THE HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2479, 19 April 1909, Page 6

THE HARBOR BOARD.

BUYING THE NEW DREDGE. Some objections answered. the proposal of the Gisborne Harbor Board to purchase a new dredge at a cost o» about £35,000 is of the utmost. importance, a “Times” reporter waited upon tho Secretary of the Board on Saturday and invited him to ans(v/cr some of the criticisms that had been made against the proposal. Mr Witty remarked that as Mr W. D. Lysnar had challenged the official statement he, as •Secretary, had laid beforo the members he was glad of an opportunity to remove any misconceptions that might thus have been created. Introducing the mutter Mr Witty said: “At the last meeting, after the members had gone into open Board, Member Lysnar ridiculed the idea of the new-dredger, which he said “would I-e buried in silt and have to be dug out by another dredgo”; but he carefully .avoided stating what the mode of working operations would be as outlined by Mr Blakey whilst discussing matters i* committee, via., that it would be necessary before tho dredge arrives to dig out a berth where she would be •y-fioab at low water to which she could ? >e taken on arrival.- Then she could dig her way either up or down the river as deemed most- advantageous to get a quick return of increased wharfage .accommodation. The big dredger would wot go out to sea until such time as' she. had dug out a channel for herself, but would be constantly at work filling tho John Townley and hopper barge or barges for which purpose she is fitted v/it-h two side chutes. —Shed iand Wharf Accommodation.— I allowed £SOO or £6OO for the cost of doubling the size of No. 1 shed if the railway lino was removed a couple of yards. This will give ample floor space and as to any more wharves they are not required if the present wharves are made available by the new dredger. —John Townley.—

It is intended to keep tho John Townley in commission, converting her into n. hopper barge and using hex as a tug boat for other hopper barge or barges, and her upkeep is allowed for in my statement. —lncrease of Wharfages.— To revert back to the old tariff will not make any difference to the consumers, as the money saved by lowering the •wharfages has gone into the pockets of the large consumers and importers ,and the general public have not 'had a penny benefit for the -50 per cent, reduction of whar|age«. Coal and gas have not been reduced, although in the -one item of “coal” the 50 per cent, of reduction meant a loss to the Board of over £7OO in wharfages. —Blasting.— The manufacturers of the dredger or, rather, their representative, Mr Blakey, did not ©ay “that the solid papa rock would have to be shattered before it| could be lifted by the dredger,” iuU plving that it would be necessary to revert'to constant blasting. On the contrary Messrs Simons and Co., after having *a box full of the hardest papa rock in the river submitted for them examination and expert’s opinion, hav o cabled out a guarantee that the proposed dredger will cut and lift a minimum or 50 load© of papa rock per hour. ■What Mr Blakey did say when some ‘members of the Board suggested that there were occasional hard seams or rock in the papa, was that in such a case securing it would be economical on tne Wt of the Board, both saving wear and tear and time to put an “occasional' shot in here and there, and this was ■such a small item that I did not al!on anything for it in my statement. —lnterest on Overdraft. If Mr Lysnars estimate as to the normal increase being £2OOO, wherejjg i have only reckoned on ±.IUUu, n> correct, the payment of interest- cn overdraft is fully .assured. Mr Lysnaa assumes this'would amount to £l2bo, but I venture to doubt the correctness of this. The. Chairman, after laying rnv statement before the manager or the Bank, is assured that there wi.l tie no difficulty in arranging for the overdi aft proposed. If the new dredger does on* half- what it is supposed to accomplish, the time is not, far distant when the present .line of wnarf from Kaiti Lindge jrw freezing works* wnic-i * >c out by Mr Lysnar in opposition to the -chairman, several member- aim the harbormaster, will have to if taken -further back and the 1“^ V by,fi Ktebly the dredge;- wid.be at and the tariff could again bo icdi.cml •{ thought expedient.

—The River Entrance.— Air Lvsnar says: “No provision ha® ■U*n made. for'the improvement m the Entrance to the river. This matter was deemed so urgent (2 or 3 years ago) •that the Board paid Mr Merchant a Bonus of £l5O in addition to has fee of £SO to come up instantly and advise them. His estimate for vhat vvomd cdve immediate relief was £6OO. lko Board got the piles from Australia at hu expense of £4OO, and they •have been . lying on the &tmn Aver, since'. • Only another &2CO is required to" afford temporary relief lor the. coming winter, and me work could be. done in a month. Jins will obviate the necessity of at present extending tho breakwateivestimated ly ■ Air McLeod to- cost £/000 or £BOOO, which work would in all probability be condemned by the Marine Department, o r ,l =f required to be done as at present constructed, would cost. about £15,000. A.t it is highly improbable that the present Borad would sanction this outlay I have certainly not- ‘-provided for it.” ’ —-As to Saving £3OOO. This is hot brought to credit -until 1911 when assuming the new dredger arrives here say, June. 1910, iui c.o£v> all that is stated, the above.saving on wages, small dredge, sand pump, wharves* etc , and materials can surely be reckoned on. In, last year's balance sheet (not yet published) these items amount to about £6OOO, -and sureiy, when the- new dredger is cons .-an Ay at work half this cost will be saved.