HARBOUR AFFAIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 10 April 1930, Page 9

HARBOUR AFFAIRS

MEETING OF THE BOARD BUSINESS DEALT WITH The monthly meeting of tin; Nelson Harbour Board'was held yestcu-day afternoon. There were present: Messrs H. I!. Duncan (ehairiuaii), A. Could, 11. \V. Kelly, G. Manson, A. E. Bax, C, Price, J. Glasgow and Captain MonerielT.

The hank pass book showed the following: Debit current account £5210 18s 4d; harbour dues £573 19s 3d against £689 19s 5d for the corresponding month of last year; since, Ist October, £2679 3s 9d, (£2905 15s Gil) ; monthly average, £446 10s Bd, (£497 12s 8d); wharf dues £2334'4s 7d, (£2060 3s sd); wharf and harbour dues at Mapua £419 12s 7d, (£220 6s 9d). Payments amounting to £6930 6s 'JOd were confirmed, j

CORRESPONDENCE The Shell Company of New Zealand wrote asking- that finality be reached concerning its boundaries- on the reclamation area. As to the proposed railway siding, the company was quito agreeable to the Board connecting up at any time with the siding providing that such connection was made outside the depot. The report of the sub-com-mittee set un to arrange the boundaries was approved. . The inspector of Police wrote m reply to a letter from the Board asking lor the services of a constable to control traffic on the wharf during the arrival and departure of the Wellington ferry steamer, that lie had been advised by the Commissioner of Police that the police do not undertake traffic control on wharves. ‘ „ The local secretary of Dr. Dons Gordon’s Midwifery Appeal Fund, asked for a donation. It was resolved to contribute £lO. ; . The Harbours Association of New Zealand asked for the Board’s endorsement, or otherwise of the Association s representations to the Government regarding the cost of collecting special rates out of general revenue. It was resolved to approve of the matter. It was resolved to grant Mr h. W. Orecnslade a year’s lease of a portion of the foreshore,' at a rental of £5 a year. It was resolved to purchase additional fire-extinguishers for the wharf sheds. On .the motion of Mr Gould it was resolved that the extinguishers be inspected annually.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT The chairman said he had nothing further to report beyond what- was contained in the harbourmaster’s statement, He (had visited Mapua on Monday and found the shed and wharf packed with fruit. lie believed if conditions were improved more fruit would bo shipped at that port. If an additional shed was erected it might fulfil require,men.ts, but this would be a matter for the Board’s future policy.

HARBOURMASTER’S REPORT The Harbourmaster (Captain Collins) reported:— . Tho trade of the port for. the period ending 31st March shows a slight decrease in tonnage compared with the corresponding month last year. During. the month 106 vessels entered and left the port including 3 overseas steamers namely: Somerset, Otalci, Waihcmo. The Araliura and Matnngi each 13 trips, 3 Union Company’s steamer, 31 small steamers and 43 motor vessels having a total of 40,353 tons register against 42,156 tons for March last year. The pilot and maintenance staffs have been fully employed c-n various works during the month ns follows: —Renewing bracings and walings under the main wharf, renewing and repairing decking along the south side of the breastwork wharf, replacing new platform at land-ing-steps, completing the painting of tho wharf sheds and offices, renewing 14 new chafers along the (front of the wharf at Mapua, also cleaning and scraping the oiling under the breastwork,wharf. It will be necessary in the near future to renew the margin pieces along the inside of the wharf for a distance of 250 feet. The timber for this work will have to be obtained from Wellington, as there is none in stock and it cannot be purchased locally. Repairing pipe lino and flotation along the eastern reclamation wall for the purpose of pumping spoil from the dredge, and reclaiming further land along the eastern boundary. It will be necessary to obtain a further supply of stone from the boulder bank for raising the half tide wall which now extends from the north, east cornel of the reclamation across the Maitui stream in order that the material pumped over the wall can lie retained during the period of ebb tide. The dredge Ic Wakatu dredged on 26 days from the 7th March to Bth April lifting and depositing 8,250 tons of spoil, 1350 tons of which has been deposited outside the harbour as the nature of the spoil dredged would not permit of it being pumped on to the reclamation. A practical demonstration of. the pile extractor recommended by Mr Bender was carried out on Friday the 4th instant, when two piles were drawn from the front of flie main wharf, the work being carried out without a hitch. The arrangement of gear is simple and efficient and I have every reason to believe will do tho work satisfactorily and lessen the cost very considerably when this class of work is being carried out in tho future.

The wharfinger (Mr J. Harris) reported that cargo handled during the month amounted to 13,094 tons 2Cfl, (inward 8406 tons 29ft, outward 4687 tons 31ft), compared with 10,757 tons (inward 7606, outward 3151 toiis), for the corresponding period of last year.

MAPUA WHARF Mr D. Blanch, wharfinger reported:— 1 find much pleasure in being able to report that trade at this port shows an unprecedented increase of 19,110 cases over March 1929. You will have noticed in mv report of February, we wero 11,064 cases of export less than 1929. This 11,064 has been made up and 7791 cases of export added to it. The figures now stand at the end of March :• 1929, 94,313 export, 27,165 local, total 121,478. 1930: 102.032 export, 27,494 local, total 129,526. For the last 7 days we have averaged export and local combined over 6000 daily. This naturally puts a severe strain on me as wharfinger to find shed space to keep us from getting jammed. We have had a record month for shipping. Looking over the position, I have no hesitation in saying that we will pass the quarter of a million mark for export this year, and that we will pass another milestone 300.C00 case total for the year 1930. In view of this increase I would suggest that the Board go into the matter of filling in between, the two wharves with another shed to be ready for the 1931 crop. I am satisfied Port Mapua will increase Irom y*ar to year. 1 trust the Board will give my suggestion their usual kindly consideration. ( GENERAL Arising out of (lie regional inquiry held on Tuesday, Mr Gould explained briefly what had been done. It was resolved that the Board visit Mapua at the earliest possible date.