WAIRAU HARBOR BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 176, 2 August 1910, Page 5

WAIRAU HARBOR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Wairau Harbor Board was held last night, ; those present being Messrs W. H. [Macey, C. A. Eckford, G. Patchett, 1 and Capt. Eckford. i In the absence of the chairman, Mr r Macey presided. : PILOT'S REPORT. The Pilot (Capt. Fisk) reported that ,the bar had been in. good order during the past month) especially since the 4th of July. There had been some heavy seas, but notwithstanding these there had been ample water on the bar, the average depth having been Bft!.,1 with the exception of one day, from th« 13th to the 14th, when the centre of the channel was filled up. It was, however, cleared again by the morning tide-, and there was now Bft. of water on the bar at high-water mark. He had sounded the bar that day, and found Bft. 6in. of water, with a first-class channel. There were 23 arrivals at the port, and a like number of departures during the month. A COMPLAINT. Captain Nicholas, of the s.s. Opawa, wrote complaining ( that on Friday last the Opawa, upon arriving off the bar, received the signal "wait for tide." He waited until high water, when the signal,was altered to "Bar dangerous." He then returned to Wellington. When bia arrived at the bar on the following Monday the signal read "Bar dangerousrthere is a strong current ftinning." He asked if he could cross in, and the pilot replied that he could not. Taking the matter into his own. hands Jbe crossed in, and found between Bft l and 9ft. of water on the bar. He contended tfiat it was not fair to the shipping people to be supplied with such information, arid pointed out that they wanted something more reliable than that which they had been getting of late. .__ He trusted that thie Board; would insist upon more definite information being,given to vessels desiring to cross the bar. Captain Fisk endorsed th^ state;mient cdntairied in Captain Nicholas's letter,' but explained that he did not care to allow' any vessel; to cross in' unless he were safe. The beacons, were'^placed oit. tbV line r of' dieepejst water as far, as; his judgnient; served: : He ihad, feeem: uriabl^tol "feak^^spun^ings; ii^ thievpilot^at, ;antf l none; t»f the:JaYiii(ihes wwild tafee him' out!. The channel was; new,: and lie was neither inclined nor prepared to take any risk§ and to signal' that the ' bar was safe when, he had his doubts as to whether it was so, especially after,the strong fresh experienced in the", river. tjrider ordinary circum- ; stances r his: experience had taught him wheii the bar was safe and when it^was.not, and be would not do anyi i thing to place other people's property '< in danger. The owners and masters of vessels could take >a risk if they chose, but h© \ wias placed- in a responsible position^, .and had to f . act. with1 due caution. If ever there wasf any doubt as ; to the safety of the bar f the vessels got the benefit of thajt, doubt.' • ' :' '' .'" *" "n

The chairman commended, the-pilo:b for the course he had adopted, , stating that the was perfectly satisfied that he had acted rightly. - ~, , Captain Eekf ord differed front the chairman, and stated' that he had a recollection of the four' ,balls signal ("aU clear") having been given, yet the vessel had .stuck^ ,on the bar .in five feet of water, although in a good line, and there had been sft. lOin. of water close by. For the- greater part of a week there had been a strong current running through the gap in the boulder bank, which .was only a chain wide. He wanted to know' now it was that if there was over fiv^ feet' of Water on a cut several chains 'wide there was not more on a cut onfyia chain wide, especially, when ac scouring current had been working through it for days. The attitude, of the pilot made him wonder for whom he was workings » • ~'■'' ,' Mr Patchett took exception to Captain. Eckford's last remark, and stated that he was out of order. ;,..

Captain Eekford contended that he was quite in order, and seated that the .pilot had signalled that the bar was riot, safe, yet Captain Nicholas had experienced' no difficulty whatever ;when crossing in against the pilot's instructions. . . , The chairmaii. considered Captain Fisk's explanation quite satisfactory. Captain Eckford' was not satisfied, and pointed out that in no case was the pilot responsible for the working of any bar. He considered that a recurrence of the action complained of would prove detrimental to the port, and would drive trade away. It was moved by the chairman, and seconded by Mr Patchett, that Capt. Fisk s explanation was satisfactory.— Carried. < A PROTEST. A protest was received from Capt. Gibson of the Oban, against the port and pdotag« charges imposed on his vessel. They represented £10 Bs, as compared with £1 10s in any other port in New Zealand^ and were made up at 10s per ton on timber. This was more than was charged elsewhere. Captain Eckford gave notice that he would move- an amendment to the clause in the pilot and harbor charges relating to this trade. HARBOR WORKS. A letter was received from the secretary of the Marine Department which contained an estimate that the improvement works at the bar would cost £7 per lineal foot. # The Minister for Marine also wrote m reference to the proposed £5000 loan for the harbor improvement works, advising the Board to communicate with the Minister for finance; and in the meantime he would put the Board's letter before the Prime Minister for consideration. FORESHORE. The Lower Wairau River Board wrote_ asking the Board what they required m connection with the rivers. The secretary was instructed to advise the River Board that the- Board wanted the foreshore from the traffic bridge over the Wairau to the bar and from the Nelson Street bridge to the bar, vested in it. THE NEW HARBOR ACT. A copy of the new Harbor Act was received from Mr J. Duncan, M.P for which it was decided to thank' him. FINANCE. _Tha secretary reported that the Board had a credit balance of £175 alter all accounts were paid. It was resolved to lodge the amount ■2hiipm9Ulred 1H the SaYi "SS bank > the trustees seci>etary to act as! The meeting then terminated.