NEW SLIPWAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 5 October 1936, Page 6

NEW SLIPWAY

OFFICIAL OPENING FIRM CONCERNED CONGRATULATED ACCOMMODATION FOR 200 TON VESSELS The new slipway for scows and other coastal trading vessels up to 200 tons was officially opened at Port Nelson on .Saturday by .Mr A. Gould, chairman of the Nelson Harbour Board. The slip, which has been installed, and is owned by Messrs Nalder and Biddle, of Nelson, will provide a facility for which a need has been felt for a long time. For the ceremony the well-known scow Pearl Kasper was hauled up on the slip and there was a large and representative gathering.

Mr Gould explained that the gatln ering' had been held for the purpose of opening the slipway and congratulating Messrs Nalder and Biddle on their confidence in launching out on a scheme on which they deserved the congratulations of the whole district. Two years ago the Harbour Board had before it two deputations interested in the welfare of the port who had asked the board to undertake the construction of a slipway. However, the board" decided not to undertake the work for the reasons that it was not considered in the. scope of the board to do it and the board did not consider it would be within its rights in entering into competition with private firms in the city who could do the work. Mr Gould said Messrs Nalder and Biddle had put £2OOP in the venture and their work had marked a step in the advancement of the city, the dis-

’ and the port. He felt confident that the firm would be successful in their venture. Mr G. L. Page, Mayor of Nelson, said, he supported the remarks of Mr Gould and on behalf of the city extended congratulations to Messrs Nalder and Biddle. One could to-day see many flourishing businesses which commenced in past years in a small way. This firm had to-day established a slipway and it might lead in the future to a patent slip in Nelson. It was good to see men with sufficient courage and confidence in themselves and the city to enter such a business. The Mayor said he had been pleased that the Harbour Board had been able - to assist such a scheme by its reclamation work and he hoped that the Hoard in the near future, with a new dredge, would do further reclamation, making it possible to make the entrance to the city more attractive. In conclusion he expressed the hope that success would attend the slipway venture.

Mr A. R. Dyson, manager of the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Coy., extended his company’s congratulations to Messrs Nalder and Biddle. He wished to pay a tribute to the Harbour Board for making the site availr able, to congratulate the popular Captain owner Mr R. G. Tregidga whose ship Pearl Kasper was on the slip for the official opening. With the Mayor he looked forward to the time when a larger slip would be provided so that a "lot of the work which now went elsewhere, could be done in Nelson. Mr T. -Neale said ve was pleased to mingle his voice with the other speakers in congratulating and extending good wishes to the young men who had undertaken the building of the slip. The speaker said he did not agree with the Chairman of the Harbour Board in the reasons given for the board not undertaking the slipway construction. He recognised the good work the Harbour Board nad done but he felt that while the board had control of the wharves and waterside it should have taken a wider view of the matter and should have. provided the slip, and not left it to the two young men who had had enough courage, confidence and vision and

| engineering ability to do the work. jThe board would not ha\;e been c-n----i tering competition with anyone but would have been providing the means whereby men in the trade could do their work. He admired what the board was doing tor aviation and he hoped he would be pardoned for not agreeing about the slipway for scows. Mr Neale continuing, stressed the importance of encouraging businesses which were giving large employment If four or five of the activities now going on in. Nelson were taker, away Nelson would be a dead town and it was the duty of the authorities to see that industries and progressive works were encouraged. Mr J. Glasgow said as one always keen.ion the provision of a slip for yachts and larger vessels, he was pleased, to speak at the function. The yacht slip had succeeded beyond all expectations and he felt and hoped that Messrs Naider and Biddle’s venture, would do the same. The day of the small coastal motor vessel of 200 tons was here and he hoped that the smaller vessels now trading around the coast would use the facilities provided at Nelson. Mr Glasgov. congratulated Messrs Naider and Biddle and Captain Tregidga who now had the honour of his son being a master mariner. He hoped that the next issue of .the Nautical Almanac would show that at .Nelson there was a slip I capable of taking boats of 200 tons

. Mr W. J. MofTatt said ha was pleased to be associated with the function and to congratulate the builders of the slipway. They had been enterprising and he wished them every success. Referring to the difference in opinion between Mr Gould and Mr Neale the speaker said that while a lot was expected of local bodies they were not always able to give the lead they would like to., or to demonstrate the confidence which they had, because the people would not let them. Local bodies had to proceed cautiously and perhaps the Harbour Board found seme difficulty in the way when it came to establishing a slip.

Mr Arthur Harley in endorsing the remarks of the previous speakers in congratulating Messrs Nalder and Biddle, said the tw'o men concerned had shown the Nelson public what could have been done 40 years ago. Nelson was chosen in the early days as the place for shipping repairs, and three -hips, the Yuno, Pelorus and Wakatu had been built here, The weather in Nelson was ideal for such repair work and he felt sure that the small coastal traders would use the slip which had been provided and that in the near future it would have to be enlarged. Before Mr Nalder replied, Mr Gould said he and Mr Neale would have to agree to differ; he was still satisfied the Harbour Board had done the right thing.

Mr Nalder thanked the speakers for their kmd expressions of congratulations and 'good wishes. He also wished to thank Mr O’Brien, the contractor for the concreting, Mr Baldwin for the filling, Messrs Leeds and Barltrcp for their assistance, and Captain Tregidga for putting his ship at their disDosal for the opening ceremony. Mr Gould then declared the slipway open for operations Those present were then the guests of Messrs Nalder and Biddle at morning tea. INTERESTING DETAILS OF SLIPWAY ■ The foundation of the slipway was partly reclaimed by the Nelson Harbour Board, and partly filled in with rock from the City Council quarry. The length of slipway is 190 feet. There are 6 runways spaced 15ft apart. The two cradles are mounted on 3 rUnways each. The size of each cradle is 26ft by 30ft with a space of 1.5 feet between each cradle. The ships are hauled up sideways by two chain cables connected to each cradle. The winch, which is geared 800-1 is driven by a 0 li p. Penguin. The time taken to'haul the full length of the slipway is about 1 hour. The slipway is capable of hauling a vessel weighing up to 200 tons. . Messrs Nalder and Biddle of Nelson, built and own,the slipway, and lease the site front, the Harbour Board.