NELSON HARBOUR BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 55, 5 March 1918, Page 6

NELSON HARBOUR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board' was held this afternoon. Present—Messrs H. R. Duncan (Chairman}, H. P. Washbourn, T. Edwards.. G. Macmahon, J. Ingram, H. M. Field, R. B. Jackson, W. W. Snodgrass, A. P. Allport. t Mr I. Tunnicliff was excused. FINANCE. The Bank pass Dook showed, the foilowing balances: —Cr. General Ac. £2428 Is 9d; fixed deposit £400; receipts-, pilotage, February £2OB Bs, as against £2BB 3s sd! for the corresponding month last year; since Ist April ; £25994- 19s sd, as against £3474 3s for sam e period last vear; monthly averi age, £272 5s sd, as* against £315 16s Bd. | Other receipts totalled £lO ss. i Accounts amounting to £229 18s 3d were passed for payment.

CORRESPONDENCE. The use of Haulashore Island at Easter time was granted to th e Aquatic Carnival Committee for patriotic purposes. The Australian manager of the Commonwealth Line of steamers asked, for full information regarding Port Nelson.—To 'be supplied. ' A telegram from the Railway Department, Wellington, stated that the Westport dredge, Eileen Ward, would come to Nelson next week to carry out dredging at the -vharf. The Chairman said the Harbourmaster's report on recent ■■.v-uridings' was very satisfactory, andt, showed that ther e was no need for the Board to do any dredging. Considerable scouring was going on, increasing the depth of water. It was-resolved, on the motion of Mr Edwards, seconded by Mr Ingram, that the Chief Engineer be thanked for the attention he had given the matter of dredging at the wharf. It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr Snodgrass, seconded by Mr Ingram, that the Chief Engineer be written to and informed that the Board did not consider it necessaryi to have any dtedging done in the harbour.

HARBOURMASTER'S REPORT. The Harbourmaster (Capt. H. Collins) reported that the trade of the Port for the month of February showed a considerable decrease in "tonnage for this period of the year. During the month 127 vessels entered and left the port—--13 union steamers, 101 small steamers and 13 sailing vesels, having a total of 20,873 tons register, against 23,385 tons for February 1916. The sheathing on the inside of the wharf at the mole had been considerably damaged by the recent high spring tides and a portion had been washed away, thus allowing the shingle on top of the bank to be carried out into the channel. He suggested that from 30 to 40 tons of Astrolabe stone be obtained for the wall. Soundings on March Ist and 4th showed that the- depths of water in the crops channels are being well maintained and that camparatively little change has taken place since the soundings taken in May and June, 1916. Preparatory work in connection with the survey of Mapua Harbour is in hand, though it will be some time yet before he was in a position to do sounding work. rtejwas decided that the memibers of the Board visit th e mole next meeting day. \; GENERAL. The secretary of the Ruby Bay Fruitgrowers' Association asked permission •to remove shell grit from Mapua Harbour. It was resolved that permission be given to remove the grit at Is a ton royalty. Mr Ingram stated that no steps had been taken to abate the nuisance at the freezing works at Stoke. Mr Macmahon (of the freezing works directorate) said he would bring the matter before the directors. v -

HARBOUR DUES. Mr Snodgrass brought up the question of the system of harbour dues. H e pointed to the falling revenue of the Board, and said that if the dues were paid on the amount of tonnage carried the Board's revenue would not have fallen off so much, for there _ vas just as much cargo carried now as formerly, though there were fewer steamers running. Under the system of dueo on acrgo, instead of tonnage of vessels, the fall in Tevenue -vould not have been more than 10 per t.ont , whereas it had fbeen 25 per cent, raider the present system. He thought a committee should be set up 10 go thoroughly into the matter and he moved accordingly. Mr Macmahon asked how the quantity of cargo was to be ascertained. Mr Snodgrass said would be no difficulty about getting the information. The Chairman said *he Board had tried but had not yet succeeded in getting the information. Mr Jackson seconded the motion, and said there was as much, probably more, stuff going over the wharf as ever there was. Mr Field supported the motion, and thought the committee could evolve a satisfactory scheme. Prior to the outbreak of war the Germans were inquiring from New Zealand merchants as to prosoeefcs of trade, with a view to establishing a line of steamers. He hoped the British Government would take similar steps.

The motion was carried, the committee to consist of Messrs Snodgrass, Jackson, Allport and Field, and to report at a future meeting of the Board. The Board then rose.