OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21521, 18 December 1931, Page 3

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held last night and was attended by Messrs J. Loudon (chairman), W. Begg, J. B. Waters, A. Campbell. T. Anderson, J. M'C. Dickson, H. M. Driver, H. C. Campbell, and Captain Coll M'Donald. FISHERMEN'S REQUEST. A letter was received from the Port Chalmers Fishermen’s Co-operative Society, Ltd., asking for the erection of a shelter over the staging to protect fish awaiting shipment by rail. It also asked for the enlargement of the' hut, on the landing. . . „ „ It was decided to ask the Railways Department to carry out the work. FLOOD PROTECTION. Various aspects of the proposed Leith canal flood protection work were discussed, and the draft bill authorising the diversion of loan money was approved. Authority was granted for the calling of tenders for the steel necessary for the works. ST LEONARDS BEACH. A letter was received from the BurkesSt. Leonards Progressive League asking that a further load of sand, should he deposited on St. Leonards Beach. The request wa a granted. SALE OF BUILDINGS. The Dunedin Demolition Company made an offer of £23 10a for the purchase for removal of the buildings on a. section purchased from Miss Sundstrum m lower Rattray street. The offer was declined. ENGINEERS’ CONFERENCE. A letter was received from the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers asking that Messrs Wilkie and Swanson should be permitted to attend the annual conference in Wellington in Februa y was decided to pay the expenses of one engineer, the arrangements being Jett in the hands of Mr Wilkie. RAILS ON GEORGE STREET WHARF. A letter was received from Mr H. H. Sterling, as General Manager of Railways, stating that during a recent visit to Dunedin he had paid a visit to Port Chalmers to investigate .the request ot the board for the extension of the rails on the George street wharf. After care fully considering the matter he had come to the conclusion, that the expenditure would not be justified. Mr Begg: That ends. that. The letter was received. HARRINGTON POINT WHARF. A letter was received from the Marine Department stating that the board s objection to the lease of the Harr gt Point wharf to a private person without reference to the board had been received and was being investigated. , Mr R. C. Miller wrote explaining his position and asking the board to withhold % matter over until a 'full reply was received from the Marine Department. DUES ON PRODUCE. With respect to a letter from Messrs Fraser and Co. asking, for a reduction in dues on produce in view of a reduction of dues on fertilisers, the secretary, reported that he had replied communicating the board’s views that the cases were not analogous and stating that no reduction could be made. ir After a further letter from Messrs Fraser and Co. had been read the question was discussed at length and tne opinion was expressed by several members that a reduction in dues would result in increased shipments. • The matter was referred to the Hues Committee for a report. RAILWAY CONNECTION WITH VICTORIA WHARF. The sub-committee set up to report on railway connection with Victoria whari reported that it bad given careful consideration to the question as to the best method of bringing pressure to bear on the Railways Board to make the connection to Victoria wharf and to eliminate or reduce the proposed haulage charge ot 2s 6d per ton from the goods yard to the lie-lines at Victoria wharf. Finally the following resolution had been adopted by the committee, a copy being duly forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce—- " That it would be advisable for the Chamber of Commerce, the Importers and Shippers' Association, and; other bodies interested, to meet, the Harbour Board in conference to discuss the question ot railway connection with the Victoria wharf via Wickliffe street, and that the Chamber of Commerce be asked to convene such meeting. The Harbour Board is of opinion that the conference indicated should take place at the earliest possible date.” , . , The report was adopted. TENDERS. The tender of the Shell Oil Company for supplies of kerosene at current rates was accepted. The Vacuum Oil Company’s tender for the supply of fuel oil at the rate of lid per gallon was accepted. FINANCE. The secretary reported that the credit balance in the bank was £935 15s 7d. Accounts amounting to £26,799 5s 7d were passed for payment. HARBOUR DUES. After the reading of a letter from the •Minister of Marine acknowledging receipt of a copy of by-law No. 21, reference was made to a statement, made by Mr H.. C. Campbell at a meeting of the Standing Committee earlier in the evening that it was unfair that, while the Railways Department could alter its charges at will, the board’s dues were fixed and had to be approved by the Marine Department. Mr T. Anderson said that this was a matter that should be considered by the Dues Committee. Mr Campbell added that the sooner-the Government made a flat rate for the whole of the harbour boards of the Dominion the better. BERTHAGE CHARGES FOR LAID-UP VESSELS. The engineer and harbour master, who had been asked to submit a report on a proposal to reduce berthage charges on vessels temporarily laid-up or out of.commission, presented the following statement: — Auckland and Wellington.—Vessels may be permitted to occupy a berth during the time they are laid up on payment to the board of one-eighth of a penny per ton net register, per day or part of a day, Sundays and holidays free. At Wellington there is a minimum charge of £2 10s per calendar month, and Saturdays are charged at half rates. Lyttelton.—At this port the conditions are the same as at Auckland, but the charge is one farthing per ton per day or part of a day, excluding Sunday and holidays. Otago.—The conditions are similar to those obtaining in the other ports, but the charge is one halfpenny per ton per day or part of a day, with a maximum charge of 10 days’ berthage per calendar month or part thereof. Berthage charges on a 5000-ton vessel at the various ports would be as under:

While the wharves were under the control of the Railways Department the charges were id per ton per day or part of a day, with a minimum charge of £2 per day and a maximum charge of £25 per mouth. It seems to us that vessels should be encouraged to lay up at this port for two reasons: — 1. Revenue would be obtained from berths which otherwise would be idle. 2. There is a reasonable possibility that some of the vessels which have been laid up in the port will require to be docked before going into commission. This, also, would mean additional revenue. The charges at the Port of Otago were high, and we suggest that the only way to encourage vessels to lay-up here is to reduce the charges. As a basis of discussion we suggest a charge of one-eighth of a penny per ton per day, with a maximum of 10 days per month. We are of the opinion that no wharf should be set aside especially for a lay-up berth, but owners intending to lay up their vessels should notify their intentions, and berths will be allotted as specified in by-law 20. After a lengthy discussion, during which it was pointed out that the proposal would bring more work to the port, the report was adopted, with the exception that the charge was reduced from id (as recommended in the report) to l-16d per ton per day.

HARBOUR MASTER’S REPORT. The harbour master (Captain J. MacLean) reported that 37 vessels had arrived at Dunedin and Port Chalmers during the month and 38 had departed. The tug Dunedin had steamed 172 miles, consuming 27 tons scwt of coal. The least water in the north channel from soundings taken on December 2 was 33ft low water on the line of leads, the bank extending more to the westward. In the near future some alteration would have to be done in connection with the leading beacons. The south channel was scouring out around Taiaroa Heads, the least water being 26ft low water and the width of this 26ft patch was only 800 ft. The lower harbour was maintaining a depth of 30ft at low water, with a least width of 300 ft in Deborah Bay. The Victoria channel was maintaining a low-water depth of 20ft 6iu. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The report of the engineer (Mr J. M‘G. Wilkie was as follows: Dredge Otakou. —During the mouth of November dredge Otakou carried from red piles 3-4 and Otago dock entrance 20 loads, aggregating 29,600 cubic yards. Of this material 17 loads, or 25,160 cubic yards, were deposited at the dredge Vulcan and three loads, or 4440 cubic yards, at the Heads. During the month the dredge steamed SOI miles and consumed 75 tons of fuel oil. On November 24 the dredge was docked for annual Government inspection and general overhaul, which included cleaning and painting, drawing propeller shafts, and rewooding liners, opening up all machinery .and boilers for inspection, and making the necessary adjustments and repairs. The dredge resumed operations on the 14th inst. Dredge Vulcan. —During the mouth of November the dredge Vulcan pumped 25,160 cubic yards of material received from dredge Otakou into the south endowment" reclamation area. Before undergoing general overhaul, the Vulcan was engaged in dredging a flotation area for the Otakou. The overhaul _ included relining the gravel pump, fitting new spur gearing for the cutter drive, and renewing all the pipes of the floating pipe line. Docks.—During the month nine vessels were docked. The drainage pumps were in operation for 683 hours, and the electric crane for 114 hours. The sheerlegs were in operation for three hours. Mole Reconstruction.—During the period of four weeks ended December 5 3810 cubic yards of stone were deposited on the mole and 625 cubic yards of debris on the root of the mole. Stonework has now reached within eight bays of the end of the structure. The usual maintenance repairs were effected to the quarry machinery. Victoria Wharf Reconstruction. —Three hundred feet oT backing was repaired and 700 feet renewed. The sleepers between the rails on the open portion were adzed ready for crossings and decking. Fish Landing Stage (Port Chalmers) . The work of covering the deck of this staging with a concrete slab and the installation of a concrete gutter was completed. , . , , Wharf Lighting.—Two electric light poles were erected at the Port Chalmers wharves. Broad Bay Wharf—Repairs were effected to a portion of the outer end of this wharf where damaged by a ferry steamer. The small boat landing steps and portion of the decking were repaired where necessary. A new roof was fitted to the waiting shed to replace the one blown away by the recent storm. Sea Wall aiid Boatshed, Havensbourne. —A portion of the wall in the vicinity of the Ravensbourne Boating Club’s shed was repaired with stone removed from the upper end of the half-tide wall. South Endowment Wall. —To date, a length of 4059 feet of the seaward face of this wall was hand pitched with stone. Storage Sheds.—The usual maintenance repairs were effected to the various sheds where necessary. Roads.—The work of permanently forming the board’s roadway from T to X sheds is progressing. A length of 360 feet by 28 feet in width was completed, and a further section of the same dimensions is nearing completion. Relief Works.—Relief workers were engaged erecting walls for reclamation purposes at the Leith Estuary area. Leith Canal.—Excavation operations were commenced with relief labour on that portion of the Leith canal proposed to be widened between Harbour terrace and the highway bridge, A considerable quantity of plant comprising barrows, picks, shovels, and planks was acquired. Portable sheds for storing gear %vere removed to the site, and conveniences erected. Slip.-—Two punts of the Vulcan’s floating pipe line were slipped for cleaning tarring, and repairs to pipe trestles. The report was adopted. SEASON’S GREETINGS. At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman thanked the members of the board for their assistance during a strenuous year, and extended to them the compliments of the season. Mr Dickson reciprocated the good wishes on behalf of the board. The chairman also paid a tribute to the work of the board’s officers.

Per month of Charge. 1 day. 26 days. Auckland .. Jd £2 12 1 £67 14 2 Wellington.. Jd 2 12 1 62 10 0 Lyttelton .. d 5 4 2 135 8 4 Otago .. .. Jd 10 8 4 104 3 4