HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 67

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY 'GETING.

The monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board-was held on Friday evening, and was attended by Captain Coll M‘Donald (chairman), and Messrs H. M. Driver, H. C. Campbell, D. F. H. Sharpe, H. E. Moller, J. M‘C. Dickson, J. H. Duncan, J. Loudon, D. Larnach, and W. Begg, T. Scollay, and W. G. Love, jun. FINANCIAL. The banak balance showed a net credit of £6035. 5s sd. Accounts totalling £27,512 3s lid and supplementary accounts to September 30 were passed for payment, subject to examination by Messrs Larnach find Dickson. RAILS ON VICTORIA WHARF. The Otago Importers’ and Shippers’ Association wrote urging that no action should be taken with respect to the laymg of the rails on the Victoria Wharf until further inquiries had been made mto the matter. The letter suggested that further work could be carried out on the Birch street wharf to meet the requirements of the board. It was also questioned whether there would be sufficient revenue in the meantime to warrant the expenditure on the Victoria wharf.

Air Aloller moved that the letter be received.

Mr Dickson said he had previously pointed out that it was doubtful if they would obtain sufficient revenue from the wharf, even if they secured a connection by rail to the wharf—and he did not think they would get that connection. Air Loudon: Who says that?—Absolute rubbish!

Mr Dickson said Air Loudon’s remark was out of place and lacking in courtesy.

Air Loudon asked what authority Air Dickson had for his statement. Air Dickson said that as far as he could see they would not get a railway connection to the wharf. Mr Loudon: Oh!

Mr Dickson was proceeding when Mr Loudon rose to a point of order. They had already, he said, passed a motion agreeing to put the rails on the wharf. lhe chairman said that Mr Dickson was only wasting th e time of the board, lhey would have to rescind the previous resolution deciding that the rails should be laid. . Mr Dickson held that they were wasting money by putting rails on the Victoria wharf, because they would not get the cargo put over the wharf. He could only say it was a waste of good public money to put the rails on the wharf at the present time, . The chairman said it was now 30 years since they started to put rails on the wharf. The motion had been carried on nis casting vote, and he hoped every vote he might cast wduld be of as great benefit to the board. They had to repair the Victoria wharf, and it would be a saving of money to put down the rails while repairs were being carried out. Mr Campbell said that if Birch street wharf was condemned they would not have a railway wharf at all. Would it not be better to put Birch street wharf in order? He doubted whether it would cost as much to handle cargo from Port Chalmers as it would from the Victoria wharf, with the c ° nnect,o P- The probable business Y oald the railway being put d x f chards °a street to the wharf j-lr, Sharpe said the conditions were changing,, and h e doubted if even 5 per wnnid°£ the lm .P° rl » .coming to Dunedin would go over the Victoria wharf. He thought they might hold over doing any thing for six months. h y Scolla y and Tiove held that the Wter p I Ol ?P ted in writing its amMhe board. St IDtereStS ° f the city n Jf he hnH air^ an Sai - d , that tbe board in the past had not carried out its duty, or it d la J e m P le . ted the laying of the rails on the Victoria wharf. Loudon said Mr Dickson had said they would not get this or get that. Surely g to be dr agged at the heels of Air Sterling. The chairman had said he would put the rails down, and he (Mr Loudon) would say they would get the railway connection'from. the department within 12 months. p Air Campbell: Wil] you bet a new suit all round on that?

. Air Loudon said he would. He thought it was most regrettable that the board should be divided about the laying of the rails on the wharf.

Mr Love: It has been divided all the time.

Air Loudon said they had heard all-the arguments from the importers’ side, but what about the exporters? One exporter he had spoken to was heartily in favour of putting the rails on the wharf. There would be, he believed, only a- few vessels, in a few years, which would not sail from Dunedin. , . ’ ■■

A member: In a few years? The chairman said that nothing could be gained by harping away, on the matter. The rails had been purchased, and the work was going on, and he-was going to see that it went on as fast as it could—that was unless the board carried a resolution rescinding its previous decision and scrapped the rails and the wharf.

Air Loudon said he would 1 be prepared to go even further. He would be prepared to call a public meeting and state the position from the platform. . Air Duncan thought some misapprehension might have occurred in regard; to the charges for haulage from the wharf to the main connecting lines. He thought something might be done to clear up this matter. He wondered if 'the chairman would receive a motion.

The chairman said, no, he would not. Air Duncan said he had intended' to ask for a committee to go into "questions of haulage, access to the wharf through Richardson street, whether the street would have to be widened, and other matters. ‘ ■

After some further discussion the chairman said there was a motion that' the letter be received and he declared it carried. • ■

Air Sharpe said he was not in favour of the letter being received. The chairman reiterated that the letter was received.

A QUESTION OF INSURANCES. The Standing Committee 1 recommended, with respect to the communication' from

Messrs J. Mill and Co., Ltd., requesting the payment of an increased price, as from September, 1929, consequent on increased insurance rates, that the company be paid the additional amount paid and payable by them in connection with their contract, on account of increased insurance rates, subject to the payments to the insurance company being verified by the secretary. The chairman said that under the terms of the contract with Alccsrs John Alill and Co. they had no legal night to adopt the recommendation forwarded by the Standing Committee. He would, therefore. move that the recommendation was out of order. He would allow no discussion of the matter. It would be out of order.

Air Scollay wanted to discuss the question, but he was ruled out of order. Air Dickson: On whose legal authority ar %/° u ta . ln E up this attitude? . The chairman: The board’s solicitor is my authority. Mr Sharpe; You are taking this stand notwithstanding, that a similar payment has already been made by the board. The chairman reiterated his determination to allow no discussion on a matter that was out of order. Air Sharpe wanted to know whether chairman was content with treating the board s contractors in such an arbitrary manner, considering what had been done in the past. The chairman: I am not concerned about what was done in the past. Mr Larnach: You are quite right, Air Chairman. You are protecting members, but they do not realise it. . The Standing Committee’s recommendation was rejected on the grounds that it was ultra vires.

MELBOURNE-BLUFF SERVICE. The Standing Committee recommended, with respect to the communication from the Chamber of Commerce forwarding copy of a letter sent to the Acting Prime Minister with respect to the replacing of the Alanuka in this service, that the communication be “ noted,” and the chamber advised that its efforts in this matter meet with the approval of the board Air Sharpe said he had moved the resolution at the meeting of the Standing Committee, but he had not added the last clause. The secretary said that the letter had been “ noted,” and that he had added the last clause, because he thought that was the feeling of the meeting. Air Sharpe said that he had simply moved that the letter be “ noted.”

The chairman: Very well, we will have it vour way. The secretary said his sole reason for adding the clause was that on a previous occasion the chamber had complained of a lack of courtesy in a reply received from the board.

Several members thought that the addition was quite appropriate. It was suggested that the clause might be left, and a member moved that it oe added.

Mr Dickson said they could not add the clause, as it would not be the actual motion.

Air Sharpe said he would withdraw his objection. The recommendation as set out was adopted. EXTENSION OF RAILS.

The Standing Committee recommended, with respect to the communication from the general manager of railways, advising that, in view of the circumstances mentioned therein, he does not think that he’ would be justified in spending money on the extension of rails at the Port Chalmers wharves, at the present time, the matter be again placed before the-general manager with the request that he reconsider his decision.

The recommendation was adopted. PUBLIC RISK. RESERVE FUND. The Standing Committee recommended for adoption the secretary’s recommendation that £2OOO be transferred out of this year’s surplus to the Public Risk Reserve Fund. IRONBARK BEAAIS. The Standing Committee recommended that authority be granted to call tenders for ironbark beams to replace beams loaned for Ravensbourne wharf,’ and that the chairman and Air Begg be appointed to open tenders. The recommendation was adopted. PORT CHALAIERS WHARVES. The Standing Committee recommended, with respect to the communication from the district engineer of railways, in connection with the use of the board's electric lighting on Port Chalmers wharves for the purpose of carrying out railway work and shunting not connected with shipping, that the request be granted in terms of the engineer’s report. The recommendation was adopted. TENDERS.

Tenders were received for a supply, of timber for stock and a 20-30 cwt truck, and were referred to a sub-committee with power to act. The harbour master (Captain AlacLean) reported as follows under date September 10:— CHANNEL SOUNDINGS.

North Channel. —On- the line of leads the least water is 38 feet at low water. From the mole end to Port Chalmers wharves there is 30 feet at low water, with the least width in Deborah Bay of 300 feet. The Victoria channel is maintaining a depth of 20 feet, with a slight shoaling from pile 16 to 18 red, which will be removed, as the dredge is now working on it. - SHIPPING RETURNS. The following are the shipping returns for the month of August:— Arrivals.—Dunedin: Coastal, 34 vessels, 20,288 tons; intercolonial, 3 vessels, 6690 tons; overseas, 6 vessels, 25,340 tons; warship, 1, 4650 tons; —totals. 44 vessels, 56,968 tons. Arrivals.—Port Chalmers: Coastal, 3 vessels, 2460 tons; intercolonial, 1 vessel, ■2640 tons; overseas, 6 vessels, 40,794 tons; —totals, 10 vessels, 45.894 tons. Departures.—Dunedin. Coastal, 32 vessels, 19,508 tons; intercolonial, 3 vessels, 6690 tons; overseas, 6 vessels, 25,340 tons; .—totals,' 41 vessels, 51.538 tons. Departures.—Port Chalmers: Coastal. 1 vessel, 528 tons; intercolonial, 1 vessel. ■2640 tons; overseas, 6 vessels, 40,794 tons; —totals. 8 vessels, 43.962 tons. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer (Air AI‘G. Wilkie) reported as follows under date September 16:—

During the month of August dredge Otakou shifted 36 loads, 553,280 cubic yards, from the vicinity of the Ravensbourne wharf. Of this material, 32 loads • (or 47,360 cubic yards) were deposited at the dredge Vulcan, and four loads (or 5920 cubic yards) were deposited at Hayward Point. During the month the dredge steamed 173 miles and consumed 97 tons of oil.

During the month of August the dredge Vulcan pumped 47,360 cubic yards of material, received from dredge Otakou, into the south endowment reclamation area.

On August 26 a mishap occurred to the Vulcan’s motor, and it was decided to install the new pump and motor recently received from England. The alterations to deck houses necessary for the accommodation of the new plant are now being effected, and the new machinery installed. During the month of August two vessels were docked in the Port Chalmers dock.

Alole Reconstruction. — During the period of four weeks ended September 6, 2060 cubic yards of stone w r ere deposited on the Alole, 1385 cubic yards of ballast on the railway track to the new quarry, 537 cubic yards of debris on the Port Chalmers road, 138 cubic yards of debris in the swamp on the line of the new quarry track, and 48 cubic yards of clay to divert storm water into the culvert on the Port Chalmers road. The track to the new quarry is now laid for a distance of 28 chains. All cranes and locomotives were inspected by the Government inspector of machinery, and except for one locomotive boiler, all were in good order and condition. A three months’ certificate was issued for the locomotive boiler. Repairs were effected to the driving gear of No. 1 steam shovel. Victoria Wharf Third Extension.— Alooring bollards have been shaped and the remaining fender beams fitted, thus completing this extension. Victoria Wharf First ’ Extension.— Extra beams have been placed in this extension to carry the new Arrol cranes. Victoria Wharf Reconstruction.—Three bays of the concrete portion of the Victoria wharf were opened up, the concrete deck removed, the necessary caps replaced, extra beams for crane and railway loading placed in position, and bolted down, sleepers laid and spiked down, and decking placed in position. Birch Street Wharf Repairs.—Nineteen new beams were placed in position and bolted up, and considerable repairs effected to decking. George Street Pier, Port Chalmers.— During the month eight new piles were driven in this structure, and caps and beams fastened in position. Ravensbourne Wharf.—Two trestles of four piles each, tied at their tops with heavy caps and substantially braced, were erected to carry the overhead railway from the Fertiliser Company’s plant to the new wharf. The contractor has commenced the construction of the wharf, and to date piles comprising 18 bays of the approach have been driven, nine pairs, of caps fitted, 12 deck beams bolted down, and the walings and braces fitted to six piers.

South Endowment Reclamation Walls. —No. 1 w T al] was further raised with material from the tip site. No. 2 wall was raised to reclamation level- with a “ bearcat’’grab. No. 3 wall was further raised with dredgings. South Endowment Retaining Wall.— The work of pitching/the seaward face of this wall is progressing, seven chains havin'* been completed. Dredging Piles.—Three mooring piles were driven on the Half-tide wall in the vicinity of channel pile 16, to facilitate dredging operations in that locality where a shoal patch was

Tug Dunedin.—The installation of wireless on the tug was completed. Tug Alaroro. —A new crankshaft was fitted to the Alaroro, and, after docking, the tug will again be put in commission.

■Wharves and Sheds. —The usual maintenance repairs were effected to wharve and sheds ■where necessary.