HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 879, 1 May 1903, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Board was held yesterday, there being present : Messrs Town ley iCI-airm m), Harding, Hepburn, Sievwrigbt, Ciark, and Matthcwson. The Public Trustee wrote declining to allow 1:25,000 of the harbor fund to be loaned to tho Borough Council. He held that fresh legislation would be necessary for that purpose. The Chaiiinan said he understood the fund was held for investment. Mr Siovwright said that the Trustee had misread the clause. The thing was preposterous. Apparently the money was wanted. The Chairman said it was nonsense to suppose that they borrowed money to let at 34 per cent. There was 1:47,000 there bearing only that interest. For a time a large sum had been lying idle until the Board asked that tho money be invested through the common fund. Mr Clark said that there was plenty of money obtainable at 4.J per cent., and he did not see how the Board could expect to übtitin 5 per cent on safe security. They could get 10 per cent., but what about the security 2 Mr Sievwrigbt said they ought to again call the Public Trustee’s attention to the clause.

The Secretary said that there was TOO.OUO at only 0.l per cent. Mr Clark: I suppose the money is in Treasury bills—that is the real trouble. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Sievwrigbt, seconded by the Chairman, to refer the Public Trustee s attention to tbe Act for reconsideration, witli a request that he seek better terms of investment. A letter was received lrorn tho Minister of Bands declining to constitute the district a separate Laud District. Mr Matthcwsoa (a member of the Land Board) said that the present system was a farce. He knew nothing of Pahiatua lands, nor did tho Ilawke’s Bay members know anything of the land of tnis district.

The Chairman ; Well, you are a mem bet of the Laud Board ; do you approve of this ? Mr Matthewson : Certainly not. I have been trying to get a separate Land Board for years. Anyway', the Board s powers are not great. About the most they ean do is to screw up some poor beggar for the non-payment of rent. No further action was decided upon. The dredge engineer, Mr W. B. Mackic, wrote stating that Messrs Duvys and Third’s accounts were fair and reasonable. The Chairman said that most of the work was ordered by the Government inspector. Mr Clark commented on tho fact that the inspector should so soou havo to order such a large amount of work on a new vessel. The Chairman explained that a good deal of expense was through the necessity of removing two tubes so placed as to make it difficult to clean tho boiler. Mr Clark said, if ordered by the inspector, the work hud to he doue, but it was a big expense for new machinery. Mr Hepburn : If ouo inspector orders a certain tube to go in and another to take it out, what can you doV in reply to remarks as to the work not being satisfactory in the first place, the engineer said more had been mado of that than was necessary. Mr Niven admitted that the main work was lirst-clas3. What they' hud a great deal of troublo with was tho crane, mado by what was reputed to be one of tho best firms in Jilngland. Mr Harding said the work charged for by Messrs Buvys and Third had been dono, and it must be paid fur. In a discussion on machinery, Mr Clark said that there must ha a screw loose somewhere when machinery so soon required much expense. The illnginoer said that a great deal dopended on the care of machinery, and he referred to tho good work done by the small dredge. The Baianco Committee reported as follows: Ho Gladys and John Townley : After considering tho claim for salvage, the solicitor was authorised to collect all the evidence bearing on the case, also to consult with the solicitors who have charge of the Union Company’s claim in inspect to tho Umapero’s services, and to report thereon to tho Board. lie Borough loan of £25,000, and funds in bauds of Bublio Trustee : Tnu following amounts are available for lending —(1) Of the loan redemption fund at Trust Office, rate of ol per cent., £19,800 ; (2) ordinary sinking fund, at like rale of interest, in all about £28,000 ; total, £-17,800. It is therefore desirable to lend as much as possible of tho sum at a higher rate. The Oummittee therefore recommend to the Board to forward to tho i’ublic Trustee tuo Borough Council’s application iur a temporaiy loan ot £2S,OUU, at 4 par cent., informing him that the Board consents to such loau, subject, of course, to tho proposed transaction being tound to be in order, period of Joan to he, say, 5 years, and the Board desires to point out that the funds if lent out lit tins district would easily realiso 5 per cent, on fairly large sums. A copy ot this resolution to be forwarded to the Trustee. , Increase of salaries : The Committee recommended that tho salary ot the Harbormaster be increased by £l>o pec annual ; that £25 be added to the salary of tho assistant clerk ; and that Mr King be authorised to appoint an overseer at £l4 a month, such increases to start from April Ist. Tuamotu Island : Tug Committee re* commend that tho Board instruct theit solicitor to take the necessary steps to acquire the certidcuto of title, and that an exchange be arranged with regard to the portion of Papawariki taken under the proclamation, so as to give an access to tho island. A copy of tho plan deposited iu the .Deeds Oiiice to bo obtained by the Secretary. The question of Tuamotu Island and exchange of land was deferred until Capt. Tucker's return. Mr Clark thought tho salary proposed to tho Harbormaster was reasonable, but he thought there might ho some amalgamation. Was ail ills time taken up • Mr Hepburn said that the Harbormaster’s hours were irregular—he was pilot as well. . , . Captain Cummings said that he had to bo about at ail times, and iu readiness whether day or night. Mr Harding moved the adoption of that item ot tile report. He did not think the Harbormaster would be fully paid then. Lt there couiil be amalgamation of little duties it might be dune ; hut for it profes siouul man to bo available at all times, Buuday included, the pay was too little. Mr Siovwright seconded the motion, thinking the salary not too high.' Captain (Jumimugs said that tho question of amalgamation of duties raised the important point, that tnc work of shipping which occurred it all times could not be neglected tor other work. Mr Bievwright said it would be sufficient to adopt the-report. Mr Harding said that his remarks would apply to tho assistant clerk. It there was the work to be done they should pay a fair salary. His belief was Unit competent work should always be properly paid* lor, and it an officer was not competent that ho should he rrplaced by someone who was. The item as tu salaries was adopted

As to the wilier at the freezing works, Mr Clark said that the suggestion practically meant taking the lot from the freezing works. The Chairman said it had been proposed to shift the tank, which was at first agreed to, but afterwards objection was raised on behalf of the company. They must have a supply of clean water for shipping. The report w as adopted.

OFFICER'S REPORTS. The Dredgemaster reported “ The John Tovvnley has taken out and deposited on the dumping ground 1840 yards of rock and sand, principally roelt from the lower end or the channel, and 1050 yards of sand from between Haiti and the town wharves; total, 3490 cubic yards. One day dredging spoil on to the new wharf, 31 days no dredging through a small pinion wheel on the crane carrying away. During that time the boilers were blown down and cleaned and refitted.”

Captain Gumming, Harbormaster, reported :— 11 The new pilot boat built by Mr Wood, of this port, is finished, and in working order. She is well built, and should prove a very serviceable bout. There are several patches of rock in the channel that should bo blasted as soon as possible, as there is danger of steamer.stripping their propellers on them, 'l'h channel is very narrow in places, near th slip being the worst. It would do a lot id good if the dredge were to deepen and widen the ehauuoi where fi quired. “ Soundings in the channel, taken April

29th, with the gauge at zero, are as fol low 3 : End of breakwater 12ft, fourth bollard from end Bft, Smirk’s landing Jit Gin, big crane 7ft Gin, Waikanae 7ft 4in, end of stockyard Bft, halfway up wharf Bft, top end of wharf sft. Arrivals since last meeting : Steamers 36, sailing ships 7. Departures : Steamers 36, sailing ships 8. In reply to a remark by Mr Hepburn as to removing rock in Iho channel the Engineer said that as one portion of the river was improved, the defects elsewhere became apparent. If they kept shifting about there would never be permanent work done. The key to the whole thing, if they wished to do anj' extensive work, was co get the rock out lower down the river and work up. Mr Clark said that was just his idea, and he was pleased to hear the Engineer speak like that. Mr Hepburn said his idea was that if there was a pieco of dangerous rook it should be removed without delay. Mr Clark: That stands to reason. The Engineer said that there was not a patch of rock which they did not know with the depth upon it. If they kept changing from ono point to another, the area of which was extending, they could not expect to do permanent improvements. The proper channel was fairly good, and if shipmasters went to points at which thoy had no right to bo they could not help that. His desire was to have permanent work done. The Harbormaster said that two steamers had stuck at the point ho referred to. Mr Sievwright said the Engineer should have authority to havo any small work attended to without having such matters always brought before the Board. Mr John King, Harbor Engineer, reported as follows : “ I have the honor to report on the Gisborne harbor works for the month ending 29th April, 1903. “ Dredging along the new part of the Gisborne wharf has boen carried on throughout the month, as the state of the tides permitted. By this means a fair depth of wafer has been secured where the river bed is silt or clay, but to make the work serviceable and continuous, a considerable amount of blasting will have to be done, as the papa rook extends irregularly along the wharf and across the channel. The dredgers have been used for filling in behind the wharf; this. very neecssary work is progressing satisfactorily. Notwithstanding adverse criticism by members of your Board, inspired by contractors and others, I still hold that under the circumstaneos, and taking into consideration the nature of the material to be dealt with and appliances available, the best and most economical means have been employed to accomplish tho work. “ The dredger John Townley has been employed principally in removing loosened rock from the channel near the beacon. Dredging to some extent has also been done near tho Haiti wharf. (See dredgemaster’s report for particulars of work done.)

“ Work at tho slip has boon carried on steadily and satisfactorily during the month ; the side slopes of the cutting are completed, tbo ways adjusted for grade, and tho rails are being fastened down. The timber for tho cradle is delivered at tho site, and the chairs and rollers, etc., arc almost completed, and should bo forwarded shortly, Tho loosening of the rock by blasting in front of the slipway is being executed. Messrs Humphreys aud Son, contractors, are making fairly good progress with the taking down, repairing, aud re erecting of the hauling machinery at the slip. “ Gisborne Wharf Repairs : New fender pieces have been put to the old part of tho Gisborne wharf. These fenders are fre-

quently carried away or broken. In this instance kahikatea has been substituted for the more expensive and brittle totara. The fender pieces are bolted to the piles, instead of being attached by rag-bolts as formerly, and they will probably last as long as that part of the wharf. ‘• Several of tho main piles of the Haiti wharf are broken, and all the fender pieces are broken or carried away. Additional piles and new fender pieces are being put to the wharf.

“ Plans, etc., for the proposed 500 f- extension of the Haiti wharf are not quite completed, but they are sufficiently advanced to allow of accurate quantities being obtained. I prepared a schedule of the timber required, and forwarded same to Mr James Trounsou, timber merchant, with a request that he would submit an offer for the supply of same, and say when ho would be able to deliver it at Gisborne. “ Agreeably with your instructions, I prepared a specification of the totara timber required lor the Haiti wharf extension. Offers to supply same have been advertised for in the local papers. “ Haiti water supply : Herewith please find a rough plan of the proposed tanks, etc- for the Haiti water supply. About SOOl't of new piping, exclusive of that shown on tho plan, will be required ; the old pipe will remain to take the overflow to the freezing works.”

WORHS COMMITTEE. The Committee met on the 2nd inst., and after consideration they deeided to instruct the Engineer not to remove the tanks from the freezing works premises, but to erect new tanks on t-be land leased

from It a will Karans, and to have separata pipes to tho Haiti wharf for the use of the shipping, the Freezing Company to have the surplus. It was decided not to have this water passed through a meter, as it occasioned such a great loss of time to shipping.