Bluff Harbour Board.

Southland Times, 12 January 1887, Page 2

Bluff Harbour Board.

♦ ' TOESDAY, lITH JAN. The monthly meeting of the Board was attended by the Chairman (Mr J. Gh Ward), and Messrs Baldey, Eemp, H, Wilson, Willcocks, and Captain Stevens The master of tbe Ganymede, Captain Morgan, wrote from Timaru objecting to the charge made for the towage of his veaeel into the Bluff, Ll4. He stated that when the tug >ook the Ganymede in tow she was only 7£ miles from r>og Island (or about ten miles from the port), and under all the circumstances he considered that LlO wonld be a reasonable charge. This amount he was willing to pay, but if the Board did not accept it he would advise his owners to resist payment of tbe Board's claim. — In connection with this matter Captain Tyson reported that when the tag reached the Ganymede late at . night, she was sixteen miles from the BlnfE, and the master was informed that there would be fourteen miles extra towage to pay. It was. two o'clock in the moreing before the vessel was brought into port. — The "Chairman remarked that the Harbourmaster had received a telegram from the owners asking him to look out for their vessel and bring her in. He did so and was out all night for the purpose, the only thanks he got being the discourteously worded letter from Captain Morgan. — It was resolved to inform Captain Morgan that no reduction in the towage charges could he made/ The Public Trustee intimated that the amount to the credit of the Board's sinking fund was L 4889 lis 7d, and suggested that a more profitable means of mveating the money might be found,— deferred to the Finance Committee, A letter from the Crown Lands office announced that the rent's on the Board's endowments for the year had amounted to L 299 17s lOd, — Beceived. James Roberts applied for permission to erect an oyster bed on the western end of the wharf — Granted, subject to the approval of the Works Committee. The shipping returns for December were as follows :— lnwards : 16 vessels , 11,781 tons. Outwards : 15 vessels ; 10,948 tons. The Harbourmaster reported that owing to the bad weather during the early part of the month, and the amount of necessary work during tbe latter part, no dredging had been done. The wharf was in a very decayed condition and wonld require two men working at it continually for some time to come. — Referred to the Harbour and Works Committees. The treasurer reported that the revenue for the past month had been L 536 7s 4d, or Lll7 4s lid less than for the .corresponding month of the previous year.— Tbe Chairman explained that the sum of Ll6B 6s 5d had to be added to the revenue for the month, in respect of mail L 62 10s, the Ganymede's charges, 130 16s sd, and the trip of the tug to the Snares (at the Government's request), JL7S. These amounts were due, but had not been paid, so that there was actually a surplus over the revenue of December, 1885. The tug's earnings for the month were re« ported to have been LlO3 10s 9d, and her expenses L 72 Is 3d, leaving a credit balance of L3l 9s 6d. Accounts amounting^ to L 233 9<* lid were passed for payment. Several tenders for stores were received and referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. Captain Stevens gave notice that at next meeting he would move that tenders be again called for dredgiog at the wharf. The Eoard then adjourned.