HARBOUR AFFAIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 October 1932, Page 5

HARBOUR AFFAIRS

MEETING OF NELSON BOARD CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS The monthly meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board was lielil yedevday atlenioyn. There were, present-: Messrs A. Gould (chairman), 11. \Y. Kelly, F. \Y. Greenslade, \Y. C. llarlev, J. 11. Brunt, G. Hanson, A. E. Max. C. T. Price. E. I. Ledger, and Capt. W. Wildman senr. The. bank nass book showed a debit in Current- Account of £798 Os 4d, compared with a credit balance of £1660 2s 8d for the corresponding month of last year. Wharf dues for September 1932 totalled £1279 16s sd, compared with £1566 3s 7d in September of lasi year); harbour clues £lB2 2s 7d (£272 15s 4d); rent £37 2s 3d (£4l 9s 6d); rates £l6l 12s 2d (£598 6s Id); Mapua £27 2s 6d (£3O 15/15 9d). It was pointed out that the September 1931 was a five-week month against a four-week this year. Payments totalling £lB7 10s 3d were l passed. CORRESPONDENCE The Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Edmonds') wrote acknowledging the Board’s thanks and appreciation of his services. The Miner, Department sent information regarding the hiring of a drill. Air E. Slowey forwarded a letter acknowledging tlie Board’s sympathy on the. death of his son, (who was formerly on the Board’s clerical staff). The Prime Minister forwarded a let-, (er (already published) regarding the resolution endorsed by the Board as to tlio publication in outside countries of reports of occurrences in New Zealand which were deemed detrimental to the interests of the country. It, was resolved to thank the Prime Minister for his reply. Tlie'QZß. Radio Club, in intimating that the Broadcasting Board had refused to grant a subsidy to the station, asked for a donation, in return for which the station would he placed within reason at the disposal of the Board. Air Price, while acknowledging that (lie station was a good thing for Nelson, did not think it was within the province of the. Board to make a donation.

Mr Kelly agreed with Mr Price. Air Max' said that in view of the advertising the station did Nelson, he would move that a donation of £2 he given. Air Greenslade seconded the motion.

The chairman suggested that before taking any action the Board should wait and see what other local bodies did. Air Brunt moved an amendment that Hie Board as one of the contributing bodies urges the Progress League to make a contribution to the station, in view of the valuable publicity work it was doing. Mr Atanson seconded the amendment which was carried. • Tlie Nelson Aero Club notified that at a meeting of representatives of local bodied it was resolved to ask the Board to confer with the City Council and tlie Tahunanui Town Board with the object of coming to an arrangement regarding the control of the Talmna Sands area in order that tlie Club could then enter into negotiations with the controlling authority. The chairman said lie and Air Harley had attended the meeting. He had stated that, lie thought tlie Board would place no obstacle in the way of meeting the Club so long as the Board would not he prejudiced in any way were it decided later to ask the Supreme Court to decide the ownership of the area of the Sands required for an aero, drome.

Mr Harley, after pointing out that the Tahuna Sands Association was at ' lie present time satisfactorily controlling about half the area, suggested that the control of the area should be vested in the Association for a term of years, the local bodies concerned to he represented on the Association.

Mr Price thought the (suggestion a very good one. He paid a tribute to the good work aeomplished by the Association.

Air Kelly said he would be very pleased to agree to Air Harley’s proposition ; hut he thought it would be wise to bring in the City Council under the same conditions. Tlie chairman said that would he done.

Other members supported Mr Harley. On tlie motion of Mr Harley, seconder! by Mr Kelly, tlie (secretary was instructed to arrange for a conference in accordance with the request from the Club. The chairman said that in view of possible future developments he did not think the Tahunanui Town Board should be brought in. He would he very pleased to see its representatives at I lie conference, hut they should not he allowed to vote. He railed the) question in no petty spirit, hut solely in the interests of the Board.

The chairman and Messrs Kelly, Har ley and Brunt were appointed to represent the Board in the event of a confer ehce being held.

The Harbour Eiigineer-in-Chief to the Government of Madras (Mr B. C. .Bvis-

tow) asked for information issued for public use by the Board. The letter war, referred to the secretary for action. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The chairman, referring to the estimates for tlie year 1932, said the amount, allotted to certain works had been carefully considered. The estimates for the coming year .had, been gone into by himself and Air Harley, and they had been cut down considerably. He thought the Board could express satisfaction at the manner in which the estimate); for tlie past year had been dealt with. Tn this connection the chairman paid a tribute to former mom hers of the Board. As to the future, lie urged that no big commitments should he entered into without reasonable prospect of paving for them. This was only due (o future Boards. Tiiei chairman also reported on his visit (o Wellington on certain matters affecting the Board. On the. motion of Air Ledger the ehairmanT, action was confirmed. THE ESTIMATES The estimates for the current year showed a total of £32,700, against £34,400 last year 1 . Mr Harley explained the estimates in detail. All* Price considered in view of the increased valuation a discount should he given on rates paid hv the due date. It was resolved that the estimates be adopted A vote of thanks was accorded Air Harley for the work he had done in connection with the estimates.

Air Price gave notice of motion to move that a. discount of 5 per cent, he allowed on rales paid up to 31st December, the same to he made retrospective

REPORTS

THE HARBOURMASTER

Tlie harbourmaster \ Captain H. Collins) reported“ The trade of the Port for the period ending 30th September show!, a decrease.! in tonnage compared with the corresponding month last year. During tlie month 74 vessels entered and left the Port namely Alatangi 13 trips, 4 Union Co s steamers, 24 small steamers, and 33 motor vesrsels, having a total of 17,853 tons register against 20,171 tons for September hist year. The pilot and maintenance staffs have been fully employed during the month upon various works as follow!;: - Renewing, repairing and copper patching walings and bracings under the approach to the main wharf, repairing wharf decking and Laykold patching where required on main wharf, also repairing cargo trucks, railway points, etc. '.Villi reference to tlie proposed repairs and strengthening of the wharf at Alapua for tlie coming fruit season, I have to advise that the ccfi tof putting tlie above structure iii good order will ho approximately £6OO * The work will be so arranged as to form part of a larger scheme at some future date. It will be necessary to put the above work in hand as early as possible in order that 1 may he finished before Chrisfmais. Attached will be found a detailed list of costs in connection with the work to he carried out.. Iri accordance with the Board’s request I anti submitting a plan of soundings taken in the entrance during the month. The sounding): have all been reduced to low water ordinary spring tides and show a highly satisfac-' 'ory state of offair.s throughout the channel' since dredging operations were put in hand.”

Authority was given for tlie work at Mapua to be proceeded with.

THE WHARFINGER The wharfinger (Mr J. W. Harris) reported tHat .the following cargo had been handled during tlie month: —Inward cargo 5531 tons, outward gargo' 1667 tons ; total 7198 tons, As , compared with the) month, of September 1931: Inward cargo 6199 tons, outward cargo 2622 tons; total 8821 tons. Total decrease 1623 tons. The above decrease is accounted for, to a great extent by September, 1931, being a five week’s month against a four week month for .September 1932. GENERAL The secretary was instructed to oblain quotations for rope, tlie acceptance of a tender being left to the chairman. Three .tenders were received for the supply of hardwood timber It wals stated that at, tlie present lime it was ii'6t intended to go on with certain work at Mapua, for which the timber was required It was resolved that a special committee deal with a tender submitted by H. Knight (Messrs Fraser Coy. Ltd., Sydney). Mr Brunt stressed tlie necessity for improvements at Alapua. Anything to retain the business at Mapua should be doiip in view of the competition from road transport,

The chairman said the matter had not been shelved; but at present there was no prospect of obtaining the £3OOO needed to carry out the proposed improvements. On the motion of Mr Brunt, seconded by Mr Ledger, it was resolved that a statement of receipts and expenditure at Mapua for the past year be submitted to the next meeting, and thereafter annually. A report by the dredgemaster stated that it was not possible to reduce the number of hands.

It was resolved to consider the painting of the wharf shed at the March meeting. The harbourmaster was instructed to report at the. next meeting as to the cost of levelling off a ledge at Mapua wharf The Board rose at 5.45 p m.