THE HARBOUR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 4 March 1912, Page 5

THE HARBOUR.

INADIQUATE BERTfttntf ACCOMMODATION. MORE WATER WANTED AT": THE WHARF. GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL TO DREDGE.

At io-day's meeting of the Harbour Board a. letter was received from the Hon. J. A. Millar. Minister for Railways, replying to the Board's reque&C for a berth for ocean-going steamers, givino- 25 feet of water. Tiio Minister stated that the Department, after investigation, considered the deptn was ample for present and prospective requirements. During the year only five ocean-going steamers had visited the port, remaining at the wharf 37 days. In the circumstances there was no justification for incurring any further expenditure. It was stated that it was understood that the representations made to the Board by Capts. Bone and McDougall were to be also submitted to the Minister by the shipping companies •concerned. Members of the Board referred,to the urgency of the work asked for, it .being mentioned that ocean-going steamers Uay on the mud at low water. ' It was resolved, on the motion of Mi'. Best, seconded by Mr. Trask, that,.the • Chairman, Mr. Lock and the Harbourmaster interview the Minister.at Wellington next week, Messrs H. Atmore and R. McKenzie, M.'s P., to be asked to accompany the deputation; and the Harbourmaster to take soundings '-at the wharf to lay before the Minister.' FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS FAVOURED. BOARD ALMOST UNANIMOUS. Two motions dealing with further' improvements at the entrance were to have been dealt with, by the Board to-day. Mr. Franklyn, in view of JVIr. Duncan's subsequent notice of motion, asked leave to withdraw the notice of motion.. Both motions dealt with the same matter. Leave to withdraw was -granted. Mr. Duncan ihen moved : "That,if the. Government can be induced to dvedgfi, the necessary area at the wharf, that immediate steps be taken to give effect/to the< recommendations of the -EngineerMn. Chief of the Marine Department, which., recommendations have been endorsed by the representatives of the two shipping compankjs that have interviewed tho Board." In moving his motion Mr Duncan said that the present conditions "w.®^ 6 not favourable to present-day needs;. They met requirements when the Rakaia., the first ocean-going, steamer,. came to Nelson, but scarcely one boat of ;the, Rakaia's size now loaded to this,port;.larger steamers having replaced them. * No other companies had suitable boats, or, regular, service for the requirements/of tjtj; port, except the two companies that; had traded to Nelson. Requirements, met, or the great eavihg of direct: shipment would .be imperilled—in • fact,-..105t-Direct shipment saved Iss. a ton, and meant from £7OOO to £BOOO Nelson. It was clear that theyv muse conserve their interests and provide"'tne increased requirements. Nelson , **V'&s entering into a larger area of prosperta*. Land was being opened up, ahd\the would be large quantities of -meat ■ana. wooPfor export; while the fruit industry was bounding ahead. These meant a big increase in .the trade of Nelson. Never before had NeLson had suoh a right t<> take so optimistic a view of the r future. Responsibility rested opori th© •' Board to make the harbour' euitabled ifw large boats to deal with the commerce. If the jrfoard did not ck> it would be held blamablo iOY blockingNelson's prosperity. Direct shipment, meant a saving of 4s a bale bh avool and* >2s less insurance. '• The' report', b*-"M*!- ■ Holmes, Marine' Departments largely bore out the original' schenie' df harbour improvements, 'lncluding;,', thd. widening of the cut. Mi\ Duncan>d;id not thdhk any Government tinue to decline to*give adequatie'berthing accommodation when the prosperity of the district Was so 'greatly affected. As to a rate, Mr. Duncan -said' that_ this:wa& a bogey. Emphasihg his point in regard to the saving By direct snitimfent- he s referred to what had been shown by..the '"Mail" to have been lost by' the PAkeha. not coming' here. ' ' J * ~" Mr. Lock, in seconding, eaid that; Air. Duncan had put forward all that, .could 1 b e said. As the "Mail" had ; saidj, all . eyes would be on the Board that A; good harbour was the highest necessity of the district. Was the harbour' ad.e-' quate? If it was not they 'must ■•fcdS'p pace with the times and make-it so. \, It had been 6hown that the harbour was not adequate for the larger steamers ; of the present time: He was-opposed 1 Id making Nelson the second last>' ov last" port of. call, as to do that would entail 'tod large a scheme. ' Mr r Holmes' schema ".'for dredging outside and widening the dub could be carried out by thb Board; !HV would say, do the outside work 1 first, which would be a great thing' in itfielf, giving the steamers a. straight *uh. With a straight run it might then! hot be neces>■• sary to widen the cut. It would "w>k. » grand idea to get the Rubi Seddbh; which could do the work so cheaply (4s<d;v£ yard, including repairs) compared " with; what the dredging had previously cost. Mr. Holmes' estimate of £6OOO, if correct, would enable the Board to carry out his l-ecommendations without a rate having to bo collected. In ropard to tb© apples, what did it matter if the apples were kept five or ten day's longer? Then the quantity available for export was very small at present, and for som© time to come would not reach very large proportions. The apple export did not warrant making Nelson the last porVof, call. Mr. Lock repeated that the improvements suggested could be carried out by the Board without a rate. ' Mr. Mercer, supporting, said the Board. must be up and doing—there must be less talk and more work. In time the har* hour would be silted up if dredging was not carried out. Then they would have transhipments again, which wa* nob at all desirable, as it meant a long delay iu cargo reaching Nelson. The Chairman agreed that the time thad arrived whan the suggested juttprovements should be carried •°*t.' t Tho harbour advantages must be, maintained, but the new Board had not -been; able : to make an earlier start. The time, had only now arrived, when they had the' new tug, that they could go on with the inside dredging. Iu four or five months they would be able to get the Rubi Se'ddon for the outside dredging, whioh Captain Bono had told them was the most important work. The balance ol £SOOO of the loan would, provide them with the funds for the work. Th£ dutsldedredging and increased depth at the wharf were the two most important works.

Capt. McNab said that the inside spoil was a difficulty, and it" riius't not lie\ dumped in the harbour. Mr. Trask was not in favour of the motion. With the Rubi StdddYi, and. Sh* side dredging, the harbour wonld' DeaJl right for many years. JTho sum of £.9OQQ that would be available would be only & flea-bite towards the cost. Mr. Lock said that having. Bpent £72,000 on the present scheme, it,was ahsurd for the Board to think of going ifi for any other scheme. Mr. Duncan, in reply, said that if t?jo harbour could be made adequate for the next 15 years for the sum lJ .tb.e Board should hesitate no longer.'' The motion was put an<j carried, Mr. Trask being the only dlseenliefit'. ' It was resolved that the/resolution.. bo submitted to the Minister "for ISl^ri^^ |Vby. the deputation which, was to. wait ori 'Him,