HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13978, 10 May 1913, Page 6

HARBOUR BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board was "held last night, at which there were present—Messrs J. B. Murray, N. Mculi, C. E. Mackay, W. G. Bassett, T. B. Williams, J. T. Hogan, J. T. Muir, and J. C. Patterson. An apology was received from Mr A. G. Bignc.ll. HONORARIUM.—The chairman’s, honorarium was fixed at ill O') for the ensuing year. CHAIRMAN. —On the motion of Mr N. Mculi, seconded hy Mr Patterson, Mr J. I!, Murray was elected chairman for the ensuing year. NEW MEMBER.-Mr J. T. Muir was welcomed to the Board’s table.—ln reply he said he. would stick to his election pledges as far as he was able. APPRECIATION. —It was decided to convey to Mr J. Jones the Board’s appreciation of his services while a member of the Board. Members spoke appreciatively of. his services, stating that he stuck to ';is election pledges. BALANCE-SHEET.—The Audit Department returned the balance-sheet of the 'loard, duly audited, which was passed.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board was held afterwards. ELECTION—The Returning Officer notified the Board of the election of six ‘•'combined -district” members—Messrs C. K. Mackay, T. B. Williams, A. G. Bigcell, W. 0. Bassett, N. Mculi, ,T. T. Muir. —Received. ACCOUNTS.—Accounts amounting to -6461 As 8d were passed for payment. BANK BALANCES.—GeneraI account, dr, £6482 7s 4d; loan account, cr, fixed deposit, .£3OOO. MARINE SIGNALS.—R. W. Cameron and Co., of Wellington, forwarded copies of testimonials regarding the Interna-tional-Marine Signal Co.’s buoys, and including a list of recent orders.—Received CONTROL OP WHARF.—A letter was received from the Minister of Railways, regretting that, owing to pressure of business, be was unable to receive the Board’s deputation rc the control of the'wharf until near the end of May.—The committee set up to interview the Miuisicr bv the old Board was re-constituted. PUNTS WITHOUT LlGHTS.—Captain W. H. Sawyers, master of the Moa/. asked that, as it was becoming a common practice to have punts alongside the town wharf without any lights on them, and several accidents had been narrowly averted, the Board would put lights on them at night.—The letter was ordered to be forwarded to the captain-of the tug Togo, also a letter to be sent to the captain of the Moa explaining the position.

PRIESTMAN DREDGE.—Messrs Richardson, McCabe, and Co., Ltd., of Wellington, forwarded printed matter regarding Priestman dredges, and informing the Board that their firm was sole agent for Now' Zealand.—A letter to ho sent to Messrs Richardson. McCabe and Co., Ltd., stating that the Board has no intention of purchasing a Priestman dredge at pre--eiit. STATISTICS.—A request was received Horn the Registrar-General's Office asking lev information rewarding the harbour for '‘■ihlication in the next edition of the Municipal Handbook.—lt was decided to furnish the information. CASTLECLIFF FORESHORE.—The Alavine Department forwarded a copy of a communication from Messrs Marshall and Hutton, in regard to-the issue of -a. .license to the "West-bourne Seaside Company. Ltd., to occupy the .foreshore at Castlecliff. The Department also asked for the Board’s view'of the matter.—lt was decided to lonvard to the Marino Department a copy of a resolution of the Board dealing with the proposition. ,' , COMMlTTEES.—Committees wore /set up us follows:—Works Committee: Messrs J. B. Murray, N. Mculi, W. J. Poison, J. C. Patterson, W. G. Bassett, J..T. Muir, T. B. Williams/ A’. 0/..:Bigiicll, Hogan. ■■ Finance: Messrs" .!. ,B.'Murray, C. E. Mackay/T. B. ’Williams, IV. G. Bassett, and A. O: Bignbl.L. Bills; Messrs,.!. B. Murray,-A. G, BighelF, W. G: Bassett, C. E. Maekav, T. B. Williams. J..T. Muir, and J. T: Hogan. ' SUPPLY OF METAL.-—Owing to 'the foreman reporting that there was no metal availabel for street purposes, a reply was authorised- to he ,stilt to the Borough Council to that effect. DREDGING.—The question of further dredging and instructions to the foreman was left to Ihp Works Committee.

REPORTS., j FOREMAN’S REPORT. V ' •Tito- Board's foreman reported us. fol-i lows on‘the .work carried out during the ’ 11)011 tli of April: J North Mole.—llos 'tons of large stone; were tipped on this mole. North ■"Traipw ing Wall-Extension.—3(ss tons of nibble! were deposited on this wall; 400 ft is nows

completed to low tide level Wand the stone is well up for a further 1200 ft. Ninety tons of rubble ■ were supplied to the borough. The quarry output was 2060 tons. Repairs to cattle wharf have been completed. The piles ,in the dolphins at Castlecliff have been drawn and driven in their new position to form a pier to berth a boat at the upper end of the wharf. Two acres of the Castlecliff beach were planted with maram grass. The minimum deptli in the channel is 13ft (jin at h.w. springs and 10ft bin at h.w. neaps. This depth is obtained only at two points in the river, below Mitchell's whore the dredge is at present working, and off Lauguard Bluff. , The foreman also stated that in regard to the application of the borough for information as to the supply of metal available from the quarry, tuat it would bo difficult to supply any at the present time, owing to the quantity of silt with wliicll it is mixed. The npalls which would be suitable for street foundations are being used in the training, walls.—Adopted. DREDGE MASTER’S REPORT. The work of dredging the navigable channel at the S.E. Spit to a deptli of 15ft 3in below h.w. spring tides was completed on April 5. Heavy weather on the 7th and Bth April prevented the shifting of the dredge until the 9th, when, according to instructions, it was towed to n . point above the internal wall, and resumed dredging on the 10th. The amount of spoil raised for 2(ldays’ dredging was 4180 cubic yards. The material dredged was the finest silt. On the 21st and 22nd of April the boiler of the dredge was opened up for examination and cleaning. The machinery is in good working order.— Aopted. PILOT’S REPORT. Mr J. Mclntyre, harbourmaster, reported as follows for the month of April: —Soundings were taken on the bar channel twice during the month, on the 3()th and 21st, and on both occasions the sound-" ings obtained were equal to a depth of 23ft at high water springs and 20ft at high, water! neap tides. The soundings from end -of moles to lower end of Heads wharf vary from 22ft to 32ft at high water springs, and 19ft to 29ft at high water neaps. At the Castlecliff wharf and berthage the soundings vary from 32ft at' the lower end of the wharf to 17ft at the top-.end, and for a distance of 50ft beyond Jffie top" end gives a depth of 15ft at high water ordinary springs. The piles driven in by the Board's foreman to moor lighters to came in very useful when having to berth the Ultimata, which was overhanging the wharf by 50ft at the top end, the lighters occupying the lower end ot the wharf. The river channel has still a minimum deptli of 13ft bin at high water springs and 10ft bin at high water neaps. Arrivals and Departures.—l3s vessels entered and departed during the month, giving a tonnage of 18,782 tons gross. The liiuraata is a vessel of 240 ft in length, 3bft in beam, and lias a carrying capacity of 2000 tons, She came in and berthed atthe Heads wharf almost at low water with a cargo of 1185 tons, and can land a full cargo on a mean draught of 15ft 4in.

WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Works Committee reported as follows :—The foreman reported that.he had arranged to keep the quarries’ track clear, and bad given instructions to the men working to be careful when strippings are being thrown over the face of the quarry. The tender of Messrs Green, McLean, Heaven, and Co. for timber for decking the wharf was accepted ns under:—Jravah delivered on wharf. 32s per 300 s.f.; heart of totara delivered on wharf, 24,s per 300 s.f.—Adopted.