OTAGO DOCK TRUST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11397, 14 April 1899, Page 2

OTAGO DOCK TRUST.

A meeting t,[ U, o Olago Dock Trust, hold yesterday, was attended by Messrs K. G. Allen (chttinnan), W. Pedlow, ~H. Gourlcy,

and .1. A. Millar, MJI.K. Apologies foi non allondnneil wpi'oi received from Messrs G L. Denuistmi nml .!. Mill.

Air K. Utiy, engineer to tho trust, reported tlml tlio works connected willi Urn extension of Iho freezing chambers nml machinqry wore about completed. Tlio boilers hud just lioon covered with asbestos, inul, jiulginß by tlio coal consumption, would prove economical, ami also give ample power. Tlio engines and compressors wore now doing their work fairly well, mid lie expected tlio works would shortly bo tokon over from Die contractor*. Tho buildings wore all completed, and tlio boiler iind e-.igine house, together with tlip packing sb.txls, were also finished. Everything appeared lo be in good order, and ho hoped would Ijo found satisfactory to tho lrti'.,t.—The report was received. / Mr Hay also forwarded tho following letter received from tho district engineer of railways:—"He. private siding.—With reference to tiro above, which has recently Imon. extended for tlio trust by this department, I have the honour to point out that the following small matters require attention:—Tho galvanised iron fence between ,the XIS.H. Conimoiy's promises and the turntable must bo altered so a* to give . tho necessary 7ft clearance.. A gale must bo provided in the fwico whoro the siding runs off parallel to tho building."—The Chairman stated that tlio matter had been attended to. The Finance Committee recommended that m-eomils amounting to £456 os'6d be passed for payment, and reported that there was a credit balance ii; the. bank of £1331 15a Id to tho trust account—The report n adopted. -Mr Hay forwarded a final certificate of payment for £1635 for the Hercules plant, and also a final certificate of payment for £361 on account of the boiler contract.— ooth amounts were passed for payment. " Mr 3. Smaill, engineer of the trust freezing works, reported that the works had been in full swing during the month. Tho new boiler nouso had been erected, and tho various contracts finished. The new boilers were under ■ steam. Two tramlines lfor service through iho works hud been laid down. An additional freezing and storage spaco had wen, let, and the new machinery was giving sal-.sfaction.—The report was received. Mr A. Thomson, manager of the freezing works, reported that he had dono his best to obtain a share of the rabbit freezing from Hie merchants now working at Burnside, but without success, and had to be content with the support obtained from Tonkin and Co. and several smaller dealers. At the same time he had offered every inducement to larger firms to enter on the business. The well-known firm of White and Co., of Melbourne, had been induced to enter the field, and had now commenced freezing with the trust. Their operations were expected to bo of considerable magnitude. The butter seaBon was all but closed, and, as the grading room was not likely to be required for some time; he had rented it and the adjoining room to Mr Tonkin for £120 per month for a period of three months, with permission to freeze 100 boxes per day. ' The Burnside Company had reduced tlio price for freezing, and the 'rate for rabbits was now 4 s .3d petcase. He had quoted the same price to White and Co., and presumed that it would meet with the trust'e approval.—The '.report was approved. '

/Tlio Chairman.' brought up. tho question of making the appointment of storeman a permanent one, and the matter was left to the manager and the chairman lo bring up conditions with regard lo the apnointment at next meeting. On; the motion of Mr Millar, seconded by Mr Pcdloiv, it was resolved that tho trust obtain an overdraft from the bank in ac.cordanco with tho form supplied by tho bank.