TiMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1472, 25 February 1886, Page 2

TiMARU HARBOR BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Timarn Haibor Board took place last Tuesday. Present Messrs Moody (Chairman), Acton, Wilson, Hayes, Kelland, Gray, Sims and Sutter.

The Chairman’s annual report and the statement of the Harbor fund account, assets and liabilities, shipping and Oustomß returns, etc., were laid on the table, and as each member had been furnished with a printed copy of them, they were taken ns read.

The report was of too great length to reprint, but we make the following extracts therefrom:—

“ J may bo permitted to draw special attention to the following results:— 1. That the first £IOO,OOO loan has been expended on the works in a most satisfactory manner, all the improvements having been completed within the estimates —no accidents of any kind occurring during construction and that the interest on the loan has been tm t from revenue, without encroaching upon the principal in any way. 2, The year 1885 has been the best, financially, that tho Board has had. The tonnage —notwithstanding the decrease in area of crop in the district—shows an increase of 9000 tons over the average of the last three years, while the gratifying fact appears in the revenue that the whole of the interest of 1885 (£5000) on the borrowed money has been met from the year’s profits. “There can be little doubt that but for the success of the Board’s undertakings, the producing power of the district would have been (in such years of depression as we have had lately) but a dead letter, and the district remained in a very unproductive state for many years to come. “ Breakwater contract No. 5, 500 feet, let in .November 1883, has been brought to a successful completion. A small addition of 8 feet beyond the contract was authorised to enable a full length monolith to be built at the end. Not? withstanding that tho angle at which the kant is being constructed brings the work almost broadside on to the prevailing seas, no sign of weakness has become apparent; it may therefore be assumed

that the strength of the structure is sufficient. “Plans and specificutions have been prepared for the extension of the Breakwater 250 feet, with power reserved on the Board’s part to require the contractors to continue the work at a schedule of rates, if deemed desirable. “ The present length of the breakwater is; Approach 150 feet, Mole on the straight 1259 feet, Kant 508 feet, total 3917 feet. The area of shelter, excluding water less than two fathoms deep, given by the 1917 feet of Breakwater, is as follows ; Complete shelter 61 acres, partial shelter 54 acres, total 115 acres. “ A contract has been entered into with Mr 0. W. Turner for the supply of 2030 tons cement; the first delivery to be made in May 1886, in vessels direct from Home, making Timaru either a first or second port of call. The price per ton, £3 18s lid, is considerably lower than that of any previous contract. “The approach and 330 feet of piling for the Moody Wharf, Contract No. 8, have been completed. The work is, however, at a standstill for want of piles ; the contractor for the supply of ironbark being behindhand with his deliveries. “ Wharf Contract, No, 9, which is for 120 feet extension of the Breakwater wharf, was let on the 21st October; 90 feet of the piling has been finished. It is expected that it will be ready for the accommodation of shipping early in the year. “ The available berthage at the wharf at the present time is 850 feet, and when the Moody wharf and Breakwater wharf extension contracts are completed, the berthage will stand at 1410 feet. The depth of water at the deepest berth being 22 feet, and at the shallowest 12 feet. “ The Priestman dredge had been kept at work during the year, and maintained the deep water channels alongside the wharf. . “Negotiations have resulted in the hire for 3 months of the Oamaru Harbor Board’s dredge, and it expected to begin work in the middle of February, providing deep water berthage for two vessels.

“With few exception all vessels visiting this port during 1885 have been worked at the wharf, the extension of the curve of the Breakwater, and the construction of the Moody Wharf having so lessened the range alongside as to render this practicable. Of the 322 vessels entered inwards at the Customs representing 90,109 tons, 30 vessels of 9585 tons arrived from foreign or intercolonial The steam tug Titan has done her work satisfactorily, and has also been of considerable assistance in laying and maintaining the moorings in a state of efficiency, thus saving a great deal of !abor*that would otherwise have had to be employed for this purpose. After the month of February, 1886, the dredge will have made sufficient depth of water to enable vessels to finish loading alongside the Breakwater wharf. Until dredging operations are completed the Landing Service will be kept in efficient order, to avoid delay to shipping whsn the berthage is occupied by the dredge. “ On comparing the statement of the ordinary revenue and expenditure for 1885 with that of the previous year, it will be seen that whereas the revenue for 1884, exclusive of interest, was £6323 Is Bd, that for 1885 has been £8626 0s 6d, an increase of £2302 18s lOd. The ordinary expenditure for 1885 has been £886? 10b sd, as against £3928 2s 8d for 1884, or a decrease of £6O 12? 3d, being a net improvement for 1885 of £2363 11s Id, exclusive of interest. “The revenue for the year, £8626, as stated above, together with receipts for interest, £1666 19s 3d, a total of £10,292 IDs 9d, has enabled the Board to meet all claims against it, including £SOOO for interest on 1883 loan, and leave a surplus of £I3BO 8s 2d. “There has been a still farther decrease in the wheat export of 22,602 sacks for the year ; but an increase of flour shipped of 54,998 sacks, and of bran and sharps of 32,771 sacks. During the year Mr Goodall severed his connection with the Board as Resident Engineer, but had continued to act as Consulting Engineer, The statements were adopted. Mr Moody thanked the members for the support they had given him as Chairman during the year, and as he declined to stand again Mr J. H, Sutter was elected Chairman. ORDINARY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Board was then held. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

A letter was read from Messrs Kennedy and' Evans, Gisborne, inquiring if the Board had any surf boats for sale.—The Secretary said he had sent the information.

A letter was read from the Traffic Manager of tho New Zealand Railways. drawing the Board’s attention to the necessity for increased lighting on the wharves. —The matter was referred to the Standing Committee, A letter was read from Messrs Jones and Peters, in reference to keeping iu repair for three months Breakwater contract No. 5. The Chairman explained that arrangements had been made with Messrs Palliser and Jones for the use of their plant should it be required. A letter was read from Mr Hargreaves, stating that ha had delivered all the ironbark piles and beams, aud asking that his deposit be returned, and his previous application for extension of time favorably considered.—Granted.

Messrs Jones and Peters wrote asking that their late work on the Breakwater be measured along the centre, not on the inside of the curve, but the request was not entertained.

The Secretary, Mr W. J. Torment, was granted a fortnight’s leave of absence. The Chairman stated that at the request of the late Chairman he had during the month interviewed the Manager of the Bunk of N.Z., Mr Chisholm, and the Inspector, Mr Murray, and they were of opinion that it would be useless to put the Board’s loan ou the market with the minimum at 102, as decided upon by the Board, apd stated that if the minimum were not lowered they would refuse to transact the business. He had consulted with the majority of the members apd they had decided tp redupe the minimum to |OO. —This action was approved of. Mr John Goodall, Consulting Engineer to the Board, wrote declining to enteitdri the Board’s offer of £l5O per annum aud

travelling expenses, and explaining matters re estimate he had given of the last contract, and the carrying on of the works of late.

Mr John Inglis, the agent for the barque Hudson, wrote, offering the Board £l5O for the services rendered by the Titan to the Hudson, with valuation for damage done to hawsers. The Board decided to invito Mr Inglis to be present at the next meeting.

The late Chairman reported that the dredge Progress, had done very satisfactory work since arrival, and that the report on her by Mr Jas. Davidson was a satisfactory one. He added that the dredge had been insured, at acostof £llO per month to the Board, for three months’ engagements. The Clerk of Works reported that Messrs Palliser and Jones had taken over the Breakwater works from Messrs Jones and Peters, and the work ®f b'oek laying and block making was inactive operation. Mr Hargreaves had completed his contract for piles and ironbark. The Harbor Master reported that 30 vessels aggregating 8557 tons had arrived at, and 32 of 9949 tons had sailed, from the port, during the month, lie had, as requested by Mr Goodall, had the area proposed to be dredged cleared of mooring chains, and swept with a small chain, but no obstacle of importance was discovered. 0a February 13th, the dredge Progress had arrived from Oamaru, and commenced working on the 17th inst. The average amount lifted by the dredge was 500 tons of silt per day, and this silt had been deposited at a point 1| miles distant, bearing N.N. W. from the curve of the Breakwater.

Mr F. W. Marchant was appointed Resident Engineer, and accounts to the amount of £132 IGs having bean passed for payment the meeting terminated.