HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9336, 29 January 1892, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Harbour Bdafil was hold yesterday, and was attended by Messrs H. Gourley (chairman), W. AVright, J. T. Mackerras, G. M. Barr, E. G. Allou 'a. Thomson, E. B. Cargill, M. Jool, Dr Drvsdale.

CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs A. and T. Hurt's employes wrote asskmg tor the use of the steamer Plucky, for their annual picnic. — It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Wmmrr, to grant the request, a charge of HO, however, being made, Ihe Grange Football Club applied for Uso of portion of the reclaimed land for the comine seasoii.-The application was granted during the pleasure of the board. The Town Clerk wrote stating that in response to an application lately received from 65 wharf carters and 48 wharf labourers for a drinking fountain and water trough being provided in the vicinity of tho wharves for public convenience, the City Council had decided to tap the mam, lay the services, and supply the water free of charge if the Harbour Board would provide and erect the foundation and trough.—On the motion of Mr Thomson, the requesb was granted.

Messrs lulton, Stanley, and Co. wrote asking thei board to take into consideration a reduction in the rate of wharfago on Chesterfield Island guano. I his guano, they stated, Was every year being used in greater quantities, and 3s per ton was, they found, a serious item in the cost. Ihty understood Green Island guano was allowed an exemption, and they submitted this could be extended to the Chesterfield Island with equal jusfcice.-Referrecl to the Finance Committee.

Messrs Montzson and Hopkin wrote stating that they paid harbour dues 3s for 10 sacks grass seed inward, Mid on exporting the same per Nairnshire to Londou they were a K ain charged 2s per tou of 10 sacks outward. This they felt sure, was fl, mistake. If it were correct they could simply stand aghast at such enormity in charging 5s in and out. No country could stand that long, and Akaroa settlers instead of consigning to them would stick to their Christchurch market.—Referred to the Finance Committee.

Che Chairman of the Anderson's Bay Ferry Company wrote thanking the board for the ready manner in which they met the company, and stating that they would accept the Priestma.n i c ge oa the boMd'B terms.—Received i,r ~• ■of $° chartor of dredge 222 to the Wellington Harbour Board was submitted — Mr Thomson thought if it were at all possible to remedy the arrangement by which the dredge wsn- sent with all convenient speed to Wellington it would be wise to do so. as he believed the dredge might be required here — The matter was referred to the Works Committee. WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Works Committee reported :— New spare propeller for dredge 222: Messrs R. S bparrow and Co.'s tender being lowest has been accepted. Ihe harbourmasters and Inspector's annual reports for 1891 have been ordered to be published with the acdouuts. Information for hn John Copde! Ml' Barr submitted new memoranda °n I"8 scheme for transmission to Sir Jolm Ooode. After discussion, it was resolved to recommend that all the information available be forwarded to Sir John Coode." The Chamber of Commerce's letter re dredging for Home cargo steamers, reports from the harbourmaster and inspector of works are attached. The committee having had reports from the harbourmaster and inspector of works on the present condition of the Victoria channel, have to report that the same is m a satisfactory condition, and equal to the draught of vessels for which it was intended, and is being maintained in good working condition. mmV eSardl° ff s»gges«on of the Chamber of Commerce—that further dredging should be done in the channel and at the wharves, so as to bring nL *.eTi sm. al er (i l, ass of car S° steamers trading with &™ i P^n-ttK* committee regret that, Si the face of the. large expenditure that such a work would rauure, and which the board is not in a hnancial position at present to undertake, they woixU recommend that in the meantime the work ue postponed.

The Inspector of Works (Mr D. G. Stephens) forwarded the following report, dated January

I beg leave to report that I succeeded in getting the soundings at the heads finished on Wednesday last, and I expected to have them plotted ™ l £ "n& ™*tlon squired for Sir John Coode S- y ?w«f day* l would take the liberty of stating that the causes which prevented the work being done earlier were quite beyond my control the delay being due solely to the prevalence of easterly weather. As the officers of the harbourmasters department could not get soundings on the bar for four months although continuously m «!^ wi th £? at and crew at all times availw«' ™ ?°f d Wi lU readily unders^nd that there was much less chance of me accomplishing mv work under the less favourable conditions in which

Among the papers laid on the table along with tne Works Committee's report was the following report by Mr Stephens, inspector of works:— ~

Asieeablyrto the resolution of the Works Committee ofllth January 1892, I have the honour to report re the cost of dredging for Home steamers. As there may be some difference of opinion as to what the terms of the resolution require, I think I.will best meet the wishes of the committee by giving sepa&te Estimates of the quantities and cost of dredging to we a depth of 16ft, 18f£ and Vidt^ fPeCtlVely-at-ltnvova-ter'in ««* case providing for a swinging basin and berthage the whole length of the Victoria wharf of depth the same as that of theproposed channel. Theswingmg basin for the 16ft cut would be 400 ft, and for *nnnnhe\^ 4s9 ft- To «ive *«« l«w water llh ?8?« cubi* Tards at 9d- LI9SO: t0 g've 18ft fgg'o46 cubic yards at 9d, -L 7501; to give 20ft 428 ? 139 cubic yards at 9d, L 16.055. Thei above estimates are based upon a width of channel 100 ft, ties allowance of 21" cent- uPon the quanti-

The consideration of the report was, on the motion of Mr Mackbebas, referred to a meeting to be held on the following day. ' harbourmaster's report. The Harbourmaster reported that he took soundings at the entrance of the harbour on the 19th inst. and found the least depth at low water m the line of leading beacons to be 23ft 6m, beacons slightly open to the westward 24ft and to the .eastward 21ft, also harbour cone and big beacon ;hi line 26ft. In the new channel across the sandspit the depth was 20ft at low *■ f ln t^. Victoria Channel there was a depth of 13ft 6in good at low water. During the month of December 57 vessels (representing &t) OdepSe ad nVed ftnd 58 repreSentil* 39' 92f The report was received.

tin. T ,F INANCE COHJtITTEE's REPORT as follows 11 -—° c Committee reported on remits

Mr Ramsay's letter re charges on transhipment fn°ti S :, Tho secretary has been requested to SStaSt to the board a memo, showing comparative rate" Annual accounts for 1891: The inspectors of audit have reported having finished their audit and forwarded report to the Auditor-general forMs certificate.. As this may be expected before next ordinary meeting of the board, the special m\ et - ESftJ&te* 110 last dayof *he«

The following memo, by the secretary and ;reasurer was read.—

In accordance with .the instructions of the Finance Committee, I have the honour to report upon the comparative rates of dues upon Roods transhipped at Lyttelton and Dunedin So far as I can ascertain, circumstances under which goods happen to arrive for transhipment operates upon «Hmrr eV n<r t] lat> therefore> the only fair estimate to be relied upon is the general one supplied authoritatively. I therefore prepared two Sf ele*°n shee, ts- and fo^arded one to the Lyttelton office and one to Mr Mirams, the board s chief clerk of dues department. These as filled up and certified, show as follows :-Dues on imports for transhipment at Lyttelton • *s 3d ncr ton from ship to ship; 3s S)d per ton if slu/to store and store to ship, including one week's storage (after one week storage has to be paid) At Dunedin: General goods, 2s per ton-wool and skins Is per bale (no storage). Dues on exports, for transhipment. — Lyttelton -Wool AUd *InV, H ant> 8cl; tallow and otßer pro duce, Is 9d and 3s 3d. The first charge is from ship to ship without going into shed* the second .charge is ship to sWand store to ship, and includes one week's storage, except in the case of wool and skins, where an extra charge of Is per week is madeforstorage. Dunedin -Wool Lofton' ISfi al?.: rtaU °WV "^Produce •ss per ton. j<rom all I can gather, "dues " have not had any appreciable effect upon the trade of the port hi regard to transhipments, the differences be.ngso very slight and variable,.according to circumstances. The more important points that enter into the calculations of consignees 41 shippers appear to be quickness of despatch and delivery, combined with the least risk of dann" c sentoSv lll? l find goods are sometimes ifZ :£», V tol> frT D«nedin, and vice verm, to catch an oui going steamer; and in this respect the last port of departure 'and first port of^call will attract transhipments to such port. A direct lino of steamers to and from one port suitable to its trade appears to be the remedy smtaDle t0 The report was adopted without discussion.