HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14358, 30 October 1908, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

~f> • The regular rao:[» of (he Olatro liarkur Board, held yi.L. f d«v afternoon, was attr-ndotl by .Mr W.j Ihrclav (chairman), Messrs C. \Y. Eattril (!. )!. Bullock, I). A. Do Mans ,1. T. MJ-kcrras, W. belcher. T. Ross, W, (low, ]-T '»■•. ])ullii?, and .1. Watson. An apology/was nriib for the absence- nf Mr Wiltinln. KIXAxVu,. The hank knk, laid m the .1 able, showed a credit balance of &W 17s lCd. COP.IU'.SI'O!: IENCE. The Secretary laid n) tho iaKa a copy of (ho Ola go I joe!: Tr:;:. Merger liill anil papers connected thoroil:■>. —Received and laid on (he table. \ The Secretary to ih-jDock Trust wrote anting whether dretl.ee »104 could he procured to remove the si' 1 [at I.lk entrance to the old dock.—Applim '\\\ grantorl. Mr (1. Morgan wrote pskin.g the hoard's favourable consideration! in the direction of making some allnwar.lc for rccr-imation work done by him in thewicinity of Ward street.—Remitted to the-. Reserves Committee to report. j The hoard's solicitors \jr:to forwarding a letter received from the iov.'ji clerk, Dnucdin, asking tho board to <biis'.'e.r reducing tills njiiiiiiai charge for dfr-ry-ig sewa-po. The town clerk's letter w»- :n fffeu that as to alleged fnrth-.r liahi.'jy cf the City Corporation under tho deed<ii covenant with the hoard l'osprctiiijr lh(( tlidiarge of sewage into the harbour, he, was directed to entilo-c a loiter from the Drainage Board iii regard to the amount, of sowu».'.> outerin;; the harbour. In the eircuni-lar.ccs (ho Finance Committee of tho council was of opinion that the epti'.eil should not. be t!-:-bil---{l with tho original sum as provided in the deed, ami therefcro desired that tho Drainage Beard's loiter I>3submitted to tho liarhonr Bcartl, with a view to its conswsr.ing the question of making .'i liberal reduction in tbe char.gc for its services. Tho Drainage Hoard's communication wag io tho effect that at. present I lie St. Andrew street and Manor place sowers were turned into the main intercepting eowor. A contract had kern lot for_ the extension of tho High street sewer, which, on completion of tho work, would ai;o ho turned into tho main intercepting sower. Tho only factor worth notiusr was tint tho. board, had during the last 'six years, r.td still was, greatly increasing the number of mud tanks throughout'the area, and these caught a groat quantity of read detritus.—Tho Chairman remarked that the sum received had not covered expenses, and that the bca.rd had voluntarily remitted half what had been awarded. Ho thought they should adhero to the agreement, until they ascertained what amount of scwaoo was actually slopped from going into the harbour.— Mr Ems said ho thought that, although there might he a con'sidorablc diminution of (lio sewa.go going into t-bo harbour, they should adhere to tho charge, which was, as the chairman had pointed cut, only half what had been awarded.—Mr Belchera3ked if it had boon shown that there was any diminution of tho scwa,ge going into (ho harbour fern the sewers.—The Chairman: The letter from jhc Drainage Heard to the City Corporation says there has been considerable diminution, but lo what extent it cannot tell.—Mr Cow thought attention should be Killed to Iho fact that the board had already leinitteil half tbe amount awarded, and cowld do no iricrc until (he in the sewage discharged into tbe harbour was shown.—Mr Belcher thought, they Htould try to avoid any legal proceedings between, two bodies Like their own and the City Council it the latter refused point blank to pay tho amount. He thought they should give the matter more consideration than the;,- had done. If the sewago was still bjiwj deposited in the, harbour tho corporation should be hold to the agreement.—lt was resolved that the board should adboro to tho terms of tho agreement, REPORTS. Mr Bullock movod the adoption of the Works Committee's report, which contained nothing of importance, and in so doing said the committee had arranged to hire dredge 401 to the Oamaru Harbour Board on satisfactory terms. Tho dredge was to go there for a. month, commencing at the beginning of November. Tho depth of water across tho new cut was 22ft along tho line of beacons set out by tho engineer, but there was really '24ft. The engineer proposed to spend some time in tho Lower Harbour making a survey. As to the shed on tho cross wharf, tho contractors had commenced their work, and tbe .shed would soon be available for use. The board had acquired a most suitable machine in (ha new piledrivcr, ami this was doing excellent work, and would facilitate operations. The accounts were rather largo, but they included £3400 which would be charged against loan account. Mr Rattray said there was a good deal of work for the engineer, who was going lo spend a month at the Heeds, and he thought it was time the board should consider tho question of appointing u sccietary as woll as an engineer. It was obvious there would bo too much work for one man to undertake. Mr Mason would have to bo away from the office, and tho board should shortly consider the question of appointing a secretary. The Chairman said tbore was ono'clause in Mr Mason's report (which accompanied tho Works Committee's report) that should be noted particularly: "The Athenic, a vessel of 500 ft in length and 12.000 tons, vkilcd the ■ Poitv' It was a matter of congratulation, but not of surprise, that there bad been no difficulty experienced in bringing hor in or berthing her at Port Chalmers. The only question that occurred to him was why she and her sister ships had not come long ago. Captan Mt'slhun two yoars ago bad advised tho board that he was prepared to bring in the Atheuie and berth her. drawing o'J't, ar.d the agents were advised io that oft el, yet this was tho liret call- Thoy co (1.1 only hope that now agents had satisfied themselves in regard to the capabilities of the port (heir ships would bo regular _visitois. He would also assure these whom it might concern that if (ho engineer, harbourmaster, and chairman of works gave their word as to tho position in regard lo such matters it might be taken as correct. Tho repoit was adopted, and tho engineer's report received. Mr Eo« moved the adoption of Ilia Finance Committee's report, which kcommended the payment of accounts amounting to £7035 17s scl. This, he said, must be regarded as exceptional for one month for ,ma Ay years. Part had boon for payment 0; materials for the new wharf, and part for the contract for tho naw shed, and there had been £1200 for casual labour, which was c considerable sum for any one public body to distribute in a month. The report was adopted. HARBOURS AMENDMENT MIX. The Chairman delivered the following report upon the llaihours Amendment Bill: "The question of pilolago exemption for colonial trading vessels has from time lo time given some trouble owing to the iniccrtainty oi tbe law on the subject. The whole question was recently considered (in fovnecticn with a requr-l for refund., s.s. t'limaroa) by the board's solicitors, whoso opinion showed that the Saw was not in a ealisfactory state. TVlwn the Consolidated Harbours Act came to hand the seeictavy observed thai tho exemption was no longer confined to colonial trading vessels, and the question was at onco referred to the Folii'Ltovs as a mailer of urgency. They confirmed the secretary's view, at the same lime pointing out that the alteration must have been due to r.n error, as the Consolidation Commissioners had no power to alter (ho existing law. The matter was thereupon brought under (he notice of the Government by letter and personal interview, and it was admitted that a mistake had been made. Mr Stephens draftexl tho neeeis-ary amendment, and ho and Mr Mason took advantage cf their presence in Wellington to go into tho question with the Marine Department. The qucslion was fully discu-jnl. and the proposed amendments were apnroved, and now form pari: of the law. Tho amendmcnt's carry o:it what was evidently tho original intcnI'on of the act. but advantage was taken of Ibe oppoilnnily tonlear up some doubtful points. The act new makes it quit? clear that board is eniiilcd lo tbe extra inward rale which it ln. ; for many yoars charged lo colonial tnidiiv; vessels entering the port for the first time in charge of an c\cmp; master. Ii al-o clears up a doubt to the debnition of a colonial 'lading vos-el. The matlir wns cf extreme importance, not only (o this beard, but to ti'.e other IvoarcK and ii is very satisfactory that the board's interests were so vrompllj- cud so oltVcmlly snfoguWed. The thanks cf the beard are duo lo the srcvlxry and the board's selieiie.,' (My Kteph'Mi-) for iheir efforts in this direction." M- Helcher 'aid a !ol; r,,' matMrj had been in di-.pulo, and it was snti=raetory to know i;>:i, ihey had been settled, and Ilia: i'.vic would be a aving to the Irani. He Mippived ;he chairman meant ih'tt 1 hero would he an addition to the board's ! ; event!?. Tbe report was received.