TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14354, 28 January 1911, Page 6

TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board was held yestcrdaj .. Present-Messrs J. Cra.g.e (cft™i), T p. Young, D. C. Turnbull, C.-k. SticfcngS. J- E. Goodwin J. J. MeKeown, AY. Havman, G. AY. Armitage, R.-Tbeiv, and R. Skinner. . Apologies for absence were received from Mr J. Manchester (on account of indisposition) from Mr F. J. Rolleston (on account of the death of Jus brother), and from Mr C. N. OrbeU. Tho Chairman made feeling reference to the untimely death of Mr G. H. F. Rolleston, and nroposed a motion expressing svmpatby with his relatives. The motion was carried in silence, all members standing. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The Chairman said that the finances of the Board were in a very satisfactory state. The credit balance at last meeting stood at £3901 17s lid; the receipts since then amounted to £2907 5s lid; tho accounts to be passed that day totalled £10,474 lis sd, and there would be a debit balance after paying these of £3665 7s 7d. The accounts included interest payments on two loans, and the final payment for the new wharf. The revenue -for the •year was the highest ever it had been. The Hon. J. A. Millar would be calling at Timaru shortly, when the Board would be able to discuss with him tho compensation to be paid by the Dedartment. for the land to be taken from the Board for railway purposea. They might also at the same time endeavour to get the Minister to equalise the rates en frozen meat as between Timaru and Oamaru, and Oamaru and Port Chalmers. The resident engineer had prepared a very complete plan for a new roadway to serve No. 2 and 3 wharves, and leading from Strathailan Street to the southern end of Caroline Bay, so that people would be able to walk from the town to the Bay in safety and comfort. The work would cost something over £4OOO, but it was a neeessary one, and lie thought the Board should favourably consider it. It would bo necessary to erect a wall for the purposes of this road, along the sea frontage, but it would have a long taper, and would not increase the scend in the harbour, or interfere with shipping in any way. Under new legislation of last session the next Harbour Board election would ■ be conducted on a somewhat different basis to former ones. The Government required the Bca-rd, for purposes of the election, to name the- combined districts in South Canterbury, and tho principal authorities, this being required under section 7 of The Harbours Amendment Act 1910. The Standing Committee suggested that the combined districts should be as follows:—Teniuka Borough and Temuka Road Board: Geraldine .Borough and Geraldine Road Board; Pleasant Point Town Board and Levels County; AVaimate Borough and AYaimate County. The Committee further recommended that the principal authorities be:— Temuka Road Board. Geraldine Read Board, Levels County Council, and AA'aimate County Council. Taking capital value as a basis for determining the principal authorities, the Counties and Road Districts were far ahead cf the Boroughs. So far as Timaru Borough was concerned, it was independent, and Mackenzie and Mt. Peel were al=o outside of the combined districts, having no boroughs attached to them. Timaru Borough would return three members as formerly, and while the election in Timaru Borough would be every two years, the elections of ail the other representatives would be every three years. The date of the

election would be the same as that fixed for tho municipal elections, namelv, the third AVedntsday m April. 'I he new legislation also gave power to Harbciur Boards to set up a special Committee possessed of considerable power. ' If the Timaru Board proposed to set up such, a Committee it would be necessary to fix the number to constitute'a. quorum. In tiro past,• tuo Standing Committee, with power to recommend only, had done very well. (Messrs Skinner and Turnbull said there was no necessity for a. Special Committee). The new wharf was completed, but a shed was ren.uired m which to store roDes, etc., and house a telephone. > The new grading store was also finished, and in full working order. From it 700 boxes of butter had been sliipped Homo in the Delphic. A return had been prepared, giving a summary of the frozen mutton and lamb exported from New Zealand for the vear ended December 31st, 1910, and this showed that Timaru came third in the total number of carcases sent away (mutton unci lamb) _ being beaten .oiily by Lyttelton and Wellington, while in the export of lamb it came a. good second, Lyttelton taking first place. The recommendations in connection with the election as outlined above, were adonted. CORRESPONDENCE. The Bank of New Zealand acknowledged receipt from the Board of £5.037 17s 6d to meet interest due in London on Ist prox. The Bank also acknowledged receipt of £2,762 17s 3d from the Board for interest due on local debentures" at Jan. Ist, 1911. Mr A. Thoreau, as Secretary to tho South Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, wrote asking the co-operation of the Board in getting an adjustment of the rates on frozen mutton as between Timaru and Oamaru,- and Oamaru and Port Chalmers—Minister to be seen by representatives of the Board when next he :*s in Timaru.

Sir G. S. Cray advised that subject to the approval of the Board lie had sub-let the "Westland Timber Company's grain store on section 17, Hayes Street to Mr E. Crawford. —Agreed to. The Board had complained to the Railway Department of the delay in handling cargo at the port, and suggested the use of electric capstans on the main wharf to facilitate this work. The Department advised that this suggestion would reeeivo consideration, and a. reply be sent at a later date. The Railway Department advised that the formation of a road to No. 3 wharf would receive immediate consideration. The Secretary to the Marine Department acknowledged a letter from the Board agreeing to erect the fog signal at Patiti Point. The signal and 600 cartridges would be forwarded by the £.s. Hinemoa, and the Department's expert would erect it. The signal is to be erected near the rubbish tm. The Hon. J. A. Millar wrote in reply to a letter from the chairman of The Board advising that he would give ample notice' of the date of his visit to Timaru for the purpose of discussing with the Board the terms on which the Department would take the 10J acres of land along the southern foreshore for railway purposes. In connection with this matter the Secretary had forwarded to the Minister a cop 3' of Mr Kinnerney's legal opinion thereon. .STANDING COMMITTEE. Railage on mutton from Oamaru.— Your committee recommend that the question of differential railway charges, be brought under the notice of, the Hon -J. A. Miila.r again, at the proposed conference relative to the 101 acre block. Fishermen's Huts at root of North Mole.—ln consequence of drinking at. and in the vicinity of these huts, the

.u-rii|.i!iu-i In- warned Ouii if tlic;o are 'mrasiirw will he reported'"(()," without further notice. Salaries and Wa-c.s -Your commit ton recommend that- (l'i J. V. AVilym's liunior on Drerlae "N'i. 3oi)"> wages ho increased from" 30s to 3fis per week ; (2) U. -Jackson's (engineer on the "El:;:i? Evans'') wages be increas-'d from £2 IDs 6VI to £3 3s per week. The report n-.ii adopted. HARICUR MASTER, The Harbourmaster reported as follows: The tot.-il arrivals during December wore 2o steam ami throe saving vessels of :m aggregate of .13.010 tons, and the departures were 22 .<-.teamors and one sailing vessel of 22.703 tons. No. 3 Wharf was formally opened on the 30th December, the s.s. Ohm Chisholm mid s.s. Pukaki being tho first ships to take up a berth at samo. The wharf is very convenient to work. As there is no storage accommodation on this wharf for the safe housing of the Hoard's gear I recommend that a small shed lie erected at the root of the wharf for this purpose. 'Jit? pibfc launch was put on the slip on the 10th inst. for cleaning and some slight repairs to the engine, and was refloated on the 21st inst. The report was adopted. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer reporlod as follows: — The- contract for So. 3 Wharf has been closed, and the work has been taken over from the contractor. The maintenance period in connection with Messrs Turnhull and Jones' contract fur the electric light on No. 3 Wharf has expired, and this work has also been taken over. Since last report the dredges have been closed down for the Christmas holidays. Work was resumed on the 4 th, and since then 3000 tons have been removed from the outs-de channel, and 10,000 tons between No. 2 and No. 3 Wharves. The "No 350" is now due for the annual overhaul. The total quantity lifted by this dredge during 1910 was 32.1,300 tons, including 83,800 tons at Oamaru. This output exceeds any previous vear bv 16800 tons. ' The "Tanjwlia" has'been engaged clearing up in the north berth at No. 3 Wharf. The output of this vessel during 1910 was 19,810 tons.' Complete repairs to part of No. 1 Wiiarf are now in progress-, and are being carried out in sesctions so as to interfere as little as possible with the shipping. A pontoon has been purchased and repaired and moored alongside the steps at No. 3 Wharf to accommodate the fishing boats. The lifting and repacking of Hayes Street sidings liave been' completed. The Engineer recommended the erection of a small shed on the new whaf at a. cost, of about £6O. and the recommendation was adopted. ' GENERAL. 1

Discussing the proposal to form a roadway to Ncs. 2 and 3 wharves, Mr Turnbull said the Board should get an approximate idea of the money they would have to spend during the year, and then decide on the most necessary works. The new roadway was certainly required, but he thought a more pressing work was the tipping of more stone into tho eastern mole. This should be dono before the- pile 3 there had rotted. If they found thoy had sufficient money the two works might be carried on simultaneously. If the quarries had to be opened up to bring down material for the roadway, any big stones met with could at the same time be tipped into the eastern mole. In reply to Mr Skinner, the ohairman said the piles in tho mole should remain sound for about a, dozen years yet. Mr Young spoke in support of what Mr Turnbull had said, adding that he had always been ill favour of strengthening the mole, though in the past he Si, a ™" a y s bcrai defeated on the point. The new roadway he looked upon as a public necessity. Messrs Thew and Skinner said it wouid be impossible to frame reliable estimates of their expenditure for a year; they had to spend in accordance w:th varying requirements which, could never all be seen in advance. It was decided to further discuss the new roadway at next meeting. Accounts were passed For pavment, and the Board rose. *