SHIPOWNERS AND THE HARBOUR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 39, 18 February 1901, Page 2

SHIPOWNERS AND THE HARBOUR.

OPINION IN LONDON. DISASTROUS EFFECTS OF DELAY. It will be remembered that when the Lutterworth arrived here she experienced delay and difficulty in entering the port. The appended extracts from a letter from the Shaw, Savill and Abion Company, received by their Nelson agents, Messrs Sclanders and Co, and dated London, 12 th January, will be read with considerable interest and concemby the resident . The opinion of London shipowuerß in regaid to Nelson's trading facilities has a very important bearing on the prosperity of the port, and the extracts seem to emphas se once again tbe need for immediate harbour improvement : —

" . . . . The delay experienced by the Lutterworth in entering your port was very vexatious, more especially as the vessel was urgently wanted in the south for homeward loadiug, and we understand that the consignees of the Bluff portioa of her cargo were very dissatisfied at the delay iv delivery of their goods. We have been on the lookout for a ship to charter ior the Nelson berth to sail about the end of this month, but so far have been quite unable to hear of anything Buitablo. Small ships are very scarce, and owners' ideas of rates are disproportionate to the rates your friends are prepared to pay. We will not cease our efforts to obtain a vessel, but the prospects of success are not favourable. Delays to ships at your port, such aa in the case of the Hermione and the Lutterworth, raise a further difficulty in the way of direct loadin for Nelson, because, under present conditions, this has always to be combined with cargo for a second port, and the consignees of such second port cargo natur- I ally object to the excessive time which elapses before delivery cau be given. "