WAIMAKARIRI HARBOUR BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4482, 5 September 1882, Page 3

WAIMAKARIRI HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this Board waa held last eight in the Borough Oounc'l Chamber ; present — Messrs E. Farnham (Oh airman), B. Moore, H. J. Day, P. 0. Threlkeld, and B. H. Mathews. BEPOET 01T THE BAB. The following report of the Collector of Customs, on the stranding of the ketches Clematis, Falcon and Huon Belle, and the schooner Jessie, was read. Ihe questions submitted were as follow in each case, viz. :— 1. State special particulars, remarks and opinions as to cause of casualty. 2. If salvage services were rendered, state by whom ? 3. Might the casualties have been avoided, and, if so, how ? The following answers were given, \lz. :— - Clematis, ketch, stra tided Nov. 27, 1891 : 1. The signalman had not signalled " Take the bar," but finding the master was doing so, then worked the semaphore. Signalman gave signal " Put to sea," but said there was a naety haze on the right, along the beach, which lies low. Damage dote very slight, and made but very little water. Elliptic stern slightly damaged. 2. Own labour, assisted by signalman, signal station. 3. By waiting directions, and not attempting to take the bar till advised. The master's own fault. Vessel was beached 19 days, and was worked off by anchors. Jessie, schooner, stranded April 5, 1882 : 1. Ihe uncertain and frequent changes of the bar. At the satue time I consider that vessels entering such a bar should be on, or nearly, even keel. The Jessie drew 7ft aft and sft 6in forward. She heeled at the stern, and with wind N.E. was forced on the south beach of the river. Yery doubtful if she w. ;l l ever be floated off. 2. No service rendered other than the signalman's. 3. I consider neither pilot nor master to blame ; but loss arose by the silting of the bar of the river. falcon, ketch, stranded June 26, 1882 : 1. The vessel waa stranded by the wind failing at the "critical moment of crossing tho bar, and the vessel, losing weigh on her, became unmanageable, and would not answer to tho helm. The vessel will bo ropaircd, and be as good as new. 2. I* one beyond assistance of Bignelman. 3. Fo. Entirely caused by wind failing suddenly. Huon Belle, ketch, stranded July 4, 1882 : j 1. The mainsail camo down with a run, caused by thumb cloets of the throat halyards carrying away. Vessel not eoriouely injured, and will be sailing again when a certified is obtained from a Marino Surveyor at to her i (^worthiness. 2. Nil. 3. Purely an accident. The Board considered tho report a highly satisfactory one, as in tho caso of tho only accident of importance the instructions given by tho signalman had been dieobeyed, so that really no casualty need havo occurred. TUB PILOT STATION. Mr Moore moved tho notice of motion standing in his narao, to the following tHiest : — " That the Minister of the Marino Department be written to, asking th*t tho signalman at preeonfc stationed at Kaiapoi be placod under the control of tho Board ; also, that tho Board be subsidised to the amount of £150 per annum, to pay a signalman, and provide tho neceesary plant for the proper working of tho bar, as tho present .plunt is insufficient for tho proper working of vessels coming in or going out over the bar, and property and life is considerably endangered." In doing bo, he urged tint it was most necessary that whero there wai a properly constructed Harbour Board it should have tho control of the pilot station, in order that tho interests of the rivor might bo thoroughly seen to. He did not wish to "Bay that tho present signalman had not carried out his duties, but ha thought- that the wa\ in which ho was left without proper plant to do his work was a disgraco to tho Department. No Board of local management would have allowed him to bo left in such a hclplees state. Sovoral things wero required to mako tho plant complete, in particular a boat. In tho report just read it was stated that one of the stranded vcbsols had gono ashore •' becauso tho bar had shifted." If tho signalman had been suitably cquippod ho would havo known this, and tho river would havo been staked. He noticed by tho Marino report that tho coat to the Department bad been £118 14i S3, only

£1 14b 6d being for contingencies ; and he contended that with the Bubsidy they asked for they could aff . rd to have the channel in the river stake" 1 besides paying this salary. Mr H. J. Day would prefer to see this matter lefb in abeyance till a full meeting. He was afraid that they might find themselves saddled with the expense, while in the certainty of the subsidy he had little faith. The Chairman was sure their member had made some arrangement. He hoped the Board would either defer the matter, or at any rate not send the letter till after Mr Wilson had been interviewed. He had hopci to have seen him before that meeting, but had been prevented. Mr Threlkeld seconded the motion, thinking the proposals necessary and advisable, and what were usual in most harbours. The Chairman was in favour of the motion, if the letter were delayed till after he had an opportur ity of learning what Mr Wilson had done. He waß m favour of having control over the pilot, so that the proper appliances could be obtained, and the bar staked after every south-east swell. He was told there was not a better bar in the Islands between Lyttelton and Auckland ; but all the others were properly etaked, so that anyone might see the route. Mr Moore, in reply, Baid that the public and insurance companies now had no confidence in the river. He hoped that by making a move in this direction they would see that the Board was exerting itself. Mr Day wished to Bpeak, but was ruled out of order, and the motion was put — Ayes : Messn Moore, Threlkeld, and the Chairman ; Noes : Messrs Day acd Mathewß. The Chairman said he would cauie t^e letter to be sent as soon as he had seen Mr Wilson. Accounts amounting to £2 3s being passed, the Board adjourned.