OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 11

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board was held last night. The chairman (Mr J. B. Waters) presided, and there were also present Messrs R. S. Thompson, J. Preston, A. Smith, J. H. Duncan, T. Scollay, A. Campbell, M.P., D. F. H. Sharpe, F. Tyson, J. W. Munro, M.P., D. Copland, R, Duncan and W. Begg. FINANCE It was reported that the net credit balance was £ 18,250 16s 9d. " That seems a large sum," the chairman remarked," but there is quite a number of items under which it will be speedily absorbed." BOATSHED SLIPWAY It was decided to build a slipway for the North-East Harbour Boating Club's boatshed at a cost of £4O, the sum of £2O to be paid by the club on completion and the remainder spread over six months. OVERHAUL OF TUG The action of the Standing Committee in accepting the tender of the Port Chalmers Marine Repair Works for the contract of overhauling the tug Dunedin was approved. NEW STORAGE SHED The Standing Committee reported that it had approved of the engineer's report recommending that the foundations for the new cargo shed between T and U sheds, which were to be made, as far as possible, from timber from Birch street wharf, be constructed by the board, and that tenders be called for the erection of the shed. On the motion of Mr Copland, it was decided to keep in mind the possibility of installing an overhead crane in the shed. The report was adopted. SHELTER SHED The Standing Committee reported that, in the matter of the report by the engineer with respect to the provision of a shelter shed for waterside workers at the end of Victoria wharf, it recommended that the matter be considered in connection with the estimates for next year. The report was adopted. BIRCH STREET WHARF i The Standing Committee recommended for apnroval a report by the harbour master and the engineer relative to the advisability of doing away with the coal dump at Birch street wharf and the feasibility of removing a cargo shed to the inner end of this wharf until the outer end was completed; also as to the erection of a new shed on the site of the coal dump. The commit-

tee further recommended that the engineer submit a plan and estimate for a new shed on the coal dump site, as recommended in its report. The committee's recommendations were adopted. WORK AT PORT CHALMERS The Standing Committee reported that it had approved a report by the engineer stating that, pending the arrival of the timber for the George street pier at Port Chalmers, he proposed to commence the repairs to the old portion of Bowen pier. The committee had also approved of the engineer's proposals for a locomotive crane for the work on these piers. The report was adopted. PRESENTATION OF PHOTOGRAPH

It was decided to accede to the request of the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union that a photograph of members

of the board be presented to the union for- the purpose of placing it in the waterside workers' new building. EMPLOYEES' SOCIAL It was decided to contribute the sum of £5 5s to the funds of the employees' annual social. STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS The statement of receipts for the seven months ended April 30 showed that the revenue was £107,573. The comparative figures were:—l93s-36, £98,574; 1934-35, £92,101; 1931-32, £80,727; 1929-30, £106,375. HARBOUR MASTER'S REPORT The harbour master (Captain J. Mac Lean) reported the following port statistics for the month of April: Arrivals—Dunedin, 47 vessels (76,431 tons); Port Chalmers, 16 vessels (70,564 tons); total, 63 vessels (146,995 tons). Departures—Dunedin, 51 vessels (83,808 tons); Port Chalmers, 14 vessels (61,904 tons); total, 65 vessels (145,712 tons). Pilotage was provided for 41 vessels (204,675 tons). ENGINEER'S REPORT The board's engineer (Mr J. M'G. Wilkie) submitted the following report:— During April the dredge Otakou carried 25 loads, comprising 34,660 cubic yards of material. Of this material, 7920 cubic yards were deposited at the dredge Vulcan, and 26,740 cubic yards at sea. During the month, the dredge steamed 247 miles and consumed 94.56 tons of fuel oil.

During the month the dredge Vulcan pumped 7920 cubic yards of material received from dredge Otakou into the Mussel Bay reclamation area.

Leith Canal.—During the month excavation operations were continued below Anzac avenue bridge, and a portion of the floor levelled off for the laying of the floor slab. The timber piles forming the anchorage of the original sheet pile wall were excavated below floor level and sawn off. The new north wall was concreted for a length of 60 feet, and the foundation to carry the centre wall concreted for a length of 120 feet. The timber boxing for the centre wall is now being erected. The work has" been considerably hampered by the recent wet weather, but a commencement will be made with the laying of the floor slab immediately. Birch Street Wharf Reconstruction.—Pile driving operations with two derricks were continued during the month, and to date 148 piles have been driven. Three hundred and twelve piles were prepared for driving and 344 deck beams dressed ready for placing in position. An immediate start will be made to line up the piers of piles and fit the caps and deck beams. The report was adopted.