OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14898, 29 July 1910, Page 3

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Tiio monthly mcst.bg of the Otago Harbour Bolrd was held yesterday, and was attended by' Messrs Thomas Rose, J, W. Hcnton, W. Gow, J. Loudon, J. Watson, 12. G«lfred, and G. B. Bullock. coiSrespondkxck. The Aoting>Socrcta-ry of the Harbours Association of New Zealand forwarded a confidential legal opinion .by Mr G. Ha,rpar, raliditcr to tho Lyttelton Harbour Board, orr the question of whether it was legal for Harbour Boards to fix a minimum charge, say £lcO, on any one vc-wl, for pilotage, port, charges, and harbour masters' fees for any one visit.—Referred to Finance Committee.

The 'Aciing-Socrotary of the Harbours' Aswciation forwarded ft copy of a declaratory judgment (Wellington Harbour Beard axd Wellington Ilarbour Ferries). Tho practical effcct of this decision is to give beards (,ht: wMest discretion as to the rate of charges on ferry traffic.—Referred ■ to Finairra Committee.

The Secretary of the Peninsula Ferry I Company (Limited) asked that Ilirikley's ■! ivharf be improved, as this 'was ,ur out- j let for a district of whioh the population j rapidly growing. At present the cur- j rent ran ths'ough t-ho wharf, and vesieis had to be berthed broadside on to it; if (his were altered so that the current would be with or against: berthed vessels, it would bo a great advantage to the residents, who would have the ferry service at th-sir very doors— Mr Bullock said tho Works Committee hod had t.ho matter before it, at last meeting. He would Buggrrt ill-it the whole. question cf tho lighting, wlrarfing, and navigation of tho eastern channel of the harbour should lie referred to tho Works Committee to bring up a report at the next meeting.—lt was rtse'.ved accordingly. Tte Shipwreck ltelief Society asked tor a donation;; £10 10s had been received from the board a year ago.—Usual donation to he granted. - ( IIKPORT3, The Works Committee reported (hnf, with a view to the early reclamation of the endowments on the city side of tlic proposed new position of the railway lino at Pc-lichet Buy, also of the endowment along 1 Wharf street to Anderson's Bay road, it recommetidcd that sand pump dredger 40i be fitted up direct on the above ureas in a similar manner to tho Vulcan with pipe, pontoons, pipes, ban, joints, trestles, and mcoringis, at" aji estimated cost of £5700,' thii> expenditure to be charged to loan, part on account of reclamation and part to tho works coniifielfd with the railway formation-/for. tllo .deviation; ot the line. The engineer had tttKi instructed to purchase tho necessary rails !|:d waggons for use in tho construction of the railway embankment and formation. The letter of the Peninsula Ferry Company re improvements. 0 f channel ami lighting had been held over for further consideration.—Mr Bullcck Jiiovotl ' the adoption of this report, a.ixl explained tho necessity of tho heavy expenditure. ' By pumping directly to the reclamations the mud would all bs raved and this would prove an economical way of dealing with the matter.—Tho report was adopted. -, The Finance Committco reported that i for 70 5 per cent, consolidated debentures of £100 each tenders for 267 wore received, and tho allotment made to the highest tenderers at an average price of £109 2s lOd, the highest price obtained boing £110 2s -6d. The consideration of tho division ' of tlie late Dock Trusts workers' compensation for accidcnts policy and the Government insurance scheme for employees had bold over.—Mr Hcnton moved the adoption of the report.—Mr Godfre-d seconded tho motion, which was adopted without comment.

The Reserves Committeo reoommended that tho application of M'Skimming and Son for the lease of section 9, block LXIII, at a rental of £22 per annum, be granted. —The report was adopted on the motion of Mr Watson, seconded by Mr Bullock. Tho Doel: Committee reported that the engineer had been authorised to erect electric light poles round the nctt dock. Tho Union Steam Ship Company desired to mstal olcctric light and a watchman's tell-talo at the new dock. It was recommended that the company be allowed to uso the poles until the board completed its own lighting system. Tho cloctric lighting plant at the freezing works which supplied light under agreement to the Railwav Department was at times overloaded, and there was no provision in.case of a. break-down lo provide for such cohtingcncy ami also for extra current. It was recom-" mended to instat a plant at an estimate;! expenditure of £250. The tender of Messrs R. S. Lamb and Co. for the supply and delivery of ironbark for graving dock gates for the sum of £102 13s Ekl was recommended for acceptance, being Ijho lowest. During thio month three vessels were docked in tho graving dock and two iri the Otago dock, while the shoerlegs were used for'lifts five times. Rabbits were coming to flic freezing works in small lots, this being; tho olt season. Fish woro scarce, but the usual quantities of meat and poultry were being received, —Mr Bullock moved tho adoption of the report.—Mr Godfrcd seconded tho motion,' and it was carried without comment-.