EASTBOURNE’S NEEDS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11659, 25 October 1923, Page 7

EASTBOURNE’S NEEDS

■’ UNFAIRLY DEALT WITH ” HARBOUR BOARD TURNS DOWN SEVERAL REQUESTS. “CAN’T BE OVER-GENEROUS.” For some time past the Eastbourne Borough Council have been at variance with the Wellington Harbour Board over matters appertaining to the Eastbourne ferry wharves and the buildings thereon. The council from across the harbour complained that they were being unfairly dealt with by the board, and, with a view to getting wnp.t they called “a square deal,” submitted several propositions to the Harbour Board. These hare been considered by members of the latter body, and at last night’s meeting it was decided to submit to the borough the following answers, which were drawn up by the secretary : NEW SHEDS WANTED. That a small addition to the present waiting-shed on ferry wharf No. 1 be made to accommodate freight for Eastbourne, the shed to hold from 5 to 10 tons, and to be capable of being locked up.—Theßoard considers this request a reasonable one, and will provide the accommodation required at an estimated cost of £SO, which cost will bo borne by the board. OFFICE ACCOMMODATION. Extension of office accommodation Sind provision of strong room.* —Provided that the borough is prepared to give a satisfactory guarantee that the extra accommodation asked for will be permanently required for the borough’s clerical staff, the board will extend the office over the passage on the south side, giving thereby about 140 square feet of additional floor space, at an estimated cost to the board of about £'2so. It is not practicable to build a strong-room on the premises. SOLE USE OF WHARF DESIRED. That the sole use of ferry wharf No. 1 bo granted to the Eastbourne ferry steamers.—Tlie board is desirous of meeting the convenience of the borough in thie matter, but is faced with * difficulty in that the granting of the request involves the finding of another suitable berth for the Government tender Janie Seddon. The harbourmastev will, as an experiment, berth tho tender oppooite the X store, but if it is found not suitable tlie board reserves its right to resume berthing the tender at the No. 1 ferry wharf. ‘CANNOT BE GRANTED.”

That the board’s gates opposite the ferry wharf entrance he fitted up with steel sheets to act as a wind-screen.— The board finds itself unable to agree to this suggestion. That tho rent of the ferry wharf offices be reduced from £250 to £2OO per annum.—The board is unable to grant this request. Additional spring piles and additional berthage Rona Bay wharf.—The reason advanced by the Mayor for these requests is that the greater length of the s.s. Muritai renders berthing at Rona Bay more difficult than in the .case of smaller steamers.

In considering these requests the board has had before it detailed statements of capital and working expenditure, standing charges and revenue. These statements show that the capital cost of No 1 ferry wharf in Wellington, Day’s Bay wharf and Rona Bay wharf was £16,735 6s 9d. Tlie charges for the year ended September 30th, 1922 were:

Working expenditure, £IBB Is 8d; standing charges (interest, sinkinc fund and depreciation at the usual rates), £1205 Is; total, £1393 2s Bd.

i The revenue from all sources was ! £584 19s 4d, leaving a loss for the year of £BOB 3s 4d. In addition to the above there was during the current year a special. expenditure of £954 12s 6d for dredging at Rona Bay, while dredging on two occasions at Day’s Bay has cost the board £1143 11s, making a total of £2IOO 3s fid, tlie whole of which cxpendituie was incurred on account of the ferry service and of which cost not one penny has been debited to you by the board. In view of the small return which is being received from revenue towards working expenditure and standing charges, the board does not consider it would be justified in making further capital expenditure at the suburban ferry wharves unless the rates are raised so as to provide ths full interest, sinking fund and maintenance cost of such expenditure. The estimated cost of the additional spring piling at Rona Bay is approximately £450.

Erosion, Muritai foreshore: That the beard’s engineer be permitted to advise the council as to means of check>np' ero-ion.—The board is of opinion that the Eastbourne borough should employ its own engineer for this nurpose. Tho board’s engineer will, however, be prepared to confer with any engineer appointed by the council. Store site, Rona Bay: That the beard obtain legislative power to soil or lease to the Eastbourne Borough Council the piece of land near "tho head of Rona Bay wharf given to the board for tho purpoee of a store site, the council being desirous of utilising tim eite for municipal offices.—This land was donated to the board for the purpose of a store site by owners of land adjoining tho site of the proposed wharf woo were interested in getting a wharf built at Rona Bay. There has been no neqd so far to build a store ou it, hut possibly as time goes on tlie necessity will arise and the board deems it inadvisable to part with the freehold of this land at present. f J he borough has already the temporary use of the site as a coal depot at a nominal rental (£9 p.a). The board has no objection to tho council devoting the site to more ornamentui uses.

In conclusion I am directed to say that the board would be willing io discuss with your council the question of leasing .the Rona and Day’s Bay wharves on the basis of an annual rental, tho borough in addition to bo responsible for and to hear the cost of the proper maintenance and repair of the wharves and buildings and also of any necessary dredging. Such lease would have to bo Formally submitted for public tender, and would be for a fiat term not exceeding seven yeais. “GENEROUS TREATMENT. * 1 The chairman, commenting on tlie replies, said that he thought that tlie boaid had treated the council very generously in the past, and had always tried to meet their proposals. Mr Bennett thought that tho board ought to offer the council the lease of tlie wharves and lot them pay for tho upkeep and maintenance. Mr Cobbe thought that this would be u mistake, and would only weaken the case. STRUGGLING BOROUGH.

Mr McEwun considered that the board should do everything in its power to help tho borough, whicli was having a hard struggle. Tliey lLad been compelled to start a ferry service, and, being over-capitalised, had had to face

many difficulties. If the board adopted a reasonable attitude then he felt 6ure they would in time reap a benefit. Mr Moss said that while the hoard should have sympathy with the Eastbourne people, they should be careful not to overdo it. Mr Cohen: Quite so. Mr Moss: The Harbour Boards in tho past deserve great credit for the work they have done. Mr Welch agreed with Mr Mc-Ewan. WEALTHY MAN’S SUBURB. Mr MoGowan could not appreciate tho logic of Mr MoEwan and Mr Welch. He considered that Eastbourne was a suburb composed for the most part of wealthy business men who “used that part of tlfe harbour for pleasure. He could not see wily the board should suffer to the extent of £BOO. The chairman thought that they could not be over-generous, as they had to consider other users of the wharves. The replies wore endorsed.

While riding on the back of a motorcyelo 'n Wadestonn, Mis? Jones, of 37, King’s street, had the misfortune to be thrown otf and got her left hand caught in the wheel. She was admitted to the hospital at 7.50 p.m. hist night-