WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12257, 3 July 1909, Page 8

WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD.

Tlia usira! monthly meeting of the above was held last evening when there were present Messrs J. 13. Murray (chairman), N. Meuli, A. G. Bignell", D. Mason, C. E. Mackay, C Patterson, VV. G. Bassott, W. F. Dickey. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs Williams and Ritchie.

MINUTES.—The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

FINANCE.—Tho credit on loan account was £32,500 and tho general account showed dr £14,340 6s 4d. ACCOUNTS.—Accounts amounting to £885 2s wore passed for payment. THANKS.—Mrs Griffiths and Mrs Notman wrote thanking the Board for its sympathy in their bereavements.

PUTIKI ROAD.—It was resolved that the Chairman confer with the Board's solicitors, and find what legal access the Board have to their reserve.

WAGES.—A letter was received from tlio General Manager of Railways informing the Board that the Wanganui Waterside Workers' Union had made application for an increase in wages for handling steamers' cargo. Tho present rates paid to the men were Is" 3d an hour and 2s an hour for overtime. The increase asked by the Union would mean that an additional £500 per annum would have to be paid t*> the Railway department for working the wharf traffic only. The letter went on to paint out that the work on the wharf is performed by the Railway Department, which charges the Board at the rate of Bd per ton. This rate was fixed when labour wages were lower than at present, but. irrespective of the demand by the Union; tho cost of handling the wharf traffic at Wanganui last year was 9 2 d a ten. and the Department spent £235 11s 9d more than was received from the Board. The Department could not continue to handle the traffic at a loss and the time had arrived when the Board should increase the rate to 9£d per ton to cover the present cost of handling, irrespective of the demand by tho Union, which would mean an additional 2d per ton.—The question of the actual ecsb of handling called forth a good deal of discussion among the members of the Board.—Mr Murray said he could not believe that it cost 9£d per ton to handle the cargo-.—Mr Bignell thought that tho Board could take .over the handling itself.—Mr Bas■sett gave an instance of handling timber, when he was charged an extra 3d per 100 ft because the timber was put straight onto the trucks instead of boing put on tho wharf and then loaded oil to tho trucks. The wharfinger recognised the inconsistency bat could do nothing. Mr Bassett supposed that the Railway Department profited by this. —-Mr Hurra-" said that the present system was the best one, provided the Railway Department dealt justly with tho Board.—The matter was postponed til! next investing, and in the meantime, the secretary was instructed to write to other harbour boards and ascertain their method and the cost of handling. NIGHT SIGNALLING.—The secretary of the local branch of the Navy League brought under the notice of the Board tho great advantages of the Morss system of night signalling as in use in H.M. Navy. The Navy League had suggested this to tho Marine Department and it respectfully urged the Board to approach the Department in the same- direction.—lt was decided tr> ask tho secretary (Mr Cohen) for information on the subject. LEASE—The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote informing ihe Board that Mr O. G. Culling's lense of 5 sections Block VT.. Pohangina, had expired and nroposed that tho rental for the future be £3 per annum. The suggestion was a.ere-xl to.

NAUTICAL ALMANAC— The Marino Department wrote asking for tho revision of the chart and information relating to the port fcr publication in th-? almanac.—lt was moved that the information bo supplied. It was also derided that epics of the almanac Ik> supplied to all members of the Board.

IMPOUNDING STOCK.—Authority was given to tho Cnstlecliff Town Board to impound straying stock.

PILOT'S REPORT.—Th* Pilot, in his report, stated that the channel was in the same position as Inst month. Sonndiirss taken on the 21st showed a depth of lift 4ins at high water spring tides. He had been unable- to sound since then, but from reports'from masters of vessels and from the way vessels havo linriu; on the bar, hn had come tr> tho ■contusion that there was only about 10ft during high water springs, and 7ft during high water reaps. The causa of the unusual silt<ng up was the fresh in the river and thr* heavy poa on tho bar. At the 8 a.m. tide the Knpiti and Regains, each drawing Oft, hung on tho bar for some time while crossinginwards. There, was 7ft on ilie tide guage, and a.4 the average spring tide has only Bft on tho guage there would bo only 2ffc of water on tho bar at low wat?r. Ninety-five vessels crossed during the lmnth, 57 c-f which crossed during the night. One Home boat loaded in tho roadstead.

WORKS. COMMITTEE.—Tho Chairman reported that the Works Committee had visited the Heads on two occasions, on tho last occasion Mr Reynolds being present. The Committee had inspected the washing away of the South Spit and also the Charles Edward. They had come to the conclusion that the extension of the North Mole should be discontinued and that the, work on the South Mole should be pushed on as expeditiously as .possible. The blowing up of tho diaries Edward was not approved of, but it was thought that piles should bo driven and a favourable opportunity awaited to lift her. W 7ith regard to tho ficourii<g away of the South Spit, tho Coir.mittea were strongly of tho opinion that tho internal wall should be extended so as to carry the current over towards the Hejuls wharf. Tim Crmmittoe's report was adopted.

COMPLAINTS.—The Chairman reported that an inquiry had boon held into the wharf administration complained of nt tho previous meeting, and had decided .rhat the State Coal Company were in error and.that the wharfinger had acted in accordance with the bylaws. It \vas decided, to forward acopy of tho by-Jaws to the Company. With reference" to the other complaint, it was decided to hold over'the report, pending a reply from tho Railway De-Partmoi-'t. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Tho following is tho Resident Engineer's report:— Dndgino:.—The dredge has advanced n. further distance of 360 feet on a. cut 120 foot wide dredged to a depth of 12 fret below loir water spring tide 3.

The amount of spoil raised (bucket measurement) is approximately as follows : Discharged over north wall 15,939 cubic yards, discharged into 116 pants 2,436 cubic yards, total 18,375 cubic yards. A large amount of buried timber was met with and removed from the channel. This, together with eight days' stoppage, through heavy fresh, lias materially interfered with the work. The dredged channel remains satisfactory throughout, the least depth at high water spring tides being 15ft 6in. North Mole.—Staging has been run out 30ft, making the total 980 ft. Rubble work has been extended out to 90Dft. During the month 925 cubic yards of rubHo w:rj dcpo.ifrxl. The pile driving plant has been removed from tho end cf the Mole and will be used for tho piling afc the new Castlecliff wharf.

South Mole The wharf is nearing completion and tho staging for the Molo has been run out 6'oft. During the month 4-58 cubic yards of small rubble were deposited. The crane recently purchased -at Westport, arrived and iVs now being placed in position. South Training Wall.—A further length of 300 feet of this wall was raised and repaired, 220 cubic yards of rubble being used in the work.

Quarry.—Work at the quarry continues ratisfactr.ry and the face h fair only, there be'ng a good deal of soft seams and smaU rubble which, in addition to tho stripping, has to be removed. During the month 1603 cubicyards of rubble were despatched to the moles.and wnlls.

Stwe Punt.—This new punt is now in commission, having been passed by m^ as s:itrsf«ctory, and in accordance with plans and specifications.

"'Charies Edward."—Work «t this wreck has been further -smnend^d owing to the last heavy fre-h scouring out tho two piles driven for tho approach to tho staging. Jt appears from the position of tho hull that the scour is much greater than at any previous period and it i« not certain that 50ft piles will be suitable. I would suggest waiting until the rubble work has been carried up to ensure protection before proceeding further with the work, a\jd in tho meantime fresh fonndin.es will be taken and a. decision como to as to whether the 50ft piles procured for the purpose will be sufficient. lam of opinion that after the nibble work is in there will, bo less ecour through tho mole and thereby loss danger to the staging. The hull is at present' cl^ar of sand. *..

C. H. HA WORTH

Resident Engineer