OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22479, 25 January 1935, Page 7

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held last night, and was attended bv Messrs J. Loudon (in the chair), Hi E. Moller, T. Scollay, A. Campbell, D. F. H. Sharpe, J. Munro, M.P., F. E. Tyson, F. Jones, M.P., J. B. Waters, R. Duncail, and W. Beggi The chairman of the board (Mr H. C. Campbell) was granted three weeks’ leave of absence owing to ill-health. It was also decided to grant Mr J. M'C. Dickson another month’s leave of absence. s FINANCIAL. The net credit balance at the bank was stated to be £14,962 6s. BOAT SHEDS. A letter was received from the North End Boating Club expressing its appreciation of the splendid work carried out in repairing its boat shed and also for the reasonable charge made. —The letter was read. REQUEST DECLINED. A letter was received from the acting general manager of railways with respect to the representations made to the Railways Board in regard to the institution of a flat rail rate on goods forwarded to Port Chalmers and Dunedin for shipment, and advising that the request that no differentiation be made in the rates cannot be acceded to. —The letter was received. DONATIONS REQUESTED. The secretary of the Dunedin Waterside Workers’ Union wrote requesting a donation to its picnic funds (previous donations —1933', 1924, 1929 £5 ss, 1930, 1931 £3 3s, 1932, 1933 no application, 1934 £,3 3sj.—lt was decided to make a grant of £3 x 3s. A letter was received from the Port Chalmers Waterside Workers’ Union requesting a donation to its picnic funds (previous donations—l92s, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931 £S Ss each, 1932, 1933 no application, 1934 £3 3s). —It was decided to make a grant of £3 3s. The board’s employees’ Picnic Committee wrote asking that a half-holiday be granted on the occasion of the annual picnic on February 9, and'also requesting a donation to the funds (Usual donation £5 6s). —It was decided to make a grant of £5 ss. It was also decided *to give the employees a half-holiday on the day of their picnic. AERO' CLUB. A letter was received from the Otago Aero Club issuing an invitation to members and their wives to visit the Taieri aerodrome on Wednesday afternoon, the 30th inst. —It was decided to accept the invitation with thanks. MOLE WORKS. A letter was received from the Otago and Southland General Labourers’ Union submitting suggested new conditions (or mole workers in lieu of those contained in the industrial agreement now expired. —A sub-committee consisting of Messrs Loudon, A. Campbell, and Duncan was appointed to confer with the union, and report to the board at its next meeting. ROADS AT ARAMOANA. A communication was received from the Waikouaiti County Council in regard to the loan of its crusher in connection with improvements to Aramoana road.—lt wa s decided to hold over the matter till next meeting of the board. REVENUE FOR THREE MONTHS. The revenue for the three months ended December 31, 1934, was submitted with the comparative figures for the three previous years. The details are as follows; — 1931-32, £31,858; 1932-33, £28,961; 193334, £31,045; 1934-35, £35,159. These figures do not include refunds of relief wages. RETURNS OF CARGO. The, return of cargo for the three monthg ended December 31, 1934, with the comparative figures for the three previous years showed the following: Imports and exports, intercolonial, coastal, and overseas; —October-Decem-ber, 1934-35, 94,007 tons; 1933-34 79,686 tons; 1932-33, 76,206 tons, 1931-32, 69,864 tons. SHIPPING FIGURES. The following are the details ot shipping to Dunedin and Port Chalmers for the thred months, ended December 31, 1934, with the comparative figures for the three previous years;— 1934-35, Oeto-ber-December, 151 vessels, 235,125 tons; 1933-34, 157 vessels. 240,171 tons; 1932-33. 131 vessels, 204,297 tons; 1931-32, 126 vessels, 226,260 tons.

HARBOUR MASTER’S REPORT. The harbour master (Captain MacLean) reported as follows under date January 10: — Arrivals, Dunedin: Coastal 29 vessels, 19,183 tons; intercolonial 5 vessels, 12,724 tons; overseas 9 vessels, 40,037 tons; totals, 43 vessels, 71,944 tons. Arrivals, Port Chalmers. —Coastal 4 vessels, 1677 tons; overseas 2 vessels, 10,197 tons; totals, 6 vessels, 11,874 tons. Departures, Dunedin: Coastal 29 vessels, 18,390 tons; intercolonial 5 vessels, 12,724 tons; overseas 8 vessels, 34,586 tons; totals;, 42 vessels, 65,699 tons. • Departures. Port Chalmers: Coastal 1 vessel, 488 tons; overseas 3 vessels, 15,649 tons; totals, 4 Vessels, 16,137 tons. Channel Soundings.—North channel; There is 35 feet at low water in the north channel with widths varying approximately from 800 feet abreast of the Mole end to 500 feet at the end of the bank off Hayward Point. South channel: At low water through the centre of this channel shows 25 feet. Lower harbour: From the Mole end to Port" Chalmers, there is 30 feet at low water with various widths. The narrowest portions are—Harrington Point, 33 feet-350 feet wide; Deborah Bay. 30 feet-350 feet wide; South channel, 24 .feet, varies up to 2000 feet wide; north channel, 35 feet,soo feet wide. * 'Dredging is required at the north side of Bowen pier and also at the Ravensbourne wharf. The basin at Dunedin also requires attention. The report was received. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr M‘G. Wilkie) reported as follows under date January 18: The dredge underwent annual overhaul and' Government survey from December 3 to 21, 1934, when repairs were carried out. Operations were commenced on January 7, 1935, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. During the month of December, 1934, no pumping operations were carried out by the Vulcan. The annual overhaul of the dredge was carried out during the month. Docks. —During the month of December. 1934,' two vessels were docked. The drainage pumps were in operation for 533 hours 45 minutes, and the electric Crane 14 hours (eight hours in the board’s service). Mole Reconstruction.—During the period of three weeks ended December the following operations were carried out at the quarry:—A total of 2440 cubic yards of stone was deposited on the Mole and 750 cubic yards of debris at the swamp reclamation; 35 cubic yards of debris on ..the Mole approach and 55 cubic yards of debris on the Beach road trackwork. The usual maintenance work was carried out to the trackwork. The works were closed down for the Christmas-New Year holidays on December 22, 1934, and operations were recommenced on January 7, 1935, Mussel Bay.—No material was deposited in this area during the month of December, the works being confined to the construction of the stone retaining wall. A length of 150 feet was completed to finished height, and 310 cubic yards of stone was placed and hand packed. Birch Street Wharf.—Various repairs were effected to the decking of this wharf. Rattray Street Wharf. —A portion of the decking in front of the Waterside Workers’ Building was renewed. , Signal Station, Taiaroa Head.—The repairs to the signalmen’s houses were completed and all fences repaired or renewed where necessary and painted. All paths were asphalted and the signal station painted, weather boards renewed where necessary and new spouting erected. The flag locker roof was re-covered with Malthoid, and floor boards repaired. Storage Sheds. —Considerable repairs were effected to the timber doors and floors of the various sheds; all spouting, gutters and downpipes cleaned out weekly, and wire roses fitted to all downpipes. Relief Works. —Relief workers were employed erecting walls for reclamation purposes at the Leith estuary and south endowment areas. The dredge launch Waiata was slipped for annual survey and overhaul. The wheelhouse of the Maroro was completed; steering gear overhauled, and deckhouse planking renewed. Harbour Survey.—The Hewlett Point dredge cut was sounded and cross sections taken of the Mole and plans prepared. The report was received. Twelve thousand pats an hour are formed, stamped with a design and packed in a tin by the “butter pat” champion of Cadby Hall, London. Despite exhaustive inquiries, no machine has yet been found to equal her dexterity.