NELSON HARBOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 17 February 1942, Page 2

NELSON HARBOUR

A BUSY YEAR REVIEWED INCREASED REVENUE CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT The chairman of the Nelson Harbour Board, Mr Alf Gould, presented In, I annual report as follows at last even | ing’s meeting of the board: : "1 am pleased to be able to report that the past year has been a busy one and has resulted in an increase over the previous year both as regards the revenue received and cargo passed over the wharves. I submit, as follows, gen-, era! information respecting the board's “Meetings—during the past year 111; board meetings and 8 committee meet- i ings were held. “Harbour Works—A new electric sub-! marine cable has been laid across thej old harbour entrance to connect with the electric wire over Haulashore Island ' to the new entrance in place of the old | cable. The old cable has been repaired and laid across the harbour entrance. These cables convey the electric light to the harbour entrance beacons. An elec- J trie power motor has been installed at i the launch slipway for hauling up launches. A concrete water tank to j hold 1200 gallons of water as an craw- ] gency supply has been installed adja-

cent to the wharves. “Roads.—The work of widening Wharf road opposite the board's offices has been commenced and with the approval of the Railway Department the old wooden railway platform has been removed and a concrete platform built to replace it on a near site. Also the road to give access to the wharf cool store has been formed, and the recla-; mation roads topdressed with gravel. “Soundings.—A survey was made of; the outer and inner harbour and depths | were found to he well maintained. ; “Maintenance. —The annual wharf j overhaul work has commenced and a! rigorous search is being carried out for | any weak timbers that need replacing.; also the usual repair work in connection j with the buildings, roads, and harbour I works has been carried out. Damage j caused by a storm on 10th June 1941 ; to the rubble wall of the newly reclaimed land was repaired and the wall strengthened. Also damage to the shore end of the entrance mole by a storm on | oth September last was promptly re-i paired. Both pilot launches have! undergone Government inspection and are in good working order, the pilot, station, lighthouse, buoys and beacons, life saving plant and fire lighting appliances have been maintained in a state of efficiency. No dredging has been carried out the past twelve months. “Port Mapua.—A new plan of the Mapua harbour has been prepared and a system of electric lights has been installed to indicate the depth of water j at night. A certain amount of shoaling has taken place at the bar otherwise depths have been well maintained in the channel. The wharf stores and beacons have been kept in good order. “E.P.S. Unit.—A harbour section of ! the Nelson E.P.S. has been formed and practices and rehearsals have been held. The following members were present at the meeting: Messrs A. Gould (chairman). A. R. Kingsford. A. E. Max. J. B. Carr, C. T. Nalder. G. Manson, M. H. McGlashen, H. Chisnall, W. B. Griffin, and J. H. Brunt. A donation of five guineas was authorised to the Shipwreck Relief Society. ; The Motueka Harbour Board applied ! for the services of Captain Christie to! ; take soundings of the harbour at Port Motueka. It was resolved that the harbourmaster be asked to, visit Motueka and report to the board’s com- j mittee whether he considers he will be , able to carry out the work. The Public Works Department, Wei - ; lington suggested that the Internal i Marketing Division should agree to j share with the board the premium for war damage insurance on the Nelson wharf cool store. ' It was decided that the board take | out a cover on the building to its full j value, and that a special committee—j the chairman, deputy-chairman (Mr A.: R. Kingsford) and Mr Griffin—come to an agreement with the Government j representatives on the matter of sharmg the cost. The Harbours’ Association advised that the Minister of Marketing had decided that frozen meat shipped to New Zealand forces overseas was subject to,

/jtlctictnu 1 UU.CO v harbour dues. The letter was received. The secretary reported that the special committee set up for the purpose had insured the wharves and buildings at Mapua for £SOOO. WORK ON MOLE j in a report to the board the consulting engineer, Mr Lee, recommended that more stonework should be added to the south side of the mole, where settlement had taken place due to the action of the sea. It was moved by Mr Carr that the foreman be instructed to carry out the work suggested at the first opportunity. Mr Nalder said he did not think the board should take everything the engineer said for gospel. He thought members should go across to Haulashore Island and inspect the mole. No one could convince him that seas; breaking over the mole could wash away the stone on the south side at j high tide—that was when the damage I was done. I Mr Chisnall asked whether Mr Nali tier thought the board should put up, | its opinions against those of the eni gineer. i Mr Nalder: I'd like to have a go at I ! it. ; Mr Nalder then moved an amendment! ! that before anything was done in the, ! matter the board inspect the mole. ] I Mr Brunt said he was always inc.lm- j ed to listen verv carefully to anything' Mr Nalder had to say. as he felt he was the most practical man on the board. He seconded the amendment. Mr Chisnall said he quite agreed with Mr Brunt regarding Mr Nalder’s knowledge of harbour works, but he did not think the worth of the engineer’s report could be discussed by a body of citizens who did not understand it. The amendment was put and lost, and the motion was then carried. 1