OTAGO DOCK TRUST.

Evening Star, Issue 11627, 11 July 1902, Page 4

OTAGO DOCK TRUST.

The Clerk of Port Chalmers Borough Council has received the following communication, for presentation to the Council at its next meeting:— Port Chalmers, July 10, 1902. .Sir, —Referring to the subject of the new dock at Port Chalmers, I am instructed by the Dock Trust to state that no definite reply from the Government had yet beau received to the representations made in September last to place the Trust in a position to proceed with the construction of a dry docs suitable to the requirements of the port of Otago. Your Council rendered the Trust valuable assistance on that occasion bv sending a delegate to Wellington to take part in a deputation to the Premier. The Trust would be glad if your Council would continue in their efforts by writing to the Premier, urging faun to provide financial assistance to enable the Trust to cany out the duties conferred upon it by the Legislature: The benefit to Otago in retaining the headquarters of the Union Steam Ship Company murt be apparent. Both Lyttelton and Wellington are making efforts to secure the repairing of that company’s steamers. A large number of the company’s steamers are too large to be accommodated in the present dock, and the new rebels that the company are year by year adding to their fleet are all of large tonnage. It is clearly in the interests of Otago to give more facilities to the Union Hteam Ship Company than are provided for them at the other ports of the colony, in order to secure their permanent headquarters, and retain the houses and families of their large number of employes. Considerably over 2,000 are supported by the company in and about Dunedin and Port Chalmers. The, Dock Trust has all the necessary legislative powers for borrowing £IOO,OOO for a large dock, and is endowed by the State; hnt. unfortunately, the endowments do not, with the profits of working the existing dock and freezing works, provide sufficient revenue to meet the interest on the proposed loan. It is estimated that the proposed dock would cost £99,000, plans and specifications lor which have been prepared by Mr Robert Hay, and one side of the Cobber dam has been constructed out of dock revenue. In all probability, the amount required to complete a suitable dock would be about £90,000. at 4 per cent. (£3.600). The present net revenue is about £2,500, leaving a deficiency of £l,lOO. It is obvious that the trend of the times is to build vessels of large tonnage. Even the intercolonial and coastal boats will in all probability, in the near future, be superseded by steamers that would be too large for the small dock at Port Chalmers. Another argument in favor of a larger dock is the tortuoufe nature and shallow portions of the Otago Harbor, causing shipping companies to be shy in sending the larger class of the Home vessels to this port. This would be to some extent removed if means of repairing any accident that might occur were provided. If we desire that Otago should hold her own in commercial and shipping matters, it will be necessary for all those rntererted ip the welfare of the district to unite In obtaining that necessary adjunct to a properly-equipped seaport—viz,, suitable dock accommodation.—l am, etc., Johx Watsos, Secretary.