HARBOUR BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 208, 7 October 1914, Page 11

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. THE HARBOUR WORKS. The monthly meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board was held at Lyttelton to-day, the Hon. B. Moore, M.L.C., presiding. There were also present: Messrs A. Kaye, J. Little, C. J. Harper, J. R. Webb, J. J. Dougall, C. Allison, G. Scott, J. Storry, T. j). Boag, M.' : J. Miller, F. Horrell, and Dr. Thacker. CHAIRMAN'S BEPOBT. The Chairman reported that since the last meeting the following sums had been paid into the Harbour' Fund Account:—Wharfage, £2060 19/-; pilotage and port charges, £2OOI 4/2; towage, storage, etc., £1549 17/11. Total, £5612 1/1. The ordinary cash revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 1914, amounted to £55,811 0/11, as compared with £52,423 9/7 for the corresponding period of last year. During the past month 190 vessels, comprising 16 oversea and 174 coastal and intercolonial vessels, entered the port of Lyttelton, with a total net tonnage of 176,535 tons, as against vessels, aggregating 160,518 tons during the corresponding month of last year.

The Harbour Fund Account was overdrawn by £4829 10/7, but against this the Special Renewal Fund Account was in credit by £6726 3/3, leaving a credit" balance of £1896 12/8, which was more than sufficient to provide for payment of the unpaid accounts, amounting to £1354 8/9. The report was adopted. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The engineer reported that during the month the dredge Canterbury had been engaged deepening the entrance channel and maintaining the'depths in the open parts of the inner harbour. The month's work amounted to 150,975 tons, of which 114,575 tons were lifted from the outer channel, and 36,400 tons from the inner harbour, the whole being pumped into the reclamation area. The grab dredge Te Whaka had been engaged at the breastworks and jetties, whence was lifted 2520 tons, and deposited in the reclamation area. The new whale tine grab dredge arrived during the month, and a trial, made on the hard ground, proved its work satisfactory. The dredge went inta dock for annual overhaul and survey during the month. The vessel was in good orders throughout, with the exception of the boiler, which required new combustion chambers.

.RECLAMATION. The reclamation mole had advanced 32 feet during the month, and the tip head was 1718 feet from the end of the western breakwater. A commencementhad been made with the walF from the outer end at Baker's or Senior Point.- ;■ WHARF WORKS. Work at the Gladstone Pier outer wharf construction and enlargement was well forward, the main pile driving being completed except for the last three bays. Owing to the non-delivery of a necessary cap-piece of timber, work had to be stopped here, and the fender piles were being driven and campsheers fitted. The lower decking to carry the rails was well up to the lower structure, and the Railway Department had been urged to commence the laying of the rails,, as in the eA-ent of further delay some of the carpenters would have to be paid off. The Chief Engineer of the Railway Department had promised to put the work in hand forthwith. HEAVY LIFT CRANE. The contractors for this work, Messrs Stothert arfd Pitt, of Bath, England, were proceeding with the work. The date for completion in England is about January 28, by which time the engineer hoped that trade and finance would be normal. EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

The troopships left No. 7 jetty at 5.30 and 5.55 p.m. respectively on the evening of the 23rd ultimo, one vessel drawing 30ft 2in, the deepest draught of any vessel yet leaving the port. The dredge Canterbury, accompanied the vessels clown the harbour carrying guests of the board, principally members of the various committees who had worked in assisting in providing for the comfort of the troops. The report was adopted. ' HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS. COMMITTEE. The Harbour Improvement Commit-

tee reported that, having considered the offer of the Public Works Department to supply electric current at the board's power-house in Lyttelton, together with the'engineer 's report thereon, it recommended, that a sub-committee be set up consisting of the chairman and Messrs Scott, "Friedlander, ' and Dr Thacker, to endeavour to .arrange; better terms with'the Government. , . In regard to tenders for the construction of the raking, pile driving frame and winch, the tender of D. and S. Sinclair, of £507 1/6, was accepted. • UNEMPLOYMENT. Arising out of communications in regard to unemployment, the chairman said the authorities might be able, to put 25 or 30 men on the duplication works at the tunnel in a month and 25 or 30 more in another' month until they had the four gangs" on. The report of Mr Hiley had to, go before the House; and the Government would have.to get its Loan Bills through to get the money. The question was, Were the local people prepared to raise sufficient money to justify the Government proceeding with the work. The board, which had already offered to purchase spoil up to £IO,OOO, had, he thought, done enough, and he did not think they could do any more. It had been suggested that £25,000 should be raised and offered to the Government at 4. per cent. He suggested that the Chamber of Commerce and other bodies interested should call a public meeting to see what could be, done. They could not allow it to go I before the public that they thought the I money spent on the port a waste, of I money. It was their duty to assist the Government. The matter waß referred to the Harbour Improvements Committee. OTHER MATTERS. j Letters were received from Major-1 General Godley, Colonel Robin, and, 1 Major Hutton expressing their apprecia- j tion and thanking the board for _ the assistance rendered and the fjacilities afforded to the Expeditionary Forces and transports at Lyttelton. The Sumner Borough Council wrote submitting the following offer: —"That the council offer the Lyttelton Harbour Board £IOOO for the whole of the board's properties in the Borough of Sumner, together with the sites on which they stand, including the site at Bell's baths leased by Mr A. D. Paterson; the Harbour Board to lend the amount named to the council for a period of 14 of 21 years at 4J per cent, interest." —The matter was referred to the Harbour Improvements Committee. Mr J. Gordon Goodfellow, the assistant engineer, wrote resigning his position in order that he might proceed Home to pursue the study of his profession. The engineer stated that Mr Goodfellow had been a very valuable servant to the board, and had done much' g66d work.—The resignation" was accepted, and Mr Goodfellow was'granted a month's leave on full pay. ■ The" next meeting ; will be' held in Christchurch on Wednesday, November 4. ' ■ "■■''■" ' '.. ■''■■'■ • v - : ' : ''