TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1457, 21 January 1886, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board was held yesterday. Present Messrs W. Moody, (Chairman), J. H. Sutter, Sims, E. ESworthy, Talbot, Wilson, Gray, J. Kejland, E. Acton, Haye« and M. Jonas. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. In his opening abatement, the Chairman said that there had been an increase of nearly 10,000 tonß in the Bhipping despatched from Timaru duriDg the past 12 months. The mouth's income in the gross was £719 16s 4d. Permission weiu granted to Mr T, E. Lyle, of Pleasant Point, to mane experiments on the breakwater with his patent carbon light, subject to arrangements being mads with the Harbo Masterr. Correspondence in reference to the claim made by the Board for assistance given by the tug Titan to the barque Hudson, when stranded was read and considered, and the following resolution was passed : —" That the Board's solicitor be instructed to stop the barque Hudson going to sea üßtil the claim of the Board is paid or security given." Mr Gray testified to the great assistauce given by the Titan.

An offer by Mr C. W. Turner to supply 4000 caskt of cement during the months of March and April at the old contract price (£4 3s 4d per ton) was accepted, The Engineer (Mr John Goodall) reported that he had made bis third quarterly visit to Timaru during the past month. He had examined the accounts kept by the Clerk of the Works (Mr J. Hamilton) and found them correct. Breakwater contract No. 5 (500 teet) had been finished with the exception of a few slight repairs to two of the monoliths; plans and specifications had been prepared for contract No. 6 (250 feet), and tenders were called for ths same. The piling for the Moody Wharf had been completed for a distance of 330 feet; work was now stopped for want of suitable piles, but the bracing, etc., was being gone on with. Piles for wharf contract No. 9 (extension of brerkwater wharf) had been driven a distance of 90 feet. He had made a survey and taken soundings for a deepwnter berth, and would send down a plan of the work from Napier in a f«w days. He approved of Mr Hamilton's action in refusing to pass certain ironbark piles. The report concluded as follows; —"The works are progressing satisfactorily, and nothing appears amiss to me, except the delay that is occurring through the noncompletion of the ironbark timber contract. The length of the breakwater in the straight from the shore is 1259 feet; the approach is 184 feet, and the ksnt to the North is 608 f »et- a total of 1951 feet. The amount of available wharfage is 850 feet, and when the Moody Wharf and breakwater wharf extension coptracta ar& completed, there will be 800 feet more available, and will make a total of 165 Q feet,"

- The Harbor Master reported the arrival during December of vessels, of the aggregate register tonage of 10,314 tons, all being worked at the wharf. During the month 37 vessels had departed, of the aggregate register tonage of 9519 tons. The Landing Service had been worked for a few days at a disadvantage, completing |,he Ipading of a vesspl in the roadstead ; the repeipts were £27 37s Id, and the expeodjittre 548 0a lid. The Titan had beep to Port Chalmers for the periodical overhaul. He had made borings over the sheltered portion of the harbor during the month, and found an accumulation of not more than two inches of mud over a shingle and sand bottom*. He asked for permission to repeat an order for rope which bad not been attended to, aßd to slightly supplement it.

The Board went into Committee to discuss the question of hiring the dredge belonging ta tho Oamaru Harbor Board,

and on resuming the following were put and carried :—" That tbe completion of arrangements with the Oaunaru Harbor Bo»rd re the hire of the dredge be left to the Chairman, with tbe understanding that he visits Oamaru next week." "That the Chairman, Mr Elworthy, and Mr Hayes be appointed a Committee to interview the Oamaru Harbor Board with the view of carrying out the suggestion made by Mr Elworthy re the dredge, aud report to iiext meeting." A suggestion that the charges for loading vessels in the roadstead should be doubled was withdrawn. It was decided that the Board should bear certain charges incurred by the Canterbury through having to haul off the wharf at intervals. The tender of Palliser and Jones was accepted for the new contract for the extension of the breakwater, 250 feet, the amount being £7,873 13s.