OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20964, 1 March 1930, Page 7

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held last night; present— Messrs W. Gow (chairman), W. Begg, J. M. Dickson, H. M. Driver, J. H. Duocan, D. Larnach, J. Loudon, W. G. Love, jun., H. E. Moller, J. W. Munro, T. Scollay, D. P. H. Sharpe, and Captain M'Donald. FINANCIAL. The bank book showed a credit balance of £16,804 3s Id. Accounts amounting to £13,790 16s lid were passed for payment. EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY. The secretary reported that, on behalf of the board, he had forwarded expressions of sympathy to the relatives of Sir Thomas Mackenzie and Mrs Ramsay. HARBOUR MASTER’S REPORT. The harbour master reported the following channel soundings:—Lower Harbour: North channel on line of leads 35ft at low water, 700 ft wide (approx.); south channel is increasing, and Hewlett shoal is gradually washing away; Harrington Bend, 33ft low water, 350 ft wide; cross channel, 40ft low water, 500 ft wide; Hamilton Bay, 30ft low water, 600 ft wide; Deborah Bay, 30ft low water, 300 ft wide. Upper Harbour: The Upper Harbour has not been sounded since last reported in January. Soundings will be taken as opportunity and weather permits during the month. The least water in Victoria channel at present is 20ft at low water. During January, 25 coastal vessels, five intercolonial vessels, six overseas vessels, and three warships arrived at Dunedin, representing 53,787 tons; and three coastal vessels and six overseas vessels at Port Chalmers, representing 29,579 tons. The departures from Dunedin were:—Coastal vessels, 28; intercolonial, 4; overseas, 7, and warships, 2; and the departures from Port Chalmers were three coastal vessels and eight overseas vessels. The tug Dunedin steamed 323 miles, and consumed 49 tons of coal. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer reported that during January the dredge Otakou lifted 35 loads (48,840 cubic yards) off the George street pier at Port Chalmers, and deposited them at the Heads. Dredge 222 lifted 36 loads (29,988 cubic yards) from the bank off Victoria wharf • and deposited them at the dredge Vulcan, which had pumped the material into the Logan Point reclamation area. Both dredges had worked for 25 days. Six vessels were docked. The stone placed on the mole was as follows: —1470 cubic yards from the old quarry, and 1955 yards from the new quarry, while 255 cubic yards of debris were placed on the root of the mole, and 46 cubic yards on the Port Chalmers road. The stone was now up to low water level at bay 177, or 3872 feet from the root of the mole. Dredge 222 would go out of commission on February 18. All moorings had been lifted ready to transfer to dredge Otakou, which it was proposed to work in two shifts. In consequence, the Vulcan would be laid up. The punts would be slipped for cleaning and repairs, and repairs to the pipe line would be attended to. RATTRAY STREET WIDENING. The secretary reported that he had written to the town clerk stating that the matter of widening portion of Rattray street had again been considered by the board, and that in view of the fact that the erection of the shed was well in hand it urged that the widening work should be completed as early as possible. 'He had received a reply from the town clerk stating that the letter had been submitted to the Works Committee. The estimated cost of the work would be £1604. — (Mr Larnach: Eh!) It was regretted that no funds were available at present. The City Council’s share of £BO2 had been included for consideration with next year’s allocation. Mr Sharpe stated that the land had been acquired by the board months ago, but at present all traffic was confined to a space of 33 feet. The congestion was a disgrace. Mr Loudon moved that the council be urged to include the cost in the next allocations. Mr Larnach: We have two members of the Works Committee here. Can’t they get something. Mr Munro: We are members of the Harbour Board while we are here. The motion was carried, FLOOD DAMAGE. The secretary reported that he had written to Messrs J. T. Glau and George Clark stating that the board could hot accept any liability for damage to their properties, and that in view of its decision no good purpose could be served by the board hearing them personally. Both replied demanding . that they should be heard, and it was agreed to allow- them to wait on the board at the next meeting of the Standing Committee. A DONATION. The Standing Committee recommended that the sum of £lO 10s be contributed to the funds of the Shipwreck Reliet Society. Mr Scollay said that the society did remarkably fine work in connection with the wreck of the Manuka. Mr Larnach: Wouldn’t it be interesting to get a balance sheet from this society—and many others? The chairman: They will probably send you one without being asked for it. The recommendation was adopted. LEITH CANAL WALLS. The Standing Committee recommended that with respect to the communieatoion from the Otago Labour Representation Committee in connection with the raising of the walls of the Leith Canal above Forth street, the committee be advised that the subject matter of their communication was one for the City Council to deal with. The recommendation was adopted. NEW PIJE LINE. The Standing Committee recommended that, with respect to the communication from the Shell Company of New Zealand Ltd., requesting permission to lay an eight-inch fuel oil pipe line from the wharf to their depot, permission be granted, subject to the same conditions appertaining to their present pipe line. The recommendation was adopted.' RAILWAY TO WHARF. The secretary reported that plans had been forwarded to the general manager of railways showing the board’s tentative idea of the scheme of connecting Victoria wharf with the railway by way of Wickliffe and Fryat streets. The board was just landing two three-ton cranes for the vharf, the proposal being that importers and exporters should have the opportunity of direct railage to and from the whart. Mould the department give the matter consideration, advising its viewpoint and proposed charges? Mr Scollay asked what was the weight of the cranes. The chairman said the cranes weighed - about 60 tons each. The secretary said a formal reply had been received from the Railways Department stating that the question would be looked into ou his return to Wellington. QUESTION BY MR SHARPE. Mr Sharpe called attention to the tact that certain items on the Standing Committee’s order paper did not appear on the board's order paper that night. There were reports on the shallows in Victoria channel, and the rocks at the islands. It was understood that copies of these reports would be forwarded to members prior to consideration of the two matters at the present meeting. Ihe chairman said that at the meeting of the Standing Committee it was agreed to send copies of the reports to members, these reports to be considered at the next meeting of the Standing Committee.

PELICHET BAY LAND, The Standing Committee recommended that, provided the Railways Department surrendered the station master’s house section at Pelichet Bay, the board grant an equivalent area by way of addition to the goods yard. Mr Larnach said that when the Govern* ment took land for railway purposes and did not use it, it ought to be handed, back to the board. An area of land in this position was that on which the Early Settlers’ Hall now stood. The report was agreed to. RECLAIMING HARBOUR BAYS. Captain Col M'Donald stated that he wished to refer to the expense that was being incurred through spoil from the harbour being taken outside the Heads. As a member of the board representing shipping interests, which paid a large amount in the form of dues, he* must enter a protest against transporting the material at such a cost when there were areas available for reclamation. There were areas at Burkes and the head of the harbour which could be filled, and the time had arrived for the reduction of the enormous expense of transporting the spoil. It was now three years since he had asked the chairman to furnish a report on what it would cost to run a pipe line through Anderson’s Bay to the ocean —a distance of a quarter of a mile. So far no information had been forthcoming. He often wondered whether it was worth while saying anything in connection’ with economical working when , this kind of thing went on. There were two spaces which held little water at high tide, and if Otago Harbour depended on that little drop of water, then the board was in a bad way.— (“Hear, hear.”) The sooner the board took the responsibility of seeing that these areas were used the better it would be for economical wbrking, It was his intention, unless something was forthcoming, and it was proved necessary to transport spoil 20 miles, to give notice of motion that the Otakou be laid up until such time as spaces were available. Mr Larnach: Move that we hold a special meeting to consider the matter. Captain M'Donald promptly acted on the suggestion. The chairman stated that he did not suppose that the board would get anywhere in the meantime. It was scarcely ready to discuss the matter even in committee. He suggested that Captain M'Donald should move that a report be furnished regarding the filling of the bays before the next Standing Committee meeting.

Captain M'Donald said that he did not want to put himself in the position of having to say more than he had that night. He wanted to see the board take the responsibility in this matter and carry it through. He did not want the engineer to take the responsibility. He was prepared to move that the spaces be filled instead of spending £6OO or £7OO, or even £IOOO a month on transporting the material. In his opinion, it was not necessary. He wanted the board to deal with the matter. Mr Larnach seconded the motion.

Mr Moller said the board might agree to the reclamation suggested by the mover, but nothing could be done without the permission of the Marine Department, and if the department objected nothing could be done.

The chairman said it would be right to allow the motion to go through. The board could only say that, assuming the department gave permission, it would fill the bays. Mr Dickson said that, to his mind, it was fudge to say the reclamation of two small bays would have an effect on the flow at the Heads. The reclamation of a few acres could not possibly affect the bar. It was necessary to obtain an area for receiving the spoil from the harboup, and that, of course, raised the question of the southern endowment. He thought it would be well to use that endowment for t a king the spoil from the harbour If' that was not done the board ought to surrender the eight it had to reclaim the southern endowment and ask permission to reclaim the two areas down the harbour and an increased area at Mussel Bay. He hoped, however, that arrangements would be made to proceed with the work at the southern en dowment. Mr Dickson went on to say that arrangements ought to be made to get stone for the mole. At present 'he work was only half done, and the prospect’ of getting stone from the quarry of the size required was not bright. At present the work was only being tinkered with. An immense quantity of stone would be required yet for the mole, and if the work was to be allowed to drift along as at present, the money now allocated would not be anything like sufficient to carry it out.

Mr Loudon supported Captain M'Donald, and urged that steps be taken immediately to get authority from the Marine Department to fill in the indentations at Burkes, St. Leonards, and Mussel Bay, He opposed any proposal to embark on the southern endowment work until a proper understanding had been come to with respect to the drainage. He did not think the filling in of the bays would affect the scour at the Heads.

Mr Sharpe said the bays were filling up themselves as time went by, and he could not see that the Marine Department would object to the board hurrying up the process.

Mr Duncan said that since the spoil had been deposited outside the Heads the bar was two feet shallower than previously. He would rather see the dredge tied up than have the spoil deposited outside the Heads. The motion was carried. THE ROCK AT THE ISLANDS. A discussion took place with respect to the shifting of the rock at Quarantine Island, and Mr Sharpe mentioned that a large oil steamer was on its way to this port and the harbour master was in doubt whether he would allow it to come between the islands to Dunedin The chairman said that the'question of dealing with this rock, which was at one side of the deep channel between the islands was raised three years ago by himself He said then that the board ought to get rid of the rock. in^l92s' oUdori Sald he PaiSed the tiuestioll The chairman said that the work was not provided for in the £350,000 loan which was unfortunate, and therefore the work would have to be done out of the ordinary revenue of the board, and at present the revenue of the board was not elastic enough to allow the work to be done with funds from that source, Mr Holler: I suppose it will take a couple of years to remove the rock. The chairman: When a number of'holes are bored in the rock and explosives placed in them it will take about 10 minutes.—(Laughter.) Captain M'Donald said he hoped the board would make every effort to remove this danger, which was the only danger in the Harbour.

Mr Scollay said the rock was a distinct menace to shipping, and shipowners ought to be notified of the risk their vessels were running in coming into the Upper Harbour,

Mr Moller deprecated any remarks by members that would harm the Harbour. So far there had been only two accidents on the rock.

Mr Sharpe: I brought up the matter to let the public know why the ships are not coming up to Dunedin.

The chairman said that no ship longer than 480 ft was permitted to come to Dunedin, The fear was that a vessel’s stern might swing with the tide and hit the rock.

Captain M'Donald said the existence of the rock was well known to the shipping companies, and the recommendation had come from them in the first place that no vessel over 4Soft in length should be taken between the islands. After further discussion it was resolved to instruct the engineer to take steps to remove the rock at Quarantine Island as soon as the drilling plant is

available. An amendment, that the sccretary prepare a report on the finances to carry out the work was lost. SOUTHERN ENDOWMENT. Captain M'Donald and Mr Duncan were added to the Southern Endowment Committee, and Mr Munro withdrew. Mr Dickson moved that the secretary take steps to have a round-the-table discussion arranged with the Drainage Board. ■ Every member, he stated, was alive to the fact that the board must obtain some place to deposit its spoil. The motion was carried.