MOTUEKA •

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 4 September 1934, Page 7

MOTUEKA •

HARBOUR BOARD MONTHLY MEETING (From Our Own Correspondent) At the monthly meeting of the Harbour Board, there were present Messrs C. L. Harvey (chairman), D. B. Drummond, P. Colder, C. H. Mackay, D. Haining, F. C. Greenwood, and A. Rowling. The cliairman drew attention to the fact that several pine trees at the bench had died. He was of the opinion that they should be cut down. This matter, as well as the disposal of the trees, was left for the chairman to attend to. v ' CORRESPONDENCE The Minister of Customs acknowledged the Board's letter in which reference was made to the provisions of the Customs Tariff resolutions, recently adopted by Parliament in so flu"as.they affect the tobacco growing industry. In reply the Minister stated that the Board s representations would be given careful consideration. A similar reptfy was received to the Board’s letter to the Prime Minister. Mr IT. Atmore, M.P., acknowledged receipt of Motueka Port returns, which he said, gave a good indication of the prosperity of the place. A copv of the Harbours’ Amendment Bill was forwarded by Mr Almoro. who stated in his letter that the Auckland members of Parliament had received a. telegram of protest from the Auckland Harbour Board, re the Government having the right to take control of wharves at any time. . The Reserves’ Department Office, Invercargill, advised dispatch per rail of one case of marram grass plants and expressed the hope that it, would establish itself quickly at Motueka.

A REBATE QUESTIONED The N.Z. Fruitgrowers’ Federation acknowledged a copy ,of a. letter forwarded to the Auditor-General with reference to the rebate approved by the Motueka Harbour Board in connection with the Federation Export Fruit storage account for the 1934 season. Appreciation was expressed of the thorough manner in which the Board had dealt with the matter The letter stated further that the Federation hoped that with the explanation, the Audit Department would approve of the Board s action. The Auditor General, in reply to the Board’s letter, stated that the Audit Office was of that t]ic Board had no power to grant a rebate on storage to the N.Z. Fruntgrowers’ Federation in respect of fruit stored in the Board’s sheds. The fact that' the Federation may have had a claim against the Board for damages would not now empower the Board to voluntarily 'grant the rebate. The Federation by reason of its failure to prosecute that claim, within the statutory period, had lost, the right of action in the matter and any rebate now granted by _ the Board would in effect be a gratuitous payment on its part and therefore unlawful. There was no lawful objection to the Board exercising its powers under section 129 of the Public Revenues Act 1926, and granting to the Federation a rebate of storage within the limits prescribed by that section. Any such rebate would require to be shown in the Board’s books as unauthorised expenditure, arid the amount of such rebate, together with any other payments made under the authority of section 129. must not exceed the statutory limit of unauthorised expenditure for the year ended 30t-h September 1934. In the course of a discussion on the matter it was .pointed out that the limit of the Board’s unauthorised expenditure, in any one year, was about £33 and to pay the Federation the, sum of £SO would eiltail two payments. Mr Haining undertook to explain the position to the Federation at its next meeting. THE PROGRESS LEAGUE The Nelson Progress League applied for the renewal of the Board’s annual donation to the. funds of the League and. enclosed a copy of the statements of accounts. A copy of a circular, which had been sent- to every member of both Houses of Parliament in connection with the new tobacco duties was also attached. Mr Rowling remarked that he was of the opinion that the Motueka district did not, receive £lO (the amount of the Motueka Harbour Board’s donation) value from the Nelson Progress League. In the balance sheet he noticed that £9O had been expended on secretary’s salary and office rent, which he considered was far too high for the. amount of money handled by the League. He moved that a donation of £2 2s Od be.made, to the Nelson Progress League. This was seconded by the chairman pro forma. An amendment, by Messrs Mackay and Haining, that the usual donation of £lO be made was lost on a show of hands.

A further amendment, moved by Mr Mackav and the chairman that the donation be £5 5s Od was carried. Mr 0. L. Harvey (chairman) was appointed the Board’s representative, on the Nelson Progress League. OTHER BUSINESS. In regard to a claim for tobacco leaf, allegedly damaged by rain water in the Harbour shed, it was decided to pay, without prejudice, the sum of £l9 Os lid to Mr 11 .Delany. Accounts amounting to £137 Ps Id were presented and passed tor payment leaving a bank balance of £2687 ids 4d (fixed deposit £1760, current account £927 Ids dd). It was decided to take no action in regard to a letter from the Teniuka Borough Council, suggesting that the Government be urged to call a conference of local bodies, with a view, to formulating a scheme in connection with the unemployment problem. The secretary reported 1 that the Mntiieka Butchery had in its possession a winch belonging to tlie Board, which it wished to purchase. It was agreed to advise the Motueka Butchery that the winch was not for sale. . Regarding a certain section at the Beach, where improvements had not been carried out, the Board decided that their solicitors be requested to take necessary action in terms of the resolution, passed at the meeting on Juno 193 d. Concerning a’building on another section, it was decided to advise the occupier of tins'section that the six months, allowed to make alterations, had expired and that the Hoard expected something to he. done to the building before the nex't meeting. The Harbourmaster (Mr P. G. Moffatt) presented the following report: The total revenue received amounted to

£l9B 8s Od, compared with £lßl 17s 4d for the corresponding month of last year, or an increase of £l6 10s Bd. The totals are made up as follows: —July, 1934: —Wharfage, inwards £79 16s 10d; outwards £IOO Is 3d; total wharfage, £179 18s Id. Tonnage dues £lO 14s lid; storage £3 2s 6d; weighing £1 11s Cd; craneage 10s; fresh water (for ships) £2 11s 6d ; total £l9B 8s Od. The number of vessels entered and left the port for the month was 42, with a total in registered tonnage of 5,126 tons, compared with 40 vessels, with' a total registered tonnage of 4,824 for the previous month of July. The quantity of fruit shipped, calculated in computed bushel cases, was 8,103, compared with 9,883 for the corresponding month last year, or a shrinkage of 1,780 bushel cases. Shortly after your last monthly meeting, the work of planting marram grass on the sand bank was opmpleted, as far as the supply of plants available >vould permit. The work of enlarging the office pro mises for the Anchor Company is just about completed. A commencement in the redecking of the launch wharf will be made next week.

Inspections of the s.andspit during the past month, after several northerly storms, prove that great quantities of sand have recently been displaced or accumulated. The worst features in this connection are that the sand has been flattened out over a greater area toward the end of the spit and thus extending the former locality of shoaliness at the outer channel entrance. Also, in the locality of the sand bank beacons a, large quantity of sand has been driven to the westward, during flood tides and big seas, with the consequence that much of the same sand has been then carried along to the southward, during ebb tides, where it lias been deposited, and has thus caused a narrowing and shallowing of the navigable channel, where instead of flic, bottom being of a fairly level grave] formation, it is now a succession of small sand hillocks, varying the depth of water by as much as three feet, in close, proximity, us ascertained by many soundings taken. I consider that the time has now arrived when a complete survey should he made and plans furnished to your Board, so that the. great changes that, have occurred, since, the last plans were completed, in May 1933, to enable you to clearly understand Iho existing true position.