HARBOUR BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144050, 20 March 1913, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual'meeting of tho New Plymouth Harbour Board was hold on Wednesday afternoon. The chairman' (Mr. J. B. Connott) presided, and all the other members namely Messrs. Newton King, E. Dockrill, J.-M‘Clug-gago, O. E. Bellringer, C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., D. G. Hughes, J. Marx and E Maxwell were present. HARBOUR MASTER’S REPORT. Captain fm. Waller, harbour master, rejiorted that during the five weeks ended March 15, 32 steamships and one sailing vessel of the aggregate' gross tonnage of 31,804 tons worked the port inwards, and 32 steamships, of an aggregate gross tonnage of 31,162 tons, worked the port outwafds. The imports amounted to 6612 tons, of which 601 tons coal was for private consumption. Tho exports of produce and sundries amounted to 1797 tons, making a total of 8409 tons handled. THE DREDGE’S OVERHAUL. Mr. F. Henderson, who wont to Wellington to supervise the annual overhaul to the Paritutu, submitted a lengthy report, explaining the extra work which it was found necessary to do, and so accounting for the extra time taken with the work. The report concluded that although the expenses were heavy by comparison with last year’s, they were just about the average incurred by other New Zealand dredges for their annual overhaul. These compared with were all doing much lighter work than the Paritutu, some having only single plants and others fitted with dual plants only working by the one system. Tho total cost of the overhaul was, according to a statement prepared by the secretary (Mr. E. C. Remiell) up-to-date was quite £2,500, with a few small accounts still to come in. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Mr. F. Henderson reported as follows ; Dredge Paritutu: Dredging with the Paritutu was resumed on February 27, and for 14 working days up to March 15, 30 loads amounting to 12,000 tons were removed. The ground operated on was the shallow patch ahead of the wharf. The ground there was fairly easy to dredge, and consisted of silt, with clay and soft sandstone at a depth of 25ft. . • '

Thomas King: Tho smaller dredge on tho ,14 days removed 97 loads, amounting to ,7,700 tons from, the breakwater bank. The Thomas King was now on the gridiron for Government inspection, and it was hoped to have the vessel off by the 20th iust.

Wharf .lengthening: Four’piles had been drivfcn to form an easy radius at tho eastern corner, and the end had been clanked froni low-water mark to deck level for the convenience of vessels when turning, round the end. Another fortnight should finish everything at the wharf widening work. : Breakwater light: The lantern had been fitted on the stand and the wires and piping procured. The wiring had been delayed through unsettled weather, hut would he proceeded with after the Easter holidays. GENERAL, The board agreed to allow one of its employees to switch -off ami on daily tho electric light which the Borough Council proposes erecting at tho foot of the breakwater. Mr. F. P. Corkill, local representative for Lloyd's, wrote that Captain 'Waller had accented tho position, of surveyor subject to the hoard’s concurrence.—The hoard offered no objections. Accounts amounting to £9,191 4s Id were passed for payment.