TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13811, 23 January 1909, Page 7

TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbour .Board was neld yesteraay. Presents-Messrs J. Craigie (chairman), R. Skinner, C. Bowker, T. D. loung, F.-J.Tlolleston, C.'N. Orbell, W. Hay„man, J.,-Chisholm, C. H. Besley, F. H. Smith,-and W. G. AVmitage. Apologies , for absence were* received from Messrs R. Tbew and J. Manchester. -•' CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT.

' The.chairman reported that the credit balance, on December Bth stood at £6609 17s 3d; There had been .<-- cerped. during the month, £ll9l 18s 5d in. ships' dues, £750 5s 5d hi wharfage,' and £332 12s lOd iii harbour rate. The credit balance at last meeting was £6224 'ss, the receipts since last meeting totalled £2274 15s 9d, and the accounts to be passed that day amounted to £B9OI 4s 2d. The debit balance after that day's payments would stand at £422 13s 6. Of the £50,000 there still remained debentures to the value of-£23,700 to sell. It was satisfactory to note that in spite of the dry period experienced last year the volume of trade at the port had increased by about 5000 tons. In the the volume of trade at the port had gone back by 194,071- carcases, the hglires being—*B37,997f'«:arcases for 1007 and 643;926 carcases for 1908. Lyttelton had gone back by 350.910 carcases last vear —1,250,000 in 1907,. and 899,113 in* 1908. "Wellington in i'JO7 j exported 838,327 carcases, and in- IMS 957,614 carcases. Napier came a good fourth among the ports of the colony in the export of frozen meat, having sent away 616,076 carcases in 1908. The Jubilee of South Canterbury had been fittingly celebrated in Timaru under most favourable circumstances on January 14. Splendid weather prevailed, and they had good reason to be satisfied with the demonstration made. So far as the Harbour Board was concerned it had made a. very creditable display, and '.'the waggon of facts " which it had supplied, had been used as a test by the Prime Minister in making his speech. The Board had endeavoured to get H:M.S. Pioneer to come to Timaru tor the occasion, and through the good • olfices of the Prime Minister it bad been successful. As chairman of the Board he. had sent a cable to the captain of H.M.S. Encounter, condoling with him on the loss of fifteen of his '.men through .the collision in Sydney harbour. There was at one time a Rocket Brigade in Timaru, of which Mr C G. Vogeler was a member'and secretary. Fortunately that Brigade was no longer required,' and Mr- Vogeler had handed over"to :the secretary, the minute uook .and log .of sundry papers. A letter had been.received from tiie Temuka Butter and Cheese Company asking the Board to ; have Timaru made a grading port, and pointing out the cost and inconvenience of having to send butter and .cheese to Lyttclton to be graded and shipped, when they had the ships which took it Home almost at their back. door. The standing committee had considered the letter, and recommended that the Agricultural Department should be communicated with on the subject. A petition had been received from owuers of boats and launches asking for a slipway, their boats being too heavy to drag up on the beach whenever- they required an overhaul. The standing Committee had considered the request and recommended that the engineer should be asked to report upon the cost of a slipway, the probable revenue that would be derived from it, and the best place in which to locate it. Dredge 350 was in need of her -6monthly overhaul, aud would jjo to Port Chalmers to be docked on Monday next. She wanted'cleaning up and repainting, and the engineer woulu like to go down to inspect her while in dock. The standing committee considered it advisable that he should go. The dredging returns showed that the work of deepeniug the harbour was proceeding at a very satisfactory rate and that if the present rate of progress was maintained, the work for which the new dredge was specially obtained would be finished in a shor-ter-time than was estimated by the late engineer, Mr J. H. Bavues. The total. quantity of spoil lifted bv dredge 350 during 1908 was 304.500 'tons, at a cost of 6.368 per ton (.exclusive ot depreciation and interest on capital) while, in 1907 the quantity lifted was 201/456- tons at a cost of 7M per ton..!

Tiie chairman's statement was ap proved,, and the • recommendations con taihed therein were adopted . -. 'AN-OFFICE MATTER.

' Mr Skinner said lie could not refrain from expressing his appreciation of the prompt way in which the secretary to the. Board and his staff had got the trade returns, etc., out to members. It-; Avals still early in the new year, and; the holidays had caused an inter-

ruption to business, but Mr Bardsley was right np to date with the work. and he thought the thanks of tin: Bozrd were due to the secretary and

his staff. Mr Chisholm thought that in some respects members were not sufficiently well posted up with the business oi tne Board. He considered that they should have sent out to their homes in the country, returns of all important business to come before them so that they, could go to tne meetings prepared. The secretary said that all the returns which closed in time to be sent out to members were sent to them, but it was the aim of the office to bring the returns as close up to date for each meeting as possible. If the Board would agree to close the returns earlier in each month they could. be sent to members, but they would be a good way behind date on the day of 'the Board's meeting. No other Harbour Board in the Dominion brought its returns so closely up to date for ■■ the meeting of its Board, as was the'.case at Titnaru, , < .. - The chairman said that he had ■been ou a few local bodies and lie. had no hesitation in saying that in the .matter of supplying information the members of the Harbour Board beat them all. -

Mr Skinner endorsed this, and said he was thoroughly pleased with the way in which members were kept post-. edijp with all : hdlorraay,on.i,ijfxc,tyig_the[ port. Mr Young also paid a compliment to the office staff for the prompt way in which all information was supplied, and Mr Armitage added that from his experience he could say that members of the Harbour Board received more information than the members' of any other Board of which he had any knowledge. It was generally agreed that the matter of printing and sending out returns was on a very satisfactory basis, and that no alteration was desirable. CORRESPONDENCE. The Fremantle Harbour Trust wrote i thanking the Board for a mass of.iu- ! formation relative to the port of TiI maru which had been supplied at their

request. The Bank of New Zealand acknowledged receipt of £5037 from the Board for interest due in London on loan, on February Ist. lie also ;ie- . knowledged receipt of the Board's cheque for £2635 to meet interest on debentures issued locally, and due on January Ist. Twenty-two owners of boats aiid laxmches petitioned the Board to provide a slipway and windlass for -ilio hauling up of boats for repairs, etc. They were willing to pay. a small fee for the use of the slip.—-Dealt with in standing committee. - ~ The Temuka Butter and Cheese ~yo. wrote that their annual export /i'-pf cheese averaged about tons, and owing to Timaru not being a grading port, this produce had to be. railed, 1 to Lyttelton. for shipment. The..railage charges amounted to 14s 3d per ton, and there were other charges. The cost, if shipped at Timaru,. would'j be only 4s 3d, and on their annual outiput this represented a loss of £6O to" £7O. As all the boats by which produce was shipped at Lyttelton and Wellington called at Timaru it seemed absurd ..Kit the produce could not be graded -Jincl shipped here. In some cases produce had been shipped to Lyttelton, and (the vessel had subsequently visited Timaru while in other instances they had Jiad to rail produce away for shipment dv a steamer lying -at Timaru at ,the time. They suggested that the grading officer at Lyttelton should come dowji to Timaru by the hist express, do any grading required, and go on to Dunedin by the second express. The chairman said that Timaru is already a grading port, but what tiiey wanted ivas a cool chamber in which to store perishable produce during A the time it might bo waiting here. ( Mr Young said it did seem absurd to send our produce to Lyttelton ivuen the boats which took it Home visited Timaru. It was a very inmortant matter, and the Board should rectify the position so that it would not bo necessary to send produce to Lyttelton. Mr Chisholm spoke in similar strain, and Mr Besley suggested that tley should approach the Freezing Company to sec whether they could nuke arrangements with them to provide cool storage. The chairman said the matter liad been discussed by the standing comn'jttee on the previous day, but they wanted more information and would report fully at next meeting. Mr Skinner asked if there was aiiy probability of the Board erecting cool stores. It was agreed after a little further discussion that the whole matter should be dealt with at next meeting, all information to be obtained in the meantime. , The Lauds and Survey Department, Christehurch, wrote in reply to a letter from the Board, stating that tie Marine Department had no tide gauges in stock at present, but if applicatioa were made for one the applicatioa would receive consideration. ; ; ,

The secretary read a clipping from the Christchurch "Press"' shoving that Mr T. Humphries, surveyor-gene-ral was taking a keen interest in this matter, and that he had collected an necessary data for the establishment of benchmarks along our coast line. The resident engineer advised that a tide gauge would give valuable and useful data, and stated the surveyorgeneral during a. recent visit here had sti'bugly urged the keeping of one.— This matter is further dealt with in the report of the standing committee.

STANDING COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Dredge No. 350. —Your committee recommend that the resident engineer's request to visit the dredge, when in dock, be granted.

Grading Port. —Your committee recommend that the communication of the Temuka Butter and Cheese Co. be brought under the notice of the secretary to the Department of Agriculture, and that the matter be further dealt with when his reply is to hand. Tide Gauge.—-Your committee have to report that they are favourable to the erection of an automatic tidegauge and recommended that instructions be given to the Resident Engineer, to make the necessary enquiries; particulars and probable cost to be placed before the nest meeting.

Slipway for Launches and Boats. — Y'our committee recommend that the Resident Engineer be instructed to report on this matter to the next meeting, submitting a statement as to the cost and possible revenue to be deriv-

ed. Lighting of Wharves. —Your committee recommend that the hours for ex-tinguishing-the Sugg Lights and Electric Lights be as follows:—When vessels are working cargo: immediately after ceasing work. When vessels are not working cargo: Week nights 11 p.m., Sundays 10 p.m. Dredge Repairs, etc.—Your committee recommend the adoption of- the specification and conditions as submitted. ,' r , ~; . ... . United Friendly Societies Picnic— Your committee recomment that the permanent employees be granted a holiday on the 28th inst., the non-per-manent employees to be at liberty to take a holiday if "they so desire. Coal Tenders. Your committee recommend the acceptance of the Westport Coal Co.'s tender. Holidays.—Your committee recommend (1) That the applications of Captains Tait and Ware for a fortnight's holiday each be granted. (2) That the question of employees' holidays be fully considered at the March meeting. The report was adopted. HARBOUR MASTER'S REPORT. Captain Clnrkson reported the arrival of 27 steam and 1 sailing vessel of an apgrecate tonnage of 35,343 tons, and the departure of 27 steam and 1 sailing vessel of an aggregate tonnage of 35~848 tons, fbr the month ended December 31st, 1908. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The Resident Engiueor reported as follows: —

The certificate for No. "350" expires on tlie 31st inst., arid 1 have arranged for docking her on the 26th having secured the dock at Port Chalmers for that dae.

On Friday, "the 15th, I purpose commencing the overhaul and will do as much of the work locally as possible before the dredge sails on the 25th inst. The heavy nature of the dredging indicates that "it is necessary to stiffen the bucket ladder, and as this can be done locally, it will be'put in hand at once; in addition to this there will be some necessary repairs to tlie shoot, overhauling ladder, hoist engine, steam slewing gear and general repairs. There arc two local firms capable of doing the work. Messrs. Wallace and Cooper and Parr'and Co., and I have arranged to give a fair proportion to each. 61' these firms. -..'-'-• Good headway is -being ■ made - > with tlie Eastern Mole. It is now made up to the full height (17 feet 6 ,inches above H.W.) for a distance of 220 feet from the shore end. and for a length of about 1600 feet from the outer end most of the inequalities have been made good. The greater portion of the work contemplated when the repairs were commenced is now completed. It is expected that when the dredge resumes operations, the dredging at tlie new wharf site will bo completed in about eight or ten necks. Tins will give 1,200 feet of berthage, 100 feet wide, uecpencd to 30 feet at L.W. The weather conditions have been unfavour-able-for outside dredging since.the holidays. The "Taniwha" lias been slipped and overhauled since, last report. The boiler was returned from Dunedin oh the 19th. and was placed on board the

same day. Dredging operations will be resumed on Monday, rjotu inst.. lhe total quantity lifted .by No. "350 during 1908 was 304,000 tons at a cost of 6.36 pence per ton.(exclusive of depreciation and interest on capital.), The "Taniwha" lifted 11,315 tons m the same period at a cost of 10.04 pence per toii '(exclusive of depreciation and interest on ; capital.) Itepairs to watchman's shed, sanitary conveniences main wharf, overhauling "lainwim and some small'repoirs, to main wharf have been conpleted since last report. Summary of .dredging operations from December, 14th, 1908, to January 16th, 1909 (inclusive.) / Dredge No. "350." • . •' ■ H. M.

Total hours worked , I' 6 10 Total hours, dredging; ......... HU o Average,dredging,time perload •; i. ions.

Quantity lifted between Moody Wharf and North Mole ... 1i,600 Average'tons'lifted per dredg- - ing hour ..•••-•• -- IJ The' reports Mere adopted. GENERAL. Discussing the work done to the eastern mole members considered.it a •treat improvement. " The engineer sari that the £2OOO voted for tins work had all been spent with tne exception of about £2OU. The case of' a fisherman who had written to the Board at its last roeetiii" a' letter' which members resented, was shortly discussed, and it was decided that if the writer of the letter does not withdraw his statements m terms of the resolution passed by the Board at the previous meeting, action should be taken against him. Some members considered that the Board was being treated with contempt m the matter, and it was said that that could not be allowed. • . . Accounts were passed tor payment, and the Board rose.