Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1910 WARNING TO BOAT OWNERS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5476, 23 February 1910, Page 2

Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1910 WARNING TO BOAT OWNERS.

_____ o For some time frequent complaints haVe been made regarding the practice of certain individuals in leavfeg) their boats fastened to the steps of the Victoria Whuff in such a manner as to obstruct the approach of other vessels. As reported in our issue of Wednesday last, Mr A. F. Timks, harbourmaster, (has written to the Borough Council stating that if the i mus-ance lk continu«s be shall consider himself justified, under certain sections of the General Hartfour R»» gulations, in giving such , directions as may -be found necessary and in imposing such penalties as may be provided, upon masters or owners of vessels offending. According to section 18 of -the by-laws for harbours where there is no harbour bqard, the harbourmaster may order any vessel or timber to fee removed from any b-erbh alongside 'any, wharf or from any anchorage to any part of the harbour, whenever such removal shall in his opinion, be proper for the general accommodation <\! the shipping ; and any person who shall fai to o*bf>y such order shall be liastfle t o i a penalty. In the performance of any eerrica for or. in corm«ctien wifh any ship by the hariyourntastar, the master of the ship and the- crew thereof are required 1o »,ive and afford to the harbourmaster all possible aid and assistance to effect the same. If, however, there is no crew on board of any ship to !be moved, or the crew thereof refuse or fail to aid and assist as aforesaid, o» * the crew, or tackle,, or i|Uantity of ballast on board such ship is not sufficient to enable tire harbourmaster to efieot. such removal, he is «iipowercd to hire and employ such other assistance and tackle, and to purchase and put on "board such ship such other quantity of ballast as to him seems requisite, at the cost and barges of <the piaster or ownev of

such ship- Si»h ccst and Char o e3 shall 7>e paid Hy suth mast, r cr own.t to the hcr;«ourmasttr. Section 84 sets out that no person shall make fast any vessel to any Steps cr landing place U f pas-:^n -^rs, c r co nsaf thereto as to olfc t.ict the arrroEC'j ol otter vtssels, tt allow htr to lie lon get ailon'gSNie than requltjd fc r landin-g passengers. According to section 35 all vessels alongside of any, steps or landing place shall give way to Uovemnvent vessels oh duly-, aiso to othet vessels with passengers so soon as their own passengers have been knde-i ; and <any person offending against- this by-law or failing to obey the ord«r< of tne harbourmaster of wharfinger, or making use <of abusive or improper language at such steps or" landing place, shall be liable to a penalty. Seclion 66 states that if- any person fails of refused cr neel*«ts to do anythiii,> Required toy these bylaws, or in any manner obstructs, impedes of interferes with <the 'doing of arnytihing -dnjaifieid or;>?jutih<>risod to he done, or wilfaily: does anything prohibited by these by-laws, ev< fy- such person in anyv Case so offending shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £20. Masters cr owners of vessels who in the past have been inclined to obstruct the approach of other vessels to the Victoria Whatf would do well to take heed of the warning which has been issued by the harbourmaster, if they fail to take notice and find themselves mulcted in & heavy, penalty they will now only have themselves to blame. In making a move in tire 'lircction indicated tbe harbourmaster is doing the right thing in helping to protect the rights of the majority of (owners' and masters.