DISTRICT NEWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 8 May 1915, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS

AiottFEiU. HARBOUR' BOARD*. (From Our Own Cotresporideiit.) The annual . meeting of the Matuefea HarboUr Board was held oh 2£(th ultimo'. All .members .present <as follows: Messrs T: Pattie, j. A. Guy; C. Fry, H, 0. Holdaway, H. Everett, R. P. Hudson, and "A. G. Herrick. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The secretary (Mr P. G. Moffatt) conducted the business for the elect-ion of a chairman for the ensuing year. ■Mr Thos. Pattie being the only candidate nominated, was declared elected unopposed. "■"'■'.' . In speaking, to thei nomination, members of the.. Board spoke in, eulogistic terms of Mr Pattie's past services as Chairman of-' the Board. ' ' Ma- Everett endorsed, the remarks of other speakers in this, reject/nbut he contended that! the ' office 'should '• he a rolling one, although under the present circumstances of the harbour works still being in." progression, and iVIr Pattie hay* ing acquired such a thorough knowledge aiid having taken "such a prominent interest in the he considered that it would be- ut wise course in this instance to re-elect Mr-Pattie to thechairmanship of the Board.l As Mr Pattie was the only candidate nominated, he was declared elected unopposed. ■;.'''.'■ .' ■' : ' • (This is the, eighth time in succession that Mr Pattie /has been elected Chairman). . ..- ... :--';".. '.'-' '' "■' "' ' The Chaii'manj in returning thanks for appointment and confidence reposed in him, stated that his duties.in the past had not been all pleasant ones. There had been so many delays in the carrying out of the, new harbour works, 'but owing to the ffequemcy of so many disappointments, . which se'6misid to be inseparable from such . works/ members would" agree that' now they, seemed to expect them. The" Chairman here .-re.; marked that' Messrs Guy and Everett, besides r himself, had 'been associated as members of the Board continuously since its inception in 1906/ and previous -io that time as members of the Motueka Wharf Board.

The Chairman congratulated Mr Hudson on the occasion of his' re-election, and Mr Herriek on his first appearand* as a member, due to the' recent election. Messrs ' Hudson arid , Herrick- briefly responded.

. ACCOUNTS. . On resuming the ordinary business, accounts for £507 6s Id were passed for payment. WHARFINGER'S REPORT. v The wharfinger reported (inter' alia) that the wharf revenue for the past month* had been £lßl 4s, as compared for the corresponding period, of last year of £176 15s Id, and that 51 vessels entered and left the port for the period. The trade for the'month had been exceptionally good, and the amount in wharfages collected, constituted a record.

" The wharfinger at Riwaka reported four vessels for the month.. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer. reported that iiotwithstanding unavoidable, delays, considerable progress had been made with dredging operations. On "Good " Friday a severe storm considerably disturbed the plant, when, through a wire rope securing one of the punts, catried away. The, actual damage was small, tw-o practically worn out pipes and part of a ballpoint j?mng rendered useless. Although , was of the works suffered no damage,, and the seia wall stood-'the test and remains intact. It must be expected-that owing to the present . exposed position of the dredge that a certain amount of risk, but precautionary measures wefre being taken. Considering these {present crreomstances, and the plant at disposal, good progress was being made. The staff seems satisfied with thedr positions arid show marked interest in their efforts in push on with the work. -Besides the delay caused by the storm on Good Friday, some days had^been, occupied in effecting important (repairs to the dredge. The channel was now being dredged well out to sea, but owing to the strnog current at the entrance on spring tides, it was deemed advisable to haul the dredge back to 'better;shelter. ? of wire"rope' for moorings Wad just ibeen' obtained, and a,-mooring pile driven well i out to sea for double head line 'moorings to provide against/mishap-.. Last week the- cut had ibeen extended; some 115 feet, while for the, part of:-this week the -progress had been 60. feet. During the -present strong, ■•.'tides/, a. new runner would- be-put in 'the sucti6h« pump, the pipe ; line shifted, moorings v.and 'punts placed/ in position ready -f or' work when the tides. take off: After the next shift of pipes, when the ground to obe dredged will be shallow, the spoil will, be loaded into punts and deposited, at sea.. In, reply to a question, the Engineer stated that on a previous occasion when a mooring carried away.: diirmg' a storm, when the dredge; landed on .a -flat beach, the nightv<itchmari was .on .board, and he sounded «he whistle to give an alarm for assistance, but .the sound was not heard; and before the watchman, could get ashore to summon help the dredge had grounded: :

GENERAL BUSINESS. Resolved, Messrs Everett and Guy, that in re lathe claimed, to- be returned to Mr G. ' Griffiths;" iha.t the opinion of Messrs Izard and Weston be soughtBesolved, ', Messrs Guy and-Everett, that "in reply to Captain Robinson, that the Board favours' the establishment of a rifle range at the site indicated, and has no objection*to same, tout the matter will need to ho referred to the Marme Department for sanction. Resqlved, Messrs Guy and Hold away, that the Motueka Farmers* Co-operative Society bo informed that the matter of their claim for loss of. two cases of kerosene will toe enquired into. Resolved, Messrs Guy and Herndk, that the Chairman be empowered to inspect the dwelling house at the wharf land have any needed repairs effected. Re-olvorf r Messrs Herrick and Guy, that the Chairman have necessary filling done at Riwaka wharf. Resolved. Messrs Guy and Fry, tha.t Mr Everort inquires into application ol Mr L. Gofcdall for land at Riwaka. COOL STORES. The Chairman' reported with a-ef erence to the matter of the a-pplication by. -the Nelson District Fruitgrowers Ltd. for a site for coolstores, etc., at the new harbour. The subcommittee appointed had now to recommend that the freehold title to the land should not toe sold, and that it would be best to put jt up for sale bv lease. Therefore the sub-com-mittee" had' thought it advisablb not to confer with-the solicitors as directed at the last meeting of the Board. Resolved, Messrs Guy and Everett, that the Board endorse the action of the sub-committee, regarding their action in provisionally agreeing with the fruitgrowers' •TeprgßMiUtiyes to dispose of the two acres at land by lease instead of the sale of the

•'Revived, Messrs Fry' and Guy. that the resolutions passed at the special meetiriir of the 6th April in the matter of the "sale of tie freehold title of land be rescinded. Resolved, Messrs. Everett and Guy, that the Nelson District Fruitgrowers Go"; be informed that the Board, after further -Careful consideration, withdraws its offer of the sale of two acres of freehold land* Resolved, Messrs Everett and Holdawav, that the financial committee prepare and submit a report with reference to the erection of goods sheds at the new wharf.