TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2842, 1 November 1883, Page 5

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of tho Tiruarii Harto.- Board washrlHonOet.il. PreSrnl —Mr W. Moady (Chairman), Me^rs E EU<>rJhy, J. Xaib-r, J. Wilson, J. H. .But tor, E. Ait,n, on/1 X S Gibson. Mr K. F, Gray came m n few minutes before the meeting termin.ited. A tcl. gram wa* read from Mr J. Kelland, apologising for hii absence. MINtTES. Tbe minutes of the last ordinary and of or intervening special meeting were read one confirmed. TESDKR3. Tlio tenders for the uext section of th< Brtakwater wero then opened, m order thai the Kngineer might check thcdttiils. There were only two tenders received, viz., Ailat; & Stumbles, £24 623 2a; Jones <fc fetors, £22,381 l<ls lOd. Mr Qoodall havirg looted over the Fche-nlis of price', stated that the tender oi Messrs Jones ar.d Cetera Km the l>wcet ir details as well as m the gross total. His own eaimale for the woik wns £23,041 8t 4d. The tender of Messrs Jonej and Petera was accepted, and pleasure was expressed thai the contractors who had dono no much good work had got the next section to do. 00BEKSP0SDSNCK. Corresponder.ee was read as follow! : — From Priettroan Bros., Londor, acknowledging receipt of order for a sand bucket for tho dredgo and spare tines for the grab. The order would have prompt attention. They wore very busy now, having ordors for their dredges from all parts of tbe world, and they we;e glad to say the dredges gavo satisfaction everywhere. - From Messrs S'cvwrighr, Stout and Co., Dunedin, demanding puyment on baJ.alf of McKeozie and Co., the contractors for the late wharf wHening contract, of the balance of £1116 6* 53, olaiir.ed to be due for work dono, and £100 for interest to date (September 17th), and if the Board wero not prepared to piy, de-ifinc; to be furi.ishcd with the name of their solicitor, tj receive service of a writ on behalf of ;he Board. Tbe Chairman stated that ho had furnished tho name of the Board* solicitor, and had heard nothing further of the matter. From Mr 0. W. Turner, Christchurch, re his cement contractn. Mr Turner wrote : — "I am much obliged for your attention to the barqus Lnrline. Iho dispatch given at Timaru to tbe Lurline ia vary creditnble to your port, and could hardly be equalled nt aiy other Aostralasian port that I know of." At a recent moeting the Board resolvod to give (he Railway Department six months' notice required to terminate tbe agreement by which the Department has tbe management of tbe wharf, for the purpose of having a shorter term of notice adopted. A letter was now read from Mr Maxwell, General Manager of Baiinays, m which he eaii the intention of the Board was not clear from their notice, and then pointed out several objections to the Board working tbe railway on the wharf for shipping purposes. The Chairman stated that he bad replied to Mr Maxwell, informing him that the Beard had no intention to interfere with the traffic business of the wbarf. They only wanted to usa part of the wbarf lines for tbe removal of silt from the dredge to tbe reclamation, and to be ablo to do so at shorter notice than sis months should the Department take np a position antagonistic to them. From the District Engineer and tho local Inspector of Permanent Way, drawing the Board's attention to certain repairs required on the whaif rails, and tbe necessity of battening tho wharf for- the safety of the horses employed thereon. A little discussion took place upon the ap- j plication for repairs, the Board being of opinion that they ought not to be called upon to maintain tbe linos. In Lyttelton the Government not only maintained tbe lines, but bad put thorn down. The question of maintenance -was referred to tho Branding Committee. Tenders ore to be called for battening the wharf for horses, tho Board thinking they had belter do it themselves than pay tbe Hailway Department for doing it. It was remarked that it was not { necessary to put down "such lumps" of wood j aa had bean put down before. It was also aiid that the rails were wearing very badly, and they must have been of inferior quality, Mr W. Evans wrote drawing attention to tbe desirability of requesting the Railway Department to give extended facilities to shippers by extending the hours of working the wharf with trucks and cranes, to from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer months and busy season, instead of from S a.m. to 5 p.m. aa at present. The sea was usually calmest m the early morning, and the extra hours would enable a large amount of shipping and discharging to be done m time now wasted. The present overtime regulations of the Department wero quite one-sided and prohibitive. The Secretary stated that Is 6d per hoar extra was charged for the overtime of the wbarf hands. The landing service worked from six to six, and only 6d per hour extra was charged for overtime, which went to the men. There might be objections raised to extending tbe hours, aa at other ports they only worked from eight till five. The Chairman undertook to write to the General Manager on the subject. Inspector Broham wrote to state that tbe Police had failed to discover tbe owner of tbe dead horse found on the beach and buried by order of the Borough Council. The men who buried it were of opinion it had been washed up by the eea. THE TUG TITAN. A letter was read from Mr M. Kennedy, of Greymouth, offering to hire the tog Titan for a certain lime, placing at the Board's disposal m her place a good tug, such as the Soputai or Plucky ; or, having heard that the Board contemplated the purchase of a new tug, he would be prepared to buy the Titan, and take delivery on the arrival of the new boat. From a conversation which ensued, it appears that Mr Kennedy had visited Timaru and spoken to the Chairman about the Titan. Tbe peopte of Grey mouth -were anxious to . get her back there, as she bad proved herself thoroughly suited for the work of the river. With respect to a new tug for this port, it was stated that Captain Darling, constructor to the Union Company, would be out immediately, be being on board the Takapuna, and it was suggested that his opinion be taken aa to the best kind of buat to be got for Timaru. On the motion of Mr Gibson, it w.'.s resolved — " lhat the letter of Mr Kennedy be referred to the Standing Ce'mmittee, with power to act, the Committee to obtain all tbe information possible as to coat, etc., of a new tug." THB HABBOB IK3nBAHCB QUESTION. A number of communications that had passed between the Chairman and the Underwriters' Association at Christchurch were read. Tho Association telegraphed asking if the Harbor Master would be allowed to act at agent for the Association under tbe supervision of the Board. Tbe Chairman, en tbe rocommendation of tbe Standing Committee, replied that Captain Webster would be allowed to act, with the understanding that the Chairman could at any time see the correspondence between him and the Association. He also suggested that definite instructions be given to Captain Webster as to the distance for tendering large Teasels. Tbe Committee would make c cettain recommendation to the Board on thii subject (given below m the Committee's re port), and the Aseociation were asked if thii recommendation would meet their views. The Chairman of tbe Association replied that the Association had no wish to with hod from the Board any information wbicl their Surveyor might deem it ncoessary t( report. The Association could offer n< epioion aa to tbe suggestions m regard to th duties of the Harbor Master. Another letter from the Association atatei that advices had been received by the las mail from London that the owners of thi barque Lovebjerte were endeavoring to maki out thiit htr striking the bottom at Timan amounted to a stranding, so as to cl-iim ai average on tbe cargo, and if they succeedei the Underwriters would be liablo for losse and expends, the latter of which might b considerable. TU'he Chairman had replied to this that tbi Teib'el was examined by a diver, and a j-rope: iur?W held, and sbe was found to bayi ?ust«f«!d no damage at all. He looked upot

tho attempt to make out a stranding as a hcai. Iha Chairman of the Association wroto Bgain, enclosing cxtrcct from the Lovehjort's Inu r.'K»rding the accident, remarking : - "From that, and the other reports m your pos-e?sion, I can hardl.i regard the mutter m the light you put it" (»e ,as a hoax). The letter continues " I feel euro the interest of your Board and this Association are m a manner identical, m desiring to gunrd against accident or mi»hup. In so doing our great safeguard seems to be our endeavoring to discourage, or if possible, to prevent ves«ela drawing more than 16ft when fully laden from being considered suitable vosscls to load up inside your Breakwator." Tho Chairman and Mr Sutter both expressed the opinion that thq attempt on the part of the ownors of tho Lovehjerte to make out that the vessel stranded was merely a " try on." A vetiacl thab carried her cargo Home all right could have no claim of that kind ; it was merely an attempt to get tho V(B3el docked at other peoplo's expense. committre'b bepobt. The Standing Committee reported for the month as follows on matters referred to '■.That m the opinion of tho Committee, the Harbor Master from bis intimate knowledgsof bII cases corrected with shipping is the proper perion to bo agent for the Underwriters' Association, and tho Csmmitteo recommend the Board to sanction his appointment, to thai, office. " They further recommend the Board to instruct the Hnrbor Master to berth large vessels at the outer anchorage nt a distance from the shore of not less than H miles, tbe only exception being an allowance of 12 working hours to load up a ve?sel on her way to saa or outer anchorage ; the tv:» m such cases to be always m immediate attendance. " The Committee, after conferring with the Harbor Master, resolved to order four mooring buoys. They obtained prices from three colonial makers, but finding the lowest tender to be 47 £ per cent m excess of the total cost of tho buoys already obtiinol, including freight, commission, end all charges, they have sent tho order Homo. " Tho application of the Manager of the Landing Service for a 50-! on lighter has been considered, but the Committee have deferred reporting on the same. " With the view of working m unison with tho Borough Council m the matter of disposal of rubbish and filth, the Committee havo communicated with tha Council, and will report further at a future meeting. " The Committee have instructed the Engineer to prepare plans on a small scale of the harbor works, including shipping jetties, present and prospeotive, the plans to be forwarded with statistics of tbe business of the port to the Marine Department for insertion m their next annual report." Referring to tho proposal to vise a 50-ton lighter, Mr Wilson asked whether tho railway charges for wharfage would not have to come out of the Board's oharges for shipping and landing, and the earnings of the Board be thereby greatly reduced. Tho Chairman, m reply, said that a lighter loading and discharging at the wharf would show greater neb earnings than those worked from tbe ways. Mr Sutter said such a lighter would be too big ; she wou'd get badly knocked about alongside a vessel m a swell, or ehe would damage the vessel, fle believed two of the present surf-bonts would do as much work as the bigger lighter. Tha best course was to discourage shippers from Bending large vessels. Mr Wilson remarked that shippers were often obliged to take such ships as they could get, and Mr El worthy that a large lighter could work safely enough at vessels inside the Breakwater. LANDING BBBVIOE BBEOBT. The Manager of the Landing Sorvioe reported that during the month he bal landed and shipped a total of 4311 ton», the gross earnings for which had been £705, and the net £294. He mentioned that Mr O. W. Turner had been pleasod to express satisfaction at the despatch given to the Lurline. EUOINBEb'B BSfOHT. The Engineer's report for the month was road as follows:— " I hava the honor to report that during last month the contractors for the Breakwater have been engaged m effecting repairs, and making spare ooacroto blacks as per instructions ; all the repairs are not yet executed. " Breakwater contract No. s—Tbe5 — Tbe plane and specifications for this contract were prepared m due time, and the advertisements to intending contractors were issued, and tenders will be received m time for this meeting. For tbe purposes of this contract 40 tone of iteel rails will be required, for tho procuring of which I beg to request authority. " Wharf contract No. 7 — The contractors for tliis work have driven most of tho piles, and fair progress has been made. The tauri timber for this wort has not yet arrived. " Tbe Pricjtman dredge has been thoroughly repaired, and ia now doing very good work. " The contractor for cement has delivered the balance of his contract and about 104 tons is excess, which I accepted after being authorised. Tests are not yet completed ; what havo been made are favorable. " As instructed, I forwarded to tbe Chairman of the Napier Harbor Board a report on the Timaru Breakwater, with such plans as were necessary." In reply to a question, Mr Good all said it was probable the steel rails required could be cheaply got from the Government, and he was authorised to make inquiry. Bo had received no communication lately from Messrs Kincaid and McQueen regarding the second Breakwater orane. HABBOH IIASTBr'S BEPOBT. Captain Webster, Harbor Master, reported for the month as follows : — " I have tbe honor to report that during the last month the Harbor Department under my supervision has been satisfactorily conducted. During the month 21 vessels arrived and SO sailed, of an aggregate tonnage of 5919 tons. The barque Lurline, from London, is the only vessel I have considered it expedient to work m tho outer roadstead ; that was on account of extraordinarily low Bpring tides at the time of her arrival. The Priestman drodgo haß been employed at every available opportunity along the wharf, and has lifted a large quantity of silt. Tho bottom still remains very uneven at the contro of the wharf. The weather has bosn very good during tbe month, and nearly all the tuitabln voasels have worked at the wharf. I have made arrangements with Mr Qoodall, your Bngineer, to lay cS aa aoon as possible the exact positions of tho screw moorings and to ' \ take a series of borings to ascertain the nature of tba bottom, which I hope to report to you at next meeting. I have taken soundings 1 frequently during tha month, and computed • them for ordinary low water spring tides | I > also append a litt of Bounding) taken during the very low tides, whioh eeein to bave been • of an exceptional character. The rnooringa 9 have been well looked after, and an additional ■ large anchor sunk, with the aid of a charge of dynamite, to the north-west, for the f security of vessel* loading at tho outer > berth." . > A requisition for ooir hawsers was received ' from tho Harbor Master, and tho Chairman i stated he had telegraphed to Calcutta, through 1 MesfN Miles, Archer and Co., for two coils of 5 12in and 14in hawser. An attempt had been ? mado to get them m Melbourne, where bo'ter 1 rope was made, but ropes of tho right siza 8 were not available there. Referring to the table of soundings at tho 8 wbarf, Mr Acton said tho soDndinga appeored to bo getting worse from month to J month m spite of the dredge. It was replied • that the dredge had been laid up somo time h for repairs, and when she had a good stretch o of work at it she would make an appreciable 0 improvement. The soundings where vessels c lay at moorings had not altered an inch. ABOTIHO THE POBT. d The Chairman reminded the Board that a |l porograph had appeared m Mitchell's c Maritime Register, m which this port vrn o given a very bad character, and the parau graph had been extensively reproduced m the n colonial papers, where members must have d seen it. He thought it desirable that the >s Board should take some notice of it, and send c the editor of tbe Register a proper description of the work here and of what ia being done, c The Register bad got hold of an old story, r but it was published and being hawked c about as if it were Dew. d gome meinben wero m favor of doing

, nothing till the next annu>l roporr. of I'm Marine Department is issued, which wiil <Nir. > tiin o description of the port, when v copy i could bo sent Homo j but tlia majority wrre ■ m favor oF something being dunr- mime- • diatoly, and the Chairman mm authored to ■ write to the Register and point out that tie i facilities for shipping had been greatly vi- . creased arid despatch hastened sinco the disl asters of Maj, 1883, m eoneequonce of the ; room afforded by the extension of tho Break- ; water since that date ; mentioning the number ) and tonnogo of vessels that have been ) loaded and despatched to London during the i yojr, and the averago timo occupied m loaiiI ing them ; and pointing out that tho s ifcly of the port is increasing month by month as • the protective work* are extended. , ACCOUNTS. i Harbor works accounts to the amount of i £6446 16a lOd, and Landing Service or;- --, counts to tho umount of £395 6s Id, wero -, passed for payment. Tha net receipt a from i the Landing Service for September were £294 odd, and £226 was received from the Railway department for wharfage, making a total of £521 for September, which was considered a satisfactory return. Tbe meeting terminated at 12.40 p.m.