MARLBOROUGH'S PORT

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1131, 19 May 1911, Page 2

MARLBOROUGH'S PORT

THE NEW WHARF. FIRST PILE DRIVEN YESTERDAY. THE DISTRICT'S NEEDS. (By TclcKrapli—rrcss Association.) -Blenheim, May 18. The first pile of Picton's new ferroconcrete wharf, the Hi.4 sh'ucturo of its kind built by tho Now Zealand government, was driven by the Hon. J. A. Millar, the Minister for Railways and Marine, t.o-day, in the presence of a large gathering of tho public. Before performing the ceremony, the. Minister delivered it speech. The Government, lie said, had beeu twilled with bcins; responsible for unnecessary expenditure of public money, and an increase of the national debt. It had to do one. of two things, cither construct public works with borrowed money, or leave them alone. He considered '.hat the Government was justified in granting even- facility necessary, by ioison ot the increased trade. In constructing tho new Picton wharf, the Government-, was looking to the. future-to the day when Picton would have become the terminal port of th-3 South Island on the Main Truuk railwav. Xo doubt the trade of the port would greatly increase in the near future. , The new wharf is GlGft. long, compared with the 150 ft. of the present structure, and 68ft:. wide. There will lie a depth of from 25 to 30ft. at low water, which can easily be increased as requirements demand*. The estimated cost is about .£35,000; with reclamation and other works, .£56,000. The Minister expects to see the new wharf working in two years' time. He mentioned that last year tho total number of shins inwards and outwards was 1039, of a "total tonnage of 801,518. In conclusion, Mr. Millar said that he had great hopes for tho future of Marlborough. Tho Minister was then ferried out to the end of the wharf, and ho superintended tho ceremony of the driving of the first pile. Afterwards, he was entertained at a luncheon by the Mayor and the Borough Councillors of Picton. Ho left for Wellington by tho evening steamer. DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. WHARF CHARGES. he driving of tho first nile of tho new. •wharf was enthusiastically made the occasion of fitting celebrations by the Pictonians; but it was not allowed to reign the one and only concern of the moment. Picton placed before the Minister' several matters which are of importance to it. They say they have built a creditable wharf, and that to aid them on tho way to increased progress they want several things attended to and "righted." They want better railway accommodation. They ask for the abolition of the increased wharf charges and launch dues which'were gazetted on' February !).' For years the settlers used the Government wharves free of charge for the transport of produce. So, a deputation, introduced by Mr. John Duncan, M.P., and headed by (ho Mayor of Picton (Dr. Redman) waited on the Minister. The question of wharf charges was, said the Mayor, one of most serious importance, not only to Sounds residents, but to the merchants of Picton as well. Sinco the days of tho Provincial Government, tho settlers had used ■the" wharf, free of chargo. Knforcemeut of the pro-' posed charges might turn trade away from tho port. Take timber. If it was brought by water from Ilavelock to Picton, and scut to Blenheim by rail, it would, under the increased cost, be more expensive than if it was sent by road, very little public money was spout on the backblock people of the Sounds. Motor launches had improved their means of communication, but they had got them themselves. Telephones they also had, but these, too, they had pa'id for. , Ho reckoned tho proposed charges were on a level with a turnpike on a public highway. Picton was not yet 'a distributing port, and goods from .Wellington, would have to pay twice over for redistribution.. Sugar and flour paid dues when landed from Wellington, and when sent out to tho settlers in parcels would have to pay sixpence a parcel. The collecting of tho dues would entail expense and difficulty. Such a system would probably lead to smuggling, and settlers might get. their goods away without using the wharves at all. Such charges would bo regarded as iniquitous and.unjust. Councillor Grecnsill, read n' resolution of tho Sounds branch of tho Farmers' Union, which protested against tho proposed charges. The settlers were already handicapped by treble freights. The waterway being their only highway, tho dues would bo as a toll on a public road. Mr. Harwood said that if tho proposed charges were levied, it would mean an avcrago charge of 325. a ton.

The Minister's Reply. In his reply the Minister stated that in IS7G, when the Provincial Council decided not to charge the settlers, tho Sounds was an isolated district, and settlement was sparse. Just now tho Government was spending much more of the taxpayers' money at Picton than ever betore. Picton was the only place where, freo use of the railway wharf was allowed tho settlers, to the Government would have to grant a similar privilege to other places or bring Picton into lino with the common custom. Ho would' not say that the charges could not bo revised, because.32s. n ton- would be un-. reasonable. On ■ timber there had been no increase. " More wharf accommoda-, tion was needed, but it could not be provided out of the railway revenue of the Picton section. What was wanted was to get from the wharf enough to maintain it. That was all. Last year the shipping revenue (inclusive of port charges and launch fees) was but tho Railway Department was spending ■£54,000 on wharf- cacommodation, including ,£30,000 on reclamations. He would not, he concluded, promise free facilities, but would endeavour to provide them at a nominal rate.

Other Matters. A desire that a local harbour board should manage tho port was also expressed to the Minister, who said that iio was agreeable to the proposal, liospectiug Uie endowments the whole question would have to be dealt with by considering all the applications which had been made. Ho favoured handing all the Crown lauds over to local bodies as endowments. They could then get revenue by that means instead of by way of Government subsidies. It would also get rid of the freehold controversy. If a harbour board was constituted, it would be given the foreshore. Councillor lliddcll asked the Minister to grant the present site of the railwaj' station for a beauty spot when the station was put on the reclaimed land. Mr. Millar promised tentatively that if the land was not required for railway purposes it could be had by the borough. Councillor I'ell complained that trains ran late through inadequate haulage power. He also said that Picton people paid tho same fare and freight lo Wellington on chaff and grain as Blenheim passengers or shippers owing to the. operation of a through rale from Blenheim, though Picion was 18 miles nearer Wellington than Blenheim. In reply. Mr. Millar said that in ten years the rolling stock on (hat section nf tho railway had been doubled. Before next busy' season bridges wonkl be strengthened, and then more powerful engines r.nd eight-ton trucks would he provided. Regarding the through 'rate to Blenheim it was the duty nf the Government to get as much traffic for the railway as possible. The severe sea competition in fhe South Island years ago caused the creation nf differential rates on railways, and this was the position at Blenheim. I'iclon was not charged unfairly. The shortage of trucks could bo got over by leasing portions nf railway land. He would have a report made en the cost of tunnelling (he Mil to avoid the incline (o Elevation Station.

Whit in the world's the use of fretting O'er life's troubles every day? All our blessings thus lorgettmg, Wo've some, blessings nnyway. One Croat blessing a!! may finger, Woods' Great l'optjerimnt Cure, to wit, Drives off colds inclined to linger, Makes us well anil keeps us fit. i