Bfluff Harbour Board

Southland Times, Issue 19471, 26 November 1904, Page 4

Bfluff Harbour Board

FRIDAY, NOVEfIIiBEB 25tb. , The monthly, meeting, was atterided . by Messrs AY Bain, (chairi^aii). J. W. Mit? chell, T. Green, B. : Punlpp,:G.>W. Waddell, and P. Gilroy. Apologies were received from Messrs L W. Haymond and B. A« Anderaon. •pHA^SMAN'S- STATEMENT. The Chairman said ' that ho ho<p very littld to report. The jioard was'bring;ing dowir stone for the reclamation Tfall, and so far the^ cost had been about ffs per yard, much below the lowest tender received. The weather had not been too good, and ho ' did not think that price ■would be exceeded. .... ,-i Mr Green asked iif ,therti>bAd Wfeen : anystone removed Jrom the mid-channel rock during the month. ; v Mr Gilroy said ; that the weather had p^yente»d;wprk being* done .thei'e.. ■■ iMfr Waddell thought it was , timey 1W» Board stopped spending money in that quarter, as no good could he done. The ' rocka were not ;in the channel,, nnd no "'-' steamers '' vaMA. go anywhere near , '■ them;' .'..,.;.■,".■■"■.■■ .' --':' .■;.."'•.•■.•• ...:V ; ;^.''- ..' The Chairman said that the Hoard had gone to the expense, on the advice of many authorities, of undertaking considerable blasting work, and it would certainly be waste of money it the stone Was not picked up.. Shipmasters had inforraed him. that ithe work would be of great benefit when ' the stone was lifted. , Mr 'Dunlop. .remarked that .instructions / had been given to lift the stonet^ .The Criiairman couid not say that' it was beting done to his Hatisfactiott, oven thdugh ' instructions hod been gjven that .' tbo work; was: urgent. . ', . \ ' : ■'" v^vco^BESPp^^Jfcs/^r^ ;;.; ' The PubiiP -^yorks Itepaltmenfc, ; ??:^S-W., wrote that arrangemento Lad; bean in*d«

■""" -■--■■• ' . . 1 to inspect timber on behalf of the Board.— Received. The Secretary Importers' Association thanked the Board for valuable assistance: rendered towards securing direct shipments to the Bluff. The concessions made would retnlove . the chief objections taised by the shipping companies against a regular direct service. The association felt confident tnat the companies -would now inaugurtte- direct shipments at an early date, as there vtas an implied understanding both in some of the Board's arguments in favour of tli© concessions and in the endeavours of the Associations' executive, that an allround gain to the shipping sompanios was partly conceded in order to secure direct shipments.— Received. The Railway Department notified tbat the Board's letters regarding use" of heavy waggons on the wharf, and summer steamter service and through booking to Stewart Island would be inquired into.— Members thought that the fare arrangements r would lie too late unless considered at once. Reports from the Agent-General ro progress of dredge were received. ■ The Marine Department requested information re structure for new beacon light, and the secretary reported that he had forwarded the details i>3ked for. The Harbour Association forwarded a copy of the amended Workers' Compensation- Act, and it wasreferred to the Finance Committee. The opinion was expressed that the Board was not affected. The Bluff Regatta Committee applied for a charter of the' tug on New Years' Day, on usual terms, £10 and wages of crew. — Granted, some satembers remarking that 4,% waa equal to a liberal donation from the -Board. » R. F. Cuthbertson, agent for United Insurance Company, drew attention to the cancellation of his policy of 41500 on the tug's insurance. His (quotation was the same as those put in iiy caher companies, and he had expected to ijreceive a proportionate share of the insurance, in accordance with the usual practice. The policies held by nther companies had been renewed, but, by the reduction' of the- insurance, his policy, was the only tone cancelled.— -W£ Mitchell tnove^i that the letter be referred to the Finance Committee, fo'.devise some equitable system in.-, '.the matine insurances of the Board's properties. J-T« noticed that three companies- -held policies of £1000 each on the tug, '/and it would have been mote eqintajble if .those 'had been reduced instead of tl& United policy being cancelled.—The tffcher members agreed with this, .but could notice the possibility of altering the presen\ .policies. The insurance on the. dredge was mentioned, and it was suggestaffi 1 " that the .United Company, wouldr^be remembered when quotatjio«s .-.were-tcalled for.— Motion carried? ■■>%«■:-. \ J. G. Ward and Co. notified that tlie secretary; of • the Underwriters' Committee would inspect tire BGhjnls 1 fish sheds" when at the Bluff, and report on the request for a. reduction of insurance. -fße^eived. ; ; ' ;Trhe Railway Traffic Managor wrote that he had received samples '>f rubber shoes for horses, but did not consider them suitable for wharf work. — Received. C. F. Thompson, Half Moon Bay, asked for a rebate of £5 on the charge of £15 for chartering the tug. * A relative was hi urgent need of medical attention, and the tug was chartered to convey the doctor to the island.— The inquest- w»s referred to the < Finance Committee. ; The usual charge is £15, but under the circumstances it Was -thought a rehlate niight he considered. , The Chalirman and Engineer were autho- ■ rised to negotiate with Allen Taylor and | Co.,. Sydney, for supply of box decking. I Nichol Bros., owners of the" Chance," I regretted that owing to the rough #fca- | ther prevailing during the month (which. had prevented the tides being low), little progress had been made With the removal of "the feulk 1 . - Arrangemeats had [ been made toy the contractor to ti&We bAi vantage of the first' low tides.— A similar communication was received" from the contractor.— The Board again, expressed dissatisfaction at the absence of progress but resolved to defer %h& matter, till next meeting. ' COMMITTEES. The. Finance Committee reported as follows :-—(!) Recommend 'the Board to request the Department to ', collect wharf- | age _ dues on weight or measurement, i whichever fe most advantageous to the. Board, without, Reference' to 'the Depart^ ment's regulation limiting to twice the deadweight, which only- applies to railage;; (2) rej the " Falls^, of Halladale,^ report that the solicitors have advisedthat thebest course to pursue would . be to prepare a . statutory declaration . of the facts and send them to London, with instructions to apply for paymont, and ; if necessary sue for the amount ; that the Committee has decided to adopt this 'course and recommend the Board to give authority to sue to the solicitor or their agents ; HfS) with reference to the U.S.S. Co.'s letter re port* charges, recommend the Board as follows : That by-law 85 be amended by the excision of the works " or, at vessel's option 1 , in one sum, half-yearly from date of 'entry, per registered ton 6d," and the substitution therefore of the -words, ''Provided always that no vessel shall be required to pay more than 6d per registered ton in any six months from date af > entry "^ if) reported having considered the salaries of staff, and recommoded increases, aggregating £115 ; the following were the principal increases : Secretary and' treasurer, £350 (from £800) ; harbourmaster, £425 (from £413, including £E0 bonus and £50 house rent) ; asistant pilot, £320 (from £310, Including £25 bonus and £35 house rent)' : ; (5) red'omr niend accounts amounting to £908 09 lld.be passed for payment. On the question of salaries, Mr *lti> chell moved that the increase to the isec? retary be . reduced from £50 to £25, and that the tug engineer recoive an increase of . £10,— In the debate, which fol-j lowed it was stated that no Increase toj the engineer was. recommimded as some members had been under the impression that the salary . .was fixed " by tho engineer's association. It was explained, however, thai; tHe assbciation, fixed \ the minimum salaiy, Jjpit dl-d not prohiblt.any lncr£wse>. ' v On ShfAß "'. understanding ajembers hotP agreed to' 1 the increase. HSr Mitchell's motion reducing ihe'^secretary.'s increase/! was withdrawn.— The report as amended was adopted. The -Harbour ; and Works Committee reported (1) having adopted a tlmo-tnble for the holiday season, and informed the District Traffic "Manager lEoreon ;"(2) having instructed the secretary to furnish*'.'su:eh' inforniation " to Lloyds' agent as was necejsaary with ai , view to Bluff be? ing declared ~ a Lloyds'- signal -station.—; Report adopted. '": !;*'•: ' ._'/ ;.'-. : . : - : r'' -OBISEBAL. .-. •'•;' ._ ''' ' The, following Returns ;/were submitted ; J5610; .Vpilotage< XSlo, charges £129, ordtoary ; ; revenue £1552 (an increaso- of £1181 October ' atlast -year) .<• The -list i>t outstand^g: accoUiftts, £888, was referred to. the Finance Cbm.init^ee.• :;.•■ : ; '" r .' ;;,;■;■.:/■ - \ - •*'■ j-- r -. ■ Tihe secretary Reported that the' •> accident insurance policy expired on 'Decem-ber--:;31si» - and the Finance^ Cpmioittee was authorised to act. L ; ' * Thp'pb&ittam drew .,-.;: attention to. -the Boards' overdraft, £111,314 W and said j. that It need * not • frighten inembera, ; as jthey./Wfire to receive ■an bquivalent ? |n the shape, of the new. dredge. '..'."■'.'"': '.' ■ The 'Harbourmaster reported that the inward . ..^hipping for Ootober.- V 20 l^selsvbr'^iS^-tons./outwhr'^'^iß/ vessels -of' 31,340' tons, an Incroase'-and)- docrease of 10,429 tons arid 289 v tono respectively, as compared with October ol 190 S. The ' outer, buoy on' the #nd of the sandspit had got adrift, and had not been found.— Buoys to' 7 be- periodically inspectecL The next ordinary meeting of ) the Board will' be held on : Fridayj loth December. A special meeting -will' bo held on Bth December to confirm ' the amended bylaws.