HARBOUR BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10298, 1 November 1911, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD.

LYTTELTON. Tho Lyttelton Harbour Board met to-day; present—Messrs 11. Friedhinder (chairman). G. Laurcnson, M.I J. Lambie, F. Horrell, J. Storry, T. D. Boag, C. Allison, 11. Moor, M. J. Miller, J. J. Dougall and A. Kayo and Dr Thackor. Accounts amounting to £3oio 19s ud woro passed, for payment. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. Tho chairman stated that since the previous meeting the following sums had been paid into the harbour fund account: —Wharfage. £1607 hs 9d ; pilotage and port charges, £ll3O 7d.; towage, storage, etc., £995 6s 7d. The total amount was £3932 18s lid, as against £2591 2s lid for the corresponding period of last year. The bank book on the table showed tno current account to bo in credit £3330 lis 9d. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported that the dredge Manchester had completed her share of tho work of dredging at No. 7 jetty, west side, on October 10, and resumed work on the outer channel. Tho quantity of material removed was a 8,352 tons, which had been deposited at Little Port Cooper. The Priestman dredge Towhaka had been engaged in the hard ground at tho inner end of No. 3 jetty, west side, whence slio removed 1800 tons, which had been deposited in the reclamation area. The wost side of No. 7 jetty was now in use, and the east sido was being dismantled preparatory to being reconstructed. The drilling and blasting plant was sent round to iiurns's jetty on October 16, and an effort was made to draw tho piles. They could not bo drawn with tho appliances available, so were blasted out below tho ground level and removed. The small breakwater at Bell's Baths had been repaired with such stone as was to be had without opening a quarry, and other small repairs made to the woodwork at the harbour. The work, however, was not substantial enough for the purpose for which it was required. As the amount of frozen produce passing through the Board'a cool stores rather declined than increased, while tho sale of ice was very profitable, the ice-making tank had been increased' in capacity during the "off" season. Tho reclamation wall had advanced steadily during the month. The south-west s;;ale of October 19 and 20 did no damage. Tho tiplicad was out a distance of 900 ft. The report was adopted. HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT. The Harbour Improvement Committee recommended that a yacht slip should be constructed in accordance with the engineer's report, subject to the Lyttelton Yacht Club paying tho Lyttelton Harbour Board a rental of £22 10s per annum for a term ol' fourteen years and maintaining the slip in good repair, the Board reserving tho right to resume possession at any time on giving three months' notice without paying compensation. Tho general harbour regulations regarding clearing hatchways issued by the Governor-in-Council should be strictly enforced. Having considered tho question of accident and sick pay to casual employees, the committeo recommended that tho Board's casual employees should be paid on similar lines to those existing at tho other principal Harbour Boards in the dominion. After having considered tho circular letter from Messrs Pyne and Co. and H. Matson and Co. regarding improvements to the stock yarding accommodation at Lyttelton, the committee recommended that the suggested improvements, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, as sot forth in the engineer's report, should bo carried out, at an estimated cost of £392. The com. mitteo stated that it had no recommendation to make in regard to tho Sumner signals, and asked for an extension of timo to report regarding tho question of improvements to the "Sumner bar and boat harbour. The committee had received and considered an offer from the Sydney Harbour Trust to purchase the dredge Manchester, and recommended that the matter .jf tho salo_ should be loft in the bonds of tho chairman, with, power to act. Mr Laurcnson suggested that the Board should consider the whole question of tho accommodation of yachts and motor-boats. Tho Auckland and Wellington Harbour Boards had provided special harbours for them, and special accommodation should be provided in Lyttelton. Ho suggested that tho harbour formed by the wall constructed for reclamation purposes might bo adopted. Tho engineer could report on the matter. The report was adopted. FINANCE. The Finance Committee recommended tho creation of a special accident insurance fund, and that £9OO should bo invested in Christchurch Tramwav 4J per cent debentures at par, and that tho balance of £3OO should be placed on deposit with the Permanent Loan and Investment Association of Canterbury, bearing interest at 4 per cent per annum for a term of ono year. The report was adopted. FIRE PREVENTION AT LYTTELTON A special committee recommended that tho Board should reduco tho grant to the Lyttelton Borough Council lor lire prevention purposes £SO per annum in view of the improved facilities for firo fighting provided by tho Board. Air Miller moved as an amendment that tho amount should remain at £IOO. Ho said that tho grant was not exclusively for fi.ro prevention but was really a compensation for water supplied to the Board freo of charge, which was now a considerable item. It was tho only means by which tho payment would bo made to the Council. Au agreement was entered into about thirty years ago, but the quantity supplied then and now was very different. Tho trouble had arisen out of the Fire Inspector objecting to somo of tho Borough employees using the hoso on the wharf for other than fire prevention. The Government had increased its payment per annum from £IOO to £2OO. Mr Lnurenson seconded tho amendment. Ho said that tho Board should recognise tho justice of the Lyttelton claim. Tho item for tho water supplied to tho Board wa3 considerable. Tho yearly account for a steamer like tho Mararoa was £6OO and the Council had to supply water for the Uoard's services.

Tho chairman said that in 1877 au agreement had been entered into by which tho Borough Council took over the waterworks and guaranteed to supply water to the ltaihvay Department and Harbour Board free of charge. Tho Borough Council had 110 claim 011 tho Board.

Mr Laurenson said that under that agreement the Department had had to pay £.1.1)0 per annum towards working expenses.

Mr Ivaye said that at the committeo meeting ho had moved for the reduction, but since hearing Mr Miller and Mr Laurenson ho altered his views and recognised the justice of their claims. Tho amendment Was dropped, and later a motion to refer tho matter to tho Harbour Improvement Committeo was defeated by 7 to 6, Messrs Laurenson, Stony, Allison, Miller and Kayo voting for tho motion. Mr Ivaye moved that the grant should 1)0 reduced to £7o, but in accordance with a suggestion by tho chairman Mr Laurenson moved that tho report should bo referred back to tho Special Commit Leo, and his motion was carried. CANAL COMMISSION. A letter was received from the commissioners appointed by the Board to consider tho canal question, stating that their terms wero ton guineas per day per commissioner, with a- minimum of 100 guineas each, willi all travelling, hotel and incidental expenses. The commission could meet- in Christ-church on Tuesday, November 1-1, to decide what information the commission would require and the procedure to bo adopted", after which the commission could adjourn to a later date. The terms wen; y.greed to, and it was

decided to advise tho commissioners that the dato suggested for the preliminary meeting would bo inconvenient and to suggest that November 17 would be bettor. GENERAL. A letter was received from Joostcn and Co. urging the improvement of the wharf accommodation at Governor's Bay, and the connection of the upper and lower Governor's Bay jetties. Tito nil airman said that the cost of connecting the two jetties was estimated at £SOOO, and other expenses would increaso the amount to £6OOO, and the only offer received by the Board was a rental of £SO per annum for a tearoom. Ho thought that provision might he made for the Board to make a charge on all passengers using tho jetties. The whole question should be referred to the Harbour Improvement Committee. Dr Thacker said that the Board's solicitor should bo asked for his opinion as to whether in the event of the Board refusing to do the work tho Board could allow a private company to do it.

It was decided to refer tho matter to tho Harbour Improvement Committeo.

Mr Laurenson gave notice to move that tho Harbour Improvement Committeo should consider the question of establishing accommodation for yachts at Lyttelton. The Board adjourned to December 6 at Christchurch.