DUNEDIN HARBOUR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7178, 1 March 1884, Page 6

DUNEDIN HARBOUR .

The Dunedin Harbour Board are naturally in high feather at the suggested intention of the Union Steamship Co. to transfer their headquarters to Dunedin/ The, following is the letter from Mr Mills, the Company’s manager, on the subject:— « Dunedin, Feb. 27.

“ Dear Sir, —The success which has attended the Harbour Board’s operations in enabling vessels of good draught to come up to Dunedin to discharge, points to the possibility of this Company being able to bring their largest steamers up the channel at no very distant date. I understand that it only requires a small amount of dredging to deepen the channel sufficiently to permit of our large steamers coming up at any state of the tide. When this work is completed we shall be prepared to bring all our steamers up to Dunedin. In view of this end, I desire to point out what auxiliary facilities will be necessary before Dunedin can be utilised as our working port, so that the Board can be proceeding with the work of providing these simultaneously with the dredging, as unless these are available the deepening of the channel will only be one step towards the attainment of the final result, and not sufficient of-itself to bring about the change. As there will frequently be six steamers alongside the wharf at one time, we shall require to be able to rely on getting at least 1500 ft separate berthage—loooft to accommodate two Melbourne and one Sydney steamers, and the balance for our ordinary coasting boats, of which we frequently have four or five alongside at a time, although many of these do hot require special accommodation. Moorings for coalhulks, conveniently placed where they can be hauled alongside steamers at the wharf, will also be a necessity. The present , method of discharging cargo at Port Chalmers, according to which the goods are taken delivery of at once by the Railway Department, and receipts given to the ship for all put out, works very satisfactorily, as we are not subjected to any delay, and are relieved at once of all responsibility of following the goods into consignees’ possession. To place the matter on the same satisfactory footing at Dunedin it will be necessary for the Board to adopt stringent -regulations regarding the removal of cargo by consignees immediately on it being discharged from the steamers, so as to avoid the expense of stacking or stowage, as well as to prevent crowding on the wharf. Large shed accommodation will be required for the purpose of affording shelter to inward and outward cargo, and the sheds should be sufficiently roomy to allow of drays moving about inside. A. line of rails alongside the wharf will be required for use in discharging coal, loading grain, and other cargo work. Should Dunedin become the working port of this and other companies’ ships, some provision will have to be made for suitable sites for workshops, convenient to the wharf, for the purpose of carrying on repairs, &c. In view, of this I would recommend that the Board reserve a sufficient area of ground to be utilised in this direction. The above are the principal facilities that it will be necessary should be available before Dunedin can be utilised as the working port of this and other companies' ships. We have at present indicated them merely for the information of the Board; when the time arrives for putting the works in hand we shall be happy to supply fuller particulars, and to assist the Board in arranging details if desired.” The letter was referred to a Special Committee to consider and report to the Board uponthe best means of carrying out the suggestions.!