OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18050, 25 September 1920, Page 13

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD

The. monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held last evening, and was attended by Messrs J. London (in the chuir), IC. Roberts, .1. M'Donahl, W. Wilkinson, D. Larnafli, T. IT. llu:-sell, 11. K. Molier, and ,1. ,<i. Douglas. CORRESPONDENCE. The bank returns, laid on the table, showed a balanco of £6332 Is 9d. Mr 11. L. Tiiploy wrote tendering his resignation as a member of the board.— Mr Molier moved that tjio resignation bo accepted with regret, and Mr M'Donald seconded.—The motion was carried. The shipping returns for August are as follow:—Arrivals: (Joii-stal, 21 vessels, 14,409 tons; intercnlonial, 4 vessels, 7044 tons; foreign, 4 vessels, 15,798 tons. Totals: 29 vessels, 37,251 tons. Departures: Coastal, 21 vessels, 16,434 tons: intercolonial, 6 vessels, 15.878 tons: foreign, 2 vessels, 12.439 tons. Totals: 29 vessels, 44,751 tons. LOW WATER DEPTHS. The harbourmaster reported that tho low "'"to.r depths were as follow-.—North channel 40ft, 100 ft wide; bend 32ft, 350 ft wide; Deborah Bay 244 ft, 300 ft wide; Victoria channel— centre 19ft, 140 ft wide, sides -18ft. DISCHARGED SOLDIERS , SETTLEMENT ACT. The Hon. l>. H. Outline, Minister of Lands, wrote in connection with a resolution passed bv tho board relative to the stoppage of advances under the Discharged fcoldiers' Settlement Act. Tho Minister stated that instructions had been issued to Commissioners of Crown Lands to receive applications as hitherto, but great care had to be exorcised in submitting applications "i lor his approval, as it was considered extrtme.y improbable that the Government could finance at tho rato it had up to March 31 last. The Prime Minister, when bnnging down the Budget., had stated that it was the intention of the Government to ask Parliament for authority for a loan of £5,000,000 to assist returned soldiers under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act. Of thi s amount £1,000,000 had already been provided under the authority of Imprest -Supply Bills. Further authority would be asked to increase the amount available for the purchase of lands. For this purpose Parliament would be asked to pass legislation authorising £2,500,000 to bo raised. Mr Russell referred to the high cost of farming land. Mr Larnach said farming land ,in tho North Island was bringing £123 per acre J. he Chairman said the high values were putting an immense amount of money into wo hands of a few people, to the ultimate disadvantage of tho returned soldiers. I he letter was received. EXTRA SHED ACCOMMODATION. The ■ Secretary, Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, wrote stating that the board's lotter notifying that it had tho intention oi_ increasing the storage capacity at tho \vnarves by approximately IUbO tons had been considered, and satisfaction had been expressed at tho information. He was instructed to express tile hope that, as funds permitted, the work of extending this njuch necaed accommodation woiLd be continued until sufficient storage space for the needs ot the port had been supplied. The prospectus of the loan of had been brought unaer the notice ot the members ot the council, and a resolution had been unanimously affirmed recommending the loan to the favourable consideration of fie community. The Chairman expressed the appreciation of the board at the sympathetic tenor of ho letter, and on the fact that the chamber was so willing to work with the board m the general interests of tho public WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee's report road as ioUows:— I'our committee, recommends with respect to the letter irom tho Port Cnalmers I rogessive League, suggesting tao erection ot two or three rooms u the mam building is not proceeded with, that the league be advised that, as the Deep Sea Fresh Fisn Company is proposing to erect a. trcezer it does not appear to be necessary for further ireezing rooms to bo erected. Your committee has to report having instructed «\ S £ r y *V lotif y tho Uty Council that the extended time for tho use of the Wharf street tip expires on the Ist prox lour committee submits herewith, for members information, the memo, from the enmiaif, and recommends that, in the meantime, urgent necessary repairs bo effected (Note.—ihe expenditure for this is allowed tor m the current year's estimates.) Your committee recommends that tho engineer bo asivod to jeport with respect to proceeding ii t] l?J?P r ° v fment of the Victoria channel hull-t.de wall. Your committee recommends that the board reviews the nermission to erect the wharf at the propped position at Boiler Point, in view of the opinion expressed by Captain Thomson with respect to interference with docking and undocking ships. Mr Roberts moved tho adoption of the report, " Mr Russell regretted that the committee had not been more- sympathetic in dealing with the request from the Port Chalmers frogressive League for two or three freezing rooms. He thought these- room s would prove of great value. Ho would move bs an amendment that this clause bo referred back to the committee. Mr -Larnach seconded the amendment Mr Roberts said the committee was unanimous that it would not ba profitable to oo on with the rooms at tho old freezing works " The amendment, was lost, Messrs Russell .Larnach, and M'Donald only voting for -t and the report was adopted. ' The Chairman said that in the face, of tlie statement made by Mr Douglas that the City Council was taking steps to deal with ™o disposal of refuse, he would moveThat the matter of the Forth street tip, bp left in tho hands of Messrs Roberts, Wilkinson, and the engineer, with instructions to act temporarily." Ho said this ' would enable tho council to carry on till such tinir» as it met next week, and came to a dehnite decision. Mr Roberts adtinrl that Mr Wilkie. engineer, had showed him some figures which went to prove that the depth* at Deborah Bay had considerably improved. HALF-TIDE WALL. The Engineer reported us follows: "As previously reported, the half-tide wall in tho Victoria Channel is low in a number of places throughout its length, also gutters have been niade by unauthorised poisons to permit small bouts to cross the wall. On tha eastern side of the wall tho sand has banked up practically level with the top of tho wall, and on the ebb tide some sand is carried across the wall into the Victoria Channel. Some of'' the sand finds a lodgment in the channel, thus increasing the maintenance dredging. The raising and repairing of the wall will be- of benefit To tho Victoria Channel, and as a sum of £1200 was provided in the estimates to cover this year's expenditure, it is urged that the work be proceeded with during tho coming summer. As the board is under agreement with the Railway Department to remove stone from Black Jack's Point, it is suggested that this stone be removed arid utilised for tho maintenance work on the 'wall. This would entail the laying of points across the railway line, and the building of a small loading wharf from which to discharge stone into punts. The loaded punts could then bo towed by tho Otakou to tho half-tide wall. The quantity of stone to be removed from the railway "land is estimated at 17.000 cubic yards, and in my report of May 27, 1930. it was suggested that this was scarcely sufficient to construct tho proposed railway ombanlonent between Black Jack's Point and tho Leith Canal. If the board decided to undertake the construction of this embankment ample material can bo obtained for both works by drawing on stone from the tor> quarry recently worked by the board." It was decided that the matter of the half-tido wall, as outlined by tho engineer, bo approved, and that the report bo referred to tho Works Committee, with power to act, the secretary to convene a meeting of tho oomjnittoo at once. ' FINANCE COMMITTEE. In moving the adoption of tho Finance Committee's report, the Chairman referred briefly to the conference tliat had taken placo between representatives of the Importers' Association and tho committee. Tho committee had decided that most of the matters were very important, and a subcommittee liad boon appointed to go into the -whole question of pillaging and submit a report. Wit , ' regard to thy request from the Ferry Company for a refund of foes on ferry steamers, owing to their bcirg out of commission for a considerable part of the year, and suggesting that the license fee should be for a shorter period, tho committeo had decided that until the yeaaemded it could have no knowledge of exactly how long tho boats would bo laid up. After the year was up the request could bo renewed, and the committee would make some recommendation. It would bo absurd to make an abatement in the beginnine of tho year. Mr I/oudon proceeded to detail reoornmendatior-6 in regard to wajros and salaries. The motion was seconded by Mr Molier. Some time ago, he said, ho had brought forward a recommendation that tho men should be paid fortnightly instead of nwwifchly as at present. Tho payment of

sucli wages monthly was quite out of dato and not in the interests 01 the men themselves. As, however, (Ins mutter wus to come before the (.•oiiimittee Jio would not press the matter in the meantime. -Mr Douglas siiicl the time had come whan tney .should rocogniso the advisability of paying weekly wages. The Arbitration Omit, had deeided on weekly payment, and they should consider the question of c-iisli payment. Mr N. Walsh was recommended for the position of chief import clerk, in succession lo ( Mr N. Smith (resigned). The report wus adopted, several of tho recommendations with regard to salaries iHMiig referred back for further consideration. \ WHARF AT BOILER POINT./ A motion by Mr London to rescind the resolution previously passed by the board giving the Deep Sea .Ifi-ash l< ish Company permission to erect a wharf on the southern side of their buildings at I'ort Chalmers was agreed to. It was then decided to icrunt permission for the jetty to bo erected at a point to bo approved by the engineer und harbourmaster, and during the pleasure of the board. MR MOTION. Mr Roberts moved—"That in future no futther work be given to, or supplies be obtained from, any 'person, iirni, or company wnilo any such person, linn, or company's employee or employees are members of the board." Mr Molier asked the chairman whether this motion was in order. Mho question was nued by statute. If the motion was carried a very great hardship could be done. 'me Chairman said ho would rule that tiie_ motion was out of order, because if it was carried it would place the beard in a peculiar and illegal position. 'lhere was hotning in the legislation preventing an employee of any firm or 'company becoming a member of the board. ' Once he became a member of tiie board he enjoyed all tne privileges of a-member. If they, in the ordinary course of their business, called tor tenders for any work, and the firm with tne lowest tender had an employee I with the board, he could not see how tney could legally refuse tnat tender. lie recognised that Mr Koborts's idea in moving the motion was a worthy one. What Mr Roberts wanted to make clear was , that there should bo no breath of suspicion in connection with the board, but he thought that Mr Roberts was not on the right lines. The whole status of members of lecal bodies] in his judgment, required recasting, because there were anomalies that were hard to get over. 'lhe Act stated that no one could sit on the board if ho was a member of a company occupying the position of a director. Well, they all knew there might bo a company with a capital of £100,OGO. and tile director might hold merely a qualifying number of shares, probably £250 or £520 worth, whereas, an ordinary member of that company might hold £10,CO0 in the company and still bs entitled to sit as a member. He felt that- what would better meet the situation than Mr Roberts's motion was this—That any njember would invalidato his seat who voted or took part in any discussion on any matter in which he was pecuniarily interested, either as an employee or as a member of a firm, or as a member of a company. That, he thought, would get over the position. According to the solicitor's opinion road in a recent case, it apportrod there was no disqualification so far as an ordinary member was concerned so lorg as he was not a member of a com- [ pany. The fact of his being a employee did not disqualify him under the Act. He thought that Mr Roberta's motion was ultra vires, and that, if carried, it would put the board in a peculiar and illogical position. Mr Roberts held that he wa s not interfering with the status of members of the board. Ho had no intention of doing this. Ho disagreed altogether w-ith the chairman's ruling. He knew what the Act was. He had not been permitted to give his reasons for bringing in his motion. OPENING UP THE MOLYNEUX \ RIVER. Mr Russell said at one timo vessels used to be able to' come up the Molyneux and load coal. The Molyneux was in the Otago Harbour district, aft] he would like to know if the board could see its way to make a money grant to help open up the river again. 'Mr Larnach: Wait till we get a rating area and we will see what we can do. — (Laughter.) The discussion then ended. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr M'G. Wilkie) has submitted the-following report: — During the month of August ' dredge 222 lifted 15 loads, equal to 12,495 cubic yards, of spoil from tho Victoria Channel, and nine Ioa&l3, equal to 7497 cubic yards, from Deborah Bay. Of this material, 22 leads, or 18,326 cubic yards, w.ers deposited at tho Vulcan, one load at sea, and one load at the Kaik. Tho dredge steamed 310 miles and burned 187 tons' of coal. During tho month dredge Vulcau pumped into Lake Logan 18,326 cubic yarda of spoil received from dredge 222. Since the overhaul the 300-h.p. motor has been running very satisfactorily. During the month of August two vessels wore docked in the Otago dock and one in the Port Chalmers dock. The drainage I pumps ran for a total of 231J hours, and the deck pumps for 14J hours. Electric Power Plant and Crane.—This plant ran for a total of 7J hours during tho month, generating power for the electric crane, which was engaged at various lifts for that time. The top of the brick smoke stack at tho dock is in need 'of repairs, and it is suggested that the work bo put in hand. The stack is 90ft High, and a scaffold will have to bz erected, which work the deputy dock master has c-ffsred to undertake with his dock staff. Kaik Quarry.—For a period cf three weeks ■ended September 1, 250 yards of stone were deposited on tho spit wall, 310 yards on j tks Kaik groyne, and 50 yards at the root of tho Mole. Curing the above period the Pnestiuan dredge, was engaged deepening the punt berths alongside the Kaik wharf An examination was made of the channel leading from tho Kaik wharf to Lower Portobello, and it was found that the s.s. Otnkou could tow punts to within a few hundred yards of tho sand hills requiring protection. At high water tho pun is can be hauled by hand close inshore, and material deposited at the foot of iho sand hills. Punts have been sent down to the quarry, and the work is now in hand. The cost per yard of transporting material required for the protection work will be available for the next Works Cornniitteo moetmg. The lowest price obtained for cai-tuig stone from the quarry to Lower Portobell-a was 9s 6d per yard, which is a prohibitive price-. All piles and beacons in both the Upper and the Lower Harbcurs have been painted and tarred. The slight damage to the Birch street wharf by tho e.s. Navua has baen repaired. The. backing cf the Rattray streot , wharf is being attended to, and stone'-punted from Sunshine- quarry is being packed underneath the concrete backing' wall in those places where the stone on which t-Se wall ,s founded has sunk. For a period of four weeks ended September 11 five punts were slipped for repairs and tarring. The old pilot b:at was also slipped for cleaning and painting. On the- -Ith inst., while en"a-ed in drodgmg near tho Vulcan's punts' tho crank shaft of the Priestman crane broke and is now m tho workshop for repains Shed doors have been attended to, and sliding bars repaired and refaetencd •