OTAGO DOCK TRUST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8794, 2 May 1890, Page 2

OTAGO DOCK TRUST.

The monthly meeting of the Ofcago Dock Trust was held at Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs E. G. Allen (chair man), A. H. Ross, M.11.8, A. Thomson, H. Gourley, Dr Drysdalu, and Captain Watson (secretary).

The manager of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited) wrote askitig if the ss. Maori could be taken into the dry dock. Her length from the fore part of the sttin to the after part of the stern was 324ft.—The Secretary stated that there wuuld ba no.difficulty in taking the vessel in. A vessel 4ft longer might be docked— Mr Thomson pointed out that if the screw, which was about sft broad, required to be attended to in the dock it might be found that it could not bo worked on account of the dock not allowing sufficient room. Dr Dhysdale,: We want a new dock.—Mr Ross thought the present dock might be lengthened at the inner end.—The Chaibman pointed cut that if it was lengthened it should at the same time be widened ; force very broad steamers were now taken in.—Mr Thomson: The necessity for a now dock will press us pretty hard before long.—Dr Dksdale: Yes, long before we have it.—Mr Ross rem rked that the trust should obtain endowments from the Government which would give interest. That was what they should do. He had told that to the late Mr Macandrew, and had also said he would go any length in the matter wheu they were given endowments to yield interest, and as soon as he saw whtre it was to be obtained he would Bupport the deck, although he did not see it was necessary at that time.—Dr Deysdale hoped that Mr Ross, as a member of the Assembly, would support the views hu had just expressed.—Mr Thomson said it was clear that the dock was wanted now.—Mr "Ross replied that it was not clear yet where the interest was to come from.—Nothing further was said on the matter.

The CHAiniiAS said it was quite likely that before next meeting the contractor would have the dock pumped out and the booms down. The gates would have to be attended to if fuund defective, aud (here were extra sluices required in the gates to as to fill the dock in^ less time than it took at present. The bottom also required levelling a little. It was all work that would have to be done. He wished to know if the trust would give authority for the work to be proceeded with, or if they Ehould hold a special meeting later on and then inspect the dock. —In answer to Mr Ross, the CitAinaiAN said no estimate of the work had been prepared. It was Bgreed that a special meeting should be called to consider the matter.: