Bluff Harbour Board.

Southland Times, Issue 13286, 13 August 1895, Page 3

Bluff Harbour Board.

Monday, 12th August. The monthly meeting of the Board was attended by Messrs Pollard (chairman), Mitchell, McLean, Raymond, Gilroy, Dunlop, Waddel, and Captain Stevens. The Resident Engineer for Working Railways intimated that it would be necessary to call tenders for the lease of a portion of the foreshore applied for by James Roberts. —Copy of letter to be sent to Mr Roberts. The chief officers of the s.s. Taieri and s.s. Wakatipu applied for pilotage exemption certificates. — Referred to the harbourmaster.

The Hon. J. G. Ward applied for leave of absence from the meetings of the Board during the present session of Parliament.— Granted.

A letter from the Rackarock Explosive Company relative to the quality and utility of the article they manufacture was referred to the Harbour and Works Committee.

The Resident Engineer for Railways wrote drawing attention to the dangerous position of the lamps on the wharves. He stated that there was insufficient distance between the lines of rails for posts of any kind to be erected between them. Lamp posts, he added, should in no case be within seven feet of the centre of any railway siding.— Referred to the Harbour and Works Committee. G. A. Whealer wrote offering to sell a telescope adapted for use on the flagstaff hill for the sum of L 25.— It was decided to purchase the telescope subject to its being approved of by the harbourmaster. The shipping returns for the month were as follows :—Arrivals; 20 vessels, 18,095 tons ; departures: 17 vessels of 14,082 tons; a decrease as compared with the returns of the corresponding month of last year of 7378 tons inwards and 7533 tons outwards. The harbourmaster reported that 533 cubic yards of material had been removed from the deep water berth during the past month.—Received.

The treasurer reported that the revenue for July had been LBO9 6s lOd, a decrease of L3l 9s 8d on that of the previous month of last year. The tug had earned L 45 8s lid, while the expenses in connection with her had been L2BO 0s 9d (including L 238 15s as premium on insurance). On the recommendation of the Finance Committee accounts end salaries amounting to L 539 were passed for payment. The Harbour and Works Committee reported as follows(1) Recommend that the main boiler and engines ,be removed from the Priestman dredge and stored under suitable coVer on the wharf. (2) Recommend that the harbourmaster’s plan of traverse soundings taken from the entrance of the harbour to the wharf be received and his suggestion that three additional beacons be erected to further define the position of the mid-channel rock be adopted subject to the approval of the Minister of Marine. (3) That with regard to the engineer’s plans and specifications to deepen 450 feet of ext a berthage, the committee had authorised the chairman to have at least thirty borings taken over the area of the proposed work, and recommend that on the sanction of the Minister being obtained tenders be invited for the work. (4) Recommend that the staff bo instructed to sand and tar the upper structure of the wharf as opportunity occurs. —As anamendmentonthe third clause, Mr Waddel moved, seconded by Mr Gilroy:“That the harbourmaster and the Board’s engineer make an examination of the harbour with a view to constructing a wharf specially for large vessels, such wharf to be placed where there is not less than 28 feet at low water, spring tides, and so avoid the necessity for further dredging." — The amendment was lost and the report as a whole adopted. ; Five tenders were received for decking the open portion of the wharf a,nd that of Ferguson Bros, and Donaldson at LlO5 was accepted. The Board afterwards adjourned.