WINTER QUARTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19719, 19 August 1927, Page 12

WINTER QUARTERS.

SPACE FOE SMAI/1 CRAFT.

A PROBLEM FOR OWNERS. THE BOAT HARBOUR WALL. •j LACK OF DEFINITE SCHEME. The intention of the Auckland Harbcrur Board to auction the leases of sections in Beaumont Street, which have been used as winter quarters for yachts and launches since the Freeman's Bay reclamation was completed, is causing consternation among owners of small craft, notwithstanding the hope offered by the chairman of the board, Air. H. R. Mackenzie, that a slip-way and hauling-out area may be made available on Mechanics' Bay reclamation. Ihe Beaumont Street waterfront probably accommodates more boats than any other beach in the Dominion, and being centrally situated, has been a very convenient place for carrying out the winter work of boating men. The small natural beaches within the boat harbour now being created are already fully utilised and all safe spots on the beaches further west are occupied. Apart from the site of one clubhouse the area has never been secured to small craft under long tenure and it appears that three months' notice could always have been given by the board, but, naturally, long occupation develops a sense of security. If the sections are leased and required immediately by the lessees it will be a problem for many men to find a suitable "home" for their boats next winter. Possibly facilities at Mechanics Bay will fill the need temporarily, but most owners will wait for the day when the boat harbour is completed and on the outer wall space is made available with slip-ways for buildings and boats. Boat Harbour Wall Sites. It is to be remarked, however, that there is not yet any definite scheme for so accommodating yacht and launch clubs. The wall now being constructed from Shelly Beach has a dual purpose. It is providing protected water for small craft, but is also protecting harbour works, and the dredging that will be done will be as important to harbour works as to pleasure craft, for the spoil is wanted. The estimates of the work do not make provision for a double wall with filling necessary to create an area wide enough to carry clubhouses and provide haulingout space for hoats. That matter, it appears, is yet one for arrangement between boating interests and the board. This being so, the possibility of an early eviction from Beaumont Street waterfront has more significance than the inconvenience of merely a season or two. Cruising Club's Dilemma. This morning a deputation from the Victoria Cruising Club, which has more concern in the matter than any other, seeing it has "erected a building worth ££oo, will wait upon the chairman of the Harbour Board to point out its difficulties if it is evicted. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will have a heavy slipway to remove, but its interests will not be so vitally affected as those of the Victoria Club, seeing that at Mechanics' Bay keel yachts will l>e better suited, there being adequate water there at all stages of the tide. Proximity to the railway engine sheds will certainly cause the nuisance of flying smut during the fitting-out season, but the change of quarters will not be : so serious a matter as to the 600 mem- j bers of the Victoria Club, which will have to shift both clubhouse and slipway ap- I parently to a site for which the tenure is to be only five years. There is no guarantee that at the end of that time the end of its many peregrinations will be reached, seeing that there is still uncertainty about the boat harbour wall An Undedicated Road. Mr. T. L. Thompson, who was commodore of the Victoria Cruising Club for some years, threw an interesting sidelight upon the matter yesterday. He explained that the club had been "pushed from pillar to post" for many years, finally securing its present quarters from the Harbour Board in 1914, when Sir James Gunson was chairman. The rent of any section was then £BO a year, a sum. with rates, beyond the club. Mr. Thompson then drew attention to an undedicated road, which was to have been a continuation of Quay Street. The width was 66ft., and a depth of 300 ft. was possible for a section. Seeing that the law required a right-of-way to be left in the event of part of the undedicated road being leased, it was finally agreed to lease an area of 55ft. by lOCft. to the [ club for 10 years. This was done and the lease will expire next year. The question asked is whether the board proposes to again lease the undedicated road. "There are 300 boats in St. Mary's Bay," said Mr. Thompson. "Itis a centre, and most of the owners live in the vicinity. Therefore, Mechanics' Bay would be a most inconvenient place to go to, even if the tenure was for a reasonable period. "Surely the Harbour Board can leave the club the small area it has for clubhouse and winter quarters," he said. "Until the boat harbour wall is widened the club will have nowhere else to go and the sport of boating will suffer." SEEKING A SOLUTION. DISCUSSION BY YACHTSMEN. ♦ Reference to the closing of the haulingout area for pleasure cral't in Freeman s Bay was made at the annual prize distribution of the Ponsonby Cruising Club last evening. Mr. J. \V. Frater said the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron did not like the idea of being asked to movo from its present quarters. Mr. E. B. Webster said Auckland was gradually losing all its hauling-out areas, and it 'was indeed very hard for the squadron and the Victoria Cruising Club to have to give up their winter quarters in Beaumont Street. Something should be done to secure hauling-out areas for all time. Mr. E. J. Kelly said the Harbour Board had done a lot 'for yachting, but at the same time its decision to clear the boats out of Beaumont Street was very serious for boatovvners. However, he still thought the board would do something in the matter, and even now it was not too late to make a move and tiy to