THE PORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11594, 12 January 1916, Page 5

THE PORT.

HARBOUR BOARD MEETING. DECREASE IN REVENUE. Tho Lyttelton Harbour Board met in Chmtchurch. this morning; present— Messrs M. J. Miller (chairman), C. Allison, J. J. Graham, J. Storry, T. D. Bong, F. Horrell, J. J. Dougall, H. \ Friedlander, R. M. Spiers, H. F. Nicol, G. Scott, Dr Thackor, M.P. and the Hon R. Moore. An apology was received from Mr A. Kaye. FINANCE. Tho chairman's monthly report stated that sine© tho last ordinary meeting the following sums had been paid into tho harbour fund account: — Wharfage £2313 18s lid, pilotage and port charges £1063 6s Id, towage, storage, etc., £1702 12s Bdj total, £5079 17s 6d. In addition, the sum of £4900 was transferred from the special renewal fund, and at tho close of the year, after payment of the accounts authorised for payment by the Finance Committee, the harbour fund was overdrawn £3129 Bs. The cash receipts for the twelve months ended December 31, 1915, were- £64,431 Is 6d, as against £71,925 14s M, or a decrease of- £7494 13s 3d. The Finance Committee recommended that tho sum. of £lO bequeathed to tho Lvttelton Sailors' Heme by the lato Miss E. Martin be invested in the New Zealand Government war loan debentures, if .available. That the sutn of £4400 standing to tho credit of the slinking: fund commissioner's account be invested and applied in part purchase of a mortgage to the Lyttelton Harbour Board (special renewal fund); securing a loan of £5500. That the treasurer be asked to prepare aa estimate of tho receipts and expenditure for the ensuing year, and that a special meeting of the Finance Committee be held to consider same, together with the comparative returns of the charges at the principal ports of New Zealand.

Tho report was adopted. Accounts were passed for payment totalling £7723 4s. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Tho engineer's monthly report stated that during December the dredge Canterbury had lifted 129,807 tons from the outer channel and 43,599 tons from the inner harbour, making a total quantity of 173,496 tons, the whole of which has boon pumped into tho reclamation area. On Decembei 9 an investigation into the cause of the 'port pump not working well showed that tho suction pipe was obstructed hear the ball joint, and several large stones and pieces of iron were removed from it. For the purpose it was necessary to send a man up.,tho pipe. On December 22 the drag picked up an anchor and chain which were lost from the dredge Manchester some years ago It was removed and landed without injury to the gear. The Tewbaka has been engaged! at the hard ground between No. ■ 6 and 7 jetties, when she has removed 1400 tons of stones and hard cla-y, the spoil deposited at ;*ea.

Reclamation Works.—The- high water wall now extends 180 ft eastwards from the finished end of the, Baker's Point wall, aud 240 ft westwards from the central point afc which it was started. That is to say, 420 ft of the. 1275 ft of low water wall has-been raised to'high water level, .leaving 855 ft still to be raised. At the present rate of progress this should occupy about thirteen weeks, after which it may be practicable to reduce the rate of expenditure on this wall without detriment to the works.

Wharf Extensions and Renewals.— Good progress is being made with the reconstruction and enlargement of No. 6 jetty, the caps have been fitted, on eighteen bays, and the floor beams fitted on eieht bays. This represents about one-third of the structural part of the work irrespective of the decking. Conversion to Electric Drive.—The necessary alterations to the roof of the engine-room for the admission of the high-tension lines and gear are almost complete, and tho necessary temporary arrangements for carrying the present line conductors while the changes are hcing made are in hand. The transformers arrived by the Coriuthic, and will soon he installed, and progress is bein<r made bv the contractor for the switchboard. The plant for the conversion of tho freezing machine should be on hand by the time the current is available.

The reoort was adopted. HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS

The Harbour Improvement Committee's report stated that the committee recommended that no action be taken at present to provide additional grain storage accommodation in Lyttelton. Having considered the engineer's report with reference to the recent lire at Lyttelton, the committee recom-mended-—(a) That the brick store at the dock be used temporarily for- the storage of inflammable oils, and that the engineer be requested to report on the matter of erecting a permanent bond ; (b) that the N.Z. Shipping Company be approached to institute inquiries into the origin of the recent fire; (c) that, in recognition of the valuable service rendered by members of the board's in suppressing the recent fire at Lyttelton, "they be paid for their services at overtime rates; (d) that the question of payment for the services of and loss of wages by the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade be deferred until the next meeting of the committee. The committee reported having authorised the payment of a pound for pound' subsidy on all sums subsci ibed by tho board's employees to the Public Services Queen in connection with the coming carnival to be held for the pur]X)se of raising monev in aid of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund. The report was adopted. MISCELLANEOUS.

The engineer (Mr Cyrus J. R. Williams) said that the duty was put on after the contract had been made. The total sum involved was £'l2o. After some discussion it was agreed to pay half the amount. Messrs Reese Bros, wrote, asking that' the Government war tax duty of 1 per cent in respect of ironbark piles and timber for No. 6 jetty 6hould be paid by the board. Messrs Lufaro and Sons applied for a. renewal of their lease of No. 7 fish cramber for a further twelve months. —Granted. An application was received from Messrs Miller Bros., shipwrights of Port Chalmers, to lease the graving dock for a term of years.—Referred to Harbour Improvements Committee. The District Engineer of Public Works submitted his valuation of the board's properties at Sumner, at £IBIS. The special committee set up to consider tho tender for the supply of uniforms for the dredging staff reported having accepted W. Strange and Co.'s. tender of £125 lis 4d for the work. The case of J. Childs, blacksmith, absent on sick leave eince August 25, 1915, was referred to the Harbour Improvement Committee.