HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2766, 22 March 1910, Page 2

HARBOR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The* monthly meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present Messrs. John Townley (chairman), C. J. Parker, F. Harris, \V. D. Lvsnar, J. B. Kells, and Hon. Captain Tucker M.L.C. FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The following statement of finance prepared by the treasurer was laid on the table:—Ordinary accounts Dr. £10,370 Os sd, harbor improvements, 1910 £9ll 4s 7d ; Dr. £11,281 ss. Bank: Current account as nor bank pass-book, debtor £11,281 ss. Outstanding, wharfages current . £3B 12s 4d; net contract deposit cheque, £99 17s 6d. CORRESPONDEN CE. Mr F. W. Marchant, C.E., wrote acknowledging the. receipt of instructions to proceed with the plans and specifications for the work of extending the breakwater. He also took the opportunity, in view of the recent discussion at the Harbor Board meeting to state that lie had not, at any time, recommended the removal of the end of the groyne as a means of remedying the. range in the river. Messrs. F. Hall and Sons wrote, applying for permission to erect an advertising sign on "the forshore, near the groyne.—Some little discussion, took place as to the advisableness of having signs at the spot mentioned. The Chairman said that their presence was detrimental to those using the river, on account of shutting out of the light. Eventuallv. on his suggestion, it was resolved that the Board coidd not accede* to the* request, and the firm which at present has a signboard! erected on the site he given notice to remove it. HARBORMASTER’S REPORT The. Harbormaster (Captain Camming) reported that the dredging along the wharf on the town side was finished, and as soon as the dredge could be spared she should clear along the Kaiti wharf, then most of the lighters could be moored on that side, leaving flic town wharf clear for shipping. The space between the Kaiti wharf and the new coal bunker should bo decked over or a rail put up to prevent people from walking over on dai'k nights. Shipping since last meeting’: Steamers, arrivals 35, departures 35 ; sailing ships, arrivals 6, departures 5: moorage extra days £1 Is 9d ; lighter dues £7 2s Cd. The report was adopted, with the suggestions contained in it. The overseer said that he estimated the cost of plan ning work and re-decking the old wharf would be £240. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

Tin*, overseer (Mr. D. A. McLeod) reported as follows:—The John Townley has taken 42 loads of .spoil to sea tins month. The small dredge has, with the exception of two days, been at work all this month. The suction dredge lias been at w'prk all the month. The reclamation area will still hold all that

can be pumped into it during the coming month. The rock chopper nas finished chopoing tlie recks along the dredge and punt berths. S.x of the Hedge moorings are completed, which loaves two more to do. The timber fenders of the wharf are being strapped with iron to take the chafing of tin) iron belting of steamers whilst lying at their berths. I have despensed with the services of a number of workmen, pending your decision i'e breakwater extension, ’flic drive into the range near Pali Hill is in hand. Mr. Overton is making good progress with the mud punts, and expects to have one of them finished by the time the dredge arrives, and' the other by the end of May gress payment at the rate of 75 per cent, on work done and material on the ground up to last Saturday entitles him to a further payment of £3OO. Stone and gravel removed from Kaiti beach this month, 110 loads, as nor tickets. The report was adopted. DR ED GEM A STEP ’ S It EPORT.

The. dredgcmaster, Captain Solvander, reported that the John Townley had been constantly employed, and had taken out tiro following:—3oo yards of elav from alongside the Maui’s berth, on'the Kaiti side; 3800 yards of mud from abreast and along the town wharf, in all 4100 cubic yards. The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer, Mr. A. Long, reported that the dredge had been constantly at work, and that the machinery had given satisfaction. On the 2nd March dredging ceased for five hours to repair the exhaust steam pipe of the crane, which had carried away. A number of accounts were passed for payment. * NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices of motion in Mr. Kells’ name was allowed to stand over at the request of the mover: •‘That the figures £lO COO in the resol u_ tion passed at the meeting of the Board on 31st January last, authorising the preparation of a Bill for next session of Parliament to release funds in the hands of the'Public" Trustee, be altered to £15,000.” A similar course was adopted with regard to the following motion by Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald M.P., who was absent through illness. “11l view of tile considerable expenditure before the Board and the .importance of its work generally, that a cmalified engineer be permanently employed forthwith, to take charge of and carry out all work in progress, or to be undertaken.” The Board then resolved itself into committee, in order to deal with several legal points in connection with the Tauwhareparae case, which comes before the Court of Appeal next month.