TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3022, 10 September 1896, Page 4

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbor Board was hold ou Tuesday. Present Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), Sullivan, Wilson, Thew, Hayes, Lyall, .Evans, Wreathall, Guinness, and Pringle. An apology was read from Mr Jonas, who is indisposed.

CORRESPONDENCE. The Waimato County Council and Geruldino Koad Board notified the payment of half year's levy. The chairman stated that three other bodies had passod the cheques for the board.

A modical certificate was read that F. Clarkson, one of the board's employees, was suffering from concussion of the brain and unable to follow his employment.—The secretary stated that a claim had beeu made against the Accident Insurance Company. harbormaster's report.

Captain Clarkson reported the airival of 23 steam and 6 sailing vessels, aggregating 14,300 tons, during August. The weather was generally wet with several heavy N.E. seas. The usual soundings had been taken and recorded. It was now six months since the s.b. Timaru was docked. Ho suggested that she be docked after the arrival of the Nelson (sailing ship direct from Loudon), expected about the end of the mouth.

The soundings record showed the depths about the same as last month. After a good deal of discussion, and inquiry from the eugiueer and Mr Hendry whether docking twice a year is necessary, it was agreed that the Timaru shall be docked as soon as possible. RAILAGE OF FROZEN MEAT. In reply to a request that it any reductions are made iu the charges for railage of frozen meat, they should be made on short distance haulages, the Minister of Public Works wrote that he was not aware that the Government intended to make any alteration; if, however, any alteration were made, he would see that the interests of the port of Timaru receive consideration. Mr Ronayne, general manager, wrote that the request would be borne iu mind when the reductions are under consideration.

Iu reply to a question by Mr Evans, tho secretary said there had beau a large proportion of frozen meat railed away. The Opawa came hero expecting to got a load in a fortnight, and she had been put off from week to week. Tho chairman had heard that a lawsuit had been tried iu London, between Nelson Brothers and Shaw Savill & Co. which brought out some information that threw a light upon the position of the meat trade at Timaru.

A conversation took place on the subject, and tho chairman said the matter could be looked iuto before next meetiug. It was said that the suit was a claim against tho Meat Compauy for £15,000 (one member said of £150,000) damages for failing to supply meat to the Shipping Company according to contract. The chnirmau said the board could perhaps have done nothing if they had known what was being done, and no one appeared to have known it. A member remarked that the South Canterbury people could now see what a mistake they had made iu selling the works.

.SILT THROUCin THE NORTH MOLE. The chairman stated that the members of the Standing Committee who were present ou Saturday examined the silt iug of the harbor through the north molo, and they decided to recommend the board to carry out the experiment suggested by Mr Marchaut, to throw some shingle over the mole. Something must be done, or the harbor would be seriously injured. Probably £lO would do it, with the shingle, and if it did not answer, that would be an addition to the cost of more expensive work which would have to be undertaken. He hoped the board would take up the matter and agree to something boing done at once. After a good deal of discussion it was resolved that the engineer should try the effect of throwing shingle over, the cost not to exceed £ls. ENGINEER'S EEI'OET. The resident engineer, Mr F. W. Marchaut, reported as follows : "We have dredged away the shoal which formed at the end of the breakwater after the late heavy seas, and will shortly have the water again to the full dspth previously existing. The shingle has lately advanced again beside the break water, uecessitatiug an extension of the retaining planking. The Timaru will shortly have to go to dock, and I ask the board's instructions whether we shall put the Tauiwha to carry on dredging work while the larger vessel is absont, or whether the work shall stand over till her return.

It was agreed that that Tauiwha need not bo set to work.

Mr Parr reported that the quantity dredged during thopast mouth was 13,000 tons.

A long discussiou took place on the shingle question.—Messrs Evans and Pringie contended that the shingle is going past, Mr Evans sayiug that not thousands but millions of tons have been washed upon theWashdyko beach. A letter from Mr Parry to Mr Pringie was read, to the effect that from tho Elginshire northwards for a couple of miles fully a chain of beach has been swept away ; that means 1(5 acres of deep shingle gone north, and where wa3 it if not on the "Washdyke beach '( Mr Pringie said tae theory always had been that the shingle comes down the rivers in floods and travels north ; there had been unusual floods in all the rivers this year ;—where had the shiuglo gone I Mr Marchant said the shingle does not always travel north, it depends upon the direction of tha seas, and for mouths there had been northerly seas driving the eh ingle south. ■ Mr Thow said the board should have samples from the Washdyko spit, and if anyone could distinguish them from samples from the beach he would be prepared to admit that that shingle had not gone past. Mr Guinness suggested that if the shingle is travelling past, within one, two, three, or five milos out, it ought to be discoverable on the way. It did not make a Hying leap. It ought to be easy to settle that question. He was sorry to s:iy that in his opinion it was not goi.ig past. Mr Thew said it could not go more than two miles out for there was a great precipico there. As to the accumulation on the \V \\\- dyke beach, Mr Marchant said tlvit \;;\s easily accounted for. There had beon some scores of thousands of tons of shingle dumpod off there by tho dredge, and tho sea had beeu digging up tho dd plain shiuglo whoro the beach had bejn moved back.

Mr Evans moved anil Mr Hayou a:condod—" That our consulting eimimor bo rcquostod to visit the port with fho dbjoct (if reporting on tho travelling shimrl.. .;.,rfli diwl i-.niltll .-IMfi i 11.:., r,.. i 1... desirability of an extension ; tuieli infer uiation to bo receiv-d at tho noxt meet,iug of thu board." Mr Evaua uaid th-y ought to got Mr Maxwell down from tit.io

to time (it waa mx month; sinuo lie was li-re) as ho would bo to a eenaiu extent responsible it' .\ny mi;.lr\p occurred. Mr Hayes said they worn so diseue the matter of extesisi it noxt- mouth, and that was not. an everyday matter, but <>no <>" w.'r.eo they should have the assistance «f then' cousuHiiu; engineer. Beside-, Mr Merchant had made s'atGments about iho formation of shoals, that Mr Maxwidl should confute, or his theory ivaa vvron;f. The motion waa carried, Mr Wilson only holdiug up his hand against, it. Mr Wilson suggested that the dredge pump should be tried on the sand that is settling in Caroline Bay, say in 15ft water, and it was agreed that a trial should bo made next Saturday afternoon. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £455 Os 8d wore passed for payment, and the board rose.