GISBORNE HARBOR AFFAIRS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14591, 29 April 1918, Page 6

GISBORNE HARBOR AFFAIRS.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL ADDRESS.

The Chairman (Mr. J. Townley) presentocl the following report to ihn meeting to-day:— Another year has rolled on, and as the present is the last meeting prior to-the election of Chairman I beg to lay, before yon a brief resume of the working of the. Board during the year ended December 3lst, 1917. The balance-sheet and statement of accounts >will be submitted to yon as soon as they have been examined by the Government aucllt inspector and certified to b.y the Auditor-General. For the last '3J years we have had to share m the universaL,dislocation of trade and corresponding rtecrease ot income, and increase m expenditure; consequent on the colossal war.now raging, and it will be necessary to provide for the same either by (1) ah all-round increase m the present tariff;, (21 a rate- on proparty; or (3) a curtailment of expenditure. Shipping: During the year. 1917; 477 steamers and, 35 sailing vessels arrived, of a total of 425,847 tons net register—a decrease as compared with 1916 of 102,982 tons. Last year only 16 overseas steamers visited the port; *fn the 1 previous year we had 28. The details of the principal sources of revenue (not including Tau■wliareparae rents) as compared 'with. 1916 (shillings and pence omitted) are as under:— . . 1916. 1917.' £ ' £ •■

Statistics: Detailed' statements prepared by the treasurer giving the fullesttfcjnformation from'lßßs to December 3Tst, 1917. will be annexed to the balance-sheet. Loan funds: The statement furnished by the Public Trustee of loan funds m his hands shows that on December' 31st, 1017, he had m hand £21,898 :12s Id,- which amount he holds at the call of the. Board, as the same may be required from time to time for carrying out the works authorised by the 1913 Act.- ■' : - Inner harbor: The year "1017' proved a further period of heavy rainfall. A flood m the Wainiata occurred fis early as be-( tween the 2nd and 3rd- of • January, and very serious silting resulted,-the entrance channel being reduced from 10ft 6ln to rift at low water. Between the 21st and 23rd February the Waimata brought down further deposits, reducing the entrance channel to 4ft. Further silt-bear-ing floods occurred between the 7th and 9th March, on 13th Ma"yv between the 11th and 13th June, and between 9th and 15th August. A fresh m the river on the 12th and 13th September caused silting; also a further fresh occurred between the 21st and 23rd November - with the same result. Continuing beyond the year under Teview. I would add with reference to floods that the one experienced over several" days early last month when the Waipaoa liver overflowed improved the general position 'm the river, but the bank at the entrance was extended seaward lftOft beyond the end ■'of the breakwater extension and showed a depth of only Gft at low water ordinary spring tides. I am now very pleased to find that what 1 then hoped and trusted would occur has come to pass, and this bankhas been cleared away by the forces ol nature. The harbormaster now reports that this bank, to the seaward of the breakwater, was imfproved to the extent of 2ft by the heavy seas-■experienced Immediately after the flood referred to^ and that the further flood which followed on the 12th of this month completely dis' pelled the bank seaward of the break water m the line of navigation. Dredging: The Maul was occupied during the greater portion ot the year attacKlng the silt m the inner basin and the entrance channel, working with the pumps delivering on to the .tide. A few loads of the heavier material met with was taken out m the dredger's hoppers. Pumping operations were -stopped on the 25th April, (and the dredger was sent to Auckland for annual overhaul. Work was resumed on • the 25th June, was stopped again on the 17th September, and the dredger was despatched to Auckland to get the hoppers closed and caulked and the ladder and other weights removed to lighten the draught m accordance with Mr. Reynolds' advice vre sine scheme of pumping over tlie breakwater. - The ■ dredger arrived back ■ from Auckland on the 18th October, and recommenced work on the Ist November. After vi trial on ,thc 13th November with the'extjra piping equipment obtained from Dunedin, ithe scheme of pumping over the break- . water was commenced on the 19th of 'the 'same month. • From the beginning'of the year until the 9th May the dredger John , Townley was utilised at her usual work ! dredging about the wharves and at the slipway. The vessel was then taken up on the slip for inspection- and general repairs. Owing to the silted condition of the slip, considerable delay occurred and the dredger was not taken off until the 9th November. She was then handed over to fae, contractors, Messrs. W. Cable' and Co., who" were ready to proceed with installing the new boiler,* > ; .

The harbor question: In Juhethe? Board engaged; Mr. Leslie H. Reynolds to collaborate with the late engineer-secretary, Mr. J. A. McDonald, and these gentlemen submitted a scheme suggesting narrowing the river to 160 ft by building new wharves further^ out m the stream on the town side, and erecting half^tldei walls >on the Kalti side, the estimated cost being £127,---000. ith tfie vieWvOt otrtatning a scheme with the river influence^ellininated altogefhier, the Board re-engaged Mr. Reynolds to furnish a further f rscheme rof moderate dimensions to accommodate the intercolonial and coastal traffic and also to furnish a scheme to give immediate relief m the river. Mr. Reynolds submitted the latter scheme m "October, advising the construction of deflecting groynes contracting the half-tide water way to accelerate the velocity VSf the currents and obtain a greater scour. It was decided to proceed with the erection of the groynes,- and Mr. Reynolds was engaged to supply working plans and specifications and IP supervise the construction. Transgressing into the present year I would add that a contract has been let to Mr J. A. Nicol for the erection Of two of the groynes, the contract sum being £11,800. j This amount is to be paid out of the loan funds now In the hands of the Public j Trustee. ■' ; - >■-. ■ ■■ Aid to navigation: During. the year Im-j provenient was effected to the l»ort lights. The fixed whtt« light of the. rear leading j beacon was replaced by an' "Aga" auto-r matic unwatched acetone acetylene flash- j ing white light raised on a steel tower 20ft. higher than 1 the old light. The cost of this improvement, including strengthoning ariTT renovating the old structure, amounted to £1035.

Lights: Much improvement of the wharf and shed lighting was effected during the year. Gas mantles had 1 proved toofragile to withstand' the vibrations ' m the cargo sheds, and some of the wharf lights > were continually being damaged by the ; winds. Early m the year .the Board .'decided to Instnl electric lighting to supersede nl J most all ~\\ie gas -lights.: The electric lights appear to be much .more satisfactory for the Board's requirements. To comply with a new regulation for the protection of life on ships, plugs were placed along the wharves and portable cluster lights made available for: vessels.

Accommodation for .waterside workers: The needs of the waterside workers were not overlooked during the year. The 'Hoard considerably enlarged their- waiting room, installed electric light and provided tables, forms and chairs, also an office for their secretary, a bicycle shear etc. > ■ "< ' •' l - y - •''•■•

Other works: Other works carrlefl out during the year included a temporary shed^on the Knlti side to provide for the cargo ol the Ripple ana other vessels that had to be berthed there In ' consequence of the scant water . on the town side. Shelter for passengers on the Kait side was also provlfled by shifting over nne of the buildings that had been used near the Waikanao beach m connection with the blasting operations; Increased neepmodation -for vessels- on the Haiti side was being provided by the reconstruction •of -portion -of- -the 'Wharf* above the coal jHinker,. where the floods do not seriously Affect; the depth of water.' *' • : . ' Compensation to native' owners: In August, 1012, the Board decided to acquire slightly over ii • acres of Wairo-hi-harore No- 1 2 Blbck under the Public- Works Act In connection with the then proposed extension of the river harbor intcthe Waika,nae r Creek. The compensations ■to be paid by fiie : Soard was awarded by the Katin tend Cpurit Ph iifii' January, 19i7,'

(he amount being £1275. This sum was paid into the- Court, being- met out of loaiv money. - ■ ,- - Purchase of land near wharf: Negotiations with the Gisborne S.F.. Meat Co. for the. purchase of 28 perches of land on the south, side of- the railway track'adjacent to the stockyard were completed m December, the purchase price being £4500. The main object m purchasing this was to prqyide road access from Read's Quay to the Waikanae m the event of the Board deciding to shift back the whari at thft corner at No. 3 shed. It was decided that this expenditure should also be met out of the loan funds. . -

Purchase of stores: Owing to the state of affairs m Europe no ' satisfactory tenders for general stores could be obtained when these were last called, as usual m October. Tlie Board therefore decided that they should be purchased m open market as required, and that fair stocks of any essential requirements should be obtained. The secxetaty has been carefully checking the prices charged and the arrangement is proving economical m comparison with the tenders. Twelve months' supply of oils was purchased m November. Rope is the only material that is being obtained under a definite contract. Coal has become a much increased item ot expense m working the dredgers. In 1916 the cost per ton was 25s m ship's slings (not including lighterage). 'ByNovember last year the cost had risen to' 45s ca per ton, ahd to this must be added 7s per ton for lighterage owing to the state of the river. '

Tauwhareparae: A further two miles of road formation giving access to sections Nos: 1, 2 and 3 leased to Mr. E. Loisel were completed early m the year the cost being £1058 18s. .. . -

Statf: Several changes on the permanent staff took place during the year. In September Mr. J. G. Lilley, temporary clerk "and. inspecting officer re storage of dangerous goods, resigned, and Mr. B. Hird, the wharfinger, was appointed m the latter capacity, and m October Miss Clare roster was. engaged to taKe Mr. ' Lilley's place m the office. In September the Board decided to terminate the engagement with Mr. McDonald, enigneer and secretary. Mr. Barton was appointed secretary, and the harbormaster, Captain Carson, was placet!.- in charge of outsido affairs, m October. Captain D. R. Probert resigned his position of master ot the Maul, and Mr; ,T. Miller, the chief engineer, was appointed' qvedgemaster and Captain C. F. Harper was engaged as sailing master, m December Captain G ; P. Solvander resigned . his position of 'Tuastor of the dredger John Townley, and Mr. C. B. Norton, .signalman on the harbormaster's staff, Was appointed m his stead. Mr. R: Morse, signalman was promoted to be launchman, and Mr. P. B,oyd was engaged to flU.thP vacancy of signalman.

Momhers of staff on active service: Two m>»i'f>, men Trom the Board's staff, A. H. Kay, flredgehanrt, and T. L. Barnfathei^ carpenter, left on active service during the year, and their names have been added, to the. roll of honor placed m tho Board room. I am pleased to be able to report that we have not received .any bad news of anyone of them during the year. Conclusion: In conclusion I wish to express my appreciation of the assistance ol the members of the Board, and I must, thank the secretary and office staff, also the harbormaster and his staff for their assistance and courtesy extended to me at nil times. . ; • ' •

Mr. Tombleson Scaidi that the outstanding feature of the report was that the Board, after considerable discussion, had cleaided to take action to improve the river, under engineering advice, and with the approval of the harbormaster.' He trusted- they would see considerable improvement during the ensuing year, but personally he did not think they would reap much benefit unti^ half the channel was blocked up as it. was before, the rocks were removed. The question of an outside harbor was ..too big a one' for the Board! to consider m wax* time, or even with a view to the future. — Mr. Preston commended 1 the chairman upon the summary of the yearns operation. One gratifying result had been the removal of .the bar that had blocked their entrance last meeting, and whilst the chairman had assured them this would be the case, he had proved a "good guesser." .However, he reminded the 'chairman he had) not been fio suacessful an his assurance respecting the Arahura, adding; that the vessel never come m again.— r, Mr. 'Tombleson : It will.-r-Prooeeding, the I speaker commended the harbormaster and the staff gi^iverally on the results i obtained. ' Mr. Witters remarked- that one would gather from the remarks that the Board had just "settled down" to- work, but he assured them that they had been m "dead earnest" all along, and whilst, they were congratoilating each other the public outside were not. — I 'Mr. Long regretted! that the, question had been raised. He trusted 1 that the question of an outside harbor had not been •dropped, and hoped that the dream of .getting the Araliura m to the river again would be dropped, and that the Board) would go initially into the .bigger project. — The chairman emphasised that a great deal had been done m the past, recalling the days when he hadl landed! timber m the Waikanae and had to carry it ashore. He regretted the great • inconvenience ,the public had been put to, ; andl trusted it wou]d not continue this oyeau.— <-Tte- A jeeport was adopted, v and the chairman was thanked -for thfe>'>fedaie. --<-•'-':■ 2-i. i>n-~ y, • -ji

Wharfages ■ 17,049 13,950 Port, charge*} 2,310 1,819 H.M. fees 878 595 Pilotages ... ... ... 276 133 River, imp. rate 487 905 Berthage lighters ■ 128 ■ 105 V £2i,iP£ i .'iE!B,Bs" Decrease, £4251 V . '>, , stniiciirtf Ttatjriieri. statements prepared