TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5543, 30 July 1907, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

Tho monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board was held on Friday. Present—Messrs J. Craigio (chairman,), T. D. Young, C. Bowkor, F. H. Smith i,C. Lesley, C. N. Orbell* Es Rollos- , ton, W. Skinner, W. Hayman, J, Fraser, R. Thovv, and J. Manchester, 'The chairman stated that tho credit balance on June I'Slli was £4386 18/4, and the amount paid £9418 ,16/-. The receipts hud been :—Ships’ dues, £llO4 6/3; wharfage, £1093 0/4. Accounts to bo passed amounted to £3909 18/6 of which £3569 14/9 had already been paid in wages. Tho overdraft was £2875 14/5. The statement of exports and imports for tho six months ended June 30th showed a slight decrease on lust year’s totals, Tho exports of wheat and oats had decreased, probably owing to the dry season But tho fact that Tinvaru was second in the export of. mutton was very satisfactory. The new ladder-man had taken up his duties on dredge 350, and tho engineer would commence his work on August Istj Among the correspondence were letters from— Mr Mark Saunders applying lor a lease for five years of a portion of tho_ Eastern Extension and tho shingle spit between the mole and tho breakwater, to enable him to carry on his experiments. Ho asked the Board to inspect his works.—Received, Messrs Fleming' and Ferguson- advising that additional buckets would be despatched as soon as possible. Messrs Kaye and Carter, Christchurch, asking the Board to keep the dredge Timaru under firm offer for a fortnight. Wv Gowrto, Port Elizabeth, forwarding particulars of a tug which originally cost £12,000 for sale. .The tug was built in 1902 ; tonnage, 194 tons ; speed at sea, 11J knots ; price, |£2600 at Capetown. Tho Standing Committee made tho following recommendations, among others ;—Fraser Street Sections : The tender of the .Westport Coal Company! for section No. 18, Fraser Street, -at 20/- per foot frontage, be accepted. Dredge No. SO: (1) The application of the contractors for, further payment consequent on the advance in the price in steel, etc., be loft over for a month. (2) The committee had no recommendation to make with respect to the purchasing of a model for tho dredge. (3) The agreements wjtli' Messrs Douglas, Tait, and Morrison be executed by tho Board as drawn up. Drainage Outfall : With respect to tho request from the Borough Council for approval of the proposed outfall at the Beuvenuo Cliff, the form of resolution as submitted by the . Board’s solicitors be accepted. Railway. Facilities on Main Wharf : Consequent on complaints relative to the delay in loading and unloading vessels, and in view of a constantly expanding trade, cogent representations be made to the General Manager New Zealand Railways not tq alter the existing lines but to arrange to have the four linos. Tenders for Ironmongery, etc. : Messrs . Priest and Holdgate’s bo accepted. 1 The report was adopted. The harbor master reported the arrival of 29 steam and 2 sailing vessels, and the departure of 30 steam and 1 sailing vessel for the month end cd June '3oth, 1907. The weather during the month has been moderately fine, with, smooth seas. The. usual soundings have been taken during tho month.

The engineer reported that good progress had been made with the reclamation work near Woody Wharf. The total corrected quantity of shingle lifted and tipped to the 23rd inst. is 46,081 tons ; additional clay from Mr Monahan’s contract 10,313 tons. Additionally 2179 tons of clay have been dray-tipped in the foreshore south of Mills’ Store. Dredge 330 had been engaged in deepening the approach channel and the Main Wharf berth. Quantity dredged and dumped. Main Wharf 8525 tons ; approach channel 6402 tons Average per dredging hour, Main Wharf 118.8.; Approach Channel, 1560fk Ho hoped bettfr results would be obtained during the next six months, and again advocated the adoption of the double-shift system. During month 14 piles had been driven in connection with the Main Wharf repairs. North Mole Wharf: Schedules of quantities had been prepared and the ■ genetal conditions revised. The Marino Engineer had taken exception to the design. The chairman said the Board would have to decide whether any further reclamation work was to bo undertaken. Now that the work was completed, the area would have to be surveyed and an approach constructed. In reply to questions the secretary said the reclamation had cost about, £4OOO, and. the area was about Si - Mr Manchester would like to know® whether the Board’s instructions . had been departed from. _ The secretary said the engineer had done so without authority; the engineer submitted two reports on the change, but no action was ,taken. Mr Fraser explained' that the curve had been adopted for the convenience of shunting waggons. During the luncheon adjournment, the Board inspected the reclamation* Mr Rolloston said judging from the advice rfjf experienced men, they would bo wrong in forming a reclamation between the Main and Moody wharves. He proposed that estimates bo pro' pared for a wharf approach in wood or concrete.

Mr Fraser said the alteration in the reclamation was simply to facilitate working—the trucks could not be turned on ct right angle,. , and the turntable was not available.

The secretary referred to previous minutes and report, which showed that the engineer had submitted a report on tiic alteration he proposed making, hut it was simply received. The chairman moped—“ That the engineer report to. the Board the best manner of building a road to give access to the north reclamation, either by bridge or solid roadway, this to bo laid before the Board at its next meet ing with an estimate of cost.” —Mr Bowker seconded the motion, and it was carried.

Mr Or be 11 moved, and Mr Haymnn seconded, that after the reclamation work is coinpleted, the plant be laid up. —Carried. The Secretary Marine Department forwarded a report by the Marino Engineer, Mr E. W. Holmes, on the proposed staging part of the North Mole. The report stated that the whole design was most unsuitable, The engineer submitted a reply to the Marine Engineer's objections, and .after a short discussion ie was resolved that the chairman, secretary, and engineer when in Wellington should wait on the Marine Engineer, ami the Resident Engineer’s report bo forwarded to him. --Carried.