HARBOR BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 24, 22 July 1911, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING, The monthly meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs J. B. Connett (chairman), N. King, E. Dock-rill, C, E. Bellringer, C. A. Wilkinson, D. J. Hughes, VV. Swadling, and E. Maxwell. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT.

Captain Newton, harbormaster, reported that for the five weeks ending the 15th inst. there were 35 steamer berthings and one sailing vessel was berthed at the wharf at Moturoa, with a tonnage of 29,457 tons. The imports of general merchandise and coal for that period amounted to 7152 tons, of which 903 tons were coal for private use. The exports of general produce and sundries amounted to 848 tons. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

The superintendent, Mr. F. Henderson, reported as follows: Dredge Paritut.il. The Paritutu dredged on 22 days, net time 200 hours, and removed a total quantity of 15,200 tons. Of the above time, 12 days were occupied in dredging the full length, 500 ft., of the western side of the wharf, and 22ft. of water had been obtained for a length of 340 ft. in from the end, while the remaining 160 ft., between the wharf and the coal bin, had been dredged to a depth of 13ft. at low water, the quantity of material removed being 23 loads, amounting to 9200 tons. Eight days were occupied in dredging at the deep berth on the eastern side, and nine loads, amounting to 3000 tons, were removed. The 33ft. cut had been carried in 20ft. shorewards. Another, 100 ft. ill length had yet to be deepened from 21ft. to complete this berth. Two days were occupied in sand-pumping off the end of the wharf, and six loads, equal to 2400 tons, were removed. Dredging had been stopped for three days through heavy weather. One day was observed as "a holiday, four days were occupied in effecting repairs, ten chains of hopper doors, sheaves of ladder hoist, etc. Dredge Thomas King. The Thomas King dredged on 23 days (net time 223 hours), and removed 11,680 tons of sand from the lee of the breakwater.

Wharf Widening.—Nineteen piles have been driven in the wharf-widening, making a total of 73. and the whole of the coalings and deck beams had been fixed. The total length of wharf now piled was 250 ft. Chafing pieces had been attached to a few of the fender piles, and the berth was now used for the Paritutu. Pile-driving had been suspended for the last ten days, both the cranes being required for the discharge and ballasting of the Margit. Dredge Buckets.—The new buckets had been received from Messrs. Fleming and Ferguson, of Glasgow, and the two wrought steel buckets ordered from Messrs. Burt, of Dunedin, had also come to hand, and had been placed on the [ladder for trial. LENGTHENING THE WHARF.

The Board discussed the question of asking the consulting engineer, Mr. F. W. Marchant, to visit the port in August.

The chairman said the Board needed Mr. Marchant's advice regarding the extension of the wharf. They Knew it was necessary to lengthen it by 30 ft,., in order to make fuller use of the berth on the western side of the wharf, next the breakwater. At present there was berthage accommodation there for one coastal vessel, "and when this steamer was berthed there was a lot of space over, but not enough for another steamer of the. ordinary coastal type. The extension of the wharf bv a further 00ft. instead of 30ft., was recommended by Captain Newton, in order to provide ft berth there sufficient for two ordinary coastal vessels, or for one large intercolonial vessel. Personally, the chairman was in l favor of this 00ft. extension, which would eost £3144, whilst a 30ft. extension would eost £Hi 34.

It was decided to invite the engineer to attend the August meeting, and that the harbormaster be asked to submit his report and recommendations on the matter.

I HARBORS LEGISLATION. Mr. Quilliam, the Board's solicitor, attended the meeting in connection with a report from the committee set up by the Board in reference to the proposal to amend the Harbors Act of last session. The committee recommended "that the alterations in the law effected by the passing of the Harbors Amendment Act, in so far as such alterations affect the constitution, representation and election of members of boards, be repealed, and that the provisions of the Harbors Act, 1908, relating to the same and repealed by the amending Act of 1910, be re-enact-ed;" or, in the alternative, "that the first schedule to the Harbors Amending Act of 1910 be ' repealed, and two new schedules substituted, the first to embrace such of the Boards as prefer to remain under the Amending Act of UNO (with such modifications as to representation, etc.. as (hey may require), the second to embrace file Boards who prefer to remain under the Act of I!)0S. and that Clause 30 of the main Act be reenacted." A very long discussion took place, in which the, constitution of boards, the franchise, and the method of election were exhaustively dealt with.

Eventually it was decided to submit the alternative recommendation to the Minister, and that a copy of the same be forwarded to the Harbors Association as a remit, with a request that a conference be held as early as possible to consider the question.

The chairman reported having failed to arrange for the use of the Waitara Harbor "Board's steam winch 011 reasonable terms, and the Board had used its own cranes in discharging and ballasting the barque Margit, carrying 011 the work without delaying the Board's operations, and so expeditiously that by that evening the work should be completed. GENERAL. It was decided t.o erect lights as a warning to pedestrians where the work of wharf extension is proceeding. Mr. 11. Brooks was granted permission to erect a hoarding on the Board's section opposite, the New Plymouth milway station.

Messrs. Weston and Weston wrote that Mr. Mansell Jones had instructed them to file a claim in the Arbitration Court against the Harbor Board for compensation under the Workers' Compensation Act. 1908, in respect of the injuries received by him through his accident at Moturoa in September last.- —Referred to the Board's solicitor.

Messrs. Twcedle & Co. wore granted permission to remove five tons of ironsand from the foreshore for experimental purposes. The tender of Mr. Kyngdon. at I'll, was accepted for the right to remove gravel from the llenui beach for one year.

On the motion of Messrs. Wilkinson and Hughes, the Board decided to pay the Waimate West County Council's election account rather than create unpleasantness.