HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1241, 11 September 1875, Page 10

HARBOUR BOARD.

This Board met on Tuesday afternoon. Present — His Honour the Deputy Superintendent (in the chair), and Messrs Eeeves, Tewsley, M'Kinnon, M'Neil, and Davie.

BEPOBTS. Mr D. L. Simpson, the engineer, reported, under date September 7th, as follows :— ' Herewith 1 forward the Inspector of Works' usual monthly report, also records of workß done by the dredges and steamer Peninsula.

It will be seen that the cost of "lift and deposit" has slightly exceeded the previous month's rate, but Mr Stephens explains that this has been caused by unusually bad weather.

Considerable improvements have now been effected in the basin abreast of Rattray street jetty, steamers being now enabled to slew round with ease and safety. The wharf extension contract is not proceeding at all satisfactorily, and it is now evident that the work cannot be completed within the contract time. While admitting that there have been difficulties in the way, and delays consequent upon obtaining the timber from Australia, I think tlut at the same time more than a reasonable indulgence has been shown. Feeling satisfied that the time originally stipulated for the completion of the work— viz., nine months from date of acceptance—is ample, I thii.k that it is my duty to draw the Board's attention to the matter, in order that the members may be aware of the conditions of the contract, and to enable them to decide upon the course to be pursued under the circumstances. For the Board's information, I should refer to the general conditions of contract, clause Xi of which has a tpecial heading on the subject. lam not aware of anything further calling for notice from me, as the Inspector of Works has furnished all information relative to the works in progress during the month. .The Inspector of Works, Mr Stephens, reported, under date September Ist : —

I have the honour to forwardforyour information the following report for the month of August. From a perusal of the weekly returns, it will be seen that the past month was mark d by most unfavorable weather, and that the New Era could only dredge at high water, wbich renders the work done less, and, consequently, the cost per yard greater than that of the previous month. !The gross quantity lifted and deposited is 6,706 cubic yards, at the total cost) for dredging, towing *nd repair i to punts, of £435 3* 4d, as under :— ' New Era, Lilted, 4845 cubic yardsCost— wages, accounts, and proportion of repairs to punts £213 1 4 Proportion of towage 84 6 2 £*297 7 6 About Is 2Jd per cubic yard. Side Drudge. Lifted, 1921 cubic yardsCost— wages, accounts, and proportion of repairs to punts .. „ .. £104 7 4 Proportion of towage 33 8 C .. „ E ,. £137 15 10 About Is 6Jd per yard. I The Peninsula has towed 398 punts, at a cost (inclusive of an item of £10, which should have been ! charged to last month's aocou/it.but was not rendered ra time) of £117 14g 8d : average cost, about 5s lid per punt. In a few days the Side Dredge can be removed from her present position, when, subject to your approval, I propose puttine her alongside of the 1 extension of Rattray street Wharf, where the bank ebbs dry at low water, in which case it will be neces- ' sary to appoint a master to take charge ot her. Messrs Hawkins and Co. have got out about half the distance of their contract with the mam piles, upper WMines, and beams, hut their timber for lower walinga braces, &c, not having arrived, is keeping that ponion of the work behind. The new red beacon wh'eh was in court c of construction when I last reported, has been finished. I may state that I nude it larger and much more substantial than the old one, as, from its position at the entrance of the Cross Channel, it is liable to be run into by vessels in the dork.

The contractors for the Port Chalmers Powder Magazine experienced some delay in procuring piles forthe work, hut they are now pushing it forward, *nd Ido not anticipate that they will he very much beyond the contract time.

The steam launch Vire had to be laid up for repaira to the engines, which were so much out of order that I had them sent to Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen'a Bhop to get a thorough overhaul; at the same time I have made some alterations in the machinery, which I considered calculated in some measure to obviate the frequent b.reaking-down, and consequent expense and loss of time that has hitherto attended the working ot thla boat. °

Ihe B.s. Beautiful Star having carried away the light attheN.E. Harbour, I had it replaced, the cost of which will be chargeable to that vessel.

A conversation ensued as to whether there was a provision in the contract for imposing a penalty on the contractors in the event of their not being up to time, and it was suggested that the work might be taken out of their hands. Mr M'Neil said the Board might find a difficulty, if they took the work out of the contractors' hands, in getting people to take the contract up. They would find a difficulty in having it taken up on the same conditions as at present, at any rate. He believed people had found it impracticable to get Australian timber within a reasonable time. He quoted from one of the reports on the table to show there was another case in which there was a difficulty in procuring piles. Mr M'Kinnon said the contractors for the extension had been delayed for timber. These contractors were the best people in the Colony for carrying on pile-driving operations. The delay had arisen simply from circumstances beyond their control.

Mr M'Neil mentioned that orders sent to Sydney and Melbourne for timber, and which generally were supjdied by the first steamer were now delayed for three months before they could be executed.

It was resolved that notice be given to the contractors that the time for the completion of the contract had nearly expired. Mr Reeveh considered that the Engineer should, in his reports, report progress as to the work of the construction of the dredge. He thought there should have been Home notice of it in the present report. It was time that they should have some progress reported. Mr M'Neil said there was another matter they should take notice of -- namely, the steamer Vire. The report stated she had to be again repaired. His opinion, since they had got this Vire— and he had been rather laughed at— was that she should be blown up. It would be the cheapest thing to do with her. Repairing her had been a constant source of expense, and here she was breaking down again. There would be another bill in in a couple of months for a couple of hundred pounds. Mr Tewsley: A couple of hundred pounds. ! It's not been sanctioned.

Mr M'Neil : You may make up your mind to it The sooner you dispose of herthe better. She is simply an expensive toy. He di&nofc

know what they wanted her for. The Board got her against their wilL Last time it was a moot point whether she should be repaired ; it was then her boiler, and Captain Thomson said she would not need anything further done. The question was, Was it worth spendingmoney on this blessed man-of-war of theirs ? He looked on it as an expensive toy. MrTEWSLEV: We might ask the Inspector how much it will cost.

Mr Reeves : It's not what it will cost now— we are always spending money on her. After some further conversation as to the cost of repairing her, Mr Simpson was called in. He said that all the repairs and alterations would cost a few pounds over £50. Mr M'Neil (to Mr Simpson) : Do you think she is a profitable boat to keep working ? Mr Simpson remarked that was a difficult question to answer. After considering a moment, he said she was a very useful boat ; that when she got into the hands of the Harbour Board she was not in good condition ; and that, after the present repairs, she would not cost much. In answer to further questions, he said that the penalty against the Rattray street jetty extension contractors was that, in case of being behind time, there was power to take the work out of the hands of the contractors, and that all moneys and the material on the ground belonged to the Board. So far, the progress payments were equal to the value of the work done, less 10 per cent. If the contractors had timber for the superstructure, he thought it would be finished in a short time. He believed that the contractors were doing all they could, but they appeared net to have a proper agent on the other side. He believed that had the contractors sent a member of their firm to the other side to have arranged for a supply of timber, it would have been more satisfactory. He believed it was almost impossible to get timber. The Inspector's report was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act.

THE BOARD'S DEBENTURES.

A letter was read from Mr L. O. Beal, Manager of the Colonial Bank, enclosing a telegram, dated London, 14th August, and intimating that at that date portion of the Board's debentures had been sold at par.

THE BOAKtI'S BUSINESS AT WELLINGTON.

•Telegrams from Mr J. L. Gillies, Secretary to the Board, and who is on business of the Board at Wellington, were produced. We understand they are to the effect that, so far, things have gone on satisfactorily.