OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 32

OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD.

ADJOURNED MEETING. The adjourned meeting of the- OtagoHarbour Board was held last week, and! was attended by Messrs 11. E. Moller (acting chairman), 11. C. Campbell, T. Anderson, W. Wilkinson, C. H. Hayward, W. Gow, D. F. H. Sharpe, A. Cable, J. W. Munro, 11. Driver, J. Loudon, and Captain Coll M'Donald. THE NEW DREDGE. The Chairman said they had the order paper before them. There was the report of the sub-committee on the calling of tenders for the new dredge and other matters connected therewith. The board would have to consider whether it would go into committee. There were certain explanations which would be required, and it might' therefore be desirable to go into committee. Mr Anderson: What is there to hide? The Chairman: There is nothing to hide. Mr Gow: I’ll move that the board go into committee. Mr Campbell seconded the motion. Mr Anderson said that the board had: passed a resolution that all future matters relating to the dredge should be taken in open board. The Chairman: All those in favour of the motion say “Aye.” The motion was carried on the voices, Messrs Anderson and Cable dissenting. BOARD IN COMMITTEE.

The board then proceeded in committee to deal with the questions of advice to intending tenderers, the proposed tender form, etc., and hull and the machinery specifications. A report by the Standing Committee read as follows: —“Your committee recommends that a representative of the board, with Mr Robertson, superintending engineer, proceed opportunely to Britain to arrange and complete details regarding dredge tenders, etc.” Further questions to be settled were: — Are the tenders'to be called in New Zealand, Australia, or the Continent? How is the dredge to be brought to Port Chalmers —under contract or by the board Another point on the order paper read: as follows: —"It is suggested that one of Mr Robertson’s first duties on arrival in London should be to ascertain all particulars in relation to this phase of the dredger, advising the board fully. When is Mr Robertson and the other representative to proceed to London?”

DECISIONS ARRIVED AT. It was decided to call for tenders for. the dredge at tho port of construction and for alternative tenders delivered in working order in Otago Harbour. It was decided to call for tenders in Great Britain, the Continent, New Zealand, and Australia. It was agreed that the successful contractor should give a guarantee -of 12 months’ successful working, whether the dredge is taken over at the port of construction or at Port Chalmers. A naval architect will be employed at

Home. The board went through the hull and machinery specifications of the self-pro-pelled hopper dredge (adopted on April 8)‘ and again approved of them, with a few, minor alterations.

It was decided that no representative of the board go Home with Mr Robertson in the meantime. The question of the date of departure of Mr Robertson was not dealt with in the meantime. A committee composed of Messrs W 11kinson, Campbell, Gow, Munro, and Moller was set up to handle matters generally in connection with the dredge, with authority to adjust urgent business. PNEUMATIC SPOIL ELEVATOR.

- The Stewart Hydro Pneumatic Excavation Company wrote commending for the board’s consideration the claims of its spoil elevator. The letter stated- that, with this plant, the deepening of Victoria Channel could be accomplished at only a fraction of the cost of dredging. The Engineer (Mr Robertson) in a long report, said the device might be found of use in Otago Harbour, and he suggested that the company should be asked- to supply details of cost, working expenses; horse-power required and the guarantee the company was prepared to offer for. the successful working of the plant. The engineer’s recommendation was adopted.

WORK AT THE MOLE. It was decided to accept the offer of the Union Steam Ship Company to sell the Moana, at a price of £B5O, and to sink the hulk at the mole. BAUCHOP AND WARD STREET’S. A sub-committee submitted a report ret lative to Bauchop and Ward streets, in which it was stated that a conference had been held with the Works Committee of the City Council. The report read as follows: —Bauchop street: It was agreed that the woik outlined in the acting engineer’s memorandum of July 28, should be carried out, under the conditions enumerated therein. The estimated total cost was £5280. Ward street: It was also arranged that the work outlined in the town clerk’s letter of Jum> 20, should be carried out. The estimated total cost was £650. The committee submitted these arrangements for the board’s approval. The report was adopted. TENDERS FOR COAL. Permision was granted the engineer to call for tenders for the supply of lODO tons of coal.