NELSON HARBOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 21 March 1939, Page 8

NELSON HARBOUR

BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING CHAIRMAN'S REPORT ON REVENUE DECREASE IN EXPORT FRUIT HANDLED The Nelson Harbour Board held its monthly meeting last evening when those attending were Messrs A. Gould (chairman). A. R. Kingsford. A. E. Max, I. C. Neale. J. B. Carr, G. Manson, H W. Chisnall, W. B. Griffin, J. H. Brunt, and H. W. Kelly. . Accounts amounting to £2885 were passed for payment.. The chairman submitted the following report on the revenue received in February compared with the figures for February, 1938: 1938. 1939. £ s. d. £ s. d. Wharf Dues ... 1851 18 5 2056 17 2 Harbour Dues . 764 0 6 567 1 7 Rent Receivable 194 14 0 120 11 4 Mapua Dues ... 246 10 2 162 5 10 Totals £3057 3 1 £2906 15 11 HARBOURMASTER'S REPORT The Harbourmaster (Captain A. G. Christie) reported as follows for the past month : “The number of vessels arriving during last month was 76 and the departures numbered 74. The amount of tonnage for the month was 28.303. compared with 35.826 tons for the corresponding month last year. The overseas vessel Tongariro was in port from the 2nd to 4th February. “The leading beacons and light standards have been painted during the month and the moorings for the mark buoys have been overhauled and chains renewed where required. “The dredge was employed in dredging the berth for the dredge Kaione. The amount of spoil consisting of mud and sand and conveyed to sea in five loads was 350 tons. The dredge was tied up on Bth February and the crew have been employed in rigging and preparing the pipeline to carry the discharge from the Kaione to the reclamation. Te Wakatu.—Dredging and repairs, brought forward. 5950 tons. £398 6s lOd; dredging February. 1939. 350 tons. £l6 19s 4d: repairs and overhaul. £2l 14s 2d: total, 6300 tons. £437 0s 4d. Cost per ton for Ist to Bth February. 2s 2.25 d; cost per ton Ist October. 1938, to Bth February. 1939, Is 4.65 d.” WHARFINGER’S REPORT The Wharfinger (Mr J. Harris) reported as follows: — “I have to report that the following cargo was received at the wharves during the month of February, 1939: Inward cargo, 7122 tons; outward cargo. 4715 tons; total for month, 11.837 tons As compared with the month of February. 1938: Inward cargo. 7085 tons; outward cargo, 4414 tons; total for month. 11.499 tons. Showing an increase of inward cargo. 37 tons; outward cargo. 301 tons; total increase. 338 tons. “During the month of February, quite a good amount of cargo was handled over the wharves and at times the wharves had quite a busy, appearance. On the 2nd of the month the overseas vessel Tongariro arrived in port. The vessel had no inward cargo to discharge but loaded 279 tons of frozen meat, 591 bales wool. 25 bales skins. 36 tons tallow and 6 tons general cargo, and left on the 4th. ! “Since the beginning of the export | fruit season, we have received a very : small quantity through the sheds, name- : ly. 590 cases, during the month of Janu- ! ary. and 9619 cases during February, a 1 total of 11.209 cases, i “I would like to mention that during i .January of last year 793 cases of export ■ fruit were handled through the sheds : and 24.283 cases for the month of Feb- | ruary. a total of 25.076 cases.” j MAPUA WHARFINGER’S REPORT : The report of the Wharfinger at | Mapua (Mr D. Blanche) stated:— | “The trade at this port for last month ■ shows a decided falling off as com- ; pared with February. 1938. as shown by i the 'following figures:—l93B: Export ■ fruit. 44.950 cases: local fruit, 6414 cases; | totals. 51.364 cases. ■ “1939: Export fruit. 17.224 cases: local : fruit. 4860 cases; totals, 22.084 cases. : “The general cargo which passed over j the wharf was 257 tons, compared with i 183 tons in February last year. | “Everything points to 1939 being class- : ed as a lean year. A reduction in the | crop was to be expected because last : year was a large crop, but the long dry ! spell coupled with a very cold spring j has caused the fruit to russet and rej main small. This with a general short- • age of fruit elsewhere has caused grow- : ers to send their early varieties to local : markets per land transport. ; “During the month, acting on instruc- : lions from the Harbourmaster, the col- : our of the outside leading beacons was ; changed from white to orange. This ■ should have the effect of overcoming the difficulty of master mariners in being able to distinguish between the land lights and the beacon lights.” CORRESPONDENCE The Board made a donation of £2 2s to the funds of the St. John Ambulance Association. A request by the Nelson Amateur Wrestling Club for alterations to Franzen’s building- was referred to the chairman with power to act. The National Tobacco Company asked for the terms and conditions for the rental of part of the new shed at the wharf with a view to using it as an assembly shed The Wharves ana Finance Committee are to report on the matter. The Nelson Regatta Committee wrote thanking the Board and its officers for their co-operation in connection with the recent regatta. j The Pelorus Scenic Board was grantj

ed £lO IDs towards the fund for the erection of a caretaker’s cottage at Pelorus Bridge. The Aurora Sailing Club drew attention to the limited space for the housing of boats at the new sheds and suggested that the Club take over the lease for all the shed accommodation ana sub-let it at the present rates. Several members expressed opposition to the proposal in the letter and the matter was held over until the May meeting of the Board, yhen the quesj tion of renewing leases would be considered.