The level of water was low during the past year, and it is now 24 inches below zero. The western crib of the breakwater, south of the Queen's wharf, which was injured by the storms last winter, was repaired, and is now in good condition. The front of the Queen's wharf, except 200 feet at the west end, was taken down to the water's edge and repaired during the early portion of last year, and was completed before the opening of navigation. Some repairs were also made to the foundation of the lightkeeper's house. The lighthouses, boathouse, &c., were painted. From soundings recently taken by Capt. Taylor, there are only two to three feet of water on the bar south of the breakwater, showing an increase of about two feet of deposit over the surface of the bar, and the sand has formed firmly against the cribwork of the breakwater, except in two or three places where the planking was washed off by recent storms, which the contractors have agreed to make good at their own expense. In order to facilitate the formation of the sand south of the breakwater, I would recommend that a single row of sheet piling, about two feet above zero level, should be constructed from the last crib in a southerly direction to the point of the island about 500 feet in length, to prevent the flow of water behind the breakwater during westerly winds. In accordance with your instructions on the 30th of July last, I reported in reference to the proposal of the City Council to make an opening 200 feet wide in the breakwater at the east end of the harbour, that it would be a permanent injury to the harbour, as the current from the east would bring with it the mud that has been deposited in the marsh for ages past, the mud in Ashbridge's Bay being at least twenty feet higher than the bottom of the harbour. The proposal was referred to the Dominion Public Works, and the chief engineer having reported against it, the proposal was not approved. On the 16th of November, I reported respecting the further extension of the new Windmill line, 250 feet farther south, and recommended that the consent of the Board should be reserved until the City Council gave a guarantee in writing to construct a new entrance to the Don channel, which would be nearly closed up by the extension. I understand the guarantee has been given, and the further extension southward has been approved by the Board. On the 13th of December I also reported on the proposed new channel at the east end of the harbour, immediately south of the dry dock property, and diverting the River Don into Ashbridge's Bay. I recommended the construction of the proposed channel, as it would be much further north than the opening proposed by the City Council in July last, and the sides would be protected by sheet piling. The whole question has of course to be submitted to the Dominion Public Works for their decision, as the northern portion of the breakwater would have to be taken down in constructing the new channel. The Board will pardon me for stating that next March I shall have completed 40 years as engineer to the board, and I have to express my sincere thanks for the courtesy and consideration with which I have always been treated by the several Boards at all times. I remain your obedient servant, KIVAS TULLY, Engineer. A. B. LEE, Esq., Chairman Toronto Harbour Commissioners. APPENDIX No. 6. REPORT OF THE HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS OF BELLEVILLE FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 1892. To the Honourable BELLEVILLE, 17th January, 1893. The Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa. SIR, The Harbour Commissioners of the city of Belleville beg to submit herewith a statement of the receipts and expenditure in connection with the harbour of Belleville for the year ending 31st December, 1892. The receipts from harbour dues were considerably larger than the previous year, as will be observed by the annual report of the harbour master herein inclosed. It has The work for the protection of the shores of Mill Island is now completed. been done in a very thorough and substantial manner, and has received the approval of our citizens generally. A detailed report by the superintendent, Mr. W. W. Lee, is herewith inclosed; also a description of other harbour work done under the same supervision. In explanation of the larger expenditure than usual under heading of "Booms," it may be mentioned that it includes an account for repairs to and swinging of booms, extending over the past and several previous years. The sum of $2,000 has been sent to the Department of Public Works, Ottawa, to supplement an appropriation made by the Government for the dredging of this harbour, as agreed upon. The dredging done during the past season has been of great value in removing obstructions in the mouth of the river, and in improving the channels in the harbour. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, GEORGE WALLBRIDGE, Chairman, Board of Harbour Commissioners, Belleville, Ont. DOMINION OF CANADA, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, County of Hastings. To wit: I, George Wallbridge, of the city of Belleville, in the county of Hastings, merchant, do solemnly declare : 1. That I am Chairman of the Harbour Commissioners of Belleville. 2. That hereunto annexed is a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the Harbour Commissioners of Belleville for the year ending 31st December, 1892. 3. That the said statement is true and correct as therein set forth. 4. That nothing is wilfully omitted therefrom that should be stated therein, or improperly inserted therein, to the best of my knowledge and belief. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the "Act respecting Extra-Judicial Oaths." Declared before me at the city of Belleville, this 24th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1893. W. N. PONTON, Notary Public, Ontario. GEO. WALLBRIDGE. STATEMENT of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Harbour Commissioners of Belleville, for the year ending 31st December, 1892. DR. CR. Interest received on bank balance E. & O. E. 113 BELLEVILLE, ONT., 3rd January, 1893. GEO. WALLBRidge, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Harbour Commissioners, Belleville, Ont. SIR,I beg to report that the improvements on "Mill Island" are now completed. Although very much more work has been done than was at first contemplated, yet it has been done at a very low cost (due in a great measure to the circumstances of getting such excellent material from the harbour dredgings, together with the favourable conditions of water level). We have now a complete embankment around the whole island, say 2,813 lineal feet, all of which is heavily "rip-rapped," excepting only about 250 linear feet on easterly side of island which, under your instructions was made up with substantial “cribwork in order to give a good wharfage for vessels in the inner harbour. For the protection of the east side of the Moira River and to prevent ice jams, cribbing was built from the fire station No. 2, going north so as to make a continuous line of "cribbing," as recommended by the chief engineer of the Department of Public Works, this will doubtless prove a great benefit to the surrounding property, and will also concentrate current which will in a great measure prevent anchor ice (frazil) lodging at mouth of the River Moira. Acting under your instructions, last spring, 1892, a channel was cut in the ice at mouth of river and it was found that it did a great deal of good and was, we think, a very important factor in preventing a flood when the ice came down the river. You will no doubt remember that my estimate, at the commencement of work on "Mill Island," was $2 per lineal foot; you will therefore see that the whole work has been completed for less than $2 per foot, notwithstanding the work has been done in a more substantial way than was at first proposed, and that new cribbing for wharfage was not at that time taken into consideration. All of which is respectfully submitted. Your obedient servant, W. W. LEE, Superintendent. The Honourable The Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa. SIR, The undersigned, Harbour Master of the city of Belleville, begs to submit the following report for the year ending 31st December, 1892 : DUES FROM IMPORTS. 17,353 tons coals... 375 cubic yards stone 759,300 feet lumber.. 224 tons potter's clay. 1,307 tons merchandise Sundries.. $1,735 30 7 50 37 97 13 44 130 75 30 09 #1 $1,955 05 It will be observed that the dues are considerably larger than last year; this may be accounted for by the importation of 17,353 tons coal, as compared with 14,062 tons last year. There was also a large increase in the number of logs, &c., passing through the boom; the revenue from this source being $1,440.79 as compared with $951.74 last year. The condition of the harbour has been considerably improved by the dredging done during the past season. Some of the obstructions in the channels have been removed and less difficulty has been experienced by the larger vessels in using the harbour. There is still a good deal to be done, however, to make the port entirely satisfactory. All of which is respectfully submitted. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, D. COLLINS, DOMINION OF CANADA, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, County of Hastings, To Wit: In the matter of the report of the Harbour Master of the city of Belleville for the year ending 31st December, 1892. I, Daniel Collins, of the city of Belleville, in the county of Hastings, Harbour Master, do solemnly declare: 1. That I am harbour master at the city of Belleville. 2. That my report hereunto annexed contains a true, correct and full statement of the revenue from the harbour at the city of Belleville for the year ending on the 31st December, 1892. 3. That the said report is in all other respects true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the "Act respecting Extra-Judicial Oaths." Declared before me at the city of Belleville, in the county of Hastings, this 24th W. N. PONTON, D. COLLINS, Harbour Master. 115 |