OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19904, 25 September 1926, Page 19

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held last night, and was attended by Messrs J. M‘C. Dickson, M.P. (chairman), W. Wilkinson, H., M. Driver, K. S. Ramsay, D. Larnach, J. Loudon, D. F. H. Sharpe, H. E. Moller, H. C. Campbell, IV. Gow, J. A. Cable, T. Anderson, and Captain Coll M'Donald. The bank balances showed a net credit of £9142 15s Id. RESERVES AND OTHER LANDS DISPOSAL BILLA communication was received from the Public Works Department forwarding copy of Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill, relating to the exchange of land between the board and the department. The Chairman said that an error had occurred in the Bill, as the word “north had been inserted instead of “south. The correction could be made by Order-iu-Council. .... , Mr Gow: They are always thinking of the north. The letter was received. BALLOON LOOP AT LOGAN PARK. The Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) wrote stating that the City Council could not pay anything like what the board might regard as a fair rental based on the value of the land on which the balloon loop was situated. The council bad spent a considerable sum on the area, and was willing to pay a nominal rental of. say, £lO a year for the time being. The actual value of the loop depended entirely upon the few occasions of a “ rush ” loading, and unless the board could see its way to allow the rails to remain meanwhile on payment of a very nominal rental, the council would have to lift them and revert to the alternative method of changing over—that was, by swinging the pole. Mr Cable moved—" That the board give permission to the council to have the loop at the park at a rental of £25 per annum, during the pleasure of the board.” Mr Loudon seconded the motion. Mr Anderson agreed with the chairman that by accepting a rent of £25 per annum they would be practically fixing the rent and banding over the property for all time. Mr Moller said that they might make the lease terminable in three months’ time. The Chairman said the City Council were paying nothing, and were in possession. Mr Gow wanted to know how the quarter of the acre in which the loop was situated would affect the frontages of the board’s sections. It was agreed to pass Mr Cable’s motion with the proviso that the lease should bo terminable on three months’ notice on either side. Captain M’Donald and Messrs Gow and Anderson voted against the motion being passed. SOUTH ISLAND SHIPPING FACILITIES. The Standing Committee recommended that the Otago Fruit Brokers’ Association be advised that the board cordially approves of the statements confined in its communications regarding South Island shipping facilities, and would do all in its power to got a flat rate to South Island ports for all subsidised services and also to get a direct, service between South Island ports and Melbourne and Sydney; and. further, that the board was also prepared to loin in the proposed function to Sir Joseph Ward on his visit to Dunedin. The recommendation was adopted. FERRY STEAMERS FOR SALE. The Standing Committee recommended that with respect, to the communication from the Peninsula Ferry Co. offering the ferry steamers Waireka and Waikana for sale, the company be advised that the board regrets that, it cannot • see its wav to entertain the offer. The recommendation was adopted. RAILWAY SIDINGS. The Standing Committee recommended for approval the plan forwarded by the district engineer, New Zealand Railways, showing the proposed connections for the Milburn Lime and Cement Co. and the British Imperial Oil Co. The recommendation was adopted. It was decided to thank the City Council for the capable manner in which it had put down thp Wickliffe street, and also to congratulate the staff of the board for the manner in which it had put in the line. RAILWAY BOARD’S OFFER. The Standing Committee recommended that whilst strongly dissenting from the attitude of the Railways Board, the offers — vir... Is per cubic yard on the estimated filling-in of the land in Frederick street (£2500 area) and £2OO per acre (South Endowment) 4j acre area (£SOOO area) bo accepted. Mr Loudon said that the department claimed that it was only really called on to pay for the filling in. The Chairman said the department paid for the land as it stood, and also for the reclamation. Mr Jones, the chairman of the Railway Board, had told him that the reason for the payment for the land was that the board bad placed the retaining wall across the jiarbour, and the payment for the land was in part payment of that wall. The Railway Board thought they were treating the board very well. The clause was adopted. CONSTRUCTION OF WHARF STREET. The Secretary submitted a minute regarding the laying down of Wharf street in accordance with an arrangement between the board and the City Council. The minute stated that the acting-engineer had been requested to prepare a plan that members might see the position clearly. This he had done, and it was on the table. Consequent on the board’s refusal to make any payment, the city engineer intended to leave the narrow strip immediately in front of N shed unformed. To do this would create an absurd position as between two local bodies. The acting-engineer’s minute would lie on the board table, and the secretary recommended that the whole of the work, which included paving on portion of the board s own land at an estimate cost of £1471, be carri d out. The minute was adopted. RECLAMATION OF MUSSEL BAY. The sub-committee recommended the following for the board s adoption in regard to the reclamation of Mussel Bay:— “ 1. That the board is not prepared to reclaim any portion of Mussel Bay beyond the area (5 acres 1 rood 29 poles—approximately 4J acres still unreclaimed) proposed to be need aa a recreation ground for the Borough of Port Chalmers, until such time aa definite arrangements are made beteen the two bodies as to the question of drainage and sewerage. 2. That the Port Chalmers Borough Council be advised that they must undertake the whole responsibility and cost of any drainage or sewerage through the area referred to in clause 1, or any other portion of Mussel Bay, which may now, or hereafter, be reclaimed by the board. “ 3 That, in terms of the decision of the board in 1921 that the Port Chalmers Borough Council was to pay to the board the cost of reclamation of the si-acre area, the board is prepared to meet the council in conference tor the purpose of endeavouring to fix such cost; also to discuss the general questions ol drainage, sewerage, and roadway. ’ Mr Loudon said there was no reason why their board should spend a lot of money for the benefit of an outside body What they wanted to make certain was that they were not to bo mulcted in heavy cost for reading, draining, and sewerage. Mr fable said bo thought the board should assist the Port Chalmers Council in some small way seeing that it got the la The Chairman said that he did not anticipate that they would reclaim any portion bevond the reserve for the council. It would be many years before the other part was reclaimed, and they should not bind any future board. He did not think there was any great necessity to deal with the later clauses in the minute in the meantl'klr Gow said he did not think there was any reason to withdraw anything regarding the future operations of the board. If the Port Chalmers Council would take a reasonable view with regard to the carrving of the sewer to the boundary lino the board might see its way to take the extension across to the railway line. The minute was adopted. THE DO AT HARBOUR. Mr Moller raised the question of the rent of the Otago Yacht Club for the boat harbour. Ho sa,d the club had no chance of paying £4O per annum. The Chairman said the club had never paid the peppercorn rental of Is per annum over the past rour years. Mr Moller said the club had spent a lot of money on the sheds, etc., and it had to pay £26 a year rent for these sheds. It was decided to refer the matter to

the Standing Committee of the board for a report. ACCOUNTS FOR. PAYMENT. The Standing Committee recommended that general accounts totalling £15,932 8s 2d and supplementary accounts to September 30 and dock accounts totalling £3287 12s 3d and supplementary accounts to September 30 be passed for payment. Mr Wilkinson said that a great part of the larger amount was made up of interest on their loan. The recommendation was approved. SHIPPING RETURNS. The Harbourmaster (Captain MacLeant submitted the following report for the month of August:— Arrivals. —Dunedin: Coastal, S 3 vessels, 18,411 tons; intercolonial, four vessels 7306 tons: overseas, six vessels, 21,816 tons; Government, one vessel, 412. tons; — totals, 44 vessels, 47,945 tons. Port Chalmers: Coastal, one vessel, 29 tons; overseas, four vessels, '0,201 tons; —totals, five vessels, 20,200 tons. Departures.—Dunedin: Coastal, 33 ves sels, 17,917 tons: intercolonial, five vessels, 11,265 tons; overseas, five vessels, 16,650 tons; —totals, 43 vessels, 45,832 tons. Port Chalmers: Overseas, four vessels, 20,261 tons; whalers, two vessels, 100 tons; ’ —totals, six vessels, 20,361 tons. Pilotage.—lnwards, 10 vessels, 42,077 tons; outwards, nine vessels, 36,947 tons; removals, three vessels, 10,662 tons; — totals, 22 vessels, 89,686 tons. Tug Dunedin.—Hours’ steaming, 75; distance steamed, 331 miles; coal consumed, 58 tons lOowt. Soundings (reduced to L.W. depths).— Lower Harbour; Entrance North Channel, 35ft, 7001 t wide; Harrington Point Bend, 33ft, 350 ft wide; Hamilton Bay 26ft (dredge working this locality); Deborah Bay, 30ft, 300 ft wide. Upper Harbour: Half-way Islands to Kilgour Point, 19ft (width various); Victoria Channel, 20ft (width various). At Dunedin wharves and basin ns shown on plans denth from 14ft to 23ft.