Dredging Our Port

Southland Times, Issue 18059, 31 January 1903, Page 2

Dredging Our Port

At yesterday's meeting of, ihe Bluff Harbour Board, Mr Mitchell brought up tho subject of a' dredge" .M« : was informed that st very suitable" pump dredge - was for sale oy the Westport Hart>our Board . Ho moved that the secretary be instructed to communicate wfth that Board *to ascertain the price and other particulars.

Mr Watson seconded the motion. r It was high time the Board were getting on with some dredging. The wharf repairs were proceeding satisfactorily, but with the widening of the eastern wharf they were worse oft than before as regarded berthage.

"•Mr Dunlop said that he -would urge the Dredging Committee to push on with this work, or they would have a block before they knew where they were. The present berthage was less than they had six yeras ago. They had .now a big bank balance, and there was no reason why they should not hurry on dredging work. • .■ ' ■ ''-";■-"'

Mr Bain understood that the Westport dredge was a suction dredge, und this was just what they wanted. In the meantime they could go on with i .. tjhe dredge they had.

Mr Raymond said that Mr Dunlop's statement was no doubt strictly correct,, but he deprecated alarmist reports.^ It was just as well that the public should know that there was a larger class of steamers calling at the port than there were six years ago, and they had berths to accommodate two -large Ocean-going, steamers and one intercolonial steamer.' He advised v that the Board should push on with their reclamation work.

Mr Mitchell's motion was 7 then carried. —The chairman said that he hoped/ the new Board would- give their thorough attention to this question;. y .'y