USE OF PORT KAIAPOI

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28463, 18 December 1957, Page 17

USE OF PORT KAIAPOI

Shipping Firm’s Interest A shipping company is still interested in the possibility of establishing a service between the port of Kaiapoi and the North Island. At a meeting of the Kaiapoi Borough Council a letter was received from a shipping com* pany, the name of. which was not disclosed, saying thpt it had been advised that a section of the business community of Kaiapoi was interested in the establishment of a direct shipping service between Kaiapoi and Wellington. Given adequate assurance that a . service would be maintained, Kaiapoi local authorities might be interested in restoring port facilities. ■ “We do not know upon what foundation these statements are based, but if there is a genuine interest in such a proposal my company would be prepared to discuss the possibilities and the support likely to be forthcoming,’* said the writer of the letter.

The company had vessels suitable for the type of service, having a carrying capacity of between 120 and 150 tons, a laden draught of less than seven feet, and being capable of quick loading and discharge so that they could provide an express service. “We have a record of 10 years’ successful running with good connexions to provide the best possible service given the assurance of adequate support.’’

The chairman of the harbour committee (Cr. T. L. Williams), in moving that the letter be referred to his committee, said that it was seeking a man to carry out a survey of business interests to see what support there would be for a shipping service from Kaiapoi.

Council’s Interest Cr. C. T. Williams said that the company should be advised of the action of the council and assured that it would be interested in putting the port into working order. A little more than a year ago the council had had a chart prepared of the length of the river concerned, said the Mayor (Mr N. E. Kirk). This section had been sounded “pretty fully.” Apart from some renovation needed at the wharf, the condition of the river was as good, and in some places actually better, than when the river had last been used by shipping. There was every possibility of the port being worked successfully and to the advantage of the town. From the soundings made and observation of the rise and fall of the river it appeared that there was sufficient water for vessels of. the size that this company proposed to operate, said Cr. C. T. Williams. Port Entrance To his knowledge the entrance to the port had not been charted for many years and the depth of water in the channel was uncertain, said Captain J. N. Allan, commanding officer of the Canterbury Division of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, replying to an invitation from the council for the 72 foot motor launch attached ,to the division to visit Port Kaiapoi. After giving the dimensions of the vessel, Captain Allan said it was doubtful if there was sufficient depth and manoeuvring room for the vessel. Cr. C. T. Williams said that there would be ample depth at high tide but if the launch remained in port at low tide it might have to sit on the mud.