SLIPWAY AT PORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 April 1934, Page 4

SLIPWAY AT PORT

PROVISION FOR SMALL BOATS

HARBOUR BOARD DISCUSSION

The Nelson Harbour Board yesterday afternoon decided to have a report in a de. with the estimated cost, on a slipway to be provided for launches and small pleasure craft on tlie board’s, reclaimed area near the wharf. A decision on a slipway for the accommodation of scows was deferred until the next meeting. Prior to tlie meeting members inspected the various sites which had been suggested for the erection of slipways for the accommodation of scow's and launches in the harbour. At the meeting the chairman (Mr A. Gould) said he thought the board should first decide if it would provide a slip to carry botii scows and smaller boats or one for tlie use of only small boats. Ihe most suitable site for the two schemes from a construction point of view would be Hnulasliore Island, but he considered they would not be popular with owners owing to the distance of the site from the shore, and the resulting expense of carriage to and fro. In regard to the proposed site near the Magazine on the Boulder Bank, the Harbourmaster had said the current was too strong in that position. Captain Wildman favoured a site near the Rowing Club shed. Air C. T. Price said for the present lie was opposed to the larger scheme for scows, and was agreeable only to the scheme for smaller boats.

Mr 11. W. Kelly said be was not in favour of the building of a scow slip. It the scow owners wanted a- slip the board should give them a piece of land at a peppercorn rental to enable them to build one. He considered the board had a greater obligation to the launch and yacht owners. _ / in answer to Mr Harley, Mr Price considered a slip suitable to accommodate scows on Haulashore Island would cost only several hundred pounds. Mr F. W. Greenslade said the board had a request from the scow owners and if Hie request was refused the board would be turning down a request from tlioso who bring revenue to the wharf. Mr Harley said the first difficulty the board was up against in any major slipway scheme was that it had from the Rocks road to Anzac Park a breastwork up to which the sea came and along which the road ran. Any place to hold vessels at high water mark along the road would mean that the boats would either have to be Held on a staging or on tlie road. Along the Rocks road the angle of the slip would be too steep to carry large ships. On the flatter area east of the reclamation it would be necessary to have the slip on piles owing to the nature of the bottom. Further towards the gasworks there was a more solid foundation. The portion of the foreshore from Russell street to the gasworks lie considered would be the best place for a slip to accommodate scow ; s, and the construction there would cost the minimum. He proposed that the harbourmaster bo asked to provide a report on the depths of water in that area. The speaker, for various reasons, would be opposed to the combination of a scow and yacht slip. Continuing, Mr Harley pointed out that the board could provide a slip with winter storage for yachts and launches on the .board’s reclamation area. He considered a slip for such a purpose could be constructed for 1 about £2OO. This would meet the requirements of private owners. Mr Kelly agreed that 1 tlie reclamation would be an ideal place for a slip for the smaller craft. ,J *. Mr Harley explained that such a slip would take launches and yachts, also fishing launches. The success of thd scheme would be in a reasonable fee. Mr D. T. Price considered Mr Harley bad put tlie position splendidly. He would be agreeable to going ahead with the slip for the smaller craft. ■ Captain W. Wildman: “Anything on tlie other side of tlie harbour is too far out of the way.” Mr Kelly moved that an estimate be drawn up for a slip for launches and small boats on the reclaimed area, and that the maximum expenditure for the slip and equipment be £3OO, the matter to be reported on nt the next meeting. This motion was seconded by Mr A. E. Max and carried with one dissentient voice.

Mr Harley moved that tlie harbourmaster be asked to prepare a report on the water depths at neap tides in the area between Franzeris and the Gasworks with reference to its suitability for the provision of a slip for scows. A decision on the proposed slip for scows was deferred until the next meeting.