ORDINARY MEETING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9978, 21 February 1894, Page 4

ORDINARY MEETING.

An ordinary meeting of the board was then held, and attended by those who were present at the previous meeting. ■. COKRBSPo'iTBENCE. The board's bank book was laid on the table, showing a .tfebit balance of £11,060 lJs Bd.— The Chairman said the debjt balance in August 1893 was £12,183, this month it waa £11,060; so that an improvement was shown to the extent of £1123 in the six months. But the sum of £2100 had been received from the Wellington Harbour Board for the use of dredge 222. The Otago Rowing Club asked for the use of the deck of the dredge Vulcan' for their swimming tournament on the 21st inst.—Granted. Mr Peter Barr, on behalf of a syndicate, submitted an offer to lease the dredge New Era at an annual rental of £200, with a right of purohase for £3000, subject to a report on an enterprise to be laid before the syndicate in six weeks.—Referred to the Works Committee for report, seport. Harbourmaster M'Callum reported that there had not been a favourable opportunity of obtaining bar soundings since the 22udoilast month, when the least water, with beacons in line, was 22ft 6in, open to eastward 22ft, and well open to the westward 25ft 6in. The west channel maintained a minimum depth of 18ft at low water. Soundings taken in Victoria channel on the 10th February gave a minimum depth of 13ft 6in at low water. Shipping returns for January:—Arrivals : Coastal, 54 vessels, 27,114- tons; intercolonial, 6 vessels, 6631 tons; foreign, 4 vessels; 9336 tons;— total, 64 vessels, 43,081 toa?. Departures: Coastal, 55 vessels, 27,623 tons; intercolonial, 7 vessels, 5769 tons; foreign, 4 vessels, 6864 tons;—total, 66 vessels, 40,276 tons. Ma allen's notice of motion. Mr Allen's notice of motion with reference to the fitting up of the dredge New. Era, for the purpose of maintaining a suitable depth of water in the ship channel of the harbour, was postponed until tho next meeting of the board. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £555 0s 3d were passed for payment, subject to the approval oi the Works and Finance Committees. SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the board was attended by the same member?. The Chairman moved, and Mr Pinkektos seconded, that the accounts as printed and circulated be passed. Mr Robin said the accounts did not present much encouragement to the board, yet he did not think they were so bad as many people expected them to be. It was forecasted by the secretary that they would be £5000 worse off this year than they were last year. The question now arose: How were they to bo at the end of next year ? If the Finance Committee brought up a forecast of what the financial position was likely to be at the end of the year he would be glad. It was absolutely necessary, seeing the great work they had in hand, that they should see their way fair and clear, and if there was any difficulty in making" the revenue meet the expenditure they should in time make such preparation as would be necessary for them to, meet all their liabilities. If the income would not be sufficient to meet current expenditure provision should be made for it. Some works would be absolutely necessary. The depth of water in the lower harbour must be such as would allow all vessels to come in that traded to the port. What did they find, however ? In January last year the new channel was dredged to a width of 150 ft, witt a depth of 21ft 3in; but the action of the watei had been such that the width was now 350 ft, and the depth, only 18ft 4in. It was urgently necessary, therefore, to see that a depth of 21ft or 22ft was, restored in that-channel, and to bring that about it would cost the board a considerable sum. He moved—" That the Finance Committee draw up a forecast of the revenue and expenditure during the current year, and 6ubmit it to the next meeting of the board." Mr Mackereas said it was the intention of the Finance Committee to go into the financial position of the board, and in doing that they would consider very much the same work that Mr Robin undertook this time last year, and complete' what was then left uncompleted. There were difficulties in the way then, and possibly they could be surmounted now. But to expect the committee to bring up at next meeting a forecast of the finances of the board for the coming 12 months was hardly reasonable. That the committee would go into the finances of the board and bring up a report, and possibly some recommendations, would be the case, but he could not undertake that it would be done by the next meeting of the board. . Mr Pinkerton suggested that Mr Robin should withdraw his motion and leave the whole matter in the hands of the Finance Committee. The Ckaibman remarked that the £5000 deficiency this year was accounted for by the expense the board were put to in dredging in the upper and lower harbours—increasing the size of the steamers' basin in the upper harbour and dredging the channel in the lower harbour. ■ Mr Robin said that under the circumstances he would withdraw his motion. The motion for the passing of the accounts was carried. .