Logau's Point Quarry. It will be necessary to remodel the marking of the

cbannel, because the piles are not equi-diatant from the centre of the channel, and are therefore to some extent uncertain guides 1o the pilots. Wharfage and "Shtds.—A tender for the construction of 760 ft of whaif to extend north-east from the termination cf tho present Rattray street wharf now awaits your decision for acc> ptance er rejection. The present wharves are sufficiently occupied by the class of vessels which have hitb^sto come up tlie cbannel, but a larger class would require this additional provision. The length provided for would give accommodation for three medium-sized ocejn-going yes els or two cf the largest eize. Dredging down to a depth of 201t at low water should bo done before the piles are driven. Tbe erection of tha wharf would neces.-i----tate the construction of three goods sheds, each JtOft by 40ft, for the.reception of merchandise. These thould be of iron with concrete floors. I have dealt with this and the general subject of the working •f the proposed whirl ia letter of October 18,

1883. Keclamation.—There is now a contract in operation by Messrs Bastings, Liaty, and Co., for the filling in ot threo areas of ground Ijctween Jetty 6treet and Anderson's Bay road. One of these iB filled up to contract levels, but not according to contract condition?, as is already reported upon of dates October 11 and Sovembor 12. The area which would be ready for leasIng upon the adjustment of the present dispute r. ilh the contractors, exclusive of streets, would be a litt'o over four acres, and the whole for leasing at the completion of the contract in May, 1884, abrat nine acr s Another portion of reclamation on hand, iart of »hich may ierj- soon ba offered to ths jmblic, is that area lying between the proprsed large dock and Rattray street This work has been carried on with the purpose cf bringing that part immediately adjoining the Hattray street wharf and proposed extension into building form as Boon as possib'e, so that it might be available for leasing on completion cf the wharf. There id a deposit of 30,000 cubic yards still required for this, which I propose to obtain from tho dred^iucs alongside the prcpoftd whif extension. Reclamation at Rftvensbourwe is proceeding steadilj ; but as tbere is a very larßß area encloEEd within the walls it Trill be a considerable time before it is completed, and the mete to 03 it mil be more profitable to give the preference in point of time to the area north oi liattray Etrtct. Tho same applies to tho area near Peiichet Day, operations on which are stop] cd in the mtantime, except iv so far as spoil from Logaii'a Point quarry can be irontably deposited there. 1 estimate the cost ot tho aboieworks as follows:— Walling at Burkt'j, £1500 ; extension atd raising wall B.E. of channel, £600; continuation of training wall south end of channel, £1500 ; reclamation south of Jetty si reet,£! 022; do north of Bat!.ray street, £1000; wha-f extension of Battray street, 7601t, £9400; dredging in front of do, £1100; three sheds, each 150 ft by 40ft, £bOCO; dredging in steamers' Dasin, memo, to Works Cummittee, 11-8-83, fc'OOO; rnainti n inue dredging Victoria channel, £1200; repairs to wharves, £500.;. miscellaneous, £1000 ;—total, £31,622. the aboro works would occupy the next 1% rronths, but the items for Bastings, Leary, and Co.'s contract and whaii extension wouid fall due wiltrn tho next eight m nth!, and sheds within the next nine months. LOWEK lUEBODR.

The works presently on hand ia the Lower Harbour are the dredgiuga at Fort Chalmers wharves and on the bar. At ice former locality little has been dote since May ol this year, the hopper dredge having been kept pretty Bteadj on the bar when not undergoing repair. Within the last threo weeks some Drudging urgently required lor the berthing and handling ol vessels has been accomplished, and that mostly when the swell on the bar prevented work being done on it. Much timo is occupied by the large dredge in carrying the spoil from Poit Cha!mer3 to sea, as I h»7e alteady pointed out in a report dealing specially with its work. As I understand that powers are given under the Dock Tr* st Act for reclaiming certain areas at fort Chalmers, it would bo well to use the dredging for that purpose. In the meantime, however, it will be well to continue under present arrangements, making provision for the immediate requirements' of the port. It will be necessary to employ the Vulcan for some parts of ths work alongside the wharves which the large dredge cannot get at. Drtdging on the bar has been continued very steadily during the last four months, with the result of a deepening down to 20ft at low water. I have on previous occasions pointed out thr.t dredping alona cannot b) expected, to establish a permanent passage across the bar of sufficient depth /or tlio large ocean-going steamers to enter and leave at all states of the tide, but that a training-wall to deflect and properly direct the currents would be required. Drawings for such were prepared some time ago, and thegeneralcharacteroithowork has since been approved by sir J. Goode, though ho differs from my proposals in some of the dutai s. I have reported upon this of date 18th October 1883, and have there "^X"~wed that tbe works be proceeded with at once. A i yfitract fortho formation of railway fron the pro--£s?ed quarry to the work has been prepared, and is noW ready for tendering. The Defence Minister, however, has intimated his objection to taking stone from the cliffs adjoining, that area being marked on the Survey Office map ai " Defence Reserve.' As the extent of that is much greater than can ever bo wanted for batteries, I fancy that on a proper representation of facts being made tho i r^hibition will bo withdrawn. It is of the greatest importance that this should be done, because if the stone has to be brought a 'longer distance the cost of the work will be enormously increased. I would strongly recommend that these permanent works be entered upon wi'hout dday, and would also point out that thsir nature is such as to effect an improvement proportionate to tbe extent to which they are carried out. Tho length tut to the inner side o! the bar, which is tho part which will be productive of the main part of the impr viruoiit iiHOOOft, would take from two to three year.) to execute, and would cost about £80,000 to £100.003, according to the hright to which it was raised. ')he rite of proirress could within certain limit 3be accommodated to the finances of the Board ; but of course a (-low progross means a deferring of the full beucflra and ft greater expenditure upon the temporary expedient of dredging. Toe expenditure for the Lower Harbour for tho next 12 months would bo approximately »3 fo:lows i— Working expenses of dredge 2:2, £00:0; Vulcin, at Port Chalmers, two months, £1C5O; training wall at Heads, £2:00 Total for Lower Harbour, £32,650. I have on a previous occasion recommended that the Vulcan be lsngtbcuc I both in hull arid ladder, so that she could work to greater depths thin at present, which ia only 20ft 6iu. Her present dimensions limit bar profitable w. rkiug to 15ft or 16ft at low water, for co soon as eho attempts a greatir depth there is part of tho tide above that level at which she muss lie idle, which means aIFO the iuacti■■ n of all other parts of the Board's p:ant which :tayb.- working along with her. Seeing tba* greater ocpshs than the Above are -wanted both at Port Cbaimera and Dunedin, it will bo filae economy to shirk tho expenditure oeco:B&rv for tho altcni'.ion, which would amount to about £r6fO. The Chairman said, with reference to the I'Ofusal of the Defence Minister to grant porsatssion to quarry stone at the Heads, he brought this matter wider the notice of the Premier, who said it was the first time he had heard of it, and that he did not think there would be aDy difficulty. It was resolved that the secretary should send an extract from the report to the Government, and request that tho restrictions should be removed. It was also reeolved that before the engineer's report as a whole was doalt with, copies of it sbonld bo forwarded to each member of the Board,

FINANCES OF THE BOARD. The following document was read by the Secretary:—

Homo, for Chairman QUip llatbour Board, Novc-nv

ln I l.er 20, 1683. B f In eonniiinnco with your ivque»t, I havo tho honour :. J toiurnls-lijou with Iho fcllowi.iir mooiorendi on Uiu Hoard's lluancial position goii'n4iy As I havo on soveal ore i-inns poliited out to a previous Hoard, 1 no-v ilo »o tr> tho present Boird, tot the balances of ►pscifle ac-.ounta can only ba made when the classification o! certain expenditure Is Oral, and I mill await deflnito instructions as to Iho charges to ba made to Lower llarb>ur account o! outlay that has already taken place, nueli us coat nf dredge -iii, or porcentaao ole-jEt to ba charged on Lower llarliour work*. T rcmilt cf tho floating of the £200,V00 loan can also be only in tho mcamime approximated, as the sale woa to bo on deferred payments, and with current accruing interest coupons. First. Actual overdraft at Dunedin, including cheques bsued but iut cashed ..£39,610 0 7 Actual overdraft; London account, dated September 21 .. .. I*,SOO 0 1 Bonds diawu, po.vablo Septombor 30 .. B,OCO 0 0 Three month's iritorcct, payable on Soptrabi:r3o .. •• •• J5 0 0 Dalauco of prico of tug stoamors .. 3,500 0 0 Deposit accounts - deposits on contracts 739 7 0 l>aluiice at credit oi sinking fund .. 80 0 0 Cro-iit balance — contract, Bastings, Le.ry, and Co. reclamation, and reclamation approach Jetty street railway bridgo .. .. •• 4,022 13 * £65,2:3 10 0 Note—Current inaefc) mny fairly bo estimate! to cover other cu.reut liabilities. Second. Result of sale of loan, £200,000, less £100,000 of debentures handed o/er at par in yaxl payment of til* kteiniere, lojvingto Vj tbated ..£190,000 0 0 BMb advised »t£W 4i 1 Id.. •■ '82,807 1 8 Leas curient coupons .. £9,600 0 0 Expenses and Cunimiseiou .. .. 2,200 0 0 11,700 0 0 Leaving»lnUnca of .. ..£171,107 1 8 To be equa ly divided between Upper and Lower Harbour accounts. tachaccou.it .. .. ■• £15,683 10 10 Third. Tho actual cost of dredge 222, with Interest computed to Scptornber 14 last, was £17,710 12a 4d. Fourth. The actual expenditure on dredging bar and KopuUi Bay without an percentage on plant, or interest on outlay, to September 14,1833, was.. «11,803 0 0 Proportion of Departmental Offlco, btationrry, advertising, ttud engineer .. 500 0 0 Interest' on advance, overdraft at Bank (approximate) .. •• SiO 0 0 Percentage on plant, other than dredge 222, punto, Vulcan, and tow-boats .. 037 0 0 £13,7£0 0 0 If the totil overdrafts bo debited Upper Harbour; the account will stand thus:-Tj bo credited .. .. ..£85.633 10 10 Deduct overdrafts and liabilities .. 1)5,203 10 0 Balance .. .. •• **».SSQ 010 And if Lower Harbour be credited .. £85,683 10 10 And debited actual ex- - ; pendituro as abovo .. 13,780 0 0 £71,803 10 10 Then.crodit Upper H«- o Q And if drodge 212 be charged .. .. 47,710 0 0 47,719 0 0 Leaving a credit balance Lowor Harbour .. £24,184 10 10 Credit balance Upper Harbour .. £8! ,879 0 10 Liabilities, 1834. £ 8. d. & D. d. Sinking fund, 30th Juno 3,114 2 9 Interest (three months), 31 bonds to bo drawn.. 40 10 0 S,IBO 12 0 Interest coupons duo January 1 aud July 1, £-250,000 loan, lefs paid of £10,800, leaving a balance £239,200 at six percent. .. .. 14,352 0 0 Loan £100,000 at six per cen*. .. .. 6,000 0 0 Lean £200,000 at five per cent, .. .. 10,000 0 0 30,352 0 0 Half por cent, commission, paying coupons, andcxpentes .. 103 0 0 ———-— 30,612 0 0 33,672 12 9 Department!l, office, collection of dues, rent?, towaso, cranage, Sc , .. 1,300 0 0 Harbourmaster's department .. 3.500 0 0 £53,772 12 9 Revenue 10 months. 1883 1882. £ c. d. £ s. d. Pilotaco acd Port charecs .. . 4.504 0 0 6,406 15 1 Licensed .. '.. CS 12 0 67 0 0 Tonnage .. .. 010 0 . Ul4 0 Lighters' bnthr&e .. 36 0 0 Pilot exemptions .. 20 6 0 31 10 0 Harbour improvement rate and berthage, Dunedin .. .. 12.01S 1G 7 12,293 1 0 Bents .. .. 8,^32 15 8" 5,i.01 10 4 Incidental receipts .. 202 811 US ill 22.493 1 2 23,066 1 4 Add for two months estimate close of year, usually ft little-higher 4,500 0 0 £26,993 1 2 The Chairhan hoped the members of the Board would carefully examine these figures, and consider the financial position of tha oard. That position waa not the fault of the old Board, because an arrangement was made between the Government and himself to insert a clause in the new bill, which was passed last session, enabling the Board to levy increased rates at Port Chalmers as well aa Dunedin. That clause, however, was lost by one vote, which he believed would have been obtained only for an oversight. The Board had now the power of levying an increase of Is per ton on all gooda landed at Dunedin; but that would only give the Board a benefit of £943, while the merchants would have to pay £2560. He did not think the Board would be prepared to do that. He saw ona way of making up £1000, and that waa by increasing the wool rate by 50 per cent., which he thought the Board might fairly do. He would move— "That a Btib-committeo, consisting of Messrs Elder, A. Thomson, Roberts, Ritchie, Walea, I and Reid, be appointed to leport upon the financial position of the Board, and devise ways and means for raising additional revenue."

Mr Cakgill seconded the motion. He thought the financial position of the Board should be considered at the earliest possible date. He noticed that the Secretary, in reading the statement, alluded to some alternative method of charging the cost of dredging and other things. Was that in accordance with the provisions of the Act ? The Secretary said the Act required that £100,000 should be spent on the Lower Harhour. The question was, what should be charged against the Lower Harbour ? Mr Cargill asked if tbat referred to past expenditure, or to the prospective spending of money. The Chairman said it seemed fair that if the dredge, which was the property of the Upper Harbour, was to'be employed solely and entirely in the Lower Harbour, some charge for interest on her cost should be made against the Lower Harbour. Mr Reid said it was the opinion of the Board when the secretary was asked to prepare this statement that it should show exactly how the expenditure had taken place, with a view to this apportionment required by the Act. He thought it was due to' the secretaiy to say on his behalf that anything done here had been done at the request of the Board,

Mr Elder did not know that anyone found fault with the secretary.

Mr Reid had beard some remarks made, and he would only judge by them, and could not judge of intentions. However, he was pleased to see their corns were so tender. With regard to the apportionment, he dared Bay every member would form hi 3 own opinion as to how that unfortunate division was to be made. The Act said they were to spend £100,000 on the Lower Harbour. He was doubtful whether it would be found nearly sufficient. If it were, it would be a very fortunate thing for Otago. He ;heard Mr Kitchie make some observation about this dreadful sum of £10,000 or £11,000 which they would have to provide next year. He would tell them how to provide it. _ Let them put out the balance of the loan at interest and sit still, and they would get as much revenue as would meet the deficiency.

Mr Ritchie : It might be the wisest course. Let us lend it at Port Chalmers.

Mr Reid waß sorry to hear that expression of opinion from Mr .Ritchie or any member of the Board. If it was £20,000 it would have to be met, and tbe harbour would have to be made. The province of Ofcago was worth five times £20,000, and could pay it to have its harbour made. But there was no occasion for that. All that was wanted was that they should have sufficient faith in the thing itself, and they need not be alarmed at a liability of £10,000 for money not yet expended. He thought it waa a very foolish provision that they should be compelled to provide a sinking fund out of revenue.

The Chairman said the actual amount available out of last loan for both Upper and Lower Harbours, after paying all liabilities, would be £105,964. There was one block of reclaimed land now ready for sale between Jetty and Police streets, and a second block would be ready within 12 months. The question would be whether it was prudent to put the land into the market at the present time.. Tho motion for the appointment of a subcommittee was agreed to. BASK BALANCE. The bank-book, showing a debit balance of £38,753 3s 9d, was laid on the table, The Board then adjourned. DISTRICT PJRIZS FIRING. 0 The School Cadets fired on Monday at the Pelichet Bay butts for Government prizes.' The following were the 10 highest scorers:— 150 200 300 yds. yda. yda. Tl. Thomas ThomsOD, N.D, ..16 16 13 — 44 A. M'Gill. N.S. .. ..15 10 13 - -H Henry Baird, ND .. .. 10 14 -3 —41 Charles Finbyoon, N.D. .. U li 11 —39 tt. Elliott, M.D. .. .. 9 13 16 —:8 Murray Russell, N.D. ..14 15 9— SS William Tresseder, N.D. ..16 16 7 - :-8 William M'C'arthy, N.S. .. 13 15 7— 3$ Jamea Hutchinpon, N.S. .. li 13 0— tS JohnPurvia, NS. .. .. IS 13 3— 31 Those of the Clutha Rifles who, in firing for district prizes, made 50 points and over were :— 200 300 57.0 yds. yds. yds. Tl. Volunteer J. Johnston ..22 21 17-60 Volunteer J. Smith ..24 21 34-69 Volunteer W. Willocka .. 21 22 15 —B> Volunteer J. IVillocks .. 39 14 22 - ,V> Volunteer R. Mason .. 21 22 12 —oo