Timaru Harbour Board.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3540, 27 January 1900, Page 2

Timaru Harbour Board.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbor Board was held on Friday. Present ,• —Messrs W. Evans (chairman), Fraser, Macintosh, Manchester, Lyall, Skinner, Thew, Goodwin, and Pringle. chairman's statement. The chairman read a letter from Mr J. King, resigning his seat on the board. The chairman explained that as Mr King was interested in some of the land to be purchased for the quarry, it was necessary for hi mto resign. The quantity dredged in the last five weeks was 34,860 tons. The soundings book showed that the bar was in a splendid condition ; he did not think they had ever had more water in the hntrance. The receipts during the ' month were £630 2s 8d for wharfage, and .£BB9 7s 9d for ships' dues. The past month was not so good as the previous one, but the year would give a good record. Dnring his absence in Melbourne, he regretted to say, Captain Liddy, of the dredge Taniwha, had passed away, after a short illness. As he was only a casual hand, not on the permanent staff, he did not know whether the board could do anything for the widow and children. Plans and specifications for the extension and tramline contracts were on the table. Correspondence would be read regarding a difficulty that had cropped up with the Levels County Council in reference to the tramline. The cheap sleepers he had bought at Greymouth had come to - hand, and Mr Maxwell said they were a good investment, even if 20 per cent, were rejected. He asked authority to purchase ballast from the ship Westlund for deposit on the north mole. The mole was in bad condition. Enquiries were being made as to the best means of getting' the .£50,000. He thought it would be best to do as the Wellington Board had done, get it from the A.M .P. Association as they wanted it. Inquiries were being made in that direction. KErOKTS. Mr Hendry reported that the shingle pump of the Timaru broke down on the 10th through a large stone getting into a runner, and the mouth of the pipe being partly choked an insufficiency of water to carry the stone. The damage had been repaired, and the machinery of both dredges was in good order. Mr Stumbles reported that since last meeting he had made good about 30ft of *i part of broken breakwater, repaired other broken places, and put over about 40 blocks to protect the weakest places. There are 23 blocks on hand, which would be put over where most wanted. Captain Clarkson reported the arrival of 17 steam and 5 sailing vessels, aggregating 18,986 tons, during December. The weather during the month had been moderatey fine* THE LEVELS COUNTY OOUNCIL AND THE QUARRY TRAMLINE. A quantity of correspondence was read from the Levels County Council regarding the board's application for a license to lay a tramline along Otipua road. The council passed a resolution that the license be granted, subject to the board paying all compensation to owners of property that may bo injured by laying the line, and that a flag-man be stationed at the crossing of the Main South Eoad.

The County Council forwarded objections received. Mr S. A. Bristol wrote that his land, 4.1 acres, 7 J chains frontage (no value stated) would be diminished in value by 60 per cent, as long as the tramway exists. Mr .]. H. Gardner, 20 acres, 20 chains frontage (no value stated) would be decreased in value 40 per cent. Mr M. J. Knubley, 2$ acres, value .£BO per acre, estimated the injury at 50 per cent. Mr Knubley (for Mrs K. E. Hall) 5} acres, value .£BO per acre, gave the same estimate of injury. The board's solicitors sent drafts of licenses for the Borough Council and the County Council. The County Council's solicitor wrote at length on the 27th re the claims, and the board's solicitors replied. mb maxwell's general report. Mr Maxwell wrote under date 23rd inst. that he had examined the harbor works, etc. The annual soundings being taken by Mr Dobson were not quite complete, but so far as they go they show that there has been no fhoaling in Caroline Bay during

the past ten months, nor in the vicinity of the entrance, except immediately at and around the end of the main breakwater where the debris from the broken-up concrete blocks, consisting of concrete and fragments of rock, mixed with the loose shingie travelliug round rest against the loose blocks round the end for about a chain out. This accumulation requires " removing with the grabs from time to time as it appears. The shingle lies along the face of the outer arm more than was the case a year ago, and travels along the coast in considerable quantities. The accumulation along this face below L.W. mark has no doubt been much increased by the large numbezs of new blocks put down along the face to protect it during the last year; about 300 have been deposited. According to the returns sent to me about 160,000 cubic yards of drift have ( been dredged during the 12 months from the harbor and around the entrance, and although during May last after the S.E. storm which then occurred a spit ex- ..

tended from the breakwater end some distance into the entrance, on the whole the depths have been well maintained and the entrance is satisfactory. It will ) be necessary to persistently dredge outside and in the entrance whenever the weather permits, since the travel of the drift past the breakwater is now greater than it has been before. Extensive repairs has been

carried out on the outer arm. Some three monoliths are still undermined, and should have some of the blocks on hand deposited in front. It is not advisable to put loose broken stone into the caverns underneath the monolith, as if these are drawn out they cause damage and expense in the f dredging operations. In a postcript Mr Maxwell added recommendations for immediate action :—To construct the bridge under the Government railway; to order

! 29-ton crane by cable, 30-ton weigh-bridge, six additional side-tip trucks, and 10,000 sleepers for tram-line; advertise contract for constructing tram-line. Mr Maxwell, under the same date, wrote that he had been over the tramline and drawn out a specification. As there had been delay in starting the tramline, he recommended that the tramline and extension of the harbour works be let in on 6 contract, as tho most convenient and expeditious way A short siding should be made from the railway for delivery of material arriving STANDINCi COMMITTEE. The standing committee reported that they had accepted a tender of £l3 5s for printing the annual reportj and balancesheet, and recommended that £2 6s be refunded to the harbour-master for leakage of gas. After consulting with Mr Maxwell the committee made the follow-

ing recommendations : —That the work of laying the tramway and staging and depositing the I SO,OOO tons of rubble be let in one contract. That Mr Maxwell's specification be printed and plans lithographed, to be supplied to tenderers at iil Is per copy. That tenders for tramline and extension be called for and advertised in seven leading New Zealand and Australian 2 3a P ers f° r eight weeks. That Booth Bros/ 20 ton crane be ordered at once by cable. That six additional side-tip trucks be ordered from the railway department. That any locomotive required be provided by the

contractor. That the Eailway Department be asked to immediately proceed with the construction of the subway under the railway line. That applications be invited for the position of Resident Engineer without private practice, applications to be in by next board meeting. That sufficient repairs having been effected to the breakwater for the present, further expenditure now cease. That tho special temporary siding, recommended by Ms

Maxwell be constructed under Mr Dobson's supervision. The committee finding that the Greymouth weighbridp-e is of insufficient capacity have to report that they have ordered a 30 ton self registering bridge from home. The committee have to report that they are making full inquiries in reference to the best procedure 'ia view of placing the loan for harbour works on the market. The report was adopted.