OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15826, 26 July 1913, Page 12

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of Iho Otago 'Harbour Board, held last night:"was attended by Messrs H. E. Mollcr (chiurman), W. Wilkinson, G. B. Bullock, T. H. Kus-' sell, F. W. Platts, W. Belcher, J. il. Walker, J. Dickson, E. Hazlett, A. li. Bridger, and J. Loudon.

FINANCIAL The various accounts showed a net debit balance of £17,119 0s 6d.

COHRESPOXDEXCE.

The Southern Steam Shipping Company wrote with regard to an application for certain cases of motor cars for transhipment to Invercargill going through by rail at. transhipment rates being referred to the Standing Committeo for favourable consideration, that there was no reason why such an application should even be considered. If the application was granted the board would be overwhelmed with similar requests.—Held over for consideration in connection with clause 2 of the Standing Committee's report. Keith Ramsay wrote complaining that the approach at the Rattray street wharf tin to which timber had to be discharged was nothing else than a dush bole.—Received. Mr Ramsay also wrote referring to the fact'that in 1907-the Rakiura went ashore at Wilshire Bay, and the tug Koputai was despatched to her assistance. The Koputai arrived off the bayf " but," continued the writer, "the crew became badly affected with mal-de-mer, and she returned to Dunedin the following day without having accomplished anything. For this, which could not have cost your board '"ore than £30, you charged mo £155 and £2 16s 4d waiting time—a total of £157 16s 4d. Apropos of the heavy reduction made in the account rendered to tho Union Steam Ship Company for saving its steamer Kowhai from total loss, it has occurred to mo that yon might feel disposed to treat me in a similar manner, and I shall bo very pleased indeed to receive your chequo'vfor £105 4s 3d."— Mr Wilkinson moved that it bo referred to the Standing Committee for report, but on the motion of Mr Loudon it was decided simply to receive the letter. The Secretary 'of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Club wrote applying for 12 of tho. most southerly sections abutting on the boat harbour.—The Secretary of. the board recommended that not more than four sections of a total area of 1 rood 33.48 poles bo leased to the club at an annual rental of £10 per section.—Mr Walker moved and Mr Bullock seconded—" That the matter bo referred to the Standing Committee for report." Mr Bullock said lie did not think anyono could object to tlio board treating such a body as the Yacht Club on the most favourable terms.—The motion was carried. KEPOBT3. The Harbourmaster reported that the minimum low-water depths at tho entrance to the harbour were :~North Channel, 36ft; bend, 30ft; and Victoria Channel—centre 19ft, sides 17jft. During the month 51 vessels of a total tonnage of 91,949 had arrived, and 55 vessels of a total tonnage of 92,672 had taken .their departure. On tho 13th inst. the s.s. Waitoto, drawing 20ft Bin aft and 20ft 3in forward, whilo coming up tho harbour with a strong flood tide had grounded on the eastern side of the channel just above the. islands. After being' lightened she had got off with the assistance of the Koputai, and proceeded to Dunedin apparently uninjured. The cause of her grounding was attributed to her being a dccply-laclon collier with small power, and the strong flood tide, swooping her over to the eastern side of the channel, in epito of tho master's efforts to keep her in tho centre. It was understood that the vessel came up oarly in tho tide so as not to unduly detain the Manuka, which was waiting at Dunedin to proceed down the" channel. —Received.

Tho Standing Committee's report, 'winch lias already been published, was then considered, and the first clause, relative to a coal dump at Rattray street wharf, was adopted. As to motor cars for transhipment under bond to Invercargill going through at transhipment rates, Mr Loudon moved—" That the resolution of tho board on Juno 27, remitting to the Standing Committee the letter of Mr H. C, Campbell, with reference to transhipping charge.? on motor cars, be rescinded, and that Mr Campbell be informed that no, remission of dues could be made as askod for in his letter." Ho moved' fflio motion because from investigations he had made and information he had obtained he thought the course it was proposed to adopt Ivy the committee was one that opened the' door to abuses. Ho thought it was quite reasonable that the full charge should bo paid, and that it was wrong to make a remission.—Tile motion wa6 seconded by Mr Bridger and spoken to by several members.—Mr Loudon, in reply, contonded that it was unfair that a man in Dunedin should pay 50s and a man in Gore or Invercargill 10s.—'Die motion .was carried. With regard to the next clause, Mr Russell asked for further information regarding the increase of wages of dredge hands to £16 per month, and gave notice of his probable intention to move that the resolution fixing the increase be rescinded.— The clause was in the meantime adopted. The clause with reference to a letter from the. Union' Company asking for a reduction in claim for salvage on s.s. Kowhai was adopted, it being ruled that it could not bo referred hack at that stage. Clauses notifying Messrs John Mill and Co.'s acceptance of the offer of ,un increase of ljd per ton on the present rate for 'receiving and delivering of cargo, and recommending that the engjneer take steps to dispose of Iho Koputai, wpro adopted without discussion. The clause recording the decision to offer dredge "404" for sale or charter led Mr Belcher to ask what was the sum that would bo placed upon the head of "this poor unfortunate 404" if she was offered for sale? Ho went on to ask if the board was going to buy up second-hand stuff from other people continuously and then get rid of it at a very much lower cost. He had never heard of any reason why -the 404 should be disposed of, unless it was that she was out of date. The board would have to get some plant capable of dealing with all the difficulties they had in connection with tho harbour. Tho sooner Ihcy got something that did not constantly require to bo repaired" and altered and paltered with the better it would bo for, the people of Otago.—Tho clause was adopted. The clause relating to stormwater discharge at tho southern endowment was adopted, and also tho remaining clauses, which had referonco to financial matters.—Messrs Bullock _ and Wilkinson were appointed to examine accounts for tho month, and the report as amended was adopted. ' Before the report was finally finished with Mr Bullock said ho found that it wmd<7 bo impossible for him to go to Wellington, aiW he asked that his name be withdrawn from the deputation and that Mr Walker's name be substituted.—This was agrocd to.