HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3964, 11 February 1882, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

The Harbour Board met on Friday, at 11 a.m. Present: Messrs. T. King (Chairman), Kelly, Davidson, Dingle, liundle. Carrington, MeLauchlun, and Bayly.

Cement. — A letter was read from Messrs. MeEwen and Co. stating they had shipped 1000 casks of cement per Opawa, and 1000 casks per Ironsides. — The Chairman said that arrangements had been made for the s.s. Westport to bring up from Wellington all the cement at present on board the hulk, and that would leave room for storing the cement expected to arrive. He thought it probable that it would be necessary to reduce the monthly shipments of cement from England.

Engineer's Report. — Tho Engineer's report was read as follows: — The breakwater has advanced 18 lineal feet, containing 428 cubic yards. Tlu> wall at root of breakwater has been founded for a distance of 615 tVet, and built to an average height of four feet, containing. 44 cubic yards of rubble and concrete. Tho pennant way between jetty and works has been shifted back from edge of bank to make it passable for loco., hauling firewood and stores. A second and smaller box for concrete bag-work is in hand. I have found it necessary to make an alteration in the tripping gear of the present box; ; the necessary ironwork has been ordered. The new jib for the five-ton crane is finished and erected, The Ellerton discharged her cargo of cement (576 casks) in good condition on Thursday last. Tests of cement ex ,s.s. , Westport have been made, the cement having been in moulds twenty-four hours, and then seven days immersed in water, White Brothers' cement, average breaking tensile str.iin per square inch, 3121b5. The tests showed great differences in the strength of the cement; White Brothers' ranging from 2771b5. to 3501b5. per square inch, and Knight Bevan's from 2601b5. to 3901b5. per square inch.

Gitttingti. — A memo, was read from Mr. Khind, re Mr. D. Adams' account for castings, stating that none of the articles charged in the account had been received at tho works.

Coat of Work. — The Resident Engineer forwarded his report on the cost of the work during the month ended the Bth February, as follows : — A length of 'M) feet has been added to tho breakwater, containing 831 cubic yards ; 48 blocks made 383 cubic yards, less 33. blocks laid, 401 cubic yards — 1 82 .cubic yards ; 5 blocks washed away, 48 cubic yards, situ washed away, 80 cubic yards — 134 cubic yards ; rubble concrete and wall, 44 cubic yards. Total concrete made during the month, 1191 cubic yards. The total amount of expenditure during the month is, as per accompanying abstract, £1,838 os. 9d., from which is to be deducted in the miscellaneous account items to the amount of £207 12s. 10d., making the cost of 1191 cubic yards of concrete—£lo3o 7s. lid., or £1 7s. Md. per cubic yard of concrete made.

Consulting Engineer's Report. — The following report was read from the Consulting Engineer :—ln: — In reply to your letter of the 28th January, asking for an approximate estimate of the cost of preparing plans, specifications, &v., requisite for calling for tenders for a portion of the New Plymouth breakwater I have much pleasure in laying the following information before you. It would bo necessary to have a general and a detailed map of the works as they are at present made, in order to do so careful surveys would be requisite. Embracing railway lines, 1 buildings, and w6rk done, soundings would require to be taken along the line of proposed works, and the ground' explored by a diver ; then the specification would be drawn up, and a set of general conditions drawn up to suit the peculiar nature of the work, and protect the Board's interests. It would take fully two months to do this work, and would cost from £100 to £150. I would wish to remind you that in my report I advised three maps to be made, even if no contracts were let.

A Complaint.— ;A letter was received from William Hooker, who was lately injured at the works, complaining^that he had not sufficient wagos as. watchman at the works. — The letter was referred to the Engineer. Memo. — Appended to the annual balance-sheet was the following memo :: — •' On examining the accounts of the New Plymouth Harbour Board for the year ending 31st December,, 1881, the auditor finds the following errors and inaccuracies, to which he would direct the attention of the Board :—ln: — In the puy sheets no receipts have been given for the following payments: Claridge, 10s.; O'Donnell, 215. ; Gibbons, 45.; Hughes, 4s; Palmer, 17s. 6d.; Bairy, 12s. 9d.; tind McEvoy, 295. 7d. Also that Johnson has been overpaid 11s. 3d., and Mauzen 9s. 3d.; and an error of £1 appears on the 6th of April pay-sheets, -besides 'several mirfor inaccuracies. There is an account of £2 overcharged in an English invoice of Wilson and Co. In a carting account £10 has been underpaid, and. there appears to be an error of 13s. in an express account. In another carting account there is 11s.' error, and there is a discrepancy !of about five tons in landing charges. Under the heading of firewood contract the sum of £87 10s. has been overpaid tb Mulrce, but this amount the auditor hascaused to be refunded to the Board. The attention bf the auditor has been called to several ' protests in reference to the legality of ccr'tuin expenditure by the Board, which have been made by Mr. McLauchlan, but the auditor does not consider that the matter to, which they relate requires any remark. With' reference to Mr. Yorke's protest against the expenditure of £135 125., paid to Messrs. Skinner and Sole, th 6 auditor thought that the Board was justified in incurring the expenditure. Signed C. Rennell, Auditor." — The Secretary stated that the errors had occurred through the books of the Board boing absent at Wellington, and he was unable to check the accounts. — It was resolved, ll That the memo.' ol the Auditor be referred to the Finance Committee."

Jlc.-fuiid. — Mr. Kelly thought that application uhould be made to the Government for a re-fund of £315, being the cost of Sir J. Uoode's preliminary report on the Harbour Works. He said that other Harbour Boards had not been charged for the preliminary survny. — It was decided to nmko the application for the re-fund. Tenders. — Tenders were received for an addition to the aocommodation-housoatthe Harbour Works as follows : — F. W. Kevell, £19 ; .1. C. George, £20 18s.— Mr. Revi-11'n tender was accepted. Sinkintj Fund. — It was resolved, " That Ur> sum of £1,750, interest on deposit account, be paid to the Sinking Fund Commissioners.

Stale of the Works. — In reply to questions, Mr. llhinii stated that there were at present 4£ feet of water at the end of the breakwater at low tide.

CONTRACT V. DAY LABOUR.

In accordance with notice previously given, Mr. Bayly moved "That tenders

be called for not less than 300 feet of the breakwater, the contractor to be allowed the use of the plant, and to keep and leave it in good repair." lie said that he was pleased that the Resident Engineer's report was so favourable, but he thought as the Board would not incur any extra expt-nsc by calling for tenders, it should be clone. He was of opinion that the work could be done cheaper by contract than as at present. He did not find fault with Mr. Rhind, but it waH a wellknown fact that men would exert themselves more under a contractor than under the Board.

Mr. Rundle said he was not at present in favor of contract work, as the work was shown to be so cheaply done by day labor.

Mr. Kelly said he had gone into the question, and he found that the work had been done for about 30s. per yard, including all expenses. He considered it would be an unfair policy to ask for tenders, unless they were prepared to let tho contract to the lowest tenderer; and he was satisfied no contractor could do the work for less than it cost at present. If the work was let by contract the Board might get a contractor that would give a good deal of trouble. As the work was done at present at a reasonable price, he would be in favor of continuing day labor; but if at any time the work cost more than 30s. per yard he reserved to himself the right of altering his views under those circumstances. He would watch the return of the cost month after month, and if at any time the work exceeded 30s. per yard, he would then be in favor of letting the work by contract. The Chairman endorsed the views advanced by Mr. Kelly; and further stated that he considered endless trouble would arise in connection with the plant if the contractor was allowed to use it. Mr. Caruixcton thought it would be unfair to put persons to the trouble and expense of making up tenders, when perhaps the Board would not accept any of them.

Mr. Yorke said he was in favor of contract work. He did not see how there could be any hardship in calling for tenders, and then rejecting them if they found they could do the work cheaper by day labor. Tho Board could not be expected to give more for contract work than they could do it themselves for by clay labor, and, therefore, the contractors would understand that unless their tenders wore lower than 30s. per j'ard they need not send in their tenders. He thought the motion proposed by Mr. Bayly did not go far enough, and he would like to see an anlendment to give effect to the Consulting Engineer's report.

Captain Davidson proposed, as an amendment, " That the survey of the works be proceeded with, as suggested by the Consulting Engineer, with a view to calling for tenders, and that the survey be done by Mr. Driscoll."

Mr. Youke seconded the amendment, which was put, and a division taken as follows : — Ayes (4) : Messrs. Davidson. Rundle, Yorke, and Dingle. Noes (5) : Messrs. Kelly, McLauchlan, Bayly, Carrington, and King. The amendment was accordingly lost ; and the original motion wus then put, and resulted as follows :—: — .lyes (5) : Messrs. Davidson, McLauchlan, Yorke, Bayly, and Dingle. Noes (4) : Messrs. Kelly, Rundle, Carrington, and King. The Chairman said he did not understand in what position the matter now stood. There was simply a bare resolution passed in favor of contract work, but there were no instructions given as to the future course to be adopted, and ho did not see how he could take action on such a resolution. 1 Mr. Yorke said it was now competent for any member to move further resolutions respecting the course to bo adopted. He moved, " That a survey of the works and of. the site of the breakwater be made, in accordance with the suggestion of the Consulting Engineer."

Mr. Kelly asked if Mr. Yorke intended the survey to be made by the harbour staff or by a surveyor, as mentioned in Mr. Thompson's report ?

Mr. Yorke replied that it was immaterial to him who made the survey. If the Harbour Staff was competent to do it he thought it should be asked to do the survey. Mr.'CAniUNGTON said that he heard Mr. Dmcoll was quite competent to make the survey. — Thfe Board agreed that Mr. Driscoll should do it.

Drift Sand. — Mr. Kelly said that something must be done to stop the drift-sand at the Harbour Works. He thought it would be advisable to go to some expensein order to stop it, otherwise there would be a considerable annual expenditure in clearing the sand away. He proposed " That a Committee consisting of Messrs. King, Bayly, Carrington, and the mover be appointed to enquire into the best means of dealing with the drift-sand at the Harbour Works, with power to call for papers and persons." — Mr. Rundle seconded the motion. — Mr. Rhind stated that he had laid cement barrels in rows to stop the sand, and he found that the sand had not accumulated during the last westerly gales. — The motion was carried. Uncertified Account. — Captain Davidson drew attention to the fact that an account — J. M. Vivian's — was presented to the Board without the usual certificate of the Engineer being appended. That was not in a6cordance with the instructions of the Board, as a resolution had been passed some months ago requiring that all accounts should be properly certified before thoy were submitted to the Board. It appeared to him that there was a persistent effort on the part of some of the Board's officers to over-ride the Board's instructions. — Mr. Rhind said the account had never been submitted to him for his certificate. — Mr. Yokke moved, " That instructions to officers minuted be written out in a separate book, and that copies be circulated among the officers of tlic Board, after the instructions in a collected' form shall have been approved by the Board ; and that upon the Consulting or Residont Engineers demanding an explanation from a tradesman or a subordinate, ( a copy of such explanation shall be given to the Engineer, and, in the event of an appeal being made to the Board, it must pass through tho Engineer's hands before being dealt with by tho Board." — The motion was carried. — It was decided to hold over Mr. Vivian's acocunt until Mr. Khind had certilied to it.

Accounts. — Accounts amounting to £832 1 3k. wore passed for payment. The Board then adjourned.

The Legion of Honor. — In addition to the award of the Gold Medal (L'Academie Nationale), and also the Silver Mclnl, awarded to John Brinsmoad & Sons, of Wigmore-gtreet. London, for the superiority of the Piano exhibited by them last year at the Paris Exhibition, the founder of the firm has been created Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, this distinction being conferred on no other British Pianoforte Manufacturer.