OAMARU HARBOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 3

OAMARU HARBOUR

ANNUAL MEETING OF BOARD MR IRELAND RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN MR HAYES DEPUTY CHAIRMAN The annual meeting of the Oamaru Harbour Board was held In Oamaru yesterday morning. There were present Messrs R, K. Ireland (chairman), A. N. Hayes, C. J. Marshall, A. W Junes, F. Hood. G, Todd, A. H. Chapman, E. S. Brewster, G. T. Gillies. A C. McLelland, and W. E. Aubrey. Members referred to the splendid services given by the chairman to the board, and Mr Ireland was unanimously re-elected chairman for the ensuing year, Mr Hayes being reelected deputy chairman. Committees Appointed The following committees were appointed:— Standing Committee.—Messrs Ireland; Hayes. Marshal]. Brewster, and McLelland. ~ _ . . Disputes Committee.—Messrs Ireland. Hayes, and Marshall. • Finance, Committee.—Messrs Gillies. Brewster. Aubrey, Todd, Barnett. Chapman, and Hood.

MONTHLY MEETING Correspondence

The monthly meeting of the board was iheld subsequently. Mr B. k. Ireland occupying the chair. Correspondence was received from Mr G. A. Lee (consulting engineer) in reference to the working of the Quarry, berthing of vessels, and dredging, and the letters were referred to the quarry foreman and harbourrn aster Mr Lee also reported that the heavy seas in May would have the effect of bringing down the batter of the extension, and consolidating the stone He. also reported on proposed improvements to the railway Jines on Holmes wharf, which would involve the removal of some buildings.-Theques. tion of placing stone outside the mole for a foundation, for the buddings was referred to the Standing Committee for 'Mclnnes reported that .sand was accumulating between the extension and the lighthouse steps. It was also.reported that the foreman wished to deposit rubble along the foreshore in that locality, as by so doing he could double the output of stone from the quarry. The fishermen stated, Slnt on the report, that the drift was to the south, which made the deposit of spoil there quite safe.-Mr Ireland stated that the Marine Department had given permission to deposit a certain amountof spoil there in order to watch results.—Mr Todd confirmed that the drift was from the north-fast, and members expressed the opinion that the question would have to be studied very carefully. Mr Lee being of the opinion that, if rubble drifted from the south, trouble would be caused at the end of the breakwater. The experience of Tlmaru showed that the drift was from the south.—The matter was considered of great importance, and the foreman and the harbourmaster were., empowered to experiment immediately with weighted floats to ascertain the drift, and the matter was referred to the Standing Committee for report. The chairman. Mr McLelland, and ( the foreman were empowered to ob-, tain supplies of barrel and compressed poWder for use in the quarry, as it was considered by the foreman that some of the explosives used were too S 'M? g N. J. Delamore (conservator of forests. Southland) advised that he would shortly visit Oamaru, and would render any assistance possible m respect of the planting of gum trees on the board's plantations.—Mr Hayes reported that some of the pines.on j the -plantation were rather sickly, but i the 'gums were very healthy.—The | secretary was empowered to have 400 holes dug preparatory to planting .Sum! from the North Otago Tree Planting Association, and Messrs Hayes and Brewster were authorised to meet Mr Delamore and discuss the matter with him. . _ ... u It was agreed to request British Pavements. Ltd., to replace an ironbark pile on loan to- the firm, as suggested by them. ... . „i It was agreed to make the usual annual grant of £5 5 S to the Oamaru Technical School. . The Minister of Agriculture advised that the department was 'fully aware of the position in regard to briar in the district, and every endeavour would be made to keep the weed under control—Received. The Oamaru Boating Club wrote expressing appreciation of the manner In which the question of the removal of the boat sheds had been dealt wuh by the board.—Received; An application from Oamaru Toe H for permission to erect a small notice board on Holmes wharf for the benefit of Toe H members on board overseas vessels was referred to the chairman and secretary with power to act The action of Messrs Ireland and Marshall in attending the meeting called by the Mayor to form an Emergency Committee, as representatives of the board, was approved. An application was received from Mr D. S. Bain for a reduction of rent on the lease lately held by Mr J. ,R. Sewell.—lt was decided that, in justice to other tenants, the board could not agree to any reduction. It was agreed, after the original resolution had been rescinded, to increase the retaining fee for Mr Stronachs launch from £2O to £3O as from April 1 1938, Mr Stronach being permitted to charge 12s 6d an hour for intermitte Accounts' totalling £1939 3s 7d were oassed for payment. Harbourmaster's Report The harbourmaster (Captain H. S. Cox) reported that the inward and outward shipping for May was 1- overseas and 13 coastal steamers, of a total tonnage of 13,347, compared with 2 overseas, 1 intercolonial and 9 coastal steamers of 17.440 tons. A portion of the soundings had been taken, and .he hoped to complete them during the month.—The report was received. Secretary's Report The secretary (Mr T. J. Guthrie) reported that 39 men had been employed on various-works during the month; 1747 tons of stone had been deposited on the extension, 754 tons on the apron, and 92 on the foreshore; and 7oooj tons of rubble had been disposed of. Two tunnels' (Nos. 25 and 26) were fired on May 12. with quite satisfactory results, and the western portion of the quarry presented a much better and safer appearance. Heavy seas on May 13-15 washed down the end of the extension, the sea curling around the end and washing the stone down on the north side. The toe on the south side remained constant. Heavy stone was tipped over the north side, preventing any further washing down. Good nrogress had been made building out the extension to its former length, and one of the gaps in the apron had been filled. Rubble was washed awav at Orwell street and the freezing works foreshore, but there was no loss of rail tracks on the dumping areas. Some 403 tons of rubble were deposited over, the apron behind the old crane, the work being completed and appearing to be satisfactory. Shipping The Port Dunedin, 20,000 freight carcasses for London, had been allocated for Oamaru early in July. The cargo returns for May, with the comparative figures for May. 1938, shown in parentheses, were as follows:—Coastal: Inwards. 863 tons (459), outwards 1549 (1208); overseas—inwards 714 (1256). outwards 878 (1820). The report was received.