HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2741, 5 January 1882, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above took place this morning at the Board’s offices. Present—Mr F. Archer (Chairman), and Messrs T. Teschenaaker, W. Moody R. Turnbull, R. A. Barker, Postlethwaite, Mee, Evans, and the Mayor of Timaru. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed, and correspondence then read. THE IRON CAISSON. The letter from Messrs Jones and Peters, with reference to the withholding of a sum of £l6O from the amount of the last contract, gave rise to a rather warm discussion about the delay in providing the iron caisson stipulated for in the last contract. They wrote they had lost no time in obtaining a tender for the caisson, and should not be held responsible for the delay. Captain Sutter spoke confidently that there had been unnecessary delay in obtaining the caisson. He believed that there would have been still further delay if he bad not brought the matter up at the Board some months after the contract was let. He had often been down at tfie works and seen only three men at work when there ought to have been more. The £l6O was retained, not as a penalty for exceeding the contract time—that would have been £4so—but for the salaries of the Board’s officers, who were kept idle nine weeks, and for storage of cement —moneys the Board weie clearly out of pocket by the slow progress made. In reply to the Chairman, the engineer stated that Jones and Peters called for tenders for the caisson about a month after their tender for the Breakwater was accepted. There was some delay in giving them possession of the ground on account of repairs going on. Captain Sutter was sure that a good deal of delay had taken place. There were three monoliths laid down with the old wooden caisson in that contract.

The Engineer referred to his monthly report, dated March 2, showing that only one was laid down, by his special permission, and that the work was then proceeded with by laying down blocks to tho upper level, and no more monoliths were put down till the iron caisson was supplied, and that caisson was destroyed when first used.

Mr Teschemaker moved that the amount be paid, and Mr Turnbull supported the motion. Mr Postlethwaite would not enforce a penaltj' as such, but if the Board were out of pocket, as the Finance Committee showed, the contractors should pay. After a long discussion Mr Moody moved as an amendment Messrs Jones and Peters be informed that the Board could not see its way to remit the amount.” The amendment was carried. HARBOR MASTER’S OFFICE.

The Harbor Master wrote asking to be supplied with an office in a convenient situation.

The Board were of opinion that it would be inadvisable to erect any more buildings until the Board’s land had been permanently defined. THE FORESHORE ENDOWNENT.

A letter was read from tlie Under Secretary for Public Works relative to the land taken north of the Breakwater for railway purposes, by the Bill passed last session. The railway department only required a strip 20 feet wide measured from the centre of the present railway line, and the rest of the land defined in the schedule of the Bill, in excess of that, was required to provide for “ batter ” in cutting the high clay bank. The Board might erect any building up to within 20 feet of the centre of the present line. If the Board desired to use land up to that distance, when a wider strip had been reserved, the department would require to be informed of the purpose and manner of using it. The Chairman said that on receiving this letter ho had instructed the Engi noor tp take the i>lau sunt down hy the Government and mark upon it the land taken by the Bill, and the land left, to the Board. This had been done, and it was found that instead of the Board getting 3 acres 2 roods, they only got 1 acre 1 rood 10 perches. The Engineer showed also a plan ho had prepared of the land given to the railway by the Bill, south of the Breakwater.

Mr Barker thought that the extra ground taken for “ batter” was far more tbau was necessary.

A committee consisting of Messrs Sutter, Moody, Turnbull, and the Engineer, was appointed to take into consideration the whole question of tho Endowment, and have the land all defined and marked out, the work, of course, to bo done in conjunction with a Government engineer. finance. A letter was read from Mr D. A. Menzies, Napier, offering as agent of a largo financing firm at Homo, to lend the Board any sura from £60,000 upon the security the Board could offer. It was decided to request Mr Menzies to submit his terms. CEMENT. Several remarks were made about the great cost of storage of cememt. Last month £l5O was paid, and this month £3OO was to be paid for this purpose. Mr Evans suggested that a temporary shed be put up on the beach near tho works, but no decision was made. It was stated that 5909 casks of cement was in stock yesterday, and 6500 more would shortly arrive. Anderson’s claim. A letter was read from Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw, stating that a writ had been issued against the Board at tho suit of Mr John Anderson. A complaint. A long letter was read from tho N.M. and A. Company, as agents for the Union Steamship Company, complaining that on Tuesday, December 6, the steamer Waitaki was not tendered with proper celerity by the landing service, and that the manager refused to take in wool for shipment at 4.30 although they were prepared to pay overtime, .In consequence they had to send a lot of wool to Dum din by rail. A letter in explanation was read from the Manager of the service. He had received no complaint from the vessel till 5 p.m. that they wanted more boats. Ho had more boats ready waiting nearly all the time ; the delay took place on board. It .was resolved on the motion of Mr Evans to reply to the Company that .the Board regretted that inconvenience had been caused them, and informing them that the Board would instruct the Manager in future to endeavor to meet the Company’s wishes, especially as they were willing to pay the charges for over time. It was also leeolved to instruct the manager of the service to tender steamers till 9 p.m. if necessary, on the understanding that the shippers pay each of the men employed Is 6d per hour after six p.m., and with the clear understanding that goods shipped after dark are at the risk of the shipper. This motion was passed to discourage steamers coming in late in the day and working till late at night.

A second letter from the Union Company’s agents, asked whether the Board claimed the right to force the steamers to use the wharf, as it was more expensive to them than..lying out and being tendered by surfboats. The Secretary showed from the scale of charges that the berthage paid by the vessels was certainly higher, but the charges to consignees and shippers wcie much lower.

The Board decided that they must claim the right referred to, and directed the Company’s attention to Clause 9 of the By-laws. THE LIGHTHOUSE. A report on the advisability of substituting green glass in the lantern of the lighthouse, by Messrs Hall, GoodaO, and Capt. Mills, having been read, it was decided to put green glass in a portion of the lantern,as recommended, and to light it with gas instead of paraffine. • ■ \czn. la ■ i';-,: of d' app-'-\ :.-i” manager, -vsdisc.. ’ T- » ; -sr ai-.-l ■ L ‘l! alio ■ .. ■ : Mr motion for an iLGuny into •■■■•' salaries paid to tho Board's officer*. •vas remitted to- a committee tv rep,;: r>Av ■ 0- n .if Mr M'm-.;y thv or-B-. nary ;■ • i: v • -• -v ■ .eyed iVr.;.; the pi.-t il.o ’i imtf jay iu oac.’x mor.ti- . t-ili • ... -e cou... ■' '■’embtv,-. 3 ■ -vu:.'t ; and -' !■ !:■ • Cod I he observed -h----largos i; ■- on t.:;v 0 the ■ r:,.:i ■ -'my. A hav .. .. lui iuesday morning —Was this with the Engineer’s approvalP The Engineer said he was aware that this had happened on one occasion ; he did not recollect when. It was then caused by the breaking down of the smaller crane, which blocked the way. He certainly did not “ approve” of the crane being left on the mole all night. engineer’s report. The Engineer’s report for the month was read as follows : “ I have the honor to report that having taken advantage of the leave of absence granted me by the Board for a fortnight, I was unable to be present at the last monthly meeting, from unavoidable delays caused by steamers not keeping advertised times. Before I left I placed Messrs Jones and Peters, contractors for Breakwater contract No, 4, in possession of the works. They took charge and began the work on November 16 last. Since then they have laid foundation blocks for a distance of 50 feet, and steady progress is being daily made. “In accordance with instructions, plans are being prepared for another length of about 200 feet of wharfage. Borings over the site are being taken to ascertain the nature of the bottom and arrive at the lengths of the piles required. This will be effected in a few days. Being instructed to report on the removal of shinglo for town purposes from the foreshore,_ with a recommendation as to where it may be taken from, and what rate charged per ton or load, I hog to state that after examination of the foroshure I find that carters chiefly obtain shingle from opposite George street. Shinglo is also taken from opposite Grey street. I consider the best place to lake shinglo for town purposes is opposite George street, which street I believe it is the intention of the railway authorities to close shortly. A fair rate of charge would be 3d a load.

“ On examination of the plans of the Harbor Endowment north of the Breakwater lo Whales’ Creek, I find that the land left to the Harbor Board amounts only to 1 acre, 1 rood 10 perches, instead of 3 acres 2 roods, which would have been the quantity had the terms of agreement entered into with the Government been adhered to. The Railway Department have reserved on a average about 45 foot between the railway centre lino and the beach,instead of'land .sufficient fora double lino of railway only, as agreed, which would bo a width of 17 feet 3 inches.

“ I bog to draw particular attention to the fact that the Railway Department are making preparations to make use of the reclamation south of the Break-

water, and that a diatinct understanding should be come to with them as to how far they might approach the Breakwater works until they are completed, for the land adjacent to the foot of the mole cannot be given over until then, The contractors are already very much cramped for room, and any encroachment would materially affect the progress of the works.” MB ANDERSON’S CLAIM. A letter was read from Messrs Perry and Perry, the Board’s solicitors, statinsr that as instructed, they had accepted service of the writ issued at the suit of Mr Anderson, and according to previous arrangement had engaged Mr Stout to assist them. UTILIZATION OS’ WHARF. The Chairman said the wharf did not seem to be of much use, and they might as well sell it. The City of Cashmere, drawing only lift Gin, was lying at the outer anchorage, while there was 18ft of water at the wharf. The agents wanted to bring her in to discharge her small inward cargo and ballast, but the Harbor Master declined to bring her in. Captain Sutter thought it a mistake, that the vessel was not brought in. Captain Mills, the Harbormaster, was sent for and asked to explain why he had not brought the City of Cashmere in to the wharf. He said he did not consider it safe to do so. There was scarcely depth of water enough and the range of a- south-wester would bo des-' tructive, while a a nor wester would grind her against the wharf. A big vessel would pull the wharf down in a south-west range or else tear her bits out. He had taken the bits out of two vessels already. It would not be safe to bring big vessels in until the corner was turned. When the heavy moorings on the way out were laid down vessels could be swung off and ride head on the wind in a nor’-wester. If those moorings were down he would not bo afraid to bring large vessels under the shelter of the Breakwater, but he would not promise to bring them up to the wharf. extension of wharf. It was decided to call for tenders for the extension of the wharf by 213 feet. CLOSING OF GEORGE STREET, Mr Evans drew attention to the closing of George street as shown on the rough plans for the new railway station. This was a most important street, and its closing should he protested against. The matter was referred to the Endowment Committee to report upon. landing service. The Manager’s report for tlie > month was read as follows : “I have the honor to report that during the past month a great part of the landing and shipping of this port has been done at the wharf, the returns of which will, of course, be rendered by the Bail way Department. “In all 21 vessels have arrived, the gross earnings for the work done at the Service being £456 1s sd, and the nett £ll7 4s 3d. “ I have been working tho ship City of Cashmere at the outer anchorage, but owing to tho absence from town of Mr Leask, one of the proprietors of the steam launch Lillie Denham, I have not been able to make any experiments in towing the surf boats. “ According to your instructions, I have stored 1398 casks of cement in the top storey of the Landing Service shed.” who is to blame ? Mr Teschemaker brought up the dispute about who was to blame for the discrepancy between the schedule of the Endowment Bill and the agreement made V 'ir : ■;‘Ood ■. , .. and / !, . f,. '■ ■ ■ .pon ru? i ■ 1 of ■ iis,--;-’ 1 >O. : ■ .■■-■Vv {in■V/.b; ’ , ' ' ■ • . ■ 1.... . , but not r-r •. yy. Dess. Wi „, , U- t itter » ... ■ ■ • ■; I: on ;<> >'34o . o '< v; : - ■- ■ ■ 'v;v -vere ■ 1 : . ■. ■!. ;:.wd ad-