DREDGING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13655, 25 July 1908, Page 7

DREDGING.

AND DREDGE CONTROL.. The dredgemasteiy Mr'R.' R. 'Douglas, reported:as follows to the Harbour: Board yesterday : "I have; to advise the Board that we have completed'our third cut (Main Wharf) from the grange - breaker ■to Pile No. 17, leaving 600 feet yet to be dredged ] before we are up to Pile No. 5. We are maintaining 30 feet L.W. depth, aiid the

outer edge of cut is 300 feet from Main Wharf. Boulders are getting troublesome,

and will be more so as we proceed inshore. You will note from abstract sheets that

the weather has during the past month retarded our work very much—namely, No. 1 (outside) 5000 tons, and No. 2 (inside) 14,000 tons; tofjal, 19,000 tons. As we have nearly completed making patterns for wheel gearing for hopper door gear and fore winch, I would recommend that patterns for the aft winch be procured from time to time nntil completed. In conclusion, the machinery is working well at present."

The abstract sheets gave total hours worked dredging 76, average time per load 4 hours. The Taniwha, lifted 860 tons in 77£ hours.

The reference to the pattern-making in the report gave rise to a considerable amount of discussion in committee as to whether the resident engineer should lie placed in superior charge of the dredge 350. As a result, the chairman moved —"That in accordance with the memorandum of duties under which the resident engineer was appointed, Mr Clarke take over the responsibility of the dredges from August Ist next, and that the Board's seal be attached to the agreeitonl." A subsidiary discussion was raised bv Mr Chisholm contending that the "me morandum of duties" referred to did not contain anything of the sort. The chairman said it was understood.

Mr Chisholm argued that the dredgemaster ought to be an independent head, and not made subordinate to an officer who admitted tJi.it he was not a mechanical engineer. Mr Besley fully concurred with Mi Chisholm. The only reason they had offered for the change was to ease the duties of the secretary. Mr Young would agree that accounts should pass through the engineer, to relieve the secretory, but would not place Mr Douglas under the civil engineer.

Mr Bowker- would not disrate Mr Douglas, but would approve of transferring the supervision of accounts. Mr Skinner thought there should be some one to see that they got full value for the £l9O a month they were spending.

The chairman reminded: memlbers of the friction between the late resident engineer and the dredgemaster, that compelled the separation of the dredge from the engineer's duties: But there was no other Board in the country who had an engineer who was not in charge of the dredging as well as other duties. Both Mr Clarke and Mr Douglas approved of the change he proposed. ■

Mr Chisholm asked what the duties of the engineer would be in relation to the dredge. The chairman read the list of duties of the engineer, and these included the laying out of the ground to be dredged. He understood that the engineer would have nothing ito do with the working of the dredge neyond that, and consultation with the dredgemaster about repairs, or alterations, and the checking ot accounts for repahs.

The secretary explained that Mr Douglas had always submitted to him a requisition for; whatever lie wanted, and if he saw' anything that he thought) required explanation he talked it over With Mr Douglas. If it was a, serious matter he referred to the chairman. The chairman said he had brought the engineer and dredgemaster together, and the latter said he would be pleased to have Mr Clarke as his consultative head.

Mr Chisholm protested that tthese, " understandings " were ■a : constant source of trouble, and they should, be. put iu. black and-white. ' ™!-r

Mr Skinner seconded the chairman's mo tion. ■■'•-''

Air Armitage moved and Mr Besley seconded—"That the question whether the resident engineer assume responsibility viih regard to die dredge, be deferred' to next meeting, au d that the duties, of each officer be clearly- defined and presented to that meeting." The chairman adaea to his motion a nepessary clause tq rescind a resolution already 011 tlie minutes, and as seven members declined to agree to this, the motion was not put, and Mr ' Armitage's motion -iva,s put and carried nem. con. ° • The Board then returned to he question of patterns,' which, .had-started the d'scussion, and it was agreed that patterns in hand be completed, and that if many others were required, the builders be. asked jf they could supply them at cheaper rates,