WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12546, 8 July 1905, Page 2

WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD.

Tho usual monthly meeting of the Tny (chairman), W. E. Morgan, A\. B.tJeid on tho table, showing a credit I.al"TcCOTNTOiteounts to tl.o am»mt »i £1464 Ms. sd. wore passed for payfn do business. "Kone of the offices werd tho Commercial hjd aasoia irgly arranged with the Coinn}^l^.. Son Company for a poicy at 40 pe* •cent, for the workmen, and t> pei oe.it. f°ro?L° SUPPLY -The Chairman re* •"^UNTV BLEOTION.-Tho Chain -L rXitKnX» V S !«te ASii£ STeieS 2nd asking that. the Governor's consent +Vipreto bo obtained. . TIM' TABLE—Th 3. Chairman reported that the pilot bad been instructI? to keep a record of tides and weather, as requested by the Manns Deand signals for the DREDGE-The Chairman reported that the lights and signals for the dredge had Si arranged" for, and the Marine Department notified and requested to idveS in New Zealand Government ISS The lights had been approved by tho Collector of Customs and the ON GRAIN -Letter, from the Wanganui Supply Company regarding the wWage on gram, which it was maintained were prohibitive. It pointed out that the rate was 3s. per ton of 10 sacks whereas potatoes were only charged by the *on «* sacks —Mr. Hatnck said that although ho was one of the largest dealers in grain he considered the Board should "not make a reduction in. the charge. Tho Board wanted the revenue, and while tho charge, spread over the eonA sumers. was infinitesimal, it meant a •considerable amount to the Board, tie moved accordingly.—Mr. Ritchie seconded. —Carried. QUARANTINE— Letter from Public Bealth Department, enclosing copy ot new quarantine regulation providing tor lighterage of cargo in stream if necessary in order to destroy infected rats, -and giving the Health Officer power to destroy cargo should he deem fit. TOWN BRlDGE.—Letter from Town -Clerk asking, on behalf of the Borough Council for details of soundings taken .at the Town Bridge since the last high flood in May, 1901.-Mr. Hatnck suggested that the sounding§ should b<3 taken again, as Jie believed the last flood had improved the position ot the bridge.—The Foreman reported that he had sounded since the last flood, and had found no difference. —Resolved, that the information as to soundings bo supplied to the Borough Council as often as they are taken by the Board ci foreman. • PORTRAIT OF THE LATE JOHN BALLANCE—Letter from Mr. A. D. Willis, M.H.R., asking to be allowed to present the Board with a picture of the _Hon. John Ballanoe. Mr. Willis ppint- • «it ovit that tbe~ late Mr. Ballanee had rendered splendid service to the Board, • .as Chairman, and the placing of his ■photograph in ihp. ; Baard's office would -only be a nftfeigfferibute to owe5 who had passed away,1 and who o^ght to be v ? "forgottensbarter the time "'and energy he had displayed in Harbour matters. — Offer accepted, and, on the motion of the Chairman, a letter of thanks to be .■forwarded to Mr. Willis. SHIPPING REPORTS.—Letter from i;he Chief Postmaster, Wanganui, stating that as Miss Irvine was relinquishing tho duty of reporting the arrival =and departure of vessels from this port, tho Department would be obliged ii the Board would arrange with Captain Pope or some equally reliable employee to perform the duty. The Department would grant a subsidy of £5 per annum for the work.^ —On the motion of Mr. HatrJck it was resolved that the Assistant Harbourmaster be instructed to the information required by tho Department, and that he be informed that the fee allowed by the Department! would be handed to him. HARBOURS ASSOCIATION.-Letter from the secretary of the Harbours Association of "New Zealand, asking oil "behalf of tho Executive, that more lively interest should be taken in and use made of the Association than has hitherto been tho case. Incidentally, tha Board was asked to forward particulars of any legal decisions or opinions. >or other information of general interest to Harbour Boards which it might

bu in the power of the Board to provide.—Kesolvecl that information be supplied, and that the Chairman be appointed delegate to the next conference. _ .

A PROTEST.—Letter from Hori Ken and others, stating that Mr. Wright, of Kaitoke, had fenced a line right down to tho edge of the river, stopping the complainants from getting tirewood. They objected, and asked the Board to interfere in the matter.—The secretary stated that the Board had given Mr. Wright authority to erect the fence.— Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hatrick, that tho secretary send an explanatory letter to Mr. Hori Keri. WAI TAR A.—Letter from C. F. Millward and Co., offering to sell to the Board tho steamer Waitara (lately oil "Wanganui), for towage and general! harbour work. It was stated that the vessel had been thoroughly overhauled. The price quoted. was £440.—A letter was also road from Richardson and ■Blair, of Wellington, offering to supply a tug.—The Chairman said it was a question as to whether it would not be to tho advantage of the Board to purchase a small oil launch.—Resolved, oil thu motion of Mr. Hatrick, that the secretary reply that the Board had no'i! yet considered tho question of purchasin'*1 a t'lff. JIEA'iT LIGHT, AND SUPPLY COMPANY.—Letter from Heat, Light, and Supply Company, Wellington, of* fering to instal a 15-light acetelyne gas ! servica on tho dredge for £85. The Company were prepared to put in the plant at their own risk, and, if the light was not satisfactory to the Board to remove it free of charge to the Board. —Mr. Hatrick pointed out that at 6d. an hour, assuming they were going td work night shifts, it would cost £9 a month for light. He said he had himself put in, at his workshop,^ a 20 16----candle power dynamo for £17, a small oil engine was; not expensive, and the total installation would cost no more than tho acetelyne, after which the subsequent cost was a mere bagatelle. - Tho members agreed that electric, light would-be much more convenient than gfi^.. —Referred :o the Works Committeu to report. • HARBOUB MASTER'S REPORT — Tho Harbour Master reported that there was no proper channel over the bar at present. The freshes during the month removed about 200 feet of the sandbank in front of and below the Heads wharf, and a large piece of the South Spit, the whole of which appeared to hava landed on the bar, which now forms a belt across from the North to South Spits. Sounded the bar at loAvest neaps and got .7 feet 4 inches at high water, which would give about 10 feet at high water spring ordinarily, but tho easterly winds at present prevailing are causing very low times. The bar is at present very unsatisfactory, but it was hoped a channel would open soon. The lower reach and entrance aro fairly good. The upper fiats have silted up considerably. Ninety vessels crossed tho bar during the month, 42 of which crossed in the night. The s.s. Niwaru loaded in the roadstead from tho 18th to the 23rd, during which time tha weather wafi unsettled.

FOREMAN'S REPORT—The Foreman.! report for the month was read and received..

DREDGEMASTER'S REPORT—The dredgemaster reported that the work of fitting together the spoil pipes was now completed. The dredge had been towed down the river, and the spoil pipes were being connected. A trial run of the diedgo was held on the sth, when everything worked satisfactorily, and it was expected that the work of dredging tho channel would be commenced next week.

WORKS COMMITTEE—The Works Committee's report, as follows, was iidoptedU^Engineer: Mr. Reynolds interviewed the ,«bmnutteß on the 21st June}s the agreement as to Mr. 'Ifeynolds' 'appointment, as. the Board's wa#,th^y/execTated. icMr. Rey^ tfolds has siweer been;engaged in-making the necessary investigations in connection with the works proposed to be undertaken by the Board. Harbours As 4 sociation : The Committee has not as yet dealt with this question. Refund, Lighterago S.S. Storm: The agents of the Storm supplied details of their claim for lighterage fees paid. A letter from tho Harbourmaster was received, stating that tho steamer had not used the Castlecliff wharf since December 18th, 1904, and that since that date the agents had always ordered the steamer to be lightered. It was resolved that tho original resolution in reference to refunds of wharf dues be adhered to, and that tho claim be rot entertained. Priostman Dredge: Your Committee reJ commend that as this dredge will possibly not bo requh'ed, now that the new dredge is ready, that the same be offered for sale, the price to be £600.