TIMARU HABBOB BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1455, 21 May 1879, Page 2

TIMARU HABBOB BOARD.

A Bpecial meetiDg of this Board was held at 3 p.m. yesterday. MBIIBBBB FBESKKT. Messrs Fulbert Archer (Chairman), T. W. Hull, W. O. Beswick, K. F. Gray, B. Turnbull, E. Elworthy, and Hia Worship the Mayor. Mr Conyers, Commissioner of Bail way f, and Mr Lowe, Besident Engineer for the Middle Island, were also present. BUSINESS OF THB MBBTIHG. The Chairman stated that the meeting had been called so that the Commissioner of Railways, who was present, might explain the intentions of the Government m regard to land to be diverted from the Board's endowment to railway purposes. Mr Conyers said that his only object was to make the railway ayatem as perfect as possible. Whatever land was taken was for the benefit of the publio at large, and he wished the Board to understand that be had no private feeling whatever m the mattrr. He had no intention (of coming into conflict with the Harbor Board, and his earnest desire was to pull with them. When the new railway station was completed, the Hallway Department and Harbor Board's interests would

be identical. The former would ran a line of mis on to the Breakwater, and so further ths intercuts of the part. It was a great mistake to suppoae that the Railway Department, as personified m himself, desired to work agaimt tho advancement of Timuru. It was to the interests of the Railway Department, just as much as to those of the Harbor Board, to further the progress of Timaru as much v possible. Mr Lowp then explained the intentions of the Government re improving tho railway station accommodation, by which it was undi-reto d that th^y hai srtt'.ed upon taking i lio most valuable portion of the foreshore, ie , that immediately to the south of the Breakwuter, eventually shutting up the Timaru and George street Landing Services. Messrs Hall, Beawick. nnd Turnbull, m the oourse of a discussion which followed, pointed out that the Government would virtually reb the Board of the most pro, ious part of (heir endowment, bnt Mr Lone said there was no help for it. Mr Conyers assured the Boird lhat tho Landing Services should not be interfered with m any way, until the Harbor Board notified that they were no longer required, as the Government had no deiire to stop shipping opsrations. Mr Lowe explained th.it the Govemmeut calculated upon the Breakwater reclaiming sufficient land for all railway purposes by causing the shingle to accumulate. At ths same lime, they were prepared to pay the cost of the reclamation. In reply to a question, Mr Conyer* said he would freely recommend the Government to hand over the cliff between the railway line and the sea to the north of the Government Landing Service to (he Harbor Board as it was of no value to them. All he wanted was indispensable for railway purposes, and he had no desire to take any more of the Board's land than was necessary to provide a good workable station yard. In reply to another question, Mr Conyers expressed his opinion that it was but fair the Government should pay for the sheet piling now being constructed between the foot of the Breakwater and the Government Service, as will as for the filling m behind it. He would recommend the Government to recoup the Harbor Borrd any expense they might be put to m the matter. Messrs Conyers and Liwe then withdrew. THE STEAM OBANB. Mr John Anderson waited on the Board with reference to the steam crane. He expressed bis regret that the test had not resulted so satisfactorily as both tha Board and himself could have desired, and stated that he bad telegraphed to Ohristahurch for a gang of men to put the crane m repair again, and that they would arrive by the first train next morning. He b> lieved it would be m working order again m a fortnight's time, but he would feel it his duty to take it to pieces, and have it put m thorough gnod order once more. Ho would ask tho Board, however, whether they would still expect the crane to lift 60 tons after being repaired. Mr Turnbull asked the Engineer to the Board whether the two blocks— 3s and 25 tons respectively — as placed urjdsr the jib, were a fuir test, and whether it would not have been better had one been placed on top, instead of by the side, of the other. The Engineer stated he considered the test was a perfectly fair one. Mr Anderson also expressed his satisfaction at the fairness of the test. In reply ts Mr Hall, the Engineer stated that on the occasion of a blook being laid a few days previous, the crane, owing to the heavy surge on, had to bear a Btrain of fully 60 tonß. Mr Anderson pointed out that the 60-ton blocks had m reality been lifted off the ground bifore the stay parted. The crane had also handled 40 tons most eatitfactorily, and he was quite satisfied it was fully equal to the work which it would be required to perform. He would therefore a:k the Board to take into consideration the question of granting him a portion of the contract money for the rrane, as he had been put to very heavy expenae m connection with it. He would assure the Board that they might rely on his putting the orane m thorough working order before it left hi» hands, bb it whs to his credit to do so. Mr Anderson then withdrew. After some discussion, it was resolved tbat Mr Anderson should be paid £1500 on bis contract. The meeting then terminated.