HARBOUR BOABD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5272, 31 May 1895, Page 4

HARBOUR BOABD.

LYTTELTON.

I An ordinary meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board was held at the Board's Christohurch office yesterday afternoon; present — Messrs J. Joyce (chairman), F. Waymonth, B. Graham, E. G. Wright, W. Langdown, P. Cunningham, I. Gibbs, Hay, Hon J. T. Peacock, Captains Parsona and M'Clatchie and the Mayor of Lyttelton. chairman's bbport. The Chairman reported that (1) the following sums had been paid in eince last ordinary meeting :— Wharfage .£l3lO 3s 2d, pilotage and port charges .£591 12a 4d, towage, &c, £178 6s Id; total, .£2OBO la 7d. The bank book showed- the current account to be in credit £621 17a 2d. Accounts amounting to .£l7OO 8s 6d would be laid before the Board for payment. (2) Mr A. Milne had taken up his duties aa Engineer in charge of the electric light and cool chamber on Saturday, May 25. (3) A roport would be read from Inspector Derbidge, recommending that tenders be called for the supply of 122,000 ft of black birch planting, required for renewals and repairs to portions of Nos. 3, 4 and 6 jetties. Mr Derbidge pointed out that this black birch should be cut during the winter months, while the sap is down. (4) A letter would be read from the Industrial Association, asking for this Board's cooperation in regard to the holding of its next exhibition, on August 28 next. (5) The harbour - master submitted the names of a volunteer crew to practice in, and use the life boat at S limner, under Pilot Day's supervision. (6) Cdrrespondence would be read in reference to the office for the Board, in Chrisfcchurch; Captain M'Clatchie's notice of motion on this subject would be submitted for consideration. (7) Correspondence would also be read in reference to the charter of Dredge 222. A notice of motion given by Mr Wright at the last meeting on the question, would also come before the meeting. DBKDGK 222. The Chairman made th 6 following statement regarding the dredge :— " The dredge has entered upon her new charter, and her operations will lie confined to the outer harbour, and especially to those parts which, when further deepened, will be of 1 service to outward-bound ocean steamera-. In previous charters of the dredge the Otago Harbour Board permitted this Board to engage two of her hands— a cook and night-watchman — out of a crew o£ : seventeen men. In the new charter this Board is permitted to engage twelve »f the crew, who are to be appointed subject to the approval of the captain arid? engineer. No hardship will be thus inflicted upon any of the men who areto be replaced, for the season thafr had the new charter not been entered into, I was officially informed that thedredge would be forthwith laid 1 up and all her crew discharged. I have consented to the old crew remaining at wosk- for more ;han the period which would be occupied in taking the dredge to Duuedin j and I shall take this further precaution, that if there are circumstances conneoted with individual menobera of the old crew which will warrant me in recommending the captain and engineer to retain their services I shall act accordingly. I&thia Board desires that all the members of. the old crow should be re-engaged, or that applications should be invited to fili any vacancies, effect will fee given thereto by resolution." . • ,

Mr P. Cunningham, suggested that the Bot»rd should go- into committae-io diacuss the question of the dredge. Aa a rule he was opposed to going into coewmittee, but on this occasion there might be certain matters which it would not be advisable for persons outside Canterbury to Sanow. There might be legal difficulties involved. The Hon J. T. Peacock and Mr Wright thought it would be better nofr to go into committee.

It was decided to take tt& businoes in open Board. A letter was read from the: Obago> Harbour Board's Inspector of Wdtrka, forwarding the deed of charter t&s Dredge 222, with a request that the resolution of. the Lyttelton Board, agreeing to- the extended charter for six months, should be endorsed on the deed.

Mr Gibbs moved— v Thafc the Board's 1 seal be affixed to the chartscv"

The Mayor of Lytteltoa asked if there was anything in the new charter as to. dispensing with the old hands on. ; the dredge. He seconded tha- motion.

The Chairman said that thaare wag. nothing.

Mr Cunningham again, urged the adHvieableness of going into committee.. There was, he said, a matter which mighta. involve the payment of H>oney.

Mr Way mouth said tiliat the Board waa ask^d to affix its seal to a contract; but nobody had been givea authority to make a contract. The Board had merely decided to make arrangements for engaging, the dredge for a newt term. .

Mr Wright moved— "Thati the seal of the Board be not affixed to tbe new agreement for chartering Dredge 222, and that the Board disapprove of the Chabman^ aotion in negotiating for a new charter, and in ordering the dismissal of the experienced wontmen hitherto employed' on the dredge." There w«re certain facts in connection wsth the re-ohartecing of the. dredge which should be brought, under the notice of the Board. &t the meeting of May 16, the Chairman had voted three limeß against the retention of the dredge. Five days later the> Chairman himself had written out a requisition calling a special meeting of the Board, and had obtained the signatures of three members to it. The requisition had not emanated spontaneously from those members, but from the Chairman. Then certain statements had been made calculated to arouse the Chairman to a sense of the dangerOoa, condition of the port. The first was a Btateinent as to the KaikoMia grounding, but the harbour-master had shown that on that occasion there had been two feet of water underthe vessel. Then Captain Willis, Lloyd's surveyor, had written to the Chairman to the effect that the Aotea had gone out o! Lyttelton dangerously tender owing to two of her ballast tanks being empty. >He (Mr Wright) had been informed, on the best authority, that the vessel had those two tanks empty when ehe came up from the Bluff. He characterised the statement as an exaggerated one made by a gentleman lacking experience of steamers. Captain Willis's chief experience bad been in sailing vessels. It was wrong that such a sensational statement should have been made for the I purpose of influencing the Board, and also wrong that the Board should be guided by the opinions of gentlemen nob responsible to it, while those of their own officers were ignored ; for the harbour master had reported that no practical good would be done by continuing the services of the dredge for so short a period !as six months, The use of the dredge for ! another six months would not result in ; deepening the channel, but in merely digging j a hole. It would only do work that would I require further expensive work to make it j complete. . The Board could not afford to , do anymore dredging now, especially as 1J64500I J64500 had already been spent for the I purpoae. He would lik& to point out; that j on May 16 the Board had decided, by eight I votes to bix, not to retaiu the dredge, yet ! on May 21 the Chairman had written tbe folbwiug letter to the Otago Harbour i Board :— " Chmtehurcn, May 21 , 1895. D. Q. Stephen^ Esq., Inspector Oiago Barbour Board 1 , Dear Sir, — Subject to the approval of the Lyttelton Harbour Board,' for which I have summoned a special meeting of ray Board at 10 a.m. on Saturday next, May 25, I beg to offer a renewal for six months of the charter now

expiring of the Dredge 222, upon the came terms and conditions aa those of the exiating chartos, unbjccfc to the following variations : That all employed on the said dredge be engaged by me (subject to the approval of the captain and cngiheor the dredge) exoopS "the present master engineers (two) and tire two winch hands. — Youra faithfully, John Joyce, chairman Lyttelton Harbour Board." This had been followed up by the inspector of the Otngo Harbour Board giving the crew a fortnight's notice. A meeting of the Board

had been held on May 25, and yet this letter had not been mentioned at it.

The Hon J. T. Peacock contended that Mr Wright was out of order. He was taking the business out of the proper course and imputing motives.

After some discussion, the Chairman ruled tbat Mr Wright was not out of order.

Mr Wright said that a letter had been received from Mr Turpin on the subject. Mr .Cunningham asked that the letter might oo read. A letter was then read from Mr H. Tarpin, superintending engineer of the dredge, dated May 27, stating that he had been informed by Mr Stephens that he had given a fortnight's notice to the mate, three firemen, five deck hands and one w}nch or donkey man. Mr Turpin considered that this would cause a con' siderable risk, and would not be to the advantage of the Board. The position of mate required a man thoroughly experienced in laying out dredge moorings, qualified to carry on the dredging in case of need, or able, on emergency, to take the master's place. It would be a mistake to put an inexperienced man in the engineroom, to do with the wheels and engines generally, as it was a responsible and dangerous position. The man who looked after and drove the engines working the second winch had a very responsible position. He thoroughly understood his work, which was very complicated. The only men who, Mr Turpin considered, could be replaced by others were the five deck hands and two firemen, and these were all good and steady men.

Act endorsement was made on the letter by Captain Clark, harbour-master, stating' that be quite concurred with Mr Tnrpirt in regard to keeping the men on the dredge. The Chairman ruled the letter out of order, as it did not refer to the matter before the- BoaTd. Therefore, he said, Mr Wright coald not refer to it. Mr Gibbo- asked who had authorised Mr Tnrpin to give this report. The Chairman Baiel that he knew nothing about it. The Secretary said that Mr Tarpin had sent it in the aaual coarse to the Harbourmaster, who bad' forwarded it to the Board. Mr Wright argued that- it would be better to raisy a loan of £50,000 to purchase a dredge,- and bo meet all possible requirements as to dredgrag, than to waste the Boards funds in patchwork, which would be almost useless. The Otago dredge was an extremely expensive one to work, and was orating this Board i&t the rate of over £9600' » year. B» -was- flowy thai; Me* had been fbieed to speak in the tertnß he had ueed, but the manner m wbrob » minority of the Board had contrived to- get the .'Board to reverse a; -jnrevioust deonion baell 'compelled him to speak as- plainly as he t'had.

The Chairman seconded- tie amendment jjyo fitima. He said that he had received ';the letter from Captain Willis on tbe* evening after* the meeting oa> fMay Mi He rang up Mr Williams,, thelexeoufeive- officer of the- Boar^and' pointed! out that he did not wish the< responsibility of the dredge going, away to rest on his casting vote.

- Mr Wright said thafc< the- vofciagr had. Been ff to>&

The Chairman referred to (foe minutes,, which showed that the voting; on' tke pro* posal to- rescind the resolution agreeing toShe return of the dredge, itad)been oarfied by&to 8i but that the motUraitoretain the dredge for three months had been lost. cn^*he casting vote of the Chainnaov.

The Chairman then said' that he hadi agreed with Hr Williams that it was deBirable to- have a special meeting;, and he* (she Chairman) accordingly, drew tup therequisition, which the-- thaee members hadi signed. As to the ra-engagemenfcr. of toe- men on the dredge? the* statement 8$ Mr Wright as to tire letter not having; been, produced at the |meeting< of May 2§ it was- beside the mark, as*the lefcteu-did not refer to the question tben under consideration — the- hiring of tfite- dredge.. He saw M* Stephens on May? 21^. and arranged! with* him to obtain an offer from the j ©feago Barbour Boar*, to lsaee tke dredge j foe a further six nsottthsvsubjjact to this ! Board's* approval wi6b> the* oondition that he (the- Chairman) sßtosldi have* the rzghtr of engaging all the craw except the master,, engineer and two winohmsn.. Mr Stepheas. went to Dunedin* and telegraphed that the Obago Board would agree ! :to thfe. proposal. Kb» (the- Chairman) had i.aince flotmd that some- of}' tire men had* families in Lyttelftea,. aad h>» was quit* /willipgt that those- men siouM be regained* j jor, indeed, that all) the men should be. /re-engaged, if the>-Boaad> thought fflb. Be* (WouM have givan- has vote against ae~ chartering the dredge- ii he had not heaad' 'o£ the groundingvof the Kaikoura and) had) jnofc received Captain Willia'B letUc».

The Hon J. 'D. Psacock said that Mr Wright's assertion as to the Chairman having in reality called the Bpeo&l meeting himself wgb eirroneouß, a& he pfe Peacock) and other members bad diseusaed the acfaieaUeness of doing scs. and he (Mr Peacock)) had suggested' it. He would admit that he had expedited tke sending in eft Captain Williß^; letter, as he thought it was in the interest* of the port that it should be sent in as early as possible. The members who had discussed the calling of the Bpaoial mee(a»g were Messrs Canningham, Graham and himself.

Mr Pfoiftham said that he- had had a conversation w^th Mr Peacock and other members as to calling a special meeting, and had signed the requisition, as he had thought that it was tke result of that discussion. .

Mr P. Cunningham. said thafc he thought the first clause of the amendment before the meeting was out of order, as it was a direot negative to the motion.

The Chairman ruled that the clause was out of order.

The Mayor of larttetton said that Captain Anderson had told him that the Aotea was in a dangerous Btate when she lett Lyttelton, as two of her ballasb-tanka were empty. Mr Cunningham contended that the latter'part of the amendment ought to be struck out, as the Chairman had positively denied the imputations contained in it.

Mr Wright said that if the Chairman positively denied it, he would 'strike it out. He substituted for the amendment, and also for the motion to rescind the resolution re-engaging the dredge for six months, the following :— " That the new charter be fixed for a period of two months only." The Hon J. T. Peacock submitted that this amendment was out of order, as notice had not been given of it. It was an attempt to rescind a resolution passed a week ago, and therefore required notice.

The Cbairnwß bsvkl that the reeplvition of Saturday lftßfc merely prbvlded for making an arrangement for chartering the dredge for a f utther'period of sixmonthe. The Otago Harbour Board bad Bince applied for the seal to be affixed to the charter, and, in consequence of the reaolution not having been clearly worded, Mr Wright's amendment was technically in. order. Mr Langdown seconded the amendment. . Afler some further discussion Mr Waymouth asked what had been done in the way of negotiations since the meeting of May 25. The Board waß now, he Baid, asked to affix il3 seal to a contract which had ncvar been made. Mr Cunningham considered that the Board had practically made a contract with the Otago Harbour Board to engage the dredge for six months, and was morally, and he thought legally, bound to complete it. The amendment tfa's lost by seven votes to five. Ayes— Mesarß Wright, Langdown,. Waymonth, Hay and M'Clatchie. Noes— Messrs Peacock, Cunningham, Graham, ' Gibbrr/ Schumacher, Pareofla and tho Chairman. ' Mr Wriijht moved bs r further amendment—"That Dredge 222 be engaged frem month to month, and that Mr Turpin be B ent to Melbourne to report upon the dredging pl^nt inspected there by Ittr Waymouth." . Captain M'Clatchio seconded the amende mont. „ Mr Gibbs thought it was very undigni--fied that the E&tfd, after having decided to re-engage fcheMredge for six monthß,

Bhould dißcnßs the question in the manner which waa being followed. The Hon J. T. Peacock asked the Chairman to rule whether the amendment did not raise a new subject altogether— that of sending to Melbourne — and therefore required notice. I The Chairman ruled that notice must be given of the second clause of the amendment. i Mr Graham said he was not prepared to vote until he saw the legal effect of so doing. He considered that there was a contract with the Otago Harbour Board to keep the dredge for six months. The amendment—" That Dredge 222 be engaged from month to month " was put and negatived by seven votes to five. Mr Waymouth asked what contract bad been made with the Otago Harbour Board, and by whom. The resolution passed by the Board at last meeting had merely authorised an arrangement being entered into, and had not made a contract. The Chairman Baid that after the last meetine Mr Stephens, inspector for the Otago Harbour Board, had asked him what bad been done, sad he had replied, " The Board has decided to keep tbe dredge for six months." There was nothing else. Mr Graham thought that the Chairman had done a very proper thing in sending the letter to the Otago Harbou* Board, in order to get an offer is terms. Be agreed with the- principle of employing their own labour, b«t did not ags»e with the wholesale dismissal of the hands. He considered that they were morally bound to re-engage the dredge for air months^ The Mayor of LjtteltoE agreed with Mr Graham.

The Chairman said that the question of re-engaging the men woulc& be dealt with by the Harbour Improvement Committee. The original moiion for affixing the seal to the new charter was earned on thevoices, Mr Wright dissenting. MISCEtZUANEOUS. The recommendation of Inspector Dot--bMgeasto calling far tenders for black birch waa approved, and it wfta decided that the timber must <be felled daring thewinter months. The list of names submitted 1 by theI Harbourmaster as volcateer crews>for the Sumoer lifeboat, for boat exercise and lifeboat services, was approved. The Chairman, Messrs Waytnouth, Langd&wn, Parsons and M'Clatchiav were re-appeinted as the Sumnar Lifeboat Committee*. In reply to the letter of the Industrial Association, it was decided to co-operate'iu the indNsßtriai exhibition, to be heM in August, thb wjabd's oFFieas. ' A letter waa reoeived from Mr D. Craig, : of the New Zealand Insurance Company, ia reply to one from the Btard, statfng Hut the company was willing to make , certain alterations in the rooms occupied :By the Board, and that ths Directors -< 'would doubtless be willing to meet the ! Board fairly as to a reduction of rent. I Captain M'Clatchie's motion as to prs--1 curing more suitable offices wa» postponed i to next meeting. ! The nest meeting was fixed for 2.1&' ' p.nai on Jaae 19 at Christohurcb. I T&e meeting- then closed.