RIVERTON HARBOR BOARD.

Western Star, Issue 987, 3 October 1885, Page 2

RIVERTON HARBOR BOARD.

The Board held a meeting on Thursday afternoon, when there were present: Messrs Q-. Robertson (Chairman) Port, Hamilton, Mil's, Collins, and Reid. A communication was read from the Marine Deparment in reply, stating that the Pilot reserve was not vested in the Board, which could not therefore deal with it. A letter was read from Mr Scales, offering to bear proportion of cost of cleaning out creek on the Board’s reserve if the Board undertook the work.—Some discussion ensued upon the scheme proposed last year by the Board to drain the reserve. —Mr Mills explained that the Committee that was then appointed did not approve of cleaning and straightening, the creek, as it was at one end of tho reserve, and would not prove so serviceable as a ditch up the centre. —It was also ex plained that lenders had been called for the work, but they were considered too high. The lease of the ground had been offered, but thero were no applicants. —Mr Hamilton said he would object to the Board expending any money on draining tho ground. He thought the better plan would be to call tenders for tho lease of the ground, and let the lessees drain it, giving them compensation for improvements at the end of tho lease. Ho had been informed that what had been intended to have been done by the Board would have been of no use except to the adjoining 'andholdosr.— The Chairman said it was represented that if the Board cut a drain a large area of land would be rendered available.—Mr Hamilton gave notice that he would move at next meeting that tenders be called for leasing the land. The Harbor Master's report as follows was then red:—“l have to report that since my last very little change has taken place in the harbor or channel. I have frequently visited the new wharf, and tied the silting along the front is so very little as scarce'y to bo noticed since a committee of the Board visited it in tho early part of August I ist.”— Mr Mills : I would like to ask the Harbor Master if he considers it unsafe for vessels to berth at the new wharf.—The Chairman, (to the Harbor Master) : Is there not ample room at tho lower end of the wharf ?—Capt. Tall said that there was no doubt but that the lower end of tho wharf was a safe berth, so long as vessels did not go too far. Vessels were not likely to meet with a miVortuno at the lower end, but the upper end was not safe.— The Chairman :I understood there was considerable distance at the lower end that would bo safe berthage ?—Capt. Tall: About one third. At the time the "Western Star lay there she pulled with a tremendous force on the ropes, t would not say, that a vessel would come to grief, but she would be in a very awkwa’d position lying on her side. Still, I would not object t«. berth a vessel like the Maid of Otago at the lower end.—The Chairman suggested that, instead of going to any expense in connection with the wharf, would it not be advisable, seeing the silt had not increased, to take steps to keep the silt clear. Supposing the Board spent a few hundreds of pounds in alterations to the? wharf, would the interest on that'

money not keep the silt clear ? They had gut the wharf and must make the best they could of it. He did not think it would be a serious thing to keep the silt clear even by manual labor. —In reply to Mr Hamilton, the Harbor Master said he had removed the atones that some time ago were lying in front of the wharf. Mr Hamilton suggested that notice should be given that the Board would not be responsible for any damage done to vessels berthing at the new wharf, but the Chairman explained that that had already been done.—Mr Collins remarked that dues were still being collected. —Replying to Mr Hamilton, the Chairman stated that Government had not yet started to connect the wharf with the railwav.—Mr Hamilton thought it would be well for the Board to take into consideration the state of the wharf before to any further expense. It would be useless to lay rails, if the pvharf could not be utilised, unless tho silt could be kept clear by labor. He asked if the bank could be easily removed.— Capt. Tall replied that the bank was composed of loose sand and seaweed, fn ocher harbors dredging had to be resorted to to keep the silt clear.-—Mr Reid thought that the removal of the silt might be tried as an experiment. —Mr Hamilton moved that a committee, consisting of the Chairman, mover, and Capt. Tall, be appointed to enquire and report upon the advisability of removing the bank by labor.—Seconded by Mr Port and carried. Accounts as follow were then passed for payment :■ —G. M. Barr, £2O; Capt. Tall, £10; Whittingham- Bros, and Instone, £1 5s ; G. O. Cassels, £5 8s ; Rates, £ll9s Id. A standing authority was ordered to be given the Bank to meet coupons out of account as they fell due. As it was rumored that the railway department intended to erect a new bridge over the estuary, on the suggestion of Mr Port it was decided that the Chairman make enquiries with a view to see that provision was made in the plans for an unobstructed passage for punts. The Board then adjourned.