TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3251, 26 February 1885, Page 5

TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The adjourned annual tneeting of the above Board, was held on Feb. 5. MEMBERS PRESENT. Measrs W. Moody (Chairman) ,E. Elworthy, A. Hayes, J. S. Gibson, E. Acton, J. ft. Slitter, M. Jonas and Kelland. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. ANNTTAI BEPOBT. The Chairman stated the accounts had been duly audited and found correct. Mr . W. IJ. Torment, proceeded to read the annual report as follow, the balance-sheet also being laid on the table. Annual Ebpobt of the Timaku Habbor Board, vor the Ybar 1884. To the Members of the Board,— Gentlemen, I have the honor to report that the shipping business of the port for the year 1884 has been of a much more satisfactory nature than could have been expected from sraoh a harvest as was experienced m the district. The curI tailment of acreage consequent on reduced prices m preceding years has also told on the production of wheat to a very serious extent. These cause* have resulted m a difference of 112,000 sacks, or 12000 tons, less than m the year 1883. Fortunately an increase m other articles of production has counterbalanced this shortcoming:, so that our total trade comparea favorably with 1883, being only 1200 tons short of the figures reached m that year. Consequent on the decrease of wheat export we find that the number of vessels despatched to the United Kingdom is only 7, as against 19 m the preoading 1 year. A change has occurred m the coastal trade, which shows ft deoline m small trading vessels, these having been displaced by steamers calling regularly. A reference to the tables will Bhow that the local production of flour and other products has been the inducement for steamers ,to avail themselves of the improved shipping facilities which have been the result ' of last year's operations at the breakwater and wharf. I would draw pijrtionlar attention to this new feature m the Timaru trade, and hope that succeeding statistics will show that the settlers appreciate the openings made m intercolonial ports for their . produoe, a privilege hitherto denied them from the imperfect and expensive shipping arrangements, now happily, become a thing of the past. I regret that the port still remains handicapped with the tax paid for extra insurance ; the premiums boing baaed on a risk no longer existing, and whioh ought now to be the same as for other safe harbora m the colony. The revenn* of the 8n ?!J 8 - M m the past, from the comEffi£°!J S • he $*«W-ti» special rates now thJ ™ de «!P>ed to draw the bulk of the merchandise, imports and grain exports from and to the Port of Lyttelton Government has been asked to reduce the present exorbitant charges for handling coal and timber when loaded for country stations on trucks at the wharf, la and Is 3d per ton respectively 'being so oharged for work almost entirely done by the wharf oraae*, for whioh the usual 6d per ton is obarged m addition This has been promised to be remedied or

equalised by a revision of the tariff, which is to place the handling and hauling rates at all ports on the same basis. During 1884 the Board has reduced the ordinary expenditure considerably without affecting the efficiency of the general shipping arrangements. The Landing Servioe waa re-organised on 9th October i and placed under the Harbormaster, bnt a little more time must elapse before the savings made will show an increase of the revenue and the full benefit of the saving realised. Harbor Department — The sorew moorings ordered during 1883 have been laid m the positions decided upon, and the mooring area for large vessels extended accordingly. The available berthage at the wharf on the completion of the present oontraot, whioh should be open for traffic by the month of March, will bo 880 feet. It is gratifying to note that the curve of the breakwater extension now affords additional . shelter to vessels inside, and has materially reduced the range at the wharf, thereby saving a great deal of the wear on the mooring hawsers. The steam-tag Titan has received her usual periodical ovorhaul m Dunedin, and, m addition, has had some repairs effected. She is now m firstclass working order, and has done all the work required of her very satisfactorily. Although there has been an increase m the total number of vessels arriving during 1884 as oompared with 1883, there have only entered 91 sailing vessels, as against 110 m 1883 ; the balance being made np of steamers. The Titan has towed 58 out of the 91 vessels. Her earnings for 1884 are 25 per oent less than for 1883. It is doubtful whether the revenue from the tug will not farther decrease aa steam supersedes sail, but until the present transitional state of shipping is decided, it will be premature to say thai; the expense of keeping a towing service can " be done away with altogether. It wonld certainly be a great relief to the finances of the Board if the maintenance of the towing service and the landing arrangements could be dispensed with — a possibility whioh may be realised sooner than could be expected if the Board's shipping facilities could be made to suit the large steamers which seem destined to dp the trading business of this oolony with Great Britain. The Harbormaster reports that the shipping at this port during tb.6 year has been f ree from acoidont of any consequence, and that as the works are extended the risk of casualties will bo continnally'lessened. Of the 285 vessels, whioh have cleared, 7 have sailed for the United Kingdom, 24 for intercolonial ports, and 254 coastwise, the aggregate registered tonnage being 63,435. ).' j Dredging and Reclamation — The new sand j grab ordered from Priestman Brothers, for use m connection with their dredge, has been found to answer well, and'dredging operations i have ' been continued .as opportunity has allowed. ' This work is now carried on during the night 'time, to obviate any interference with the ordinary wharf traffic A deep-water channel has been maintained alongside the wharf, the silt, when lifted, being dropped into trucks and deposited close inshore behind the reclamation wnarf . ■ . , Breakwater and Wharves— Fair progress has been made with breakwater contract Ho. 5, whioh embraces the curve, and 230 out of the 500 feet have been added to the mole. The work has been steadily, parried on so far and without accidant causing serious delay. Sufficient cement haa been ordered, to complete: the contract, the successful tenderers being' the Dunedin Iron -and; Wood #are ComSany for ' 20QO tons, delivery to be: made by [arch, J885 ; . and C. W, Turner; for: 2000 tons, delivery to be made by July, 1885., These deliveries have been 'spread Over aa long a period as possible, and have .been ao arranged as to obviate aa much as can be tlio necessity of placing the cement m other than the Board's own stores; The crane Samson, contractedfor m August, 1883, has been' delivered, and has been m use for some months, laying blocks, .thus taking the place of the crane Horoules, whioh has been relegated to the block-making ground. This ground has been found to be of great advantage, the space being ample to allow the blocks to mpttire snfficiehflybofo'rebeingased.as well as allowing : a variety of blocks to be. kept' m stock. An i unexpected, and very satisfactory feature m the construction of the breakwater has recently come to light, — so far as examinations have been made by the diver, the line of extension 1 of the present conorete work seems to be of a different nature from that we have hitherto passed through. The clay bottom, which has been the resting place of the solid structure, instead of being covered '<vith a coating of sand and shingle, 3 feet thick, at present shows very little or any covering. Borings have proved the existence of a bank of 20-feet clay, and/ if the line of breakwater continues on this stratum, a considerable saving m time and money may be expected m future operations. The first consignment of piles and square timber required for wharf contract No. ■6 was not delivered by the contractor until April, a start being made with the work of pile driving during June. It is expected that this wharf will be ready for use m time for the coming grain, season. The Board has doyotod a great deal of consideration to the question of the direction of future wharves, aha eyidenoe has been taken' as to convenience for traffio and shipping, haying m view also the laying out of the harbor to the best advantage. It was finally resolved to proceed at once with a wharf parallel to the breakwater and distant 550 foot to the north. In accordance with existing law, they have applied for, and obtained, the sanction of His Excellency the Governor to the plans. This wharf is intended to meet a long-felt want of town residents, and will be provided with cart approaches as well as connections to the main lino of railway.. Loan — The proceeds of loan (floated on favorable terms, as referred to m last year's report) were credited to the Board's account on 12th March. The balanco available for investment was placed fortunately at 6 per cent on fixed deposit, thus giving the Board a profit of 1 percent over the rate paid. . The engagements proposed to be made for the new wharf take tip tha available balance, which, if contracts for wharf and breakwater are kept to time, will exhaust the present loan within the year 1885. As to future operations, this must become the subject of the next Board's deliberations at a very early stage of its history, and this Board does not feel called on to express any opinion upon snob matters. In reviewing the proceedings of the last two years, it is a matter for congratulation that no mishap to life or property has happened, and that the investment of the funds entrusted to its care has been satisfactorily and profitably carried out. (Signed) WttMAM Moodt, Chairman. Harbor Board office, Timaru, 21st January, 1885. I The following, amongst other returns, were appended to the report : —

RETURN OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS (Coastwise and Foreign), FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1884.

On tho motion, of Mr ElwortUy, seconded by Mr A, Hayes, the report as printed was adopted, and accounts and . statements as audited -were approved of. OBDINABY JTEBTINO. The' Board then .he. ld its ordinary meeting. . ."!. CHAIBMAji'S BTATBMBNT. The. Chairman stated that aftjer talcing legal advice he had arranged for a risk of £1000 on goods m transit. "The fixed insurance Was £2000, and the net rate on cement 15s* which was a very low one. The' revenue for tho month had been £284 Os 5d from the wharf, £137 from' tho Landing' Service, arid £239 5s from port charges. ;The.- plans for the new; jetty had received tha sanction of His Excellency the Governor within a weefc after they had been forwarded. ■ A telegram had been feceived stating' that', Mr Edward Elworthy would be gazetted a member of the Board'uvdue course to represent Pareora. A; contract 'had been drawn up*, with Mr O. Palliser for the new jetty, but he declined to sign it for the specified' time, as it depended on the delivery of the piles. Ho . had consequontly had the specifications duly altered, m fairness to the contractor, He. also apologised for M^Talbot's absence. -;; . . ..:■.,. In regard to the Harbor. Board's accounts, the Chairman m Wplj* to a question, said i they were open for inspection at the Harbor Board's office. ■ : ... CORRESPONDENCE. ' <;! . ■ The following correspondence was read and. considered :— ... ■ ''< ■ ':■,'.'.•• ;\. From Glass Bros., re Manilla hemp, and enclosingpricesfor.it. . >■ ■ '•!•• From Mr. Hargreavos, of Lyttolton, seating" that by an error which had occurred m a telegram! from . Sydney, he had chartered a vessel for one port only, and that she was too large : to proceed to other ports for hewn tisaber. He asked to be< allowed to supply pawn timber instead.

The Engineer said he had no objection, and if any duty was to be paid, it would be charged to the contractor. Mr Hayes thought the Board should be very careful m matters of this sort. Sawn timber was not of the sarao strength as hewn, especially for beams. The Engineer said if it was required for bearing beams he would not be inclined to use it, but it was for tying only. Mr Jonas objected to any alterations m the specifications as a matter of principle. It would, further, be a very bad precedent. Mr Gibson Baid Bawn Umber was not equal m strength to hewn. There was also always a danger m altering timber, after the contract had once been entered into. It was resolved to make the contractor adhere to his contract. From tho Marine Department, stating tho Governor had approved of the plans for a wharf, north of the Breakwater. . From Mr F. Scoringe, offering to wort the Landing Service on certain terms. The offer was declined. enginbeb's bkpobt. The Engineer's report for the month was read, as follows : — " I have the honor to report on the progress of the" harbor works during the last month as follows : — " Breakwater contract No. 5 — A few feet have been' added to the foundation blocks. The temporary roadway has been removed, and the blocks composing it have been thrown pell mell on the south side, and 36 feet of monolith has been added to the finished work which makes 231 feet of the curve. " Wharf contract No. 6 — This work is now drawing to a close, only two fender piles remains to be driven, and the rest of the work is m a forward state. " Dredging — This work for extra convenience is now being carried on at night. This alteration was found necessary, as continuous work coidd not be maintained by day without interfering with the traffic. "Waterman's steps— The water at these steps having Bhoaled greatly by the accumulation of the dredgings, the steps are now being removed to a better site at the end of the T wharf. " Northern wharf — The plans for this work have been approved by His Excellency the Governor, and the contractor for it is now arranging to commence operations at an early date. " (Signed) John Goodaxi,." HAEBOB MASTER'S BBPOBT. The Harbor Master's report was read as follows : — " I have the honor to report the arrival of 26 vessels, of the aggregate registered tonnage of 6093 tons, nnd the departure of 28 vessels, of the. aggregate registered tonnage of 7264 tons during the month of January, 1885. During the month the weather has been favorable for the despatch of shipping, and, i with the exception of the ship Rakaia, the t whole of the above vessels have been worked, more or less, at the wharf. ' ' " On, account of the water becoming too shallow at the watermen's steps through depositing the silt from the dredger, it is now , being shifted to deeper water. ' ■ : " The Landing Service has been worked during part of the month, , when necessary, the gross receiptßbeing £2<jl 13s Bd, exclusive o^gtatfjlfiMij&giient the Landing S<M^fl|HpHr£B^tHe~'' net' "receipts being 'JSH^^Three wooden boats are now laid by, there being sufficient without them. I beg to suggest that these three boats be sold, if a suitable offer is received for them. " Soundings have been taken during the month, with result ns per book ; the Priestman dredge has been employed m maintaining a, deep-water channel alongside the wharf. "I beg to acknowledge the receipt of 11 coils of coir rope, as ordered from Calcutta, which I hope will b» ■ a sufficient supply for the ensuing year, or longer." It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Gibson, that it be left to the Chairman, Captain Sutter and the Harbor Master, to arrange for disposing of the boats, to report at next meeting. : HABBOB CHARGES. Mr Sutter referred 1 to the Chairman's annual report m regard to steamers taking the place of sailing vessels, and pointed out that under the Act it would make a wonderful difference, and might tend to cripple the finances of the Board. Tho charges applied to all ports of the colony, and he thought the attention of the Government should be called to it. The Secretary pointed out that steamers m the end really paid more than sailing vessels, as they came oftener, and frequently brought less cargo. Mr Sutter said the Lyttelton and Dunedin people were also complaining about the charges. Mr Hayes said the Oamaru Board had taken a line of their own m the matter. After some discourse it was decided to leave the matter for the new Board to deal with. t MISCELLANEOUS. On the suggestion of the Chairman, it was agreed that the next meeting' be held on the 12th March, and Mr Moody was authorised to look after matters affecting the Board m the meantime. THK BETIBING CHAIBMAN. Mr Hayes said the Board could not close the meeting without referring to the services of Mr Moody as Chairman. He was quite sure they would all agree ho had carried out his duties m a thoroughly efficient and conscientious manner. He would move — " That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Chairman, Mr W. Moody, for the able and efficient manner m which he has performed the duties devolving upon him m virtue of his position as Chairman of the Board, and that as a slight recognition of his services the wharf about being constructed north of the Breakwater be hereafter callod and known as the ' Moody Wharf.'" Mr Elworthy expressed the great pleasure he felt m seconding the motion, and added his testimony to the able manner m which Mr Moody had filled the post of Chairman. The naming of the wharf was a very small recognition indeed of his services, and it must be taken as a small compliment. Mr Moody asked the Board to excise the latter part of the resolution, as he hoped the riame of the wharf would be left out, but this suggestion was received with unmistakable marks of disapproval, and the resolution . was put and carried with applause. Mr Moody said he had always done his best for the Board and the port, and what services he had rendered were given with every pleasure. ACCOUNTS. After accounts on Breakwater account for £3548 12s 4d and Landing Service £123 lls had been passed for payment, the meeting terminated.

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