HARBOUR BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22717, 1 November 1935, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held last night, and was attended by Messrs J. B. Waters (chairman), T. Scollav, D. F. H. Sharpe, F. S. Tyson, H. C. Campbell, J. W. Munro, M.P., D. Copland, W. Begg, R. S. Thompson and J." Preston.FINANCIAL. The bank balances showed a net credit balance of £17,195 19s 7d. ADVERTISING THE PORT. A letter was received from Filmcraft, Ltd., inviting contributions towards the cost of a sound film dealing with South Island attractions. It was stated that four copies of 1000 feet of sound film (11 minutes screening time) would cost £4OO. The film would be shown in many countries. The Tourist Department was supporting. the movement', as were also many public bodies. Mr Tyson said that he could not see that such a film was going to bring any revenue to the board. He moved that the request be declined. Mr Campbell seconded the motion, which was tarried. DONATION BY THE BOARD. The Standing Committee reported that it had approved of a letter to the Otago A. and P. Society with respect to the form; of the board's trophy, and the conditions, and had noted the reply from the society acknowledging the gift and thanking the board for its donation. ■ The letter was receive'd. ROADING The Standing Committee reported that it had noted a communication from Radiation N.Z., Ltd., requesting that the depressions between boundary of its land and Fryatt street be filled in, and had approved the communication to the town clerk requesting to be advised of the estimated cost of the formation of Fryatt street between Mason and Bauchop streets. The chairman said that the board was still waiting for the information desired. ROAD TO SPIT. The Standing Committee, in the matter of a communication from the Waikouaiti County Council requesting the board to contribute a proportion of the cost of providing 300 yards of metal for repairs to the Lower Harbour road (estimated cost, £160), recommended that consideration be held, over pending the receipt of further information concerning the recent application of the Waikouaiti County Council to the Highways Board to have the road from the Port Chalmers boundary to the Spit declared a highway. The recommendation was approved. WATERSIDE WORKERS' PAY OFFICE. The Standing Committee, in the matter of a communication from the Dunedin and .Port Chalmers Co-operative Waterside Labour Employment Association, relative to the rent of the pay office at Dunedin, recommended that the board waive any further claims for rent for this building. The recommendation 1 was approved. BEACH AT ST. LEONARDS. In connection! with a letter from the Burkes-St. Leonards Progressive League thanking the board for the erection of the retaining wall at Burkes Bay, and requesting to be provided with two punt loads of sand for the bathing beach at St. Leonards, the Standing Committee recommended that the i league be advised that the_ board was prepared to provide and deliver the sand as requested at actual cost to the league, but not to" exceed the sum of £5. The recommendation was approved. LIGHTHOUSE STAFF. The Standing Committee recommended for approval the harbour master's report recommending the permanent appointment of Mr M. Sutherland as assistant light-keeper.—The recommendation was approved. ESTIMATES. . It was decided that a special meeting .of the board (in committee) be held on November 7 for the purpose of considering the estimates for 1935-6 and any other matters appertaining thereto,-including reductions in dues and. the question or over-time charges with respect to the handling of cargo. DREDGING PROGRAMME. The Standing Committee recommended •for approval the report by the engineer and harbour master relative to a dredging programme. The report read as follows: The dredging of the basin is nearing completion and soundings are now in progress to determine exactly what remains to be done. - During the past month, when the dredge was unable to work in the basin, operations have been continued in the Victoria channel at pile No. 5, near Kilgoiir's Point. When the dredging in the basin is finished, attention should be given to the widening of the approach from the Victoria channel to the oil berth. This ground has not so far been dredged, and it is anticipated that the majority of the spoil will be stone, which 'will have to be deposited at sea. On account of rails on Victoria wharf, it is anticipated that more ships will use this wharf, and it is therefore essential that more room should be provided for the oil tankers to approach their berth at the end of the wharf. The recommendation was approved. OVERHAUL OF DREDGE. The Standing Committee, in the matter of the tenders for opening up the engines of the dredge Otakou and the painting of the hull, recommended that the closing date for these tenders be extended for a fortnight, and that the sub-committee set up to open the tenders be empowered to deal with same. The recommendation was approved. In connection with the overhaul of the dredge it was also decided to accept the tender of Messrs T. L. Mac Lean for the welding of a top tumbler at a cost of £l5O LEITH CANAL. It was decided to give the secretary authority to call tenders for reinforcesteel and for centrifugal drainage pump in connection with the Leith canal works. SINKING FUNDS. Mr Begg moved in accordance with notice of motion. —"That the board affirm the desirability of the work in connection with the various sinking funds being done by the board's own staff, aud that with this object in view the present Otago Harbour Board sinking fund commissioners'be replaced by the chairman of the board for the time being, the treasurer of the board, and one other person to be appointed by the board." Permission was given to Mr Begg to alter his motion to read " and one other person to be appointed from time to time" in place of the last clause of his motion. Mr Begg said that the board had all the facilities for carrying out the work. He said that their outside commissioners had been paid at the rate of 2J per cent, on their transactions, but that this would not amount to a great deal per annum. On the other hand, they were paying at the rate to London of £BOOO per annum now, and he was afraid of what the accumulated amount would be at the end of 20 years. The whole matter could conducted by their own office. Mr Munro seconded the motion. In answer to a question by Mr Copland the chairman said that neither the chair man nor any member could receive any fee for acting in euch a capacity. Perhaps if the funds to be administered grew to a large extent some adjustment might have to be made in the secretary and treasurer's salary. The saving at the present time might not be very great, but as time went on it would increase materially. Mr Thompson referred to the excellent work of the past commissioners, and said that the board had not lost a shilling. He took it that the board was only actuated by a desire to reduce expenditure. He would, however, object to the appointment of a private individual as a commissioner. He would favour a member of the board or a trustee company. u answer to a question, l the secretary explained that in 1932-33 and in 1933-34 the cost to the board had been £26 for each period. Mr Sharpe suggested that the mover should give some indication whether he favoured an outsider or a member of the board. Was it legal for a member to hold the position? The secretary said the appointment of a member was quite in order. Mr Begg said he proposed someone in active connection with the. board who would Be able to ensure some continuity of office.

The chairman gave a list of the commissioners of the various boards in the Dominion, and said that the commissioners tor the Otago Harbour Board were the Trustees Executors and Agency Company, Mr G. R. Ritchie (an ex-member of the board), and the chairman of the board for the time being. The motion was carried, the appointment of the third party to stand over for a month. AVIATION. Mr Campbell, in accordance with notice of motion, moved that, "In view of the proposed air service between Dunedin and the North Island and the possibility of an air service between New Zealand and Australia, and the utilisation of the southern area, which is now being re-: claimed, as an aerodrome, the secretary be instructed to obtain from various other countries the conditions and charges which are levied 7 both on passengers and cargo carried by air, in order that when the time arrives the board may be in ai position to draft by-laws and get the necessary legislation enacted." _ ; The mover said that since drawing up the motion he had discussed the matter with aviation interests, and he asked for permission to insert a provision for a report by the Director of Civil Aviation as to the suitability of the flying field they were preparing on the Southern En-, dowment. Such information/ as; he asked, for would be of great value.: Mr Sharpe,.seconding the motion, suggested the insertion of the words " mails and cargo" in addition to passengers. This was agreed'to. > Mr Thompson said it was only beating the air, to ask for a report on a ground that would not be available for aircraft; for at least 10 years. Conditions that were suitable to-day might not be of. any use 10 years hence. ■'■■'..'. The motion as • amended was carried. SHIPPING RETURNS. '■ The harbour master (Captain MacLean) reported as follows under date October 21:— Arrivals —Dunedin: Coastal, 32 vessels, 21,345 tons; intercolonial, 7 vessels, 10,995. tons; overseas, 7 vessels, 29,976 tons; totals, 46 vessels, 62,316 tons. Arrivals —Port Chalmers: coastal, 2 vessels, 880 tons; overseas* 2 vessels, 12,174 tons; totals, 4 vessels, 13,054 tons. ; Departures—Dunedin: Coastal, 33 vessels, 21,728 tons; intercolonial, 8 vessels, 12,859 tons; overseas, 5 vessels, 19,056 tons; totals, 46 vessels, 53,643 tons. Departures—Port Chalmers: Overseas, 2 vessels, 12,174 tons. CHANNEL SOUNDINGS. The channel soundings are as follows: North Channel. —The low water depth is 36 feet on the.line of leads. • j South Channel.—This shows a low water' depth of 24 feet. From the Mole end to Port Chalmers the least depth is 30 feet at low water. Victoria channel is maintaining a low water depth of 20ft 6in. On account of weather conditions it: was found impossible to define the width' of the North channel entrance, but it: appears to be much the same as last sound-. ," . The report was adopted. i ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr M'G. Wilkie) reported as follows under date October 19:— • ; During the month of September the' Otakou lifted from piles 5, sa, 6, Victoria "channel, and off Victoria wharf 24 loads, or 32,160 cubic yards. The whole of this' material was deposited at the dredge Vulvan. During the month the dredge steamed 236 miles, and consumed ' 75.81 5 tons of fuel oil. During the month of September the: dredge Vulcan pumped "32,160 cubic yards of material received from dredge Otakou: into the south endowment reclamation. area. Railway Connection, Victoria wharf. Earthwork. —The formation work for all tracks was completed. Track Work.—The three marshalling lines and backshunt were laid, packed up with ballast, and lined up. Four chains of straight and eight crossovers hava yet to be installed, but this work cannot be undertaken until the crossings come to hand from the Railways Department. Approach Span to Victoria Wharf.— The bridge connecting the railway' embankment and the Victoria wharf was completed, with the> exception of the laying of the decking. The rails forming the curve were laid across the bridge, fastened, and connected to the existing tracks on the wharf. When the required crossings come to hand, the whole of J the -work will -be connected up; --*.-■•?•■. The whole of the ballast previously landed on the job was used, and a further supply is being obtained-frdm the Leith canal excavation work for filling in between railway tracks. A. considerable quantity is still required to bring the ground up to rail level, and to form the roadways for tractors on each side of the marshalling lines and the approach embankment to Victoria wharf. '- The launch Pilot was slipped for annual siirvey and overhaul, when the engine was removed to the board's workshop; for repairs. The hull was cleaned and painted, and the engine room lined with copper sheet in accordance with Government regulations. ■ ■ '.' . ... Ravensbourne Wharf Extension.—All the timber which has come to hand was dressed and piles pointed ready for the commencement of the work. . Leith Canal Widening.—The excavation work in connection with the widening of the Leith canal on the north side, between Forth street asjd Harbour terrace,, was commenced on October 1. The threeton "Smith" crane, fitted with a grab, is being used for this work. The material excavated is being carted to the Albany Street School grounds, oh the north side of the canal. From October 1 to 16 944 cubic yards of material were Excavated. Leith gravel is being obtained below Harbour terrace with the north-west crane, the material being used to ballast the railway tracks forming the new sidings to Victoria wharf. '. . ;. ,; Mussel Bay.—The construction of the sea wall across Mussel Bay is nearing completion. The portion between the new 42-inch concrete sewer outlet and the railway embankment is now being built up to the required height. For the period of ■ five weeks ended October 11, 353 cubie yards of stone were deposited. The 42inch concrete pipe sewer being constructed by the Port Chalmers Council was extended a further 258 feet, the total length, completed to date being 1190 feet. The concrete outfall through the retaining wall constructed, and the installation pi a further IS2 feet of pipes will complete this work. ' ' Relief Works. —Relief workers were em-, ployed erecting walls for reclamation purposes at the Leith estuary and south endowment areas. The report was adopted. STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS. The receipts for the 12 months ended September 30 were stated to be £160,210. Comparative figures were as follows: 1933-34, £149,375: 1932-33, £138.770; 193132, £136,538; 1929-30, £185,129.