NELSON HARBOUR BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 4 March 1914, Page 7

NELSON HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. • CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.. Following is the conclusion <>f the business of the Nelson Harbour Board after we went to press yesterday aiterThe Chairman reported, on behalf of the Loans Proposals Committee, on the steps to be taken in connection with the raising of a loan of £35,000 for further harbour improvements. After reading a legal opinion on several questions affecting the poll, the Chairman emphasised that it was necessary to have the details complete before going to the ratepayers. A letter was received from the A.M.P. Society intimating that it would be prepared to take up the loan at 5 per cent., the loan to have a currency of 30 years, interest to be paid at Sydnev. , On information he had gathered in Tegard to the increased valuation of the district next year;-the Chairman said it would be necessary to. strike rate'of-only T-6d' in the £ to cover both interest" #nd sinking fund. This had been verified by'an actuary. His original motion had stipulated a rate of £d hi the £>, with a currency of 33 years; but in view of the information he had since gathered> he asked permission to substitute in his notice of motion dealing with the matter a rate of l-6d ( instead of £d, and a currency of 30 years instead of 33 years. The Chairman ■■ also rea'd a letter from the manager -of the National Bank, in which the opinion \Vas expressed that there would be no difficulty in successfully floating, the loan on the. London market- The Chairman suggested that preliminary steps should be taken in regard to raising the loan in order that the. ratepayers should know definitely what rate would required if the loan was authorised. In reply to Mr Pranklyn, the Chairman said he did not think the _Government would have offered to sell the wharves" unless they had trie power to do bo. '! ' Mr Maginnity said members would agree with him that they were under a deep debt t5 the Chairman'for the immense amount of information he had gathered. (Hear, hear.) Mr Maginnity inquired whether it would not be more convenient to deal with the A.M.P.' Society instead of going abroad ifor it. On the motion of ; Mr Maginnity. the recommendations of the Committee in regard to authorising the Chairman to alter his notice of motion, and also in connection with the holding of meetings, was adopted.

HARBOURMASTER'S REPORT. The Harbourmaster (Captain Collins) reported : The trade of the port for the period ending 28th February has been slightly better than the corresponding month of last year. During the month 152 vessels entered and left the port, including two ocean-going steamers, the s.s. Volga and Kumara. -The others, are made up as follows:—21 Union Cs.'s steamers, iO7 small steamers, and 22 sailing vessels, .being a total of 31,165 ions registered, as against 29,936 tons for Febi-aury last Work In l ,ion with strengthening tine'.'wharf at the •Western Entrance has ibeen completed. Altogether 20 new piles had been driven, aeyen across the ifront, five in the second row, and eight under the old portion of che wharf. The front row of piling has been thoroughly braced -with railway iron, the new portion of the wharf has been securely tied back to.the old-.wharf, the decking in the old wharf has all been taken up and re-laid, and new planking put down where required. The wharf is now in thorough repair, and should stand a reasonable impact from a vessel while'being berthed during strong spring tides. • I would respectfully suggest that the wharfiinger at the Western Entrance be instructed to caution masters against the practice of swinging their vessels during strong flood or ebb stream. Any master ignoring the instructions of the wharfinger will be held responsible ifor any damage he may do in consequence.

Alexander McPhersoii Stuart,' master of the s.s. Kennedy, has passed the necessary test enabling him to pilot a -vessel not exceeding 300 tons in and out of the' port of Nelson. -'. All routine duties have •been regularly attended to. . The report was adopted. ' TENDERS. Four' tenders were' received for the manufacture of a ibuoy, and that of the Anchor .Company,' at £39,' -was accepted. The other tenders were:—Ross, Jory and Co. , (Wellington), £46:ios; Wm. Cable £67 10s; '' J. J. N'iven and Co. (Wellington), £7B 10s. : The Board rose at 4.15 pirn. ' '.