Bluff Harbour Board

Southland Times, Issue 14333, 29 April 1899, Page 4

Bluff Harbour Board

Friday, 28tii April.

The monthly meeting was attended by Messrs J. W. Mitehell (chairman), A. Carmichael, A. Bain, J. E. Watson, R. Dunlop, T. Gilroy, and J. P. Roberts. The District Traffic Manager wrote in regard to the dangerous condition of some of the planking on the wharf and also stated that, the electric light for the purpose of loading ships at night was so badly provided that he would be compelled to stop night work unless there was some improvement. — Referred to Harbour and Works Committee. In regard to the electric light the Harbour and Works Committee recommended an alteration in the present method of carrying on as follows : that in future the man in charge be both a competent plumber and electrician, that the present officer in charge receive notice that his services will not be required longer, and tha applications for the position be ~ forthwith.-Mr J. E. Watson, m seconding the adoption of the recommendation, said that in view of the constant necessity that arose for obtaining the services of a plumber to repair the lamps, etc., it had been thought advisable to have a man in charge who could do that kind of work. Such an officer would also be able to do the Board s plumbing in connection with the water service, residences, etc.—Mr Roberts moved as an amendment that Mr McDougall’s services be retained, and that he be asked to do the plumbing work that requires to be done. Mr Roberts said that McDougall was as good a plumber as the Board could desire, and could do all the work. It was not hrs fault that outside assistance was called in by the Bwrd, and it wasnot his fault if the electric light was unsatisfactory. That was due to the excessive use of water. Someone used the water, and as soon as they turned iton the lights went out.—Mr Gilroy seconded the amendment. He thought it was very unfair to ask McDougall to resign. No complaint bad ever been made against him, and. no fault had been found with him. . It would simply be discharging a servant without any reason.—Mr Carmichael said he thought there was very great reason. It had been stated to the Board that the plant was in a most unsatisfactory state, and that was due to the management. Of course it was a pity to discharge a man if he was efficient, but the evidence was so much against those who had to do with the lighting that the Board could not avoid taking some steps. If Mr McDougall was as efficient and capable as Mr -Roberts had said then he could send in his application and the Board would give him precedence. But there was no getting away from the fact that the electric lighting had been both unsatisfactory and inefficient. —The Chairman said that no formal complaint had been made against the present officer on the score of incompetence, but he had been in charge of the electric lighting and many complaints had been made against its in- ’ efficiency. He was glad to hear that McDougall had another qualification —that he was a plumber. Seeing that he was a very old servant his application would undoubtedly receive favour with the Board if he was as well qualified as other candidates. There was no doubt that the Board would have to take a stand not only in the electric department but in every department. Formerly—and it was a very good trait in character —there had been sentiment in the Board’s dealings with its employes. Bub the Board was held accountable to the public for its administration, and sentiment would have to give way to business pure and simple.—Mr Watson said he would be very sorry to have to support a resolution which involved dispensing with an officer, but that officer had been in charge of a department which had been a fiasco. If Mr McDougall was capable of doing the plumbing work, as had been stated, why was it that the Board had to pay that very day £5 for repairing one of the lamps and £6 for another? He had nothing against McDougall, only he felt that this was a grave question. The Board had its electric light thrown in its face repeatedly. If the light was not worked satisfactorily McDougall was the man in charge and must be held responsible. If it was shown that McDougall possessed the qualifications necessary the Board would consider iris application. — Messrs Bain and Dunlop having spoken the motion was put and carried, Messrs Gilroy and Roberts voting against it.—The matter of fixing the salary o? the 'electrician and defining his duties was referred to the Works Committee. The Harbour and Works Committee recommended that the Campbelltown Borough Council be asked to appoint a sub-committee to meet with a sub-committee of the Board to discuss the question of the deposit of sewage from Dalmer street drain in the harbour, and also the queston of the diversion of the watercourse —Messrs Watson, Bain, Dunlop, Gilroy and the chairman were appointed to represent the Board. That a letter from Engineer-in-charge of ports and harbours, Melbourne, giving price of gas buoys, be filed for future reference, and that the writer be thanked for the information. }.’e application from the Southland Frozen Meat Company for permission to erect a conveyor fcr mutton, etc., from their works to the deep water berth, the committee resolved that the harbourmaster confer with the Board’s engineer and the company’s engineer to ascertain more particularly what is wanted. 7?e new covering for the protection of piles, recommend that Messrs Ross and Jack’s letter be referred to the Board’s engineer. Recommend that John Moffett’s application for a portion of the foreshore for an artificial oyster bed be giant ed. With reference to a letter from tha Public Works Department, Sydney, re inspection of timber on Clarence river, and lct:er from Mr Darling, Wellington, offering to supply ironbark timber and piles, recommended that the Railway Department be asked to agree to their inspector inspecting timber for the Board ; Mr Darling to be informed that tenders would be called. ResoDed that Messrs Pollard, Dunlop, Bain, and Carmichael be a Biib-committee to codeider all communications re new tug and report to Harbour and Works Committee.— Report adopted. The Finance Committee recommended—(l) That the sinking fuud ba not disturbed ; (2) th.>t in lieu of pioviding a house for the harbourmaster he be given a house allowance of L5O; that Captain Lovett's salary be increased to L 250; that the secretary obtain information re salaries paid at other ports before dealing with A. Walker’s application; that the harbourmaster be requested to report upon the adequacy or otherwise of the salaries paid to the remaining members of the permanent staff; also as to the more effective employment of the men generally ; (3) reported that the Auditor-General had been asked to send down an experienced auditor, other than the local auditor, to make a special, audit of the Board’s accounts and recommended that the chairman and Messrs Ward, Dunlop, and W’atson be a sub-committee, with full power to act in conjunction with the auditor and report to the Finance Committee. —Adopted. The Harbourmaster's report gave the shipping for February as—lnward : 19 vessels, 21/210 tons; outward: 20,607 tons, an increase on the correi ponding period of lastyear of 960 tons inward and a decrease of 5518 tons outwards. For March—lnward -. 20 vessels, 24,281 tons ; outwards : 19 vessels, 25,699 tons, a decrease of 6569 and 1528 tens respectively. The Board then adjourned.