TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13840, 27 February 1909, Page 7

TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

The annual meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board was held yesterday*. Present: Messrs J. Craigic (chairman), J. Manchester, G. AY. Armitage, P. Smith, J. Chisholm, C. N. Orbell. F. J. Rollcston, T. 1). Young, C. Bowker, and R. Thew. Apologies' for absence were received from Mr R. Skinner and Mr W. Hay man. The annual report and balance sheet will be. found in. the supplement. The chairman moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet. Mr Armitage seconded, and in doing so, he complimented the office staff upon the lucid statement of accounts and the complete information set forth in the report. He had had some experience in preparing - balance sheets and knew that it meant working late and early. Mr Armitage suggested . that sinking funds shoidd be established • in connection with the Board's loans; it would be sound policy and prudent finance. A loan of £IUO,OOO would be redeemable in 1914 and opportunity should then be taken to make a start ■with the establishment of sinking funds. Mr Thew said the Board had decided some years ago that when the Board's loans matured they should renew them at/a cheaper rate and provide a sinking fund. Mr Bowker agreed with the proposal, and said he was sure the chairman ■would-agree with it, as he had'established sinking funds in connection withall. the Borough loans. *'The. chairman said that all local bodies which borrowed money should provide sinking funs for the repayment of it. He; had mentioned the matter last year,'and was glad Mr Armitage had brought it up again. In five years' time they would have an opportunity of renewing their loans. They should then consolidate them and go on to London market for _ the money, which they might be able to get at less than 4 per cent., and they should provide a sinking fund then. It was the duty of the Board to the present generation as well as to posterity to reduce the indebtedness they had incurred. At the present time they were paying 5 per cent, on £200,000. Mr Chisholm complained of a departure" in this - year's annual report, in that the salaries of the office staff were stated in globo instead of being set out in detail. He desired to know the reason for this departure, and to say that he did not approve of it. The office expenses had been gradually increasing for some yqars past, but last year they had jumped up by an additi6nal £125 The business of the port did not warrant such, an increase The secretary, asked by the chairman to j-eply,.said that no attempt had been made to hide anything. The " salaries were dealt with here in the same way as they were treated in the reports of other Boards. In any case, most people did not like to have their salaries blazened abroad. The increase ' this, year was not a 1 large one, and ' was accounted for partly by the fact that the Board had civen him -' an increase in salary, also a bonus of £25 for what he had done in connection with-dredge "350,"-and there had been debited to the office, the salary - of one official, who previously came under the engineer's department. In reply to'Mr'Rollcston,- the secretary said the reason fcjr charging the engineer's salary to loan, was that he was engaged upon works, the cost of which came out of loan money. Mr Bardsley was" a*out to read to Mr Chisholm the individual'salaries of the office staff, when Messrs-Armitage and Smith objected, saying tliat this information was all in the balance sheet, and was before members at every meeting of the Board. lir Chisholm said' the" explanation given by the secretary was not at all satisfactory. • The statement that one did not like to have his salary blazened abroad,, did not call for any reply at all] The salary of the engineer was stated separately, and the salary of , the secretarv should be similarly treated. The chairman and other members said; that the increases in salary had been passed by the Board. Mr Chisx holm had asked for information, and lie had got it. Mr Chisholm said he had not got it.-

Mr Young'said that one of tlie most satisfactory features of the report was the increase in trade which it disclosed. They had anticipated a falling off at the beginning of the year, hut instead, they had an increase of 37,000 tons in the shipping. . Most important of all was the increase shown in direct imports. . Five years ago they had obtained a promise tiiat direct shipments would be sent here once every three months provided 500 tons were guaranteed, but last year they had a direct steamer every two months and had got 10,000 tons of direct shipments.. This could not have other than, a-good effect upon the district, 'and..lie .thought the Hoard could congratulate itself upon the success of the past "year's working. The-chairman expressed pleasure that Mr Young had found something good in: the report to comment upon. He thought it furnished fond for much favourable comment, and in snite of the drought, the volume of business had increased instead of decreased as anticipated. ' It was a good report, and balance sheet and he thought it would be better to. speak of that which was good in it ratlier than to be finding fault over trifles. • Mr Manchester thought thern mightbe more in the objections raised by Mr Chisholrn than members appeared to think; in any. case the ratepayers liked to see the amounts shown separately. Mr pointed out that every memb'-r cf the Hoard was supplied with these df tails, and he did not consider it necessary, or even advisable, to'set them out individually in the balance sheet. Mr Orbell said that the Levels Comity Council did not show the individual salaries of it's officials in the balance rfieet. Every member of the

Council knew them and was satisfied that they were right. Mr Young and Mr Armitage said that no local body showed the details separately. At this, the matter was allowed to drop, and the report and balance sheet were adopted. ' ORDINARY MEETING. The chairman said that the debit balance at last meeting was £422 13s 6d. The receipts since last, meeting totalled £2739 16s 9d, made up as follows: — Ships' dues,. £lOsl 18s lUd; wharfage to December sth, £721 8s 3d; wharfage to January 2nd, £966 9s Bd. The accounts to be passed that day amounted to £2084 Is lid, and after this, they would have a credit balance of £l9O 7s sd. Timaru had had a visit from the fine steamship lonic since last meeting, and Captain Anning had expressed himself as well pleased with Timaru harbour. The big boat was very snug here, as snug as though she were in the docks of the larger ports at Home. Though 21ft 6in. had been the. official depth of water credited to Timuru harbour in the past, Captain Aiming had said that he would be quite prepared to take his vessel out drawing 24ft. (Hear, hear.) A few' more large stones had still to be brought dowji to complete the strengthening of the eastern mole, upon which work £2200 had lately been spent. "When this was finished the quarries would be closed down, the before finally closing them down, the engineer recommended that some stripping should be done and a. quantity of stone left in readiness to be handy in case of emergency. This would cost an additional £4OO, and the standing committee recommended it. The engineer was preparing a plan for the provision of accommodation for the. larger fishing boats, of which there were about a dozen, but the standing committee wanted more information concerning the probable revenue to be derived from them before coming to a final decision. The secretary would write to other ports and see what was done at them in similar circumstances. Some correspondence had been received from the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce in which it was stated that the port charges hero were higher than those at other ports. He did 'not know 1 why such an assertion was made for it was not in accordance with fact. The charges at' Timaru compared very favourably with those at any other port in the Dominion. Dredge 350- had undergone her annual overhaul, between £I3OO and £I4OO being spent on her altogether. A good deal o. c the work had been done locally, and what could not bo done here had been done at Port Chalmers. The work included strengthening the hull of the vessel, and it further exemplified the fact that dredging was pretty costly work, though they were" getting value for their money.

TENDERS. The tender of Parr and Co. was, recommended' for acceptance for 'repairs to -the dredge for the ensuing year.— Agreed to. THE HARBOUR ELECTION.

. Mr C. Smith, clerk to the Pleasant Point Town Hoard, wrote asking if his town district was entitled to representation on the 1 Board; if not, were the householders to .vote under the Levels County Council. The secretary had replied that there would be no difference in the representation as provided for in the Timarii Harbour Board Amendment Act 1906, but the electors roll for the Pleasant Point Town Board would be the qualification for voting. The Board's solicitors, Messrs Perry, Perry and lvinnerney,' advised in reply to an enquiry that the Board's Act did not provide for the preparation of a roll before the election. The ratepayers' roll for the time being in force, is to be used for election purpose's. The secretary had written to the Minister for Marine, stating that it was Jieeessaryto secure a proclamation by His Excellency the Governor, setting forth the manner in which the electors of Geraldine Borough and Pleasant Point Town District are to be represented on the Board. The election would take place on April 14th next. . A telegram wa» read from the Minister in charge (Hon. J. A. Millar) stating that the proclamation would be gazetted as suggested. The following returning officers were appointed for the election: —D. Virtue, Borough of Timaru: I<\ E. \Vhitelioaci, Levels County; G. V. Cochrane, "W aimate County; It. L. Banks, Mackenzie County; J. W. Joynt, Teinuka ltoad District; T. Dyer, Geraldine ltoad District; 1). Mactarlane, Mount Peel ltoad District.

A list of polling places was submitted. Mr Smith pointed out that insufficient regard had been paid to the requirements of Caunington, and he was authorised to arrange with the returning officer for Mackenzie County to have an additional booth. SbIIIMMAU CHARGES. The secretary to the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce wrote regarding the efforts made to get a reduction of freight on cement from London on direct steamers to Timaru. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company said that they could make no reduction until some reduction was made in berthage charges at Timaru. The New Zealand Shipping Company had made a statement to .similar effect. The chairman said he did not know how these shipping companies came to be so misinformed as lo the true position.

Mr Orbell said it looked as though those responsible for the statement that Tiniaru was a port at which excessive berthage charges wore made, were not very well up in their business. Mr Young said that some of the shipping representatives had authorised him to say that they were now. quite satisfied with the charges made at Timaru, and that they considered the Board was treating them very fairly. Members of the Chamber of Commerce were not under the impression that the charges here were excessive.

The chairman said that the Board was con ediug £IOOO a year to the shipping people now. compared with the charges made be ft ire the reduction:?. Mr Smith said that no time should be lost in contradicting, from one end of the Dominion to the other, the asser-. tion that the charges at Timaru were excessive, and it was resolved that the mistake should be pointed out to those responsible for it. The official reply sent by the secretary was as follows :

" I am directed to express the surprise of members, that the statements should have been made to ; your Chamber, seeing that it'cannot be gainsaid that the charges at this port, proportionate with the quantity of cargo worked, are the cheapest of any port in the Dominion. It is needless to say anything further, because this statement can be verified by the comparative tables with have'" been published."

CORRESPONDENCE. In reply to an enquiry from the master of tlie s.s. Cornwall, the harbourmaster had advised that lie could take the Cornwall out of Timaru harbour drawing 23ft. —Members considered this very satisfactory, especially, as in the past the harbourmaster would only guarantee 21ft 6in. Tlie chairman 'of the Napier Harbour Board telegraphed stating that Mr AY. J. Tcnnent (late secretary to the. Timaru Harbour Board) . had made a statement to the Napier Press "That the Timaru breakwater would have been in pieces long before this, but for the building of an outer protection harbour . of' stone. There is badly: made concrete in breakwater." "Was this correct? —Mr Thew said that some blocks were made experimentally and when the chains were put round them they fell to pieces. It was probably these.blocks, to which Mr Tennent referred. —The chairman of the Timaru Board -had replied to the telgram stating that it was perfectly true that the eastern mole had saved our harbour, but he was not aware that any inferior material was put in the concrete breakwater.

Mr George Chapman applied for a small section upon which to erect a hut for the storing of his fishing gear, etc. The engineer recommended, and the"Board decided to grant it, subject to one week's notice. STANDING COMMITTEE. Recommendations from the Standing Committee were adopted as follows: — That, a set of the consolidated statutes be procured. That in regard to the outside channel, the Resident Engineer confer with the Harbour Master and others as to whether the channel, being dredged in the entrance, in accordance with Plan No. 75, is in the most suitable position.—Tlie Resident Engineer to report fully—giving his own opinion —on the subject to the next meeting. HARBOUR MASTER,

The Harbour Master reported the arrival, during the month, of 26 steam, and two sailing vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 40,905 tons, and the departure of 28 steamers and two sailing vessels, of'an aggregate tonnage of 50,957 tons. ENGINEER'S REPORT

The Resident Engineer reported" that he had. been in communication 'with the contractor for the new wharf, who stated that he would commence operations early in March. . The work of repairing the eastern mole had been proceeding satisfactorily. The output of stone from the quarries since last meeting was 2944 tons, and since opening the quarries on September 23rd of last year, 12,871 tons. The mole was now made up to the full height (17 teef 6 -riches above H.W.I for a distance of 270 feet from the shore end. Most of the inequalities in the rest of the molehad been made good, and the whole of the additions and repairs should be finished in about a fortnight's time Dredging.—"No. 350" was laid up from January 18th to February 6th undergoing the annual overhaul. Dredging was resumed ,on the Bth inst. at the new wharf, where 9000 tons had boon removed, and in the. outside channel 5000 tons had been lifted. . The survey of the harbour was no win hand, and ho hoped to have the plan ready for lithographing in April. Forming and metalling portion of Fraser street was completed, and some repairs had been effected at the Main and Moody wharves. The Marine Department could not supply an automatic tide gauge, but the Government of New South Wales had just completed designs for a very much improved self-recording tide gauge, and would shortly bo inviting tenders for fifteen. He had communicated with the Public Works Department. Sydney, asking them if they would supply particulars of their new type of gauge. The slipway for launches would cost about £75. About l-> boats -would use it. and the revenue would amount to .£l2 .or £ls a year. The best position for the slip was at the eastern end of the main wharf between the eastern mole and the concrete breakwater. GENERAL. Mr Smith asked that the engineer should report fully upon the condition of the main wharf. They had spent £2400 mi it under the last engineer; and now the present engineer said that it required looking to. Some ratepayers had an idea that it was in a pretty bad state. The ' Moody wharf might be reported upon at the same time. Mr Voting endorsed these remarks, and the engineer was instructed to report accordingly. . Mr Chisholm asked how much longer the dredge Avould be required, to complete the work which had been sanctioned. It was a very expensive tool to keep going. . The resident engineer said he could not state this off hand. He could furnish the information for next meeting of th» Board, when he would have the soundings completed. Mr Voung said that at last meeting of the Board they had understood from the report, that the dredging would be completed earlier than was at first anticipated, and the chairman said that was so.

Mr llolleston said he understood that when they recently opened up the ouar'ry it had *aken £SOO to put the line in repair. This being so he thought thatr if there was anything more requiring to be done to the mole, it should be done now, instead of having to go to the expense of opening up the quarry again later on. ' . The engineer said that nothing more would be required now, unless rough weather necessitated some repairs. *• The chairman said he' had been along the mole recently and found that a very good job 4iad been made of the topping up. In reply to Mi Manchester, the engineer said that carrying the mole up to the full height as originally proposed would make it an effective wave breaker as well as a wave blocker. Mr Young advocated building the mole up to the full height. The engineer estimated the cost of this at £20,000—£18,000 in addition tc the £2OOO recently spent. ' Mr Smith suggested that members should go down and personally inspect the mole, and his suggestion was acted upon, after lunch. Accounts were ,passed for payment, and the Board rose.