DREDGE 350.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14209, 25 May 1910, Page 2

DREDGE 350.

— M*crs.«lo.\ AT oAMARf. At n special mreii'ir of ih? Oamaru Harbour Board <m Saturday. I nj l Cbairnian said that tho j bar: hcnii called for the purpose of con- 1 *idr-riim the charter Ht the- hire, of j Mie Timarii dredge, t<"> give. effect tr» ! 1 dfr-i-iou arrived at. at the last, j iswHir: in relieve the Duuedin Engin-j riii,i,.ee* ("finipany of their contract. and t<> decide what .steps shall b;- taken for further dredging, of the harbour. They would fake ilie small-e-it- maitcf tirst—the charter of tin 1 i Timaru dredge. The matter had been gone into by the- solicitors, and they submitted an agreement. The secretary read a letter from the Timaru Board covering the agreement. Tlu>chairman said a formal resolution on the subject had been prepared if some member was prepared to move it. Mr Patc-rson: What are the terms of the charter? The chairman: They are all set out in the agreement. Mr Williams: When will the dredge be- here. The Secretary: On Wednesday nest probably. Atr Sutherland then moved: ''Thatthe :igr cement, between the Timaru Harbour Hoard and the Oamaru Harbour Board be executed, and the Chairman and Air Lane affix the Board's Seal thereto." The motion was seconded by Mr Williams. ALr Paterson thought they should carefully consider the matter. Tlay wore asked to pay £-jo a. day for two days while the dredge was lifting the moorings and for two more days whilo resetting them. Then there was also a charge for the hire of a tug. He did not know what, that charge was. The Chairman: it is only £o 10s a day. Mr Paterson continued bv saying tiiat they were going into an expensive underoaking. The cost would bo , over £OO a day. which to his mind was

altogether mil- ui proportion to what xlio cost of dredging should be.

i'iie Chairman: Hut we cannot liolp ourselves. The work has to bo done. Mr j'aterson remarked that that showed tin 1 deplorable condition in which the Board Jiatl been placed. 11' Gardiner: Are you prepared to surest uiiythiug better The Chairman said it was all very well to complain, but could anything bettor be suggested. Members should nut forget that the principal work was clearing thy entrance. wiiicli had to be done periodically, and while the dredge was here on this occasion it was intended to yet some urgent work done inside. "\Vitliin recent years they had always lured a dreuge lor this purpose, and on the last occasion had obtained the Duiiedin dredge. lie considered that the Ximani dredge with a capacity of 1000 tons, if she took out three loads in two days, would work our at less cost per ton than on previous occasions, and ho believed that she would without doubt- dn better work than the Duuediu dredge. I Mr \\ ilium's said it was absolutely necessary to have this work done. Mr Brown asked if it was intended to do any more with the Tiruaru dredge than to clear the entrance. The Chairman said the dredge would be chiefly employed clearing the entrance. but would be utilised to do any other small work that was necessary.

Mr Brown said it was absolutely necessary to get on with the work or dredging. Mr Sutherland inquired whether in the event of the, dredge breaking down the Board would have to pay for iier hire while she was idle. The Chairman: That, is a matter for arrangement.

The Secretary said the point had boon considered by the Timaru Board, who had declined to put it- into the

agreement, bill had said that they tvould leave it for settlement By mutual arrangement. Mr Paterson said that this matter of a breakdown was one of importance and might prove very serious to the Hcapd. The fact- that the Timaru Board would not put it into the argeemcnt showed they were practically at the mercy of that Board —a position that they should not place themselves in.

Mr Gardiner reminded members thai ill? secretary had jrone to Timaru and made the best bargain that lie could for the Board.

The Chairman said that they had tried to get a clause inserted in the agreement, but the Timaru "Board had declined to sanction it. They had, however, said that in the event of any unforeseen accident occurring they would bo prepared to meet this 8.-nrd reasonably. The motion was then carried. On the motion of Mr "Williams, seconded by MY V\ yhe. a similar resolu-

i'on in rerorciice t-o an agreement for the Lire of a tug was passed.