TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3477, 23 January 1901, Page 3

TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board was held yesterday, Present: Messrs W.Evans (chairman), J. Fraser, T. D. Young, C. N. Macintosh, D. C. Turnbull, A. C. Pringle, A. E. Goodwin, R. Skinner, R. Thew, G. Lyall, and J. Manchester. Mr Turnbull was appointed a member of the Standing Committee. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The chairman stated that the receipts since last meeting had been, wharfage (eight weeks) £1463 16s 4d, ships' dues £252 4s 9d,- debentures sold £I9OO (total so far sold £29,000), sundry receipts £549 19s ; 3d. The accounts for the year 1900 had been made up. The total of ordinary revenue was £22,859 (beginning with acredit of £4B), apart from the rate, £6OOO. During the year £3320 had been placed to reserve funds, and a considerable amount of money had been spent on improvements, out of ordinary revenue, and the year closed with a credit of £458 in that account. The removal of the T jetty, the new store and shed, levelling and claying of the reclamation (£428), half cost of sewer extension (£248), making Hayes street siding (£1417, less £666 recovered from tenants), fitting up the Welhnan pump, had been paid for out of ordinary revenue. Artd the loan account was in credit £13,950 at the end of the year. The chief Marine Engineer for the colony, Mr Hales, had spent a day in Timaru examining the proposed site for a coastal light, the light on the present site being badly placed. The Board during his 1 absence resolved to construct a rangebreaker, but when.be came to look at it he thought it • better to stop further expense until this meeting, for if the contract went on as they hoped it would, when the work was 200 ft out the rangebreaker would not be required. As far as he could understand, the engineer thought the range-breaker would be of very little use. Very little expense had been incurred in the matter yet. Mr Manchester asked some questions regarding the proportion of expenditure in comparison with the receipts apart from the harbour rate. Mr Skinner asked 'whether the Board could not invest its reserved funds m its new loan debentures.—This was considered a good idea, as the interest on deposits is only 3 and 3£ per cent., and on the debentures 4 per cent. CORRESPONDENCE. The Mayor of Timaru invited the Chairman of the Board to attend a meeting to consider the steps to be taken to entertain the Imperial troops; and the members of the Board to attend Divine service on Mayoral Sunday. The chairman promised, if possible, to attend the Mayoral, service, and it was left to members! to attend the Imperial troops meeting if possible. The Sailors' Rest Committee sent a copy of their annual report and balance-sheet. Messrs Friedlander wrote in reply to an inquiry whether it would facilitate the chartering of ships if Timaru were made a port of registry, that they could not say, but they frequently found owners stipulating that Timaru and Oamaru should be excluded as optional loading ports, or asking an extra rate of freight if these ports were given. A letter from their Liverpool chartering agents states:— "A great many owners object to loading at Oamaru or Timaru because of the extra insurance required for these ports, besides both having a bad name for being expensive."

Tozer and Co., London', advised the shipment of a packet of life-saving rockets (from the Government stores, Woolwich), per s.s. Pakeha. ■" The Land Valuation Department sent an account for £2O 12s 6d for revising the rate roll of the harbour district.

The secretary said that the Board had not asked the Department to do anything, and had not received any information from the Department.—The chairman said the claim had not been paid, and another member said "Don't pay it." The Dunedin Harbour Board wrote that the £l2 6s 2d, pilot and port fees on the Timaru, would be refunded. The N.M. and A. Co. wrote on the 19h.h inst. asking the Board to "protect" for them "in the same manner as previous lots," a quantity of piles and squared timbers landed ex Wanaka.

Letters -were read from the masters of the barque Criffel, schooners Enterprise and Moana, complaining of the inefficiency of the light on the lighthouse as a coas; light, also from Captain Bone, Marine Superintendent for the N.Z. Shipping Company, stating that several of the Company's commanders had complained of the light Captain Bone recommended an intermit ent light on Patiti Point. A letter from the District Engineer i office, dated 18th December, again declined to assist the Board in making a new road on the beach, and denying that the Board or the public had any claim to a road en the railway property. The letter cou eluded : "The Department will construct a road on its own land to give public access via Strathallan street to'the rai'm-y goods shed, sidings, and premises." The Harbourmaster reported t'i? aiiival of 16 steamers and 3 sailing vessels, aggregating 18,891 tons, during December. The weather during the month had been fine. A quantity of cardage for the wharves and dredges was requisitioned.—Cordage to be oi'dered. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones wrote re i:er street to railway sidings, and re question of working the sidings to the new stores. "It appears that the only thing requiring to be done is to notify the Railwey T>epartment that you wish the svUh- ivc.kwl in the names of vour tenants, Me.-srr, Mill and Co., and the National Mortgage." A quantity of correspondence was read regarding the dispute between the General Manager N.Z. Railways and the Board, re shunting to the new stores. The Board claim that the Department promised them siding accommodation to the Board's sites, severally, reDt free. The Department say that the promise of a rent-free siding was for one siding only, for the

Board, and they had acted upon this promise delivering and receiving trucks on the Board's siding, and leaving the individual tenants to work the trucks on their own sidings. Latterly, the secretary stated, the trucks were only shunted to the upper end of the line, and Mr Burnett said this was the usual practice, with sidings elsewhere. The argument of the Department was that if they admitted the Board's claim they might be committed to shunting a system' of sidings on the Board's land for nothing. It was resolved that the whole of the correspondenca on the subject of private sidings be sent to the Minister of Railways, with a view to having the matter settled to the satisfaction of the Board. The Railway Stores. Department wrote that they would take over some spare rail fastenings, but it was not likely that a refund of Customs duty paid on them could be obtained.

[ The Locomotive Engineer, Addington, wrote that the correspondence regarding tip-waggon brakes had been sent to the Superintendent," Wellington. Mr Beattie, the Superintendent, wired that after careful consideration, he found that the ordinary railway brake gear could not be applied to the tip-waggons, but the brakes supplied ought to answer. It was a more powerful brake than, the ordinary one. He had authorised the engineer at Addington) to meet the Board on the subject. In reply to a question the secretary said the Board had not yet taken over the trucks, and had not completed paying for them. Mr Dobson said that if they sent a truck to ChristchurcChe would design a brake and get it made in Christchurch, and the brakes for the others could be made and sent down to be fitted. The. Bailway Workshops contracted in November, 1899, to supply the trucks in four months, and they did not come down till November last year. -Mr Pringle remarked that if the contractors got their engine down they could do nothing, as the trucks were not ready for them.—The chairman said the Board was not required.by the contract to provide complete trucks. The Engineer Westport Harbour Works wrote describing the method of working similar trucks at Westport. A great deal depended upon skilful loading amd tipping,and he suggested that he should send over an experienced loader and tipper. STATISTICAL.

The secretary submitted the annual return of the trade of the port, for the year ending December 31st, with comparisons withj previous years. The imports are given under three heads as follows: General merchandise, 13,727 tons; timber, 2,576,590 super, feet; coal, 26,076 tons. The imports of merchandise were about 700 tons less than in 1899, but in. excess of any previous year. The timber import was also less than in 1899, by about half a million feet, but was also greater than in any year except 1882, when 3,230,000 feet were'imported. The coal received was 3000 tons less than in 1899, when 29,160 tons were landed. The highest earlier total was 24,379 tons in 1896.

The exports were totalled as follows : : General merchandise, 802 tons ; wool 23,914 bales (less than in any year since 1889—over 34,000 bales were shipped in 1895); skins, 24 bales; hides, 1592; wheat, 346,839 sacks (a record—the highest previous total was 311,873 sacks in 1889); oats, 339,962 sacks (also a record—the year before 125,311 sacks were shipped) ; barley/ 12,042 sacks (a large increase); flour, 124029 sacks; oatmeal, 3093 sacks; bran and sharps, 51,950 sacks (mill stuffs all show a decrease compared with 1899); potatoes, 31,313 sacks (previous year, 35,757); tallow, 1408 tons; preserved meats, 1090 cases; grass seeds, 885 sacks; chaff, 466 sacks; beans and peas, 216 sacks; stone, 63 tons; frozen mutton, 377,146 carcases (previous year 397,679 carcases); pelts, 206 tons; hay and straw, 27 tons; flax, 963 bales (previous year 1531). Total tonnage, imports and exports, 140,259 tons. This is nearly 9000 tons above 1899, and more than 50,000 tons al>ove 1898. STANDING COMMITTEE.

Mr Dobson submitted a report on the lighting of the wharves, recommending the adoption of Sugg's high-pressure system, and an installation of an apparatus for thirty 1000-car.dle power burners, five of which would probably be sufficient for present requirements. The cost of the plant would be, in England, about £122. The lamps should be fixed on 20ft iron towers, which would cost £8 to £lO each. New and larger gas pipes must be laid for the new service.

•The Standing Committee reported that they had accepted a tender, at £l3, for printing the annual report. That the engineer's report on the lighting of the wharves should be adopted, that the necessary plant be ordered from Home, and the necessary local works be put in hand as soon as possible. The) Committee had informed the Levels County Council that the Board would bear the cost of levelling the roadside at Mr Archer's, and widening embankment near Mr Howell's, on Upper Otipua road, rendered necessary by the construction of the tramline; the work to be done by the Council. They recommended that the whole of the correspondence in connection with the brakes on quarry waggons be laid before the Minister of Railways, and that he be asked to settle the matter at once, as the delay is causing the Board great inconvenience and loss.—The report was adopted. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr A. Dudley Dobson, acting Resident Engineer, reported under date January 20th, on the various repairs effected to the dredge Timaru when in dock. The Wellman pump was opened up and showed very little sign of wear, except on some of the lining plates on the starboard side of the intake. The discharge pipe had had new sides and bottom put to, the old ones being nearly worn through. The bottom side of the suction pipe also was much worn, and the attachments were shifted and the pipe reversed. A spare universal joint for the suction pipe should be ordered from the makers. Both dredges had been at work deepening the middle of the harbour, an dduring the month ha dtaken out 25,965 tons. The new store and the lifeboat shed were nearly completed. The pile driving at the end of the north mole was finished. Various repairs to the wharves had been effected.

Spare parts for the dredge) pump to be ordered. EASTERN MOLE CONTRACT TERMINATED.

Messrs Black and Stumbles, contractors for the rubble mole, wrote acknowledging receipt of the Board's leter of the Bth January, and stating that they desired to remove an impression that had got abroad regarding some timber. The timber to which reference had been made was not wanted at present. They had always had been able to place on the works all timber that had arrived and was wanted for work in progress. To get early delivery of the timber which was required in the contract had been their aim, and every stick had been paid for that could be used. They enclosed a letter as evidence that they had sound financial backing for their engagements. The last package of the crane, ex Waiwera, arrived on the 15th hist. .No " fitter's plan" had been furnished to them,- and Mr Parr was fitting the crane under this disability. The s.s. Wanaka had landed timber to complete the cemetery bridge, and piles for the permanent sea staging. With regard to the opening out of the quarry they begged to offer themselves for examination, as to what took place between themselves and the resident engineer. The letter enclosed by the contractors, from the manager, Bank of New Zealand, I was dated January 21st, and stated in general terms that Messrs Black and Stumbles had arranged with two well known and substantial local men for credit to meet their estimated requirements in connection with the contract.

The acting resident engineer reported under date 21st inst., on the position of the works at present. He had carefully examined the whole of the works, and regretted to state that he found very little substantial progress since his report of December 14th. On the tramline the rails had been better lined and levelled, but the state of the under ballast was much the same. He gave eleven examples, five with no ballast under the sleepers, one with two with 2, one with 3, and two with, 4 inches (instead of 6 inches). The road crossings were not of proper length, nor laid with proper timbei", and the contractors had failed to carry out instructions to remedy the defects. The cpntractors had placed very little more material on the ground, only 12 tons of ironwork, and no

I further plant or rolling stock had been provided. A third of the contract time had expired, and if delivery of stone began at [ once, a delivery of 500 tons a day would i be necessary to complete the work in the j contract time. As a guide to the amount [ of plant required, the Westport Board employed 40 or 50 trucks to deliver 300 tons a day, besides about 10 per cent, under repairs. On one contract, somewhat similar to this, he had seen three 30-ton cranes and several smaller ones, and on another the contractor broke down because he had only three 20-ton cranes. To successfully carry out this contract there should be provided without delay £7OOO worth of plant—Four 10-ton cranes, 30 more stone trucks, one loBomotive, one mile at least of rails and sleepers for quarry line, piles and timber for viaduct. No attempt had been made to put together the second hand crane which had been lying in the yard for months. Had they put this together they would have been in a position to send down small stone for the rubble approach to the viaduct, but they had blocked their line with big stone, and could do nothing till the big crane was ready. A beginning had been made on the beach by driving piles as a temporary staging, but here the contractors 1 again showed disregard of the contract conditions, as the approach had been made with shingle when it was specified to be made of rubble, and he had had to notify them that the shingle must be removed. The report proceeds : " In addition to the failure of the contractors to make reasonable progress I regret to have to call your attention to the* following wilful breaches of the contract.

" (1) Failure after repeated notice a flagman on the Fairview road crossing. The Board has been obliged to put on a man itself at the contractors cost. •

" (2) Failure to make good the road crossing into the Otipua road after repeatedly having been ordered to do so by the resident engineer, and in spite, of the certificate being withheld in consequence of their ignoring his instructions.

" (3) Failing to forward to the Board plans of the lands they required for quarriea before breaking the soil. " Irrespective of any other cause, any one of these wilful breaches of the contract entitle the Board to terminate the contract if it elects to do so.

" Taking the whole progress during the eight months which have elapsed since th» date of the contract, I can only describe thework done as mere pottering. The attitude of the contractors was as though they wer« entitled to execute the work with an utter disregard to the conditions of the contract and the instructions of the Board's responsible officers.

"In conclusion, I desire it to be put on record that in view of the trifling progress made to date, the perfunctory manner in which the work has been done, the absence of any adequate provision of plant and materials to carry on the work at a reasonable rate; and in view of tie breaches of the contract which have already been committed, I strongly advise the Board to terminate the contract at once, and not to allow the work to remain a day longer than necessary in the hands of contractors who have utterly failed to appreciate the magnitude of the work they have undertaken, and who have proved so obstructive and recalcitrant in matters so easy to be complied with, and which involved no serious outlay." Mr. Thew said the report would lead people to think that nothing-had been done. He went up : to the quarry that morning for the purpose of criticising the work, and was more than agreeably surprised at_the. amount of work done. Members of the Board should go and see for themselves before deciding anything. As for the ballasting of the line he thought it compared, favourably with any Government line in that respect. The ballasting was specially mentioned by the engineer, so he looked specially for it, and he would like to see him point out the defects. It would open members' eyes if they went up to the quarry. At the quarry everything was ready for bringing down stone, if the trucks were ready. Mr Turnbull thought it would be a pity to act hurriedly, and terminate the contract before the Board saw what had been done. If they did so, how were they going to carry on? It would take some tim« to get plant, and he feared they would b« landed in a lot of litigation. The Board should. certainly go and see for themselves.

The chairman said their engineer was a thoroughly capable man, and they were supposed to be guided by their engineer. He suggested that if they had any doubt they had better have Mr Dobson in. For his own part he did not profess to be a specialist, or to know anything about it —perhaps Mr Thew does. The report was very straight, and at the last meeting a resolution was passed that if the work was not carried on with more expedition they must cancel the contract. They must be guided by the engineer, and if the Board had not confidence in him, it should say so. Mr Thew said the report was plain enough, but they should go and see the work and take the engineer with them.

Mr Fraser said what the engineer referred to most was want of ballast under the sleepers, and they could not see that. Mr Manchester saw no use in calling the engineer. He would only repeat what he had written. As for going to see the work, he would not spend five minutes in doing so. The Board knew nothing about it—he did not pretend to know. The engineer's reports must be accepted as correct, or they should dispense with him. His report that day was of a piece with his former one. There had been nothing but failure all along the line. They had put off taking action time after time, and got more and more unfavourable reports. What would be the good of going to look at it? They would come back with differing opinions, and he would accept no responsibility on his own judgment.

Mr Dobson was then sent for, the letter of the contractors was read to him, and he was asked if it altered his opinion at all. He said it did not. He then made a number of explanations. Nearly three months ago they were told to make the road crossings right; they were too short and put down in wrong timber, and from their shortness it was possible that expensive accidents might occur. They told him. the ballasting was finished, and he quoted from his note-book specimens of examinations where there was little and often no ballast beneath the sleepers. The sleepers were down on the solid formation for 10 chains at a time. About 60 per cent, of the rubble would be small, to ba handled by a small crane, but nothing had been done to get small cranes, or to put together the one the Board was to supply. They had made an approach to the staging in shingle when it was required to be in rubble, and he had given them nr tice to take the shingle away. As the Board's engineer, he had no confidence in their carrying out the work at all.

Mr Turnbull: But if the Board took it, could they get to work "any sroner?

Mr Dobson said the Board h;.d .s&rne plant—a Priestman crane that can be altered, and a mile of rails coming, they would have no difficulty about funds, and any trucks or other plant they cdcr tley can get as fast as anyone else. Mr Thew suggested that the numbers should go up and let- the engineer point out. the defects in the work. It would be a very serious thing to terminate the contract, and on behalf of the ratepayers in his district he would not take the responsibility of doing it if it could be avoided.

The chairman said he only wanted to see the contract carried out, and the engineer told them it could not be done unless they got down 500 tons of stone a day, and the Board could' not do it in the time now. How long would it take to get the plant?—(Mr Dobson: About three months to get all the cranes and trucks required.)— There was no sentiment in the matter. He would do a great deal for these men if he could, but as the Board represented the public they must be guided by their engineer. Mr Young said that personally he would like to see these men going ahead in a satisfactory manner, but he was not there in a private capacity, and representing the ratepayers and their interests, he must be guided by their professional adviser, and he had given such a straight report that he could not think of voting against it. He was very sorry for the position, and if there was any way out of it he would be glad, but he saw nothing for it but to vote in support of the report. Mr Fraser said that in the interests of

his constituents it was his duty to concur %ith the chairman and Mr Young. He spoke of the importance of the port, and proceeding with its improvement. Mr Goodwin said the report was a verystraight one. The contractors seemed to have evaded every condition of the contract. He saw no use in going to the quarry, and as far as his district was concerned the people would be satisfied to see the contract determined. Mr Pringle did not like to see contracts terminated. It was always an expensive

Job. They knew it had been l aid to get plant—the Board had had a long job in getting trucks. They were ordered 16 months ago, and they had been fiphting three months about brakes, and were not a bit further forward. The contractors, were nearly ready to bring stone down, and he believed they would bring it down when they did start quicker than the Lt ard could.

Mr Lyall understood that the difficulty had been finance, and they were now assured that that was arranged. It would be well for them to go up to the quarry, if only to be able to say that tley did see the work for themselves.

Mr Thew urged the Board :o go up to the quarry. Mr Macintosh said he had been against the contract in the first instance, pjcierring day-labour, but having made % ccr.tract he would be very chary of breaking it. It would be sure to result in litigation. With regard to the timber in the hands of the National Mortgage, he understood that all the timber they were to vse they were able to pay for, und th.;t the tJmber now held was not wanted yet. The timber for the Cemetery road bridge, among the first ordered, was only now coming to hand. Finance in the past hu,d been the difficulty, but now the contractors had secured good backers. He would like to see the Board go along carefully. Mr Skinner agreed with a good deal that Mr Macintosh had said. He thought they should go and see the quarry for themselves. Mr Manchester said the Board had nothing to do with the contractors' finance, but with the progress of the work. The chairman was surprised, after the resolution of last meeting, at the way things were going. They had a letter stating that the men had some backing, but it did not say how much, and they knew that the timber on the ground belonged to the National Mortgage. He was anxious to see these men carry out the contract, but he was also anxious to do his duty to his constituents. He saw no use in going to the quarry, but if a majority wished to do so he would not object. The next winter would soon be here with its storms, and if they did not get some stone down to protect the outer arm the breakwater might be smashed up. They would be repairing it now if they had not expected to get stone down soon. But there was not the slightest sign of stone coining down. A few piles had been driven, but there was no sign of progress at all, as far as he could see. The engineer also told them that shingle had been put where there should be stone, and that they do not attempt to carry out the instructions he gives them.—To Mr Dobson: Do you think they have opened j out the quarry in a husinesslike manner?

Mr Dobson said he did not consider that they had opened it out at all. It was opened as if they were going to get but a bit of road metal. They should have at least-20 chains of sidings -in the quarry and a crowd of small cranes. The contractors had evaded every two-penny-halfpenny thing, and acted as if the engineer's opinion was nothing, and that their opinion ought to rule. Mr Pringle said the Railway Inspecting Engineer had passed the line as fit for the railway trucks to run on to carry the crane up to the quarry.

Mr Dobson said it would be better if properly ballasted, and 50 men could do it in a week. Messrs Thew and Skinner moved that the Board adjourn for half an hour to allow the.members to go up to the quarry. Mr Dobson, Jn reply to a question, said they could not see the state of the ballasting unless the ground was opened up. They would want a day for it. But even if the line was right that would hot alter his opinion. When put the motion was lost, only mover and seconder and Messrs Pringle and Lyall voting for it. \; It was then proposed by Mr Fraser, and seconded by Mr Young :" That the contractors for the eastern extension rubble mole contract, having in the opinion of the engineers to| this Board up to and on the 29th day of November last failed to make such progress with the works as the engiueer deemed sufficient to ensure their completion within the specified time, and having failed and neglected to rectify the said cause of complaint since the 29th day of November last, when they were thereunto required in writing by the engineer, and having also in the judgment of the engineer committed wilful breaches of the said contract, this Board resolves that the said contract be absolutely determined by an instrument in writing under the hand of the chairman delivered to the contractors or their representatives on the-.works, or left at the contractors' usual or last known place of abode or business."—This was carried by six to five—for, the mover and seconder, Messrs Manchester, Goodwin, Skinner and the chairman,; against, Messrs Pringle, Macintosh, Lyall, Thew, and Turnbull.

The Board then adjourned for lunch, and to enable a notice to be served on the contractors in accordance with the foregoing resolution. On resuming at 2.3 the following motion was.moved by Messrs Fraser and Young : "That the eastern extension rubble mole contract having been absolutely determined, this Board resolves that the moneys which have been already paid to the contractors shall be deemed to be the full value of Hhe work executed, and shall be taken and accepted by the contractors in full payment and satisfaction •of all claims and demands under the contract, and that the deposit and percentage and retention money and also all materials, implements, and plant being, in or upon the works or near thereto, for the purpose of being used or employed in or about the same shall be and remain the absolute property of the Board, and no further payment shall be made by the Board" in respect thereof or otherwise. Also that the chairman be authorised to take the necessary steps to enter upon the works and authorise such •person as he may consider necessary to do* so on behalf of the Board, and have the works proceeded with by day labour, pending the further decision of the Board. The Board whilst exercising its legal powers under the contract and without prejudice thereto reserves the right to hereafter extend the contractors such consideration on equitable grounds as may in the opinion of the Board be found to be just and reasonable." —Mr Young, in seconding, said he wished it to be understood that Ihe desired the contractors to be fairly treated, so that they should lose as little as possible. Other members said the same.—The motion was carried, Messrs Pringle and Lyall dissenting. It was resolved: —" That it be left in the hands of the engineer and. the Standing Committee to secure plant and carry on the works A brief discussion then took place about the brakes on the .trucks from Addington. Mr Dobson said thsy must have more trucks, which could be lighter ones for smaller stone. They could have proper brakes put on those, and by having sorts in each train they need not interfere with the brakes on the trucks they now had, as they could do without them. They would want 30 or more additional trucks. In reply to Mr Manchester, Mr Dobson said day labour would be the best system except that they could sub-let some of the work, particularly getting the stone. Under day labour several economies, in the use of material in the staging a second time, could be made.

The secretary pointed out that the fencing of the quarry should be attended to without delay. Accounts amounting to £1923 16s 8d were passed for payment and the Board rose.