OAMARU HARBOUR BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26200, 10 July 1946, Page 3

OAMARU HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING Mr W. M. Cooper (chairman) presided at the monthly meeting of the Oamaru Harbour Board yesterday. There were also present Messrs D. K. McKenzie, A. MacMillan, D. S. Bain, G. P. Cuttriss, W. E. Aubrey, J. B. Chapman, F. Hood, David Willaims, A. C. McLelland and C. J. Dugdale.

The Waimate County Council advised that Mr Cyril John Dugdale, farmer, of Ikawai, had been appointed to fill the vacancy on the boaru caused by Mr A. W Barnett’s resignation.—Received. The Oamaru Borough Council advised that Messrs G. P. Cuttriss, David Wililams, and R. S. Mitchell had been appointed to the town vacancies on the board, and in

the event of any one not accepting then, subject to his consent, Mr C. J. Marshall would be apointed. Advice was also received that Messrs Cuttriss and Williams had accepted the appointments.—Received. After Mr A. W. Barnett's letter of resignation as a member of the board had been received, Mr Cooper said they were all sorry that the time had come when Mr Barnett could not carry on his duty as a member of the board, which lie had done since 1935. Be had served faithfully as representative of the Waimate district, and now he had to accept the advice of his doctor.—lt was decided to forward to Mr Barnett a letter of appreciation and thanks for his good work for the harbour during the years he had served. On Mr Chapman's motion, it was decided to Write to Messrs Glen and McDowell, who had resigned from the board, thanking them for tfieir services. Welcome to New Members

Mr Cooper extended a warm welcome to the new members at the table, Messrs Cuttriss, Williams, and Dugdale. He did so with a feeling that they were men of mature understanding, who had come to the board with a realisation that the objective was the improving of the harbour and its facilities. Dredging was the greatest task at the moment, he said, and all had great hopes for the port. Mr Dugdale thanked the board for its welcome and said it would be his objective to serve the board and the community. Mr Cuttriss expressed the opinion that some form of initiation ceremony, whereby members could pledge themselves to loyal service to the board, should be instituted. The board, he said, would have to cultivate a dignified attitude, and eschew anything that bred contempt and destroyed confidence. In his view they must " seil ” the port and place the best transport facilities at the disposal of both the producers and consumers. He suggested the extension of Wansbcck street right to the wharf, where goods sheds could be erected. ” There is a unique opportunity offering.” he said. . Mr Williams said his interest in the harbour and the board had been of many years’ duration. With Mr Aubrey, he represented the biggest shipping concern of the district, the Waitaki Farmers Freezing Company. The success of the harbour. which was the object in view, called for hard and harmonious work in the future, and he was sure that the next six months would be most important in connection with the board and shipping. Appointments to Committees

Appointments were made to fill vacancies on the following committees:—Standing, Messrs A. Macmillan and D. Williams; finance, Messrs G. P. Cuttriss and D. Williams: disputes. Mr C. J. Dugdale. The chairman reported that the frigate Whitesand Bay, attached to the British Pacific Fleet, would visit Oamaru from July 13 to 15, and the usual port facilities would be extended. —Received. The Marine Department wrote congratulating Mr Cooper on his election as chairman of the board, with good wishes for a successful term of office. —Received. The Harbours' Association wrote concerning the question of providing improved accommodation and facilities for waterside workers,, and inquiring what were the present position and nature of the proposed improvements the board contemplated.—Received. The Oamaru Chamber of Commerce wrote drawing attention to the necessity of re-forming and sealing the roadway from Tyne street to' the railway goods shed.—Received and referred to the Standing Committee. the Friendly Bay Improvement Society wrote stating that the recent high tides and heavy seas had caused considerable damage to the foundations of the ladies’ dressing shed at the bay, and had also seriously threatened the safety of the tennis courts. The committee appealed to the board for assistance in repairing the damage and erecting protective works to prevent further damage to the property. —Referred to the Standing Committee, with power to act. Harbour Board Leases

The chairman (Mr W. M. Cooper) reported to the Oamaru Harbour Board yesterday that the sale of Harbour Board leases', held on July 1, had resulted as follows:—Lot 1 was competed for and finally sold to Messrs Darling and McDowell, Ltd., the present lessees, at £220 per annum. Lot 2 was sold at the upset of £3 10s per annum to the present lessee, Mr J. M. Dochery; and lot 3 to the present lessee, the North Otago Engineering Company, Ltd., at the upset of £2O per annum; all sales being subject to the consent of the Land Sales Committee. Accounts totalling £945 19s 5d were passed for payment. Assistant Harbour Master’s Report

The assistant harbour master (Mr R. Cordno) reported that a considerable movement in coastal cargo was taking place, and with the probable increase in shipping a marked improvement in this phase of the port facilities was possible. Eight coastal vessels, totalling 8457 tons, had worked tire port during June, compared with 5 coastal vessels of 4266 tons in June, 1945, and 883 tons of inward cargo were landed and 5321 tons of outward cargo worked with a minimum of delay. Difficulty was experienced in engaging labour at night, and a new light had been installed at the inshore end of the mole to obviate the trouble. The staff had been employed in the mooring of and attendance of ships, and in making ready new mooring lines and cleaning up between the timber on Holmes wharf, this latter being an urgent necessity. The secretary said the month had been the best lor many years, some vessels coming direct to Oamaru and leaving Oamaru as a last port of call before a direct sailing to another port.

Mr Cooper thanked Mr Cardno for his report and wished him well for the future.

Foreman’s - Report

The foreman of works (Mr A. R. Low) reported that owing to the increased number of vessels working Holmes wharf and the resultant inability to use the railway lines, work was mainly centred in getting out stone fiom the quarry face Urgent minor repairs to the wharves were undertaken, and the special scheme labour would be employed on repairing the fence at the top of the quarry. Owing to the heavy seas it had been found impossible to make an examination of the breakwater and extension, but this would be done and a report furnished. The reports were received^ Drift of Siltatlon

Mr Bain, who had made investigations as to the direction of the siltation drift into the harbour, produced five samples of sand obtained from points around the haroour and Sandy Beach. The board, he said, should make inquiries from the Marine Department with the idea of securing the services of two engineers who were being brought out from England by the department to investigate the silting at Westport and Greymouth. The results of such an investigation would be of great benefit to the board. It was decided to make inquiries from the department on the possibility of securing the services of the engineers.