Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Lyttelton Harbour Board

page break

Lyttelton Harbour Board.

The first jetty in Port Cooper—the original name of Lyttelton harbour—was built by the Canterbury Association before the arrival of the settlers in 1850. Since then there have been many developments in connection with the port. Two breakwaters, to form an inner harbour, were begun in 1872, by the Provincial Government of Canterbury, and were completed by the General Government in 1877. They are of rubble stone blasted from the quarries at Naval and Officers' Points, and the outer slopes of both are protected or faced by huge stone blocks. The eastern or Officers' Point breakwater is over 2,000 feet in length by a width of 40 feet on the top and 6 feet above high water at springtides. The western or Naval Point breakwater is 1400 feet in length. The area of water enclosed within the breakwater is about 107 acres. For very nearly thirteen years, ending 1901, dredging operations were uninterruptedly carried on within the harbour, over five million tons of dredged material having been removed within that time. The depth of water inside the breakwaters and at the wharves varies from 20 feet to 27 feet at low tide, nearly the whole of the inner harbour having been deepened, so that vessels drawing 27 feet and up to 10,000 to tons may be berthed at high water. A number of piers
Lyttelton, May 4th, 1899. Shipping at the Wharves: 55,191 Tones.

Lyttelton, May 4th, 1899. Shipping at the Wharves: 55,191 Tones.

and jetties have been constructed, the total wharf frontage available for mooring vessels being 10,750 feet. One of these jetties has been especially constructed for berthing ocean steamers, its length being over 552 feet, with a depth of water alongside of about 27 feet. Special berthage is provided within the inner harbour for ships of war, and two vessels can be berthed at the moorings inside the breakwater without in any way interfering with the ordinary shipping of the port. The whole of the wharves and jetties have railway lines laid upon them, and are connected with the railway system of the South Island. Extensive shed accommodation is provided on the wharves and at Lyttelton railway station yards. A cooling and freezing chamber has been built by the Harbour Board for the accommodation of butter, cheese, and other perishable goods prior to shipment. The Board has also made provision for the storage of grain and produce, the space available in the stores being equal to 17,000 tons.

The Lyttelton graving-dock was built in 1882 at a cost of about £105,000, including pumping machinery and caisson, and is capable of docking a first-class warship, and most of the large ocean-going steamers now running to the colonies. Its general dimensions are: 450 feet length of floor by 46 feet wide; 481 feet 6 inches length at top by 82 feet wide; width of entrance 62 feet; where ship's bilge should be, 55 feet; depth of water on the sill at high water, 23 feet. A workshop for carrying out repairs required by any vessel is situated conveniently near the dock. In addition to the graving-dock, the Board has provided a patent-slip, which is capable of taking up a 300-ton vessel.

The work of supplying the port with electric light was completed in 1884. The plant is worked on what is known as the Gulcher system; each arc lamp has 2000 candle-power, and there is a total capacity of over 32,000 candle-power.

Prior to the 10th of January, 1877, the port of Lyttelton was under the control of the Provincial Government of Canterbury, but at that date the Harbour Board came into existence. For two years previously the practical control of the harbour had been in the hands of the Hon. J. T. Peacock, as Secretary for Public Works. The Board consists of fifteen members; namely, George Laurenson, M.H.R., appointed by his Excellency the Governor; Mayor of Lyttelton (member ex officio, for one year); Thomas McClatchie, elected by the ratepayers of the borough of Lyttelton; Isaac Gibbs and Albert Kaye, elected by the Canterbury Chamber of Commmerce, page 119 Frank Graham and Robert Pitcaithly, elected by the ratepayers of the city of Christ church; John Brown, elected by the ratepayers of the borough of Sydenham; F. Waymouth, elected by the ratepayers of the borough of St. Albans; William Dunlop and John Rennie, elected by the Selwyn County Council; D. Buddo, M.H.R., Ashley County; Edward G. Wright, elected by the Ashburton County Council; James Hay, elected by the Akaroa County Council; John Connal, elected by the ratepayers of the boroughs of Linwood, Woolston, and Sumner. Mr. E. G. Wright is chairman of the Board.

The finances of the Board from the date of its constitution to the end of 1901, a period of twenty-five years, have been highly satisfactory; the ordinary revenue for the period having amounted to £762,670 17s 8d; the ordinary expenditure to £261,038 16s 6d; payments on account of interest and sinking fund, to £299,284 15s 4d; total expenditure, £560,323 11s 10d; surplus balance on ordinary revenue account, £202,347 5s 10d. On the other hand, the loan receipts amounted to £279,556 19s 4d, and the total expenditure on harbour works to £445,446 11s 11d, leaving a deficit, under the head of loan, of £165,909 12s 7d, which has been met out of the abovementioned surplus of ordinary revenue; leaving a credit cash balance at the close of 1901 of £36,437 13s 3d.

Mr. Edward George Wright, Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, is the oldest member of that body. He was first elected in 1877, as a representative for the City of Christchurch, and after serving in that capacity for four years he was returned to the Board as a member for Ashburton. Though since 1858, the date of his landing in New Zealand, Mr. Wright has been almost continuously engaged in extensive and responsible undertakings, he has nevertheless devoted considerable time and attention to
Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. E. G. Wright.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. E. G. Wright.

colonial politics. In 1879 he was elected to the House of Representatives, as member for Coleridge, the largest electoral division in the colony at that date, and continued to represent it till 1883, when, upon the adjustment of the electorates, he was returned to Parliament as member for Ashburton, but resigned in 1884. He was again elected to represent Ashburton in 1891 and in 1897. At the time of the election of 1897 Mr. Wright's ill health prevented his addressing his constituents, yet, though he never once appeared on the platform oil that occasion, he was returned to Parliament by a considerable majority—a fact which showed the high estimation in which he was held by the electors. Mr. Wright's voice is now no longer heard in Parliament, but the results of his political services are still felt to advantage in his various electorates, which appreciate what he has done for them. Mr. Wright was born in June, 1831, at Woolwich, England. Educated at private schools, and trained as a civil engineer in the service of Messrs Fox, Henderson and Co., he was entrusted in 1853 with the construction of the gas works in the city of Rome, and was subsequently engaged upon various works in H.M. Dockyards, at Woolwich Arsenal, at Aldershot, and elsewhere; but being seized with a desire to settle in New Zealand he left England in December, 1857, under engagement to the Wellington Provincial Government. The erection of the lighthouse on Pencarrow Head, Wellington, was his first undertaking in the colony, and on its completion Mr Wright was offered the post of provincial engineer for Wellington, by Dr. Featherston, the Superintendent of that province. He, however, refused the offer, and shortly after accepted an appointment as director of public works for Hawke's Bay. In 1862, he resigned his position in Hawke's Bay and removed to Canterbury, where for many years he was engaged in the construction of roads, railways, and harbour works, and formed the West Coast road. It
Inner Harbour, Port Lyttelton.

Inner Harbour, Port Lyttelton.

page 120 was in those early days, about 1861, that Mr. Wright was instrumental in forming the present Christchurch Gas Company, of which he has been chairman for twenty-six years. In 1877 he purchased a large block of land in the county of Ashburton, and turned his attention to sheepfarming. Since then he has been intimately associated with the social life of his county, and also with many local governing bodies, amongst them the Ashburton County Council, of which he has been a member since 1877; he has also been for many years chairman of the Plantation Board of Canterbury, Mr. Wright was married in England, in 1854, and had, by his first marriage, a family of three sons, two of whom still live. Six years after his arrival in New Zealand his wife died, and in 1867 he was married to Miss Roberts, a Tasmanian lady, by whom he has three daughters and one son.

Mr. George Laurenson, who was appointed a Member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board by his Excellency the Governor, is elsewhere referred to as a member of the House of Representatives.

Captain Thomas McClatchie. J.P., who has been a Member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board since 1883. and held office as chairman for one year, was born in 1833 at Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was educated in his native place, went to sea when a lad in the East India trade, and came to New Zealand as third officer of the ship “Isabella
Captain T. McClatchie

Captain T. McClatchie

Hercus” in 1851. Mr. McClatchie was for many years engaged in the coastal trade, and was master and part owner of the steamer “Avon.” He was afterwards in command of the s.s. “Moa,” trading to the rivers on behalf of her owners, Messrs. Miles and Co. Mr. McClatchie was the owner of and commanded the three-masted schooner “Rifleman.” He was in Taranaki in 1863 at the time of the massacre at the Sugar Loaves, and afterwards carried despatches from Governor Sir George Grey to Wellington. At the time of the Gate Pah assault he was in Tauranga Harbour discharging a cargo of commissariat stores from Auckland. Settling in Lyttelton, Mr. McClatchie built wool-sheds at the Port, and commenced business as a stevedore in the firm of Talbot and McClatchie. This business he conducted till 1886, when he retired. He has taken part in public affairs for many years. Capt. McClatchie was at one time in Australia, and had some experience on the Bendigo goldfields in the years 1853–4. He was initiated in Masonry in Lodge Unanimity thirty-six years ago. Capt. McClatchie was married at Lyttelton in 1851 to a daughter of Mr. A. J. Plaisted. of Wadhurst, Sussex, and has two sons and two daughters living.
Mr. Isaac Gibbs has been a Member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board since 1892, as a representative of the Canterbury Chamber of
A Homeward Bound Oceans Steamer Leaving Lyttelton.

A Homeward Bound Oceans Steamer Leaving Lyttelton.

page 121 Commerce. He is elsewhere referred to as the General Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company.
Mr. Albert Kaye, who represents the Chamber of Commerce on the Lyttelton Harbour Board, was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, in 1850. Educated at Forest House School, Woodford Green, Essex, the subject of this notice was brought up to mercantile life as a shipping clerk, and afterwards served for several years in the London and Westminster Bank. Having decided to come to the Colonies, Mr. Kaye arrived in Adelaide in August, 1871, and after a short time in the National Bank of Australia, became manager for Messrs W. K. Cave and Co., grain and shipping merchants, Port Adelaide, which position he held till he resigned in November, 1883. Arriving in Christchurch, in conjunction with his present partner, he established the wellknown firm of Kaye and Carter, shipping, grain, and seed merchants, in the premises still occupied by them in Cathedral Square. Mr. Kaye was for some time president of the Employers' Association, twice filled a similar capacity with the Young Men's Christian Association, and, in co-operation with the late Dr. Irving, was instrumental in bringing the Christchurch Beautifying Association into existence. Mr. Kaye has taken considerable interest in musical affairs, having
Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. A. Kaye.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. A. Kaye.

been one of the early singing members of the Christchurch Liedertafel, and for some years past has been a vice president of the Christchurch Musical Union. He was married in 1875 to a daughter of the Rev. Peter Maclaren, of Port Adelaide.
The “Tomana” in Lyttelton Dock.

The “Tomana” in Lyttelton Dock.

Mr. Frank Graham, one of the City of Christchurch Members of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, was born in London in 1846. Educated at Mortlake, and brought up to mercantile life in London, Mr. Graham spent some time in India, and came to New Zealand in 1868, since which he has been a settler in Canterbury, For some time he was manager of Messrs. Dalgety and Co.'s Lyttelton branch, but in 1870 he commenced business on his own account as shipping agent at Lyttelton and Christchurch. In 1871, increase of business rendering in desirable to have better representation in Christchurch than could be offered by employees, Mr. Cuff joined him in the concern. This co-partnership, under the style of Cuff and Graham, existed for nearly twenty-five years, and is probably the only instance in Canterbury of an association existing so long without changes of partners or name of the firm. The firm was dissolved in June, 1895, and since then Mr. Graham has conducted business on his own account as ship and insurance broker, sharebroker, and commission agent. Mr. Graham resided in Lyttelton for some years, and while there took an active part in municipal and page 122 Masonic matters. In 1885, he was elected to represent the City of Christchurch on the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and was returned at the several subsequent elections unopposed until the contested election of 1897, when he was returned at the head of the poll. In 1889, he was elected chairman of the board, and was re-elected, successively, for a number of years. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1887–98. Mr. Graham has the Canterbury management of the Commercial Union Assurance Company, is vice-consul for Norway and Sweden, and a director of the Christchurch Gas Company. He is also a member of the Masonic Order, but at present unattached. Mr. Graham was married in 1882 to a daughter of Mr. J. Ward, of Ashburton, and has one son and one daughter, the former of whom assists him in business.

Mr. F. Graham.

Mr. F. Graham.

Mr. Robert Picaithly is one of the two Members elected by the ratepayers of the City of Christchurch to the Lyttelton Harbour Board. He is elsewhere referred to as the Consular Agent of the United States of America.

Mr. John Brown was elected in 1898 to represent the Borough of Sydenham on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. He had been a member of the Sydenham Borough Council for ten years, during which he had been Mayor for two consecutive terms. Mr. Brown is at present chairman of the Spreydon Road Board, of which he has been a member for three years, and has recently been elected for a further term. He has been a member of the Addington school committee since its inception, is a member of the Motett Society, and has for many years been a prominent member of the Wesley an denomination. At present (1902) he is choirmaster of the Wesleyan Church at Addington. Mr. Brown was born at Sunderland, Durham, England, in May, 1854, and landed when a child, at Lyttelton, in 1858, with his father, Mr J. T. Brown. He was educated at the Scotch School at Lyttelton under Mr John Ross, and was subsequently associated with his father in establishing the firm of J. T. Brown, timber merchant. In 1886 he was admitted as a partner in the firm, which then assumed the title of Messrs J. T. Brown and Son. The firm is further referred to in another article.

Mr. P. Waymouth, J.P., Member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, represents the Borough of St. Albans on that body. He is referred to elsewhere as the General Manager and Secretary of the Belfast Freezing and Dairy Produce Export Company.

Mr. William Dunlop, who represents the Selwyn County on the Lyttelton Harbour Board, is also a member of the Selwyn County Council, the North Canterbury Hospital Board, and the Victoria Park and Domain Boards. He was born at Kilmarnock, Scotland, in 1834, educated at the local academy, and afterwards followed farming and milling for some years. Mr. Dunlop landed at Lyttelton in 1855, and for twentytwo years farmed in the Heathcote Valley. In 1877 he purchased his present property, “Hillcrest,” farm of 220 acres at Marshlands, where he devotes considerable attention to horsebreeding. Mr. Dunlop was married in Scotland, and has a family of seven sons and four daughters.

Mr. John Rennie has represented the County of Selwyn on the Lyttelton Harbour Board since November, 1897. He first took up his residence at Doyleston, in 1863, and from that early period, when the district was little more than a wide expanse of almost uninhabited land, he has taken a prominent part in transforming it into a well ordered and highly productive area. Mr. Rennie was for twenty years a member of the Ellesmere Road Board, and has for many years occupied a seat on the Selwyn County Council, which he represents not only on the Lyttelton Harbour Board, but on the Christchurch Hospital Board. He has been a director of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association since its inception in 1881, and is now (1902) a member of the executive committee, Mr. Rennie is also a member of the Board of Governors for the Lincoln Agricultural College, and of the North Canterbury Education Board, of which he was chairman in 1900. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1840. After receiving a somewhat scanty education at Turiff, Aberdeenshire, he sailed for New Zealand, and landed at Dunedin in 1858. He shortly afterwards found his way to Canterbury, where he was for some years engaged in railway contracting and other work. In the early sixties he took up land at Prebbleton, and, in conjunction with Mr J. Osborne, was the first to import a steam threshing plant into the district. Mr. Rennie purchased his present estate at Doyleston in 1863, and thirteen years later disposed of his property at Prebbleton. He was married in 1867, and has a family of four sons and four daughters.

Mr. David Buddo, M.H.R., represents the County of Ashley on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. He is elsewhere referred to as a member of the House of Representatives.

Mr. James Hay has represented the County of Akaroa on the Lyttelton Harbour Board since 1894. He was born in Wellington in 1841, and has lived from early childhood in the Pigeon Bay district. His father, Mr E. Hay, a native of Ayrshire, arrived in New Zealand in 1840, by the first vessel that
Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. J. Hay.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. J. Hay.

page 123 left Scotland for the shores of New Zealand. He purchased an estate at Pigeon Bay in the early forties, and shortly afterwards went to live there with his family. In those primitive times public schools were unknown, and Mr James Hay had to content himself with but a brief course of instruction, and at an early age he turned his attention to the farm. Mr. Hay was one of the original members of the Pigeon Bay Road Board, on which he sat for over thirty years. He was also for sixteen years a member of the Akaroa County Council, of which he was chairman for six consecutive terms. School committees and other local bodies have likewise received his services. He is also an active member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hay was married, in 1884, to Miss Campbell a lady from Scotland, and has one son.

Mr. John Connal, J.P., Who is elsewhere referred to as an ex-member of the Christchurch City Council, represents the boroughs of Linwood, Woolston, and Summer on the Lyttelton Harbour Board.

Mr. Charles Hood Williams, J.P., Secretary and treasurer of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, is of Welsh extraction, but was born in Edinburgh, in the year 1844. He arrived with his father, Mr David Theodore Williams, B.A. (Oxon.), in Port Cooper in December, 1850, by the ship “Randolph” on the same day that the first ship, the “Charlotte Jane,” entered port. Mr. Williams was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, being one of the first five pupils who presented themselves at the opening of that school in 1852. After studying sheepfarming for a couple of years on his brother-in-law's station at Pareora, near Timaru, he entered the Union Bank of Australia, in 1861, but left on account of ill-health, after three years' service. He joined the Provincial Government service in Christchurch in 1864 as a clerk, under Mr. (now the Hon.) W. Rolfeston, provincial secretary. Mr Hood Williams subsequently held office as assistant secretary for public works from 1873 to 1877, or until the abolition of the provinces at the end of
Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. C. Hood William

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. C. Hood William

Intercolonial Steamers Loading at No. 2 Jetty, Lyttelton.

Intercolonial Steamers Loading at No. 2 Jetty, Lyttelton.

page 124 1876. Early in March, 1877, he was appointed secretary and treasurer to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and has held that post for twenty-five years Mr. Williams has always taken a keen interest in sporting and athletics, and has been a member of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club since 1882; he was also for several years president of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club. He was married, in 1873, to a daughter of Mr R. H. Allard, of Christchurch, an early settler, and has three daughters and one son.
The “Discovery” Leaving Lyttelton for the Antarctic: December 21st, 1901.

The “Discovery” Leaving Lyttelton for the Antarctic: December 21st, 1901.