GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2091, 28 May 1907, Page 4

GISBORNE HARBOR BOARD

Tho usual monthly mooting of tho Harbor Board was held yesterday aftornoon, the Mayor being in tho chair, and there were also present: Tho Hon. Captain Tucker, Messrs. Whim-ay, Mattliewson, Hepburn, Sievwriglit, and \V. D. Lysnar. THE NEW BY-LAWS. The Chairman stated that' tho confirmation ol' tho by-laws had boon delayed from 15th May, and now it was necessary to rescind that resolution and pass a fresh one, bringing them into force on 7tli June. The motions rescinding and correcting were carried. HARBORMASTER'S REPORT.

Captau Cumming reported re an oil launch. He inspected a launch at Lyttelton, but found it unsuitable for this port. Investigations at other ports were without result. On returning to Gisborne lie interviewed the Chairman of tho Board and arranged to proceed to Auckland by’ the same boat. While there he saw several launches, but decided to see Mr. C. Bailoy about building one. They went carefully into tho matter, and” he thought tho plans and specifications of tlxo boat chosen would prove suitable. Ro tide gauge. He interviewed Mr. Allport, Secretary of Marine Department, about one, but ho had none in stock, and offered to get one. The cost would bo about £55 in London. The Lyttelton Harbor Board have a spare one, and might soli it. There have been several freshes in tho river during the month, and a quantity of silt has settled along tlie now wharf, but no silting lias taken place in the lower part of tho wharf. Soundings taken of 25t-h inst are as follows, new tids gauge at zero:— End of breakwater 14ft, 3rd bollard from end 10ft, Snark’s landing 9ft, big crane Bft 6in, Wailcanao Bft, along now wharf 7ft 6in, along town wlfarf 7ft to 9ft.

Since last meeting 39 steamers and 9 sailing vessels arrived, and 3. steamers and 7 sailing vessels depart-

Ho urged tho necessity for a footbridge across tho Waikanae as the railway bridge is too far round, and dangerous to cross on dark, rainy nights. Mr. Whinray moved that the footbridge be put up as proposed, as they bad the old timber. Tho Chairman seconded.—Carried.

Tlio specifications of tlie oil launch were read and some discussion of details took place.

The Harbor Master said the launch would be brought down by the Squall or a mutton boat. .It would be ready in three months. The Chairman proposed that Mr. Bailey’s offer be accepted. Mr. Lysnar seconded.—Carried. OVERSEER’S REPORT. Mr. D. A. McLeod, Overseer of Works, reported that owing to the non-arrival of timber no extension of the town wharf this month. The damage to cargo in the shed by rats has been attended to by removing the bottom board, which was fastened by nails and had the space between the wall and the floor concreted. This will be a great improvement, as the rats will not be able to get cover from the dogs as before. Some concreting has been done round the weigh-bridgo as the pressure of earth on the roadway was making it jam badly on one side. It is now in good working order. The new crane, erected at the corner of No. 2 shed, will be available for use in a day or two. The late small freshes have left a good deal of silt in various parts of the river, more especially along the Kaiti wharf. The gantry which has stood for so long on the end of the groyne has been removed owing to its having been damaged and breaking loose from its fastenings during the recent heavy seas. The rails on the groyne have also been raised and slacked. There is a good deal of shingle mixed with shell that could be obtained between the end of tlio breakwater and the groyne suitable for putting on the footpaths. lie asked that the Board fix a charge for same. The Borough Council would take all the Board could supply them with. The cost' of dredging and putting into drays would bo about Is Cd a yard. It is not necessary to remove this gravel as far as navigation is concerned at present. The “Johir Townley” has taken 28 loads of spoil to sea this month, and lifted 240 yds into punts. The small dredge has lifted 295 yds of rock and 210 yds of silt, which has been deposited on the Kaiti reclamation also 50 yds of gravel which was delivered on the town wharf. Last Monday the grab of the small dredge collapsed necessitating repairs which will take three or four days more to complete. THE DREDGE. G. P. Solvander master of the “John Townley” reported that the amount of spoil dredged is as follows: 200 yds of sand from along the breakwater, 600 from abreast of and in the slip, 2100 from abreast of the lower wharf, also 230 yds into punts, in all 3130 cubic yds of mud and sand. On the 7tli in discharging a load the sea being heavy the union‘screws on the after hopper doors broke, which caused a delay of a day and a half, also seven days through bad weather and heavy seas. ' “

W. B. Mackie, the engineer of the dredge “John Townley,” reported that the machinery on the dredger is working welL The silt grab has been all overhauled and rebushed throughout with cast steel. During the bad weather both condensers were taken i o pieces and the mud cleaned out of them. The tube ends were screwed up at the same time. The union screw on the after hopper door was carried away while out discharging. Two were put on in place of the one. The reports were adopted. . WHARF EXTENSION.

Tenders were invited for wharf extension from the Freezing Works to the bridge. One was received quoting 13s 4d per hundred superficial ft. for jarrali at a West Australain port. Judging by recent freights the total tost should be £l. Peacocke and Co. tendered for kauri at IBs lid per lid. ft. Evans, Nield and Co. quoted £I6OO for totara and £919 for kauri, but they wanted an extension of time to six months.

Alpha Sawmilling Co. quoted £1470 for tlio totara and £833 for kauri.

Tlie quotation lor jarrali, 213,769 I'oet at 21s, worked out at £2236 10s. Jarrali was .tlio cheapest of all, and tho overseer stated it to bo tho host. The Hon. Captain Tuokor proposod that this olfor (if made a toncler) bo accoptod. Tho Chairman seconded and tlio motion was carried, with ono dissentient. GENERAL. A. Dewing, manager for Nelson Bros., wroto requesting permission from tho Board to obtain what inotal t.hoy lioodod from tho Kaiti boacli. If any royalty was cliargablo t 1 would pay.it. Convoyanco would bo nrrnhgocl by’ carting tlio gravol over tho broakwator and on to tlio lighters. —Mr. Lysnar movod that tlio roquost be granted. His Worship secondod and tho motion was carried.

A roquost was rocoivod from the Borough Council for tlio uso of tho small drodgo in tho river for tho laying of tho wntormains.—Agrood to.