HARBOUR BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1787, 5 November 1919, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARD.

TO-DAY'S MEETING. The Lyttelton Harbour Board met to-day, there being present: Messrs H. B. Sorensen (chairman), F. Horrell, J. Storry, T. D. Boag. T. A. Blackley, R. Galbraith, S. K. Sleigh, J. Flood, W. J. Walter, H. Holland, Dr H. T. J. Thacker, M.P., and the Hon. R. Moore, M.L.C. The chairman reported that since the previous meeting £8155 1/8 had been paid into the harbour fund account, as compared with £4476 1/10 for the corresponding period of last year. The bank book showed the harbour fund to be in credit £3497 3/11, and the unpaid accounts to be passed for payment amounted to £1487 10/5, which will leave the account in credit £2009 13/6. An amount of £6OOO to meet the half-year's interest on the board's £200,000 6 per cent, loan had been paid to the Bank of New Zealand to be remitted to London by demand draft. During the month of October 147 vessels, with a total net tonnage of 121,444 tons, entered the port of Lyttelton, as compared with 146 vessels, aggregating 98,619 tons, during October, 1918. The report was adopted. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The report of the engineer (Mr Cyrus J. Williams) stated that the dredge Canterbury had been engaged deepening and maintaining the depths In the outer channel and in the open -parts of the inner harbour, whence she had lifted a total quantity of 133,770 tons, of which 130,130 tons bad been taken from the outer channel and 3640 tons from the inner harbour, the whole quantity being pumped into the reclamation area. The grab dredge Tewhaka had bcAi laid up for annual survey and overhaul, and was docked on October 16, but was taken out the same day to allow the Mararoa to be docked, that vessel having cast a propeller blade. The Tewhaka was again docked on October 23, and was still under overhaul. The vessel was in good condition generally, but was having chafing strips put on in way of hopper and anchor chains, apd the hopper hinge pins renewed. In regard to No. 2 jetty, nil the floorbeams in the existing length of jetty were in position, and the lower decking had been laid for a distance of 490 ft from the breastwork.

Twelve raking piles had been driven and fixed in position. When in Wellington on October 13, he had interviewed the General Manager and Chief Engineer of Railways, and settled the final details as to clearances, etc., on this jetty. The work was now advanced to a stage which required that the railway get to work with the laying of the rails. The report was adopted. WET SHELTERS. The Harbour Improvements Committee recommended that the application of the Lyttelton Waterside Workers' Union for the erection of wet shelters on the wharves be referred to the Committee of Shipping Companies for an expression of opinion, and also to the Railway Department. The report was adopted. SAILORS* HOME. The report of the Sailors' Home Committee stated that the earnings of the home for the month of October amounted to £73 18/-, and the expenditure to £74 3/-, leaving a debit balance of 5/-. The average number of men staying In the home during the month of October was 15, the maximum being 19, and the minimum 10. The average for October, 1918, was nine. Certain repairs were being effected to the building. The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Nelson Harbour Board asking whether the dredge Canterbury would be available for dredging at Nelson for about 10 days, and, if so, on what terms. It was decided to reply that the dredge was available, on the usual conditions, at £6O per day. An agreement between the board and the Kowai County Council, relative to a loan to the council of £3300, at 5J per cent., for 36J years, the council to have the right to repay the amount in 10 years, on giving six months' notice of Its Intention, was approved.