TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3128, 12 April 1883, Page 2

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the Board was held to-day. Present Messrs W. Moody (Chairman), M. Jonas, J. Talbot, J. S. Gibson, 3L F. Gray, E. Elworthy, E. Acton, J, H. Sutter, J. Paterson, J. Kelland. correspondence. A quantity of routine correspondence was read and dealt with. THE SHIP UGGLAN. The Chairman stated in regard to the Board’s claim against the ship Ugglan for recent work done to that vessel, that he thought the Board might well consider, under the circumstances, whether they would not remit the charges altogether. Mr Sutter advocated remitting the entire sum. The ship had been under a great deal of disadvantage in the port, had sustained damage, and had been delayed by untoward circumstances. Mr Gibson thought as the captain had an action pending agaiust the Rewa, the Board ought to wait the issue of that before remitting the charges. Mr Acton concurred. Mr Jonas thought the actual labor ought to bo charged for. It was finally resolved to leave the matter to be dealt with by the Chairman. THE BURIAL OF THE WHALE. The Borough Council forwarded an account for £5 for the re-interment of a whale on the beach. The matter was referred to the Works Committee. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT. “ I have the honor to report the arrival of 27 vessels during the month of March, the aggregate registered tonnage being 6383 tons. “ The weather during the past month has been very changeable and stormy, the effect of which brought very heavy seas on the coast, causing great range inside the Breakwater at the time. On the 22nd a violent storm came on very suddenly from the southward, causing the barque Bewa, which had just been hauled off from the wharf, to part several of her moorings and running foul of the ship Ugglan, by which that vessel lost her rudder, and considerable damage occurred to both. The prevelance of the heavy range inside the Breakwater has severely tested the strength of the mooring appliances of the Board. The chain cables held very well, but the hawsers have not proved equal for the occasion, for holding such a vessel as the Ugglan. The very best 11-inch coir hawsers were broken repeatedly, hence the expenses of the Board for hawsers during last month will be very considerable indeed.

“ Soundings were taken of the inner harbor on the 9th inst., when it was found that the depth of water at the wharf had very much varied from the former depth, which was the cause of the barque Salado not being berthed at the wharf, as previously arranged. I consider the alteration at the wharf to be caused by the heavy sea and range that there has been. Herewith I hand in the book of soundings.”

engineee’s eepoet,

“I have the honor to report that daring last month, the Breakwater contractors made fair progress with the work up to the 22nd, when heavy seas set three days. Eight rows of blocks on the top tier were swept away from the extremity and many of those beneath were displaced, the amount of injury has not yet been ascertained, there haring been no chance since of sending down the diver to report, apparently, however, the damage is not great. On the 30th, preparations were made for laying the capping of monoliths, heavy seas again set in and wrecked the caison, and carried it away in pieces. But for this misfortune, and had the weather proved favorable, this contract would have been completed by the end of the month. The contractors are losing no’ time in delays, as they have nearly completed building another caison since this mishap. “ Being instructed to prepare plans for extension of the Breakwater as soon as I had satisfactory information that a new crane for the works could be procured, that could travel round a curve of from 6 to 10 chains radius, I communicated with leading mechanical engineering firms in Christchurch and Dunedin. I have not received decisive

j replies, but believe from what has transpired that each a crane can be built, j

“ Wharf widening contract No. 6 is not progressing satisfactorily, the contractors are partially at a stand still for want of timber, and are already much behind time. I have therefore thought it inadvisable to give them a certificate for this month.

“ The survey of the south face of the Breakwater for ascertaining the condition of the works, could not be proceeded with during the month on account of the roughness of the sea during that time.

“ When the Breakwater contract is completed, which I expect will be in about a month, and as many as possible of the blocks that were displaced by the seas of last May are lifted out of the way, there will be 300 ft of Breakwater available for wharf extension. As contractors will take some time to procure the necessary materials, I beg to recommend that another contract for 300 ft of wharf be let as soon as plans and specifications can be prepared, so that the work could be proceeded with as speedily as possible. “I beg to request that diving requisites, as’per annexed list, be ordered at once.” THE DEEDGE, The Engineer in reply to a question said the dredge was efficient, but it was not suitable for dealing with the finer silt. To meet this difficulty ho had had certain alterations made to the buckets, and since then be had seen Priestman’s representative who had informed him that his principals had just invented a device similar to his (Mr Goodall’s.) He proposed shortly trying the dredge with his new buckets. The suggestion was agreed to. THE NEW CEANE. The engineer said he had received certain information in regard to cost, &c. of the new crane. The matter was allowed to stand over pending the receipt of further information when a special meeting would be called. EXTENSION OF THE BEEAKWATEE. It was moved by Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr M. Jonas—“ That the Engineer be requested to prepare plans and specifications for a further extension of the wharf (say 300 feet), and the things scheduled in the report be ordered at once.” Mr Talbot moved, and Mr Kelland seconded a recommendation that the Extension Committee should again report on some way of destroying the range inside the breakwater. Mr Talbot was proceeding to speak to the motion, when the Chairman observed that he did not see the connection between the two motions, or how the one work would interfere with the other. Mr Sutter was opposed to this extension of the wharf.

Mr Gibson thought his motion should be carried,.the Board should look ahead, as a great deal of time would be taken up in preliminaries, months in fact. After some discussion, Mr Gibson’s motion was carried.

Mr Talbot’s motion being put, Mr Gibson advocated the appointment of a permanent Works Committee for the interests of the Board and the assistance of the Chairman.

Mr Jonas said he agreed with that but he believed in having only four members ; he could not stand six, it was a monopoly.

Mr Sutter said there seemed to ho a misconception about the range. The bend they were about to put on would only modify, not kill, the range, and a proposal to put on » 300 foot wharf was absurd. Shelter was the thing they had to look to. It was absurd to have a wharf and no possibility of bringing ships alongside it.

Mr Talbot’s motion was carried

It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr Sutter, seconded by Mr Jonas — “That the same Committee be appointed to report on the working arrangements of the landing services and wharf, also upon the question of providing a house for the Harbormaster in a position suitable for observing the shipping.”

ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £283 8s lOd on the Landing account, and £846 12s lid on "the general account, were passed for payment, including an account for £l3 16s 3d from the Eocket Brigade, extending back some two years and covering carriage, material,advertising accoutrements and gear. The meeting then closed.