HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 4 March 1914, Page 3

HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS

raising; ok loans. At yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board, the c-hair-man (Mr H. 1!- Duncan) .moved t lie following notice of motiun standi n-£ i:i hi.* name : "(1) That step?; be taken to rai*e n .special Nehon Harbour loan of £3S.GCO for the improvement of the Ne!.;on harbour by d.reduing the present cut through the Boulder Hank to a bottom width of SCO feet, with a depth of 17ft at 1.w.5.t.. and to effect all further dredging ins'de the harbour as describe*! in Mr Leslie Reynolds B scheme. "\2) The security for such special loan to be the board's endowments (at present subject to a loan of £65,000). and a special rate of a sixth of a penny in the £ in the year on all rateable property in the harbour district, and that such loan be repayable at the expiration of 30 years from the raising of the loan. That "the sum of £624 in each year be appropriated from the board's harbour fund account during the currency of the loan as a sinking funCTTor the repayment thereof. "And that the cot of raising the loan t and the interest for the first year, to-2-ether with a Plj m not exceeding £2CO, for surveys, plans, reports, and other preliminary expenses incurred in connection with the scheme for which the lean is raised, be paid out of the loan." In moving his motion, the chairman said he had done so in order to have the loan proposal voted on on the 231 h April, the same day of the election ot Country members of the Board. It would be necessary for the Hoard in the meantime to go before the ratepayers an<l place before them as clearly as possible the advantages to be derived from the carrying of the poll. When the revaluation of the district was known, they might be able to toll the ratepayers that the rate proposed to be levied could be decreased. The chairman went on to refer to the increased size of ocean-going vessels trading to the Dominion, and it was r.b-nlutely necessary that the harbour should be made to aticommodat? them. The expenditure would be very small compared with what was expended on ot Imports. The prospects for Nel. on were, he considered, never brighter, and he thought the ratepayers would sanction a loan when they knew of the advantaged to be accrued. In answer to Mr Maemahon. the chairman explained the reference in the press lately regarding a telegram from Timaru re* the luring of the dredce to the Nelson Board. Mr Duncan said that some time ago the chairman of the Timaru Board was in Nel.on, and he (Mr Duncan) had 'been approached a=> to the possibility of the Nel.-on B'-ard wantin-j the Timaru dredge. The chairman said he had. in view of future possibilitier. asked for certain information to be supplied to the "Board, and no doubt the telegram publisheel teferred to this. He had been surprised to see the information in the press. Mr Franklyn said he could not agree to any loan being raised, which would mean "a- rate. As an original member of r.hs Board he was pledged against this. Country residents would oppose a loan, as at the present time the harbour could admit vessels up to IO,CCO tons, which could take awv.y all the produce the Waimeas could export. \\ as it any wonder then that the country people should object, to a rate? If the ratepayers passed the loan he would be as pleased as anyone. [ The chairman hoped to see the Board unanimous on in* subject. The farmer would benefit more than anyone else. If improvements were not effected theport would not be able to export the farmers' produce in a few years' time, provid:ug the district went ahead as was confidently anticipated. If the ratepayers refused to sanction the loan, then thev would for all time be deserving to fee called "Sleepy Hollow."' They must advace with the times. Conditions were changing, and changing for the ' better, in Nelson, and. he hoped that the loan would be carried. He urged Mr Franklyn to give the proposal his supMr Franklvn 'said he would offer no public objections to the loan. He was as anxious as anyone to see the district advance. . . Mr Maemahon said he was r.orrv to heax Mr Franklyn epeak as he had done, for he had been under the impression that the Board was unanimous on the matter. . The motion was then put and carried, Mr Franklvn alone opposing, and askins that his name b* recorded on the minutes as opposing the proposal. Siinijnia.x paiutoddE sb.w .C.iuia.tDss atfx officer for the election. The chairman in moving the second portion of his motion, said he had made the amount £106,000 in order to meet, the first year's interest. Tt wrnld alro inform financial institutions that the Board had a State guarantee for the Mr "Washbourn seconded th» motion, which was carried unanimously. * APPOINTMENT OF ENGINEER. DEFERRED. According to notice of. motion. Mr MaHnnitv moved as follows :—" that the" Loan Committee be authorised to enquire as to the possibility of obtaining the services of a- competent <?ng nsev to carry to completion the scheme of harbour improvements as originally contemplated " * ~ „ . .. In moving hie motion, Mr. Masn"n ty said he was averse to anv expenditure unless it -would be of benefit to the Board. H* had considered the advisableness of postponing the matter until the ratepayers had voiced their opinion on the proposed loan. ?ut it the answer of the ratepayers was in-the. affirmative, the Board could go unlit on as thev would Jhave the uec ess-ivy power if his motion was carried. He would move, however, that the motion be held in abeyance until the loan proposal hnd been'decided. Mr Maemahon seconded the motion. Mr Wa=hbourn favoured tha matteT being settled at once. Mr Bishop w of opinion that the ratepayers should know before tlwy voted on the loan who was to carry out. the improvements. He was ™"fi<tent that this would make a irrent difference in regard to carrying the loan Th? chairman agreed with Mr Maff.nnitv in wishing to postpone the motion. The motion was carried-