HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8761, 27 February 1900, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Harbor Board was held this afternoon, when the following members were present : — Messrs Townley (Chairman), Chrisp, Macfarlaue, Cooper, Clark, and Capt. Tucker. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The first business taken was the election of a chairman for the ensuing year. — Mr Macfarlane moved that Mr Townley be reelected chairman for the year. No member took a greater interest in the affairs of the Board than did Mr Townley.— Mr Clark seconded the motion, which was unanimously adopted. Mr Townley, in returning thanks, referred to the work that had been carried on by the Board during the past year. He thought they had done the right thing in deciding to purchase a dredge, which would be a great advantage to the port. The Board's finances were in a satisfactory state, the sum of £250 more than the previous year having been received. He was satisfied that the finances were in a sound and healthy state, and everything in the way of exports were of a satisfactory character. He hoped to see a great improvement in the harbor works during the year. Mr Townley also made reference to the fact "that the railway had now been started, and this would give inducment to further settlement. Mr Cooper thought the present was the right time to discuss the further extension of the western groyne, which work the Board should continue. The Chairman said that it would perhaps be as well to wait and see what result the new dredge had on the river. This was agreed to. harbormaster's report. The Harbormaster (Captain Thomson) reported as follows : — "By soundings taken yesterday at highwater it will be seen that the channel from the end of the breakwater up to the black buoy is very good, but at the stockyard there has been an accumulation of silt since my last report, and a little dredging at these places just now would prevent any large accumulation taking place for some time. Soundings taken at high-water on 26th instant at 2.34 p.m. : End of breakwater, 40ft off, 13ft ; 200 ft up from end, 30ft off, lift 6in ; 400 ft up from end, 30ft off, 12ft; s.s. Snark's landing, lift 3in ; large crane, lift 3in ; buoy in river, 10ft; stockyard, 40ft out, 9ft 2in ; half-way up wharf, 30ft out, 9ff 6in ; top end of wharf, Bft 9in. Shipping.— Sailing vessels : Arrivals, 9 ; departures, 5. Steamers : Arrivals, 24 ; departures, 24." engineer's report. The report of the Engineer was as follows : — " No. 2 mud punt was laid up and throughly repaired. A considerable quantity of the planking had to be taken off and new substituted, a number of the Beams were caulked, and the whole tarred, etc. The barge carrying the dredging machinery had also to be laid up and undergo slight repairs. Blasting the papa rock in the channel between the lower beacon and the root of the breakwater has been prosecuted throughout the month. This work is being done on ground that was previous to the extension of the training wall covered with from three to four feet of sand. A steady decrease in the volume of sand over the papa rock in the channel between the new part of the training wall and the breakwater has been going on for some time. Although a considerable amount of blasting has been done, but very little progress with dredging has been made. However, we are getting closer to the bar in the centre of the channel — a most important matter. The dredger has been working on six days, and got up 3-40 cubic yards of rock, whioh was deposited over the breakwater. The approximate cost of the work is 3s per cubic yard. Agreeably with your instructions, the back leading light has been raised 10ft, and the whole structure stayed with wire ropes and stretching screws, etc. I have not yet heard if the alterations made havo met the requirements of ship masters. The light, was raised on the 21st instant so that hardly sufficient time has elapsed for observations and reports thereon. Extension of training wall contract : The woodwork of this contract is now about completed. Tho rubble hearting is also well advanced towards completion, and the concrete work is being proceeded with in a satisfactory manlier. The whole of the works under the contract should be finished within a fortnight. Wharf extension contract : No material for this contract has yet been delivered, but I understand that Mr Browne of Gisborne is preparing the ironwork for the job. New dredges :No communication from the contractor Ims boen received. Blasting operations arc being continued in the centre of the channel towards tho bar rock."

When the officer of the day made his rounds of the Wellington camp on Wednesday enquiring whether the men had any complaints or requests to make, several of the troopers wanted to know if they could get a few packets of seeds. "Seeds !" exclaimed Lieutenant Johnston ; " why seeds?" "Well," was the reply, "we don't know when we are going, and we would like to start some little gardens !" The subaltern smiled sympathetically. A peculiar death occurred at the Melbourne Hospital on the 4th inst. On the 2nd, Christina Holt, aged IS, while endeavoring to ride a man's bicycle, dashed into a kerbstone and fractured her ankle. She appeared to be going on very well, when suddenly to the "surprise of the doctors and all concerned, she became delirious and died.