Bluff Harbour Board.

Southland Times, Issue 19725, 27 January 1906, Page 1

Bluff Harbour Board.

FRIDAY, 20th JANUARY, ‘ TJie meeting was attended by 'Messrs A, Bain (chairman), T. Green, B. Dunlop, R. A. Anderson, A. F. Hawke, and I. Gilroy. Apologies for absence were ccived from Sir J. G. Ward, Messrs I. W. Raymond, J. B, Watson and G. W. Wadded. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. Tlie Chairman reported that owing to certain circumstances- he had placed the dredge under the charge of J. C. Imlay, the newly-appointed dredgemaster, as gone on more satisfactorily. Mr P. from Ist January, and matters had since Mackenzie, of Napior, formerly' in charge of the Westport dredge Rubi Seddon, took ii)) his duties us first engineer on SHh January'.—Report adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr J. MoiTett, solicitor, asked, the Board to forward a copy of a com-, plaint preferred against one of the Board's employes by a Stewart, Island resident.—Declined. ■ Jus. Anderson, Dog Island lighthouse, thanked'the Board for the regular monthly mail trips by the s-s. Theresa Ward during the three years lie had been on the island. The Tui would in future carry the mails.—Received. The Public Trustee notified that after Bth February he would have fin hand UK)!® of the Board’s sinking fund, and. asked fos directions as to its investment. He could not allow interest on such balance unless the amount was not to bo withdrawn ut an early date.—Referred to the Finance Committee. PALMER STREET DRAIN.

Tile Campbelltown Borough Council forwarded a communication received from Sir J. (1. Ward, Minister of Railways, with reference to the representations of the Corporation in regard to the proposed alteration of the drainage system. with a - view to removing the outfall from Palmer street to the foot of Henderson street, known as Townsend's corner. The Minister informed the Council that provided the Board contributed £250 towards the cost of the work the Railway Department would contribute a like amount, the balance being found by the borough.—The Council requested "live Board to approve of these terms.

Tim Chairman said that the engineer’s estimate for the work originally proposed was £350. The request from the Council apparently contcu/platdd relay l laying a pari of the drain, and the cost of I lss.it bud been included. —Mr Dunlop

(bought ihai the former decision of tho Hoard to give- one-third of tho estimate sliou) 1 1 bo adhered to.—The Chairman said that there was no decision by the Hoard. 'JMii! committee were prepared to offer a certain amount.—Mr Green said that the mailer was of more vilal importance to the Council than tho Harbour Hoard. — Mr Anderson moved that the Chairman endeavour to arrange with the Mayor to wait on Sir .1. G. Ward, and effect a final settlement. It was evident that the Council had included something which tlie Hoard had not contemplated contributing towards- Tho Chairman could be given power to act.— Mr Hawke seconded. —Mr Dunlop said that he would object' to the Chairman spending 11250 us the Hoard was not legally liable.— The Chairman intimated that he would not go any further than the amount previously recommended by tho committee.— Motion carried.

A KLASE ALARM. A letter was received from the captain of the s.s. Marere, stating that about 8 a.m. on Thursday, when coming into port in charge of the harbourmaster, and approaching the lightship buoy, the steamer lonchid tlie bottom. The touching was first noticed in the engine-room, and continued right aft. It was noticed by tlie first and fourth officers, and the former saw discoloured water rising lo the surface. It would be necessary to have an examination by a_ trustworthy diver in order to satisfy all requirements.

The harbourmaster reported that the

s.s. Murcrc was supposed to have touched the ground whilst entering the port at low water, under his charge. The ship at tlie time was drawing 20ft aft and X7ft 2in forward. Neither tho master, tho chief officer, nor himself felt anything to Indicate that the vessel' had touched. Tho first intimation ho hud of tho alleged grounding was from the chief engineer after the ship come alongside the wharf . After entering the channel nt 7.20 u.m. ho followed the recognised track up the harbour and no difficulty in keeping tlie ship in tho deepest water, until within a ship’s length of the lightship buoy, when tho vessel took a slight sheer towards the south side of the channel. He immediately put the port engine fulll speed ahead, which brought the steamer hock to the line of beacons in a few secoyds. It was at tile time this order was given that tlie engineer stated ho felt the vessel touch the ground. Tlie Admiralty chart would show that a ship of tho Marero’s draught could not possibly touch the ground at that particular place.

Tim Hoard’s diver reported that he find exan fnod the bottom of the steamer from the funnel to tho rudder on tho port side, find found nothing wrong. There was no damage whatever. The Chairman moved that a copy of the reports he sent to the captain of the steamer. He understood from a few remarks made by the captain in Invercargill (hat there was some dissatis-'i faction because the diver did tot examine tlie starboard as well as the port side. Tho harbourmaster stated ih’at he had nothing to do with the examination, as tho diver was under tho orders of tlie captain of tho steamer and tlie agents. Tlie diver stated distinctly that l lie captain told him exactly where to go down, to examine the port side and overhaul Hie propeller. Ho carried out the instructions, and there was nothing at all to report. If there had been any thing on the starboard side, the port side must have been in a worse condition, from the postilion in which the steamer was.

Mr Dunlop suggested that thetc might have been something lying on the bottom.

The Chairman said that tho diver simply carried out his instsuctions. If he had lieen asked to overhaul the starhoard side lie would have done so. Mr Anderson asked if there was any chance of the old lightship Hying there-

The Chairman said that the port hod been swept by the harbourmaster and staff, and the diver had been down two or three times. After some further unimportant discussion the motion was carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS. Tho committee on tenders reported that the following had been accepted'.—Stores, Messrs Nicol Bros. ; plumber’s requisites, and sawn timber, Messrs Broad, Small and Co. '. Manila rope, Donaghy's Rope and Twine Co. ; coal, John Mil* and Co; engineering and blacksmithing, Messrs Murison and McPhail. The committee recommend the Board to take steps to provide a blacksmith's shop of Us own. Report adopted*

The Finance;; Committee presented accounts amounting to 18a V>. which were passed tor payment. ' The Harbour and Works Committee recommended the Board to inform the Campbelllown Corporation that Jo view at future requirements lor small wait, the Board could not see its way to alien* ate any portion of the area applied for, for floating baths, but was willing to oiler every facility for selection of a silo at Argyle Beach.— Adopted. The harbourmaster reported that the inward shipping for December was 19 vessels of 31,728 tons, outward 19 vessels of 38,085 tons, an increase and decrease of 35 and 3949 tons respectively, as compared with December 1901. The ordinary revenue for December was £1257 -4:3 Bd, a decrease of £352 IBs Id as compared with December 1904. The Engineer reported that rtu> dredge had been working for the past month oa No. 3 berth and on the bank nt the east end of the wharf. Whenever possible she had been at work taking out the 17ft. between the main cut and the wharf in No. 3 berth. Most of this was hard solid reef, and had to bo blasted before it could bo dredged. About 1400 tons had'been lifted, of which 700 tons was hard rock. The dredge bad also been working at the east end -of the wharf, and had lifted 6400 tons of spoil. Blasting had been steadily conducted nt the reef alongside the wharf in No. 3 berth, and 50 'tons'of broken rock had been lifted with the Pricstman dredge. COMPLIMENTARY. This being the lost meeting before the election of chainman, Mr Anderson said that it was only fitting that the Board should record its appreciation of the manner in which Mr Bala had conducted the affairs of the Board during the year. Members might have felt on one or two occasions a little pinched at his rulings, but there could only be one opinion os to the way in which the chairman had given his attention to the business of the Board. He did not think it was possible for anyone to devote any more attention to it than Mr Bain had done, ami 1 lie least members could do was to mark their appreciation of hia year of service. Air Dunlop, in seconding, said that Mr Bain hnd gone to a great amount of trouble in the Board's business, probably, more than any other member could afford to do. Everything had been done in a very satisfactory manner. Mr Hawke also supported the motion, which was carried nnanlmousfy. , Mr Bain thanked the Board sincerely for the vote. He felt it was a great! honour to have been elected chairman three 5-oars in succession, and bo had endeavoured during that time to carry out tbc duties connected with the position to the best of his ability. He always thought that tho best remuneration he could receive was tho thanks and confidence of bis colleagues. There had been one or two occasions, as Mr Anderson bail said, where they could not see eye . to eye, but ho would be rt very strange individual who occupied the chelr If tha*did not occur sometimes. Anything ho laid done was done by him In what hj« believed to be the interests of the Board.His rulings were always in the direJ'lm of giving further consideration to matters, and wore not given in any personal or antagonistic spirit. There was a good .deal of nor 1 ' connected-,, wiiih-, ' -the ■ position, but it was one of the positions he did not mind giving a little time to, because bo took ar. interest in it. lii his earlier days ho was connect id with the sea, and he supposed that the salt water stuck to him.—(Applause )