HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2925, 10 August 1882, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board was held to-day. Present —Messrs F. Archer (Chairman), T. W. Hall, K. F, Gray, W, Moody, T. Tescheraaker, A. Mee, W. Evans, E. A. Barker. SPECIAL MEETINGS. The Chairman said the bye-laws of the Board referring to special meetings provided that seven days’ notice of such meetings should be given. It was just a question whether it would not be advisable to reduce the notice to say three days, so that urgent matters could be dealt with. If the alteration suggested were made members would have to remember the new Bill passed at the instigation of Captain Sutter provided that the special qualification of members was that they must beratopayors in the particular portion of the district which elected them. In the case of a member of the Board residing in the Mount Cook district, three days notice would not be sufficient.

Mr Moody said he could not agree to the proposed alteration in the notice for special meetings. Mr Teschemaker concurred, and that in his opinion the Chairman should' exercise his discretion in matters of urgency, being certain that any action taken by him would be endorsed by the Board. No action was taken in the matter. HAEBOE CHARGES.

The Chairman said the first business was the consideration of the proposal made to increase the charges on goods landed and shipped at the port. Members would observe that the increase was fully fifty per cent in some cases.

Mr Evans said that since the proposal to increase the port charges on goods, a great alteration had come over the port. However desirable it might have been six months ago to increase the port charges and show a large revenue as a security for any loan that might have been raised for the completion of the works, it would be positively suicidal to do so now. Ho had consulted most of the leading people in the place connected with commerce and they were decidedly against the coarse proposed by the Board. The Chairman here read a letter from Mr W. Balfour, Manager of the N.Z. M.eat Preserving Company’s works at Washdyke, stating that by the proposed new port charges, the company would be required to pay 3s per ton for goods shipped at the port. He hoped the Board would, seeing that the company were utilising the natural products of the country, be placed in the same position as producers of grain and be charged accordingly. Ho pointed ont that the railway authorities intended to make concessions and if the Harbor Board insisted on high rates for shipping all the company's produce would be sent by rail to Lyttelton and the Board wonld lose the trade.

Mr Moody said that ifc was the desire of th e Board when it sketched the schedule of increased charges to make up a sufficient revenue to justify the floating of a loan and the payment of interest. The Board had now been given power to levy a rate by consent of the ratepayers in the Harbor district, and it would perhaps be as well to defer increasing the port charges for a timen.

M i Evims said as there was a good deal of business to be done ho should brin g the matter to an issue at once by moving—“ That the consideration of the incr ease of Harbor rates be deferred unti/. further notice.

M.r Gray seconded the motion, and in d oing so he expressed a hope that Mr Bali four’s letter should not be lost sight of, I rut that he should bo placed in the tuos t favorable position as a shipper of the products of the country. It would not do to let the railway compete with the port on account of the high rates charged. The motion was put and carried unanimously. , 4 This co -ncludod the business of the special meeting and the ordinary monthly .meeting was then hold. COEHESPONDENCE. Letters were read from the Marino Departmen t stating that the report of the Committee on the foreshore at Timaru had been referred to tho Bailway Departi nent. From tho i tame stating that a gun for the Eocketß, rigade would be forwarded by the Stella in about a week. From theß ailwayDepartment stating that the Boartj l’s request to be supplied

with an extra steam crane on the wharf would receive due consideration. TOG RATES. On the motion of Mr Moody, seconded by Mr Teschemaker, it was resolved — “ That a Committee be appointed to consider the question of tug rates, and the working arrangements of the tug, the Committee to consist of the Chairman, Messrs Evans, Gray, Hall and Moody, to report at next meeting, three to form a quorum. The rates and conditions recommended to be in force till next meeting of the Board.” THE HARBOR BOARD BILL. A letter was read from Mr Sutter, stating that objection had been taken to some of the boundaries of the new Harbor Board, and it had been suggested to him, that in consequence the Bill would be opposed in the Legislative Council. He immediately called the South Canterbury members together and they had got the Bill recommitted to alter the boundaries. The boundaries had been altered, and there was no doubt the Bill would pass without further objection. THE FORESHORE. Two telegrams wore read from Mr Sutter on the subject of the large portion of the foreshore, wrongfully taken by the railway department. He said the Government stated that they bad not taken more of the foreshore from the Board than had been agreed to. The Chairman read the copy of a letter which the Engineer had written to Mr Sutter on the subject, That letter showed that the Government had taken an acre and a half more foreshore than they were entitled to. THE HARBOR LOAN. Replies were read from the County Councils and Boad Board's in South Canterbury on the subject of the Harbor Board’s request for the local bodies to assist the Board in taking a poll of the inhabitants, to decide whether a loan should be negotiated for completing the harbor works. The replies were mostly favorable, but some of the local bodies declined to express an opinion till they saw what country representation was going to be given on the Board by Captain Sutter’s Bill. THE TUG TITAN. A telegram from Captain Bascand was read, stating that he estimated the cost of repairs to the Tityn at £250. The Inspector of Machinery insisted on the tug being put in first-class repair before she left Lyttelton, and that was the reason of the delay in bringing the steamer to Tiraaru. MISCELLANEOUS. Captain Woolloombe wrote stating that he was going home to England by sailing vessel, and would arrive at his destination in about three months. He would be glad to do anything he could for the Board when at home. The Secretary was instructed to acknowledge the letter, with thanks. A recommendation of the Landing Service Manager to purchase some coir hawsers, &c, from Mr LeCren, for £lB, was agreed to. A letter was read from the Harbormaster recommending that no attempt be made to dredge inside the Breakwater until the widening of the wharf is completed. INSURING THE TITAN. A letter was read from Mr Ziesler, local agent for the National Insurance Company, stating that his Company had taken a risk of £2OOO on the tug Titan during her trip from Lyttelton to Timaru. The matter of a roadstead risk bad not yet been decided. A discussion took place as to the rate which some of the Insurance Companies proposed to charge for insuring the Titan. Mr Moody moved and it was carried —“That the tug Titan be insured for £2OOO at a rate not exceeding 7 per cent, or the Board be their own under, writers.” PILE JETTY. Mr Moody pointed out that the Board could effect a great saving by constructing a pile jetty north of the present service. The boats could then be brought up alongside the jetty instead of being hauled up by engine power as at present. The engine power and cost of fuel would be saved, and what was of more importance the great wear and tear to the boats by hauling them up on the ways would be saved. He gave statistics to show the saving which would be effected if a pile jetty was constructed. He concluded by moving —“That the Engineer be instructed to submit plans for a cheap pile jetty connected with the Landing Service, so as to facilitate despatch and cheapen the present expensive mode of .landing and shipping.” Mr Gray seconded the motion which was carried.

The following reports were read BANDING SERVICE. The manager of the Landing Service reported the arrival of 25 vessels during the month. There have been landed and shipped by the service in all 1837 tons, the gross earnings being £309 Is 4d, and the net, £59 9s 3d. One of the three new surfboats ordered has arrived and has been passed by the Engineer, I have bad the three wooden surfboats repaired and put iu good order. I am now making arrangements to start on the iron surfboats. For some time past at spring low tides I have found it im. possible to hunch tbo boats, a fine sand has accumulated in front of the ways, and the boats get very much shaken if I attempt to launch them. engineer's report. “I have (tho honor to report that during last month, on account of the prevalence of rough seas, only one monolith of 18£t in length was completed, making 45ft of the contract. The greater portion of the damaged part of the Breakwater has been repaired, and this has been; done during tho worst months in winter. As good weather sets in we may hope to be able to proceed with the work with more expedition in the future. “ Wharf contract Ho. 4 is now proceeding favorably. The piles are being driven by steam power, and this pail of the work will probably be completed iu about three weeks’ time. “ The first of the surf boats in Mr Anderson’s contract has come to hand. It has been built in accordance with the contract, excepting in the packing below the keelsons, the value of which I have deducted from bis certificate.” ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £2584 14s 4d were passed for payment and the Board adjourned.