HARBOUR BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5582, 4 June 1896, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD.

An .ordinary' meeting ofthe Lyttelton Harbour Board was held in Christchurch at 2 p.m. to-day ; present — Mr E. G. Wright (chairman), and Messrs F. Waymouth, D. M'Millan, W. Dunlop, J. Hay, I. Gibbs, W. Langdown, F. Graham, P. Cunningham and W. Stinson, the Hon J. T. Peacock and Captains Parsons and M'Clatchie. chairman's statement. .The Chairman's report stated that the following sums have been paid into the Board's current account • since our last meeting: — Wharfage, .£1506 6s 2d; pilotj age and port charges, .£486 6s 6d ; towage, storage, &c, .£6l 2s 4d ; total, .£2053 15s. The bank-book showed a credit of .£1524 9s. Accounts amounting to .£1679 5s 7d would be laid before the Board for payment, including .£IOOO payable to the Lyttelton. Harbour Board Sinking Fund Commissioners, for the year 1896. Storage, cool chamber aiid towage reports for the past month wero on the table. Inspector Der bridge had" reported that some 63,000 ft of black birch planking was required for redecking portions of No. 5 jetty, and. of No's. 3 and 5 breastworks. It was desirable that the Board should authorise- tenders beino* called for as soon as possible, so that the timber might he felled in the winter months, whilst the sap was down. Mr Milne had furnished an explanation in reference to the cost of renewing the electric light installation for the Sailors' Home, and providing one for the Seamen's Rest. He would lay on the table a copy of counsel's opinion obtained from Sir Robert Stout in the matter of the tug licensing by-law. He substantially endorsed the opinion given by the solicitor, Mr Nalder. A letter would he read from Mr R. M. Morten, the present occupier of what is known as Bell's baths at Sumner, asking the Board to consent to his abandoning tlie baths, and to allow him to remove the building, &c, therefrom. A portion of the baths (including the two stonework breakwaters) were erected by the lato Mr Bell, outside the limits of tho site which the Harbour Board and the Government granted him permission to occupy for that purpose. The Timaru Harbour Board had written asking the Board to co-operate with them in endeavouring to obtain a reduction in the. rate of commission (2£ per cent), charged by the Railway Department for collecting wharfage dues. A telegram would be read from the secretary of the Otago Harbour Board in reference to Dredge 222, which he stated was again available for charter, she having finished her work at the Bluff. He thought it proper to direct attention to the. rate of insurance premium's upon our No. 1 and 2 stores, which now come due for renewal. The rates have been largely increased by the insurance companies. Looking to the fact that the Board provides special safeguards against fire risks in Lyttelton, by having their tug always under banked fires, with a powerful marine fire engine ready for use; by having fire hose "and hydrants placed along all the breastworks ; and a high-pressure water supply is also available — this being the case, he was of opinion that the proposed increased insurance premiums on tLe Harbour Board's buildings in Lyttelton are unjustifiable. So far as No. 2 store was concerned, the Board was compelled under its lease, to insure it, but he suggested that the amount be reduced from .£SOOO to .£4OOO, and the question would then remain for the Board to consider whether they should not become their own insurers for No. 1 store ? Members would be pleased to learn that H.M.S. Katoomba was placed in our dock yesterday, and the dock affords every facility for docking Her Majesty's ships, and tho cost of docking is nominal, owing to the fact that nothing is charged for beyond the actual cost of the coal used in pumping the dock out. Since the last meeting, diagrams had been received from Home, from the Agents of the steamers Gothic, Tokomaru, -Aotea, and a new steamer now being"built j. and also the s.s. Rakaia* and he hadhad. a longitudinal plan of the dock prepared so that members may see which of the steamers can be docked in Ly ttefton. He laid on the table a circular which has been received from the Canterbury College (testing department), stating that they are now in a position to, furnish physical tests of all descriptions of materials. The Secretary was instructed to call for tenders for the black birch timber required for re-decking. Mr Milne's report on electric lighting was then considered, and passed as satisfactory. Accounts to the amount of .£1679 5s were passed for payment. TUG licenses. An opinion was read* from Sir Robert Stout on the tug licensing by-law, expressing the opinion that the Board had power to license tugs, and also to limit the size of the vessels towed by certain steamers, under certain conditions, but the licensing of masters was unnecessary. A memorandum, upon the same subject was also read. After some discussion, Mr Gibbs moved— "That the solicitor to the Board be instructed to prepare amended by-laws in accord with the opinion given by Sir Eobert Stout." Captain Parsons seconded the motion, which was earned, and it was decided to circulate the memorandum amongst other Harbour Boards in the colony. SUMNER BATHS. Mr R. M. Morton asked to be allowed to relinquish the Sumner Baths, on the grounds that the .Borough Council had unduly interfered with him, and also that at the time he took them over there was considerable misrepresentation as to their position and the previous revenue derived .from them. He also asked permission to remove any buildings erected thereon, and to level the seawall so as to allow the tide to flow in and out freely. It was decided that a committee, consisting of the Chairman, Mr Waymouth and Captain M'Clatchie, should investigate the matter and report to next meeting. WHARFAGE DUES. The letter from the Timaru Harbour Board as to the commission charged by the Railway Department for collecting wharfage dues was read. The opinion was generally expressed that the, charge was a fair one for the work performed, and it" was resolved— " That the Board saw no reason to ask for any reduction in the commission in the mean- . tiinq." _;, DREDGING. With reference- to the telegram from the Otago Board, asking if the Board wished to engage Dredge 222, the Secretary was instructed to reply that the Board did not require a dredge at present. t INSURANCE. The question of the rates of insurance charged on No. 1 and 2 stores was then discussed. It was pointed out that the rates originally charged were .£ll ofl No. 1 and <£20 8s 4d on No. 2 Store. The insurance now asked was .£l6 10s on No. 1 and .£3l on No. 2. It was resolved to reduce the insurance on No. 2 Store from ,£SOOO to 454000, and to reinsure No. . 1 Store for .£2OOO, as previously. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. It was decided to grant leave of absence to the members of Parliament during the session, and to Mr Joyce for that meeting. After deciding to hold, the next meeting of the Board at Christchurch on July 2, the Board ro3e.