HARBOUR AFFAIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 August 1928, Page 9

HARBOUR AFFAIRS

MEETING OF BOARD

REPORTS AND GENERAL BUSINESS

Tiie monthly meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board was held yesterday. There were present:—Messrs H. R» Duncan (chairman), F. W. Greenslade, G. Macmnhon, F. I. Ledger, and A. Gould. Absentees were excused because of sickness and for other reasons.

FINANCE The bank pass book as at Ist August showed Cr., Current Account £BB9 6s 4d. Receipts for July were • pilot*ges £214 12s 4d (July last year £226 14s Id), special rates £l6 8s sd, rents receivable £143 ss, wharf receipts £1326 Os 7d (July last year £1177 Is lid), wharf receipts Mn-pua for June £26 19s 9d (June 1927, £22 11s lid). Accounts totalling £547 Os 8d were passed for payment and payments amounting to £1519 16s lid were con, firmed.

CORRESPONDENCE The Railway Department wrote declining to accede to the Board’s request for portion of the railway land adjoining the main wharf to provide access to the reclaimed laud. The letter was received. . The Hills Fruitgrowers’ Union wrote asking when the Board would further reduce charges at Mapua by 6d per ton in accordance with the promise made conditionally on the season’s export of fruit equalling that of the 1926 season., It was rcsolv'crl that .the. Union be, written to stating that in accordance with the Board’s promise the reduction will be made for the 1928-29 season. A letter was received from the Shell Co. of New Zealand Ltd., asking for a definite date when they would be able to proceed with the erection of their oil tanks on. the land now being reclaimed., The chairman reported that the date of the completion of the work could not be ascertained until Mr Holmes (the consulting engineer) had replied to questions put to. him by letter. The Wharfinger (D. Blanche) at Mapua wrote that ho had constructed a 12 foot.fruit conveyer in. accordance with their instructions and to demonstrate the value of the conveyer to tlie Board. He also quoted for a 1.50 foot length of conveyer which he was prepared to construct.

The chairman said he was in favour of conveyers being provided. They would facilitate the, dispatch of fruit from Mapua. It was resolved that the work he authorised.

A request was received from the United States Consul for New Zealand asking for information about the port. It. was resolved that the request he referred to the Hai'bours Association. -

’ GENERAL Regarding the provision of a nightwatchman the chairman reported that he had been in communication with the manager of the Anchor Co., who stated that his company was prepared to contribute £IOO towards providing a night-, watchman. It was very desirable that there should be a nightwatchman on the wharves. It might bo advisable to appoint two men to divide up the time between 5 o’clock at pight and 8 o’clock in the morning. The Harbourmaster was consulted and it was eventually decided to defer the matter until the next meeting. Mr Ledger gave notice to move at the next ordinary meeting of the Board: “that in the future all ordinary meetings be held on, the second Wednesday of each month.: The Harbourmaster was- authorised to purchase canvas for tarpaulins, metal screens for putting down “Laykold.” brooms and other small requirements.

HARBOURMASTER’S REPORT The Harbourmaster (Captain Collins) reported for the month of July as follows : —The trade of the Port for the period ending 31st July shows a slight increase in tonnage compared with the corresponding month last year. During the month 79 vessels entered and left the Port. The pilot and maintenance staffs have been fully employed during the month on. various works which are as follows: —Wharves: Repairing and renewing bracing and waling, also patching and cleaning the piling under the breastwork wharf, renewing chafers and replacing new derrick at the end of “C’ 1 ’ shed together with making three pairs skids for “A” “B” and “C” sheds. In addition to the above 500 cubic yards of stone have been placed along the top of the wall on tire eastern side of the reclamation. I do not consider it advisable to proceed beyond the position now reached until further advice has been received from the Engineer. Dredging operations for tbe month have been proceeding satisfactorily but owitig to an alteration in the position of the pipe line, we have not sufficient pipes to reach the position ■where the spoil is most required for filling. The dredge at present- is depositing at a point 100 ft from the centre of the section to he filled and no. alteration can be made until additional pipes are obtained. In order to assist tbe dredge with the filling in of the above section, I would recommend that three chains of a roadway approach be put in from a point at the rear of the. Customhouse Hotel on to the centre section to be occupied, the above to be part of the original scheme set out by the Consulting Engineers in the making of, a roadway from Franzen’s along the sea wall to the reclamation. The spoil for. the filling of the approach cap be obtained from the Rocks Road, and I would recommend that three motor trucks be hi fed for the purpose and that the men now engaged on the pontoon he employed on the above work. The-' Board considered that it would tie advisable to refer the Harbourmaster’s recommendations in connection with the reclamation work to the Roai'd’s consulting engineer (Mr Holmes). WHARFINGER’S REPORT The Wharfinger (Mr J. W. Harris) reported that the following goods were received at the wharves during July (the figures for the corresponding month last year are given in parentheses) Inward cargo 5840 tons (5462 tons), outward cargo 1610 tons (1610 tons). Total 7450 tons (707 12 tons). During the past month there has been an increase over the corresponding month of last year of inward cargo totalling 377) tons and also of outward cargo, 62 tons. Generally speaking the months of Juiy and August become very slack, but up to the present work around the wharves has been kept very steadily going and all cargo received has had a very satisfactory despatch.