HARBOR BOARD.

Western Star, Issue 962, 4 July 1885, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

[A. meeting of the Board was held on Wednesdays when; the® >were present: Messrs Gr. Eoberfcson (Chairman;) ji: G. Eeidj Port) Collins, Printz arid Mills

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The outward correspondence included letter to Mr Hirst, M.H.R., in terms of resolution passed'at last meeting of the Board, with regard'to urging 1 upon the, Minister iof Public Works connecting in ew. wharf with . T.he.inward correspondence; consisted of jlette ; r ffpmthe Marine Department enclosing printed f placards giving in-' stmctioris'for restoring the apparently issued by the' Boyal Humane Society.: afi ,¥tctoria.-—Beeeived,- and the Harbor Master to be instructed to same in his office.

The following report.from the./Harbor Master'was read and'received:—

SiE,r^Msourrequ'e'sfcltTbavef ftSkenf sTdikhtJ:-"-ings along the front of newwharf, and nave to report that at the eastern end a considerable scouring has taken place, so much as to leave the bottom dt thesh'eathingabbve the ground", and the r ,earth,wpr,k. is coming through,. / At tthe western ,end tbere.is, not quite.so deep a : scour, biit'stillthekli'eathirigis'aliove'the bottom, :. All Ibis dirt: h'aa'ideposifced itself about the! centre and caused a bank, projecting out about/seven'feef/'and dryat low watei\ ; Tliis might be levelled iby meri :\vith long-handledt shovels, but on no,account should it. jbe. lowered more than about a foot, as I'liave already stated the sheathing" U above tho level of the'bo.tlpm. .About; one; hundred yards; belbw the. wharf, in the there is a bank growing'tipj'which jiist'sliowa at Tow water spring tide 3. This js,, caused by the wharf diverting the curront and forcing the body of "water over ~to™rhe" •number of the members cifthe. JJoard visited the wharf, it is unnecessary 1 for me to make any comment; but before doing any more, I Would recommend the Board to got the advice of ii : practical 'engineer;'for rio ama'teurshbuldf a{.ten*pt to interfere with.tidal waters, ,-■' *

A conversational discussion of some length took place "upon the report, the opinion being I ithati 'something should be done- to make the berthage secure, : and that;re]iab]e*pr6fpssipnal advice should bje^obtained' a§ -to; the, best . ; mea,ns,.pf effectingthat object.. It was suggested that application should be made to Government to' appoint an engineer I 'tdteiD'brtupon the .'best meaus of- dealing-with the matter, but the Chairman/ pointed out that such an application would probably only result in delay, as a previous similar application had been refused on the ground that an officer from the Marine Department could not be spared for such a purpose. He considered it vyais a great mistake for Government to' hand over to Boards the management of harbors, without making preyisipnffpr se'emg thai; any"prwks, carried oui; ! were "done in 'a'proper* manner. Ultimately it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Beid, that the Secretary write to the Dunedin Harbor Board engineer, asking upon what terms ho could inspect and advise the Board as to what would require to be done. •/.,]}'}• 'IT/I.i (ISh !'i! '('•!' i The danger of the Board being mulcted in damnges. for...injuries sustained by vessels berthing at the new wharf was also commented upon, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Port, That owing to the state of the berthage at the new wharf, owners or masters of vessels making use of it be informed that they do so at their own risk,'and that the Harbor Master be requested to give written notice to that effect to masters of vessels belonging to or visiting the port. Mr Eeid remarked that it was a humiliating, position for the Board tq; be placbdan,;but I ;that under!the stances it could not be avoided. In accordance with notice Mr Ecid moved that in future,the; Board meet at two o'clock instead of noon.—Car-o-icd. :.. ./•: ■ .., .

It being remarked that since the alteration in the railway time table Wednesday was not a suitable day for the Board to meet, as the train did nott suit the country] member?", Mr Por gave notice that ho would move a ; next meeting that in future the Board meet on Thursdays. The Board then adjourned.