HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8556, 26 July 1889, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs J. B. Thomson (chairman), J. Carroll, W. War-1 drop, N. Y. A. Wales, J. T. Mackerras, A. Thorn- 1 son, E. B. Cargill, and Captain Veal. .jUls; \ SP^SS' ■ ' ". FINANCIAL. "-.The bank book, showing a debit-balance of £714 8s 7d, was laid on .the table, i The Secretary stated that this amount would be all cleared off before the end of the month.

j COBBBSPONDENCE. '" ! The Engineer,'Timaru Harbour: Board, wrote in reply to the board's request for particulars of the Priestman dredge, giving details of the construction of the dredge and the work which can be done by it. The cost of the' plant, launched in working order in Timaru, was about £4000, including spare gear.'—Received. Mr H. North wrote stating that he was paying very excessive rates for wharfage for the bales of brown straw he imported. He asked that the straw might be admitted by weight, or at the rate of Is per bale.—The application was declined.

Mr Henderson Law's application that hops should be classed as ordinary produce, such as oats, wheat, &c. was declined. , eepobts.

• Tho Harbonrmaster reported that on the 19th inst. he took soundings at the entrance of the harbour, and found the least depth at low water in the line of leading beacons to be 23ft, and the same depth in the line of beacons open to the .westward. After carefully sounding at theknoll in the lower harbour, which the dredge was removing when she broke down, he lound a depth of 18ft 6in at low.water; that was lft more than previous to the dredging. The shipping returns for the month of June showed that 63 vessels, representing 27,998 tons, had arrived, and that 59 vessels, .representing 29,228 tons, had departed.—The report was received, and it ;waß agreed that the dredge 'when ready for sea 'should, if possible, complete the work at which she was engaged when the breakdown occurred. ! The Finance; Conimittee reported that the ;monthly list of outstanding accounts had been ; before them, and it was resolved to recommend that prompt action be taken to press for payment of all dues. Accounts amounting to £730 18s 9d, were passed for payment.—Adopted. Mr. D. 6. Stephens, inspector of works, reported that on receipt of instructions to get dredge 222 ready for work, he had her prepared acd placed iri'porition on the shallow patch near the Kaik jetty. A small quantity of material was lifted and taken to sea. On resuming work on the 15th an accident occurred to the dredge. The main engines and boilers were in very good order, but the hull and dredging machinery were sadly ont of' repair. The inside of the hull was greatly in want of chipping and painting in every pact, so as to check the accumulation of rust: and consequent destruction of iron, Although the'dredge worked only two hours and ■s-half at the shallow patch, it was sufficiently , removed, to give no further trouble. There was 19ft of water on it, and the crust of shells being broken, the sand was likely to wash away to a greater depth.—Received. The Works Committee recommended that the application of the U.S.S. Company to temporarily usa a portion of the road reserve at Jetty street be. granted at an annual rental of £20, terminable on three months' notice by either party; that the repairs suggested by the inspector to put the dredge in working order be proceeded with; that the board consider letters and telegrams in connection with the charter of dredge 222 to. the Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners; that the application of T, Brenchley for permission to use dredged spoil at the foot of Stuart street be declined.—The report was adopted, with the exception of the clauses referring to, the dredge, which it was agreed to consider in committee. -

The board then went into committee, and on resuming in publio it was resolved that the offers made by the Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners to insure the dredge being of such an unsatisfactory character, the only course open to the board was to send the dredge over at its own risk, which coarse it was agreed to follow. It, was ...also agreed—"That a report be obtained in regard to the cause of the accident to dredge 222, and be submitted to the Works Committee toe consideration; evidence to be called by the committee if necessary "; end "That the inspector be instructed to have all repairs carried out in the way of repairing the dredge, and that he and the harbourmaster submit a list of the appointments to dredge 222 to the Works Committee for approval, the committee having power to act,"