Timaru Harbour Board.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3472, 29 July 1899, Page 3

Timaru Harbour Board.

The monthly meeting of the Tirnan Harbor Board was held yesterday. Pre , sent Messrs W. Evans (chairman) Fraser Macintosh, Guinness, Lyall, Skm ner, Thaw, Wilson, King, and Manchester CEMENTS. in reply to Mr Guinness, tha chairman said tha Milbnrn cement did not shofl the same strength as the imported, anc with the advice of ihe local members, he had accepted an offer from the N.M. & A Company of 12,000 eisks of Knight Bevau’s at 13i 6d and 13■* 91.—The chairman’s action was approved. In the course of his usual statement the chairman said that tin quantity dredged in five weeks ended 27th July was by the Timaru 25,500 tons and by the Taniwha 0490 tons. Tho total quant ty of shingle shifted since loth May was 01,050 tone. 33,033 carcas.-s of frozen mutton had been railed to Lyttelton daring tha month. List mouth 45,000 were railed. (Mr Guinness : There would have be n more railed if there had been morn st ame s in tha colony) All the loci bodies had paid the levies upon them. The revenue receipts were; Wharfage, £792 51; t ships’ dues £032 I4s 81 ; total £1474 19s 3J. (Tho secretary said the average is about £IOOO per mouth ) Since In at meeting the Commission had met and spent about a week investigating Mr Mr MaxweT’s plana and specifications, but their report was not yet to band. They had till tie end of the month.

Mr Guinness mentioned that the ship ping of frozen meat should be facilitated, One captain had complained that only one gang was used iu loading his ship, when she couid have worked two, another stated that ho had loaded meat from lighters at Gisborne faster than from tho wharf at Timaru.—After some discussion it was decided that the secretary should wi ito to the Railway Department and the Freezing Company regarding the matter. Tha chairman mentioned that during tho raortb, owing to the bad weather, the had been unable to keep up the supply'of stone for block-making, and Mr Maxwell’s consent had been got ti make some of shingle. The supply of stone had now resumed Among the correspondence read were a number of letters and cable messages about cranes, and after a long discussion in committee decision was deferred until next meeting. The secret ry of the Titraru Chamber of Commerce reported that tho number of carcases of frozm meat railed to Lyttelton for shipment during the June quarter was 45,304; shipped direct, 112,311. Of tint railed to Lyttelton, 33,939 went ro tho Waiwera, and 11,305 to the Delphic. Mr Fraser pointed out that tho Delphic was one of those too big to come to Timaru. It was agreed that tho statement prepared by Mr Maxwell for the Royal Commission, descriptive cf his scheme for extension, should be taken as read, and handed to tha Press-for publication. A letter from Mr Maxwell, dated Juno 2 9 lb, in further elucidation of his scheme was read. No action was taken, pending receipt of the Commission’s report. In their report the standing c mmitteo recommended that the ballast wharf should be lengthened 150 feet from tho outer end. Tho committee had been negotiating with the owners of quarry lands and for righl-of-way for tram-line and for purchase of crane, and now re Commended that a special committee be appointed to complete negotiations, with power to irder crane, rails, locomotive, ‘weighbri 119, and trucks. The committee hid considered the Public Contracts Bill, and approved of Clauses 1 to 4, but were of opinion that Clauses 5 to 8 and 10 would prove unworkable, ard they recommended that the Maiabe.'s for tha district be asked to oppose the latter clauses. Iu his report Mr Stumbles stated that during tho month ha had made 27 blocks with'brokoo metal, and 35 with shingle, lie had put more random blocks over to protect tho weak places. Ho had boon re-laying blocks at the broken place and fitting bags of concrete into the crevices preparing for monolith. Should tho weather be fine he would begin thisiu two or three days. Mr Dobson reported on the quarries and proposed tramway routes to same, ! tc., and that ha had prepared plans and sketches showingdistauces, gradients, etc , as well as the particulars and probable areas of the private property interfered with. Captain Clarkson reported the arrival of 23 steam and 2 sailing vessels, 18,257 tons, and the departure of 23 steam and 8 sailing vessels, total, 19,820 tone, during the month of June. The weather during the mouth had been moderately fine with moderately heavy seas. The soundings on Thursday show an addition ti tha narrow spit inside at the end of the breakwater and greater depth outside the end. Increased depth is shown along the arm except at the curve. (Both compared with July 12ih.) Tho secretary submitted details of the tonnage of goods landed and shipped dating the June quarter. The total was 31,090 tons, and for the half-year 53,583 tons. This is tho record for a half-year, the highest previously being 50,500 iu the first half of 1890. fyjlu reply' to Mr Manchester, the chairman said they would want a great deal of stone to protect tho outer arm, even if the Commissioners reported favorably or not. Rubble did not cost more than half as much as concrete blocks. It was resolved that the report of the committee be adopted, except the paragraph relating to the appointment of a special cimmittee on the purchase of a crane and quarry land, held over until the adjourned meeting. Foreman Co lis reported on werk done iu the way of putting down a screw mooring. He had commenced the repair of the slipway. A good deal of damage had been done during tho month to the fender piles at the main wharf by some of the large steamers. These were being repaired. ACCOUNTS. The Bank of New Zealand wrote that they had, as instructed, transferred £3605 from fixed deposits to current account. The secretary stated that this was a transfer from the breakwater extension fuud, for the repairs to breakwater. Accounts amounting to £IBO7 2s 2d were passed for payment. fhe board thou adjourned until the Commission’s report is received, Tuesday week being mentioned as a suitable day.