PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1419, 1 February 1879, Page 20

PORT CHALMERS.

Messrs Innea, Law, and Reid waited upon the Hon. Mr Macandrew in connection with several matters affecting Port Chalmers. The first matter mentioned was that of the 30-ton crane promised, since Provincial Government times, to be erected at the head of the docks. One of the members of the deputation stated that upon a former interview with Mr Macandrew, relative to the Bame matter, he statsd he thought it was in the hands of the Railway Department 1 , and that the crane had probably been ordered from Home.

The Hon. Mr Maoandrew said he knew the crane had been considered an essential thing, and he had believed a sum of money

was put on the Estimates for it, but such was not the case, it seemed. He promised to look into the matter, and find out what the Railway Department were doing in it. The deputation then brought under notice the matter of the high charge for dressed stone by railway carriage in proportion to that for rough stone. The Hon. Mr Macandrew said he thought action had been taken in that matter, which had cropped up at previous interviews. Mr A. Grant, general manager, was called into the room, and said no alteration had been made in the tariff. There had been a great deal of correspondence relative to it, and Mr Conyers had recommended that the charge be 12s 6d a truck of five tons. The Hon. Mr Macandbew, finding that this rate was satisfactory to the deputation, said if Mr Grant would put the affair in proper train, when he went to Wellington he would see that the alteration as proposed was gazetted. Relative to a siding at Mussel Bay, the* Hon. Mr Macandrew said he knew this had been agreed upon, and he would see that it was carried out. The extension of wharfage accommodation at the Port was next mentioned, and, Mr Blair being consulted, it transpired that plans were ready, and tenders would be out for the proposed new wharf in a few days. The next matter brought up was the small amount of work done in the Government workshops at the Port. It was stated that now only about four hands were employed, and the general feeling at the Port was that, while so much railway and other material was required, a great deal of work might be turned out in these shops. Ib had been stated, when they were erected, that the machinery was such as to give employment to a large number of men. The Hon. Mr Macandrew said he knew it was intended to keep a large number of men employed at the Pork. The Government .got everything made *in the Colony possible to be made, but he believed there was a want of material to go on with, as wheels, axles, and the like could not be made here. The subject of Mussel Bay was next mooted. The deputation stated that if it could be made over to some Port Chalmers body, they would be able to reclaim it and lease it, and apply the proceeds to the purpose of improving the Lower Harbour. The Hon. Mr Macandrew pointed out that this would necessitate another Harbour Board, and that as in the meantime all these bays were under the control of the present Board, they could not be dealt with except by legislation. A general conversation then ensued as to the manner in' which the present Board neglected the Lower Harbour, and damaged it by the works they were carrying out. The Hon. Mr Macandrew said the coming elections would shortly infuse new blood into the Board, and he thought the common sense which would teach men the absurdity of improving the Upper Harbour while anything was at the same time done to deteriorate the lower one, should be expected to have some sway. The monthly reports of the Harbour Board officers did not show that so far the Lower Harbour had suffered any deterioration. He might tell them, in connection with the matter of new blood, that different men would on this occasion, be nominated to the Board by the Government. Later on another deputation, consisting of Mr Innes, with two other gentlemeninterested in the Port Chalmers fisheries, interviewed the Hon. Messrs Macandrew and Stout in connection with the clause in the Act limiting flounders to be taken from the sea to the length of nine inches from " the snout to the. root of the tail." The deputation p.tated that the agreement formerly come to with the Government upon tbe subject was^that the fish should be nine inches over all, and that upon the faith of this agreement they had taken out licenses, &c. ; whereas, to their astonishment, they found the kot read &s it did, and thereby added another two inches to the length of the fish. Mr Innes handed Mr Mscandrew a copy of a petition signed by 44 fishermen, praying thas the wording of the Act be altered to " nine inches from the snout to the tip of the tail." The Hon. Mr Macandrew suid his recollection of the agreement was that nine inches over 4>ll was the size specified, and it was agreed that the Act should be altered to read as suggested.