ALMOST READY FOR LINERS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12461, 10 February 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

ALMOST READY FOR LINERS.

THE FINISHING TOUCHES.

BOARD AND RAILWAY DEPARTMENT.

In proposing tbe toast of "The Nelson Harbour Board" at the hanqoet tondered to the- Hon. R. McKenzie, at Tapawera, on Tnursday evening, Mr D J. T Rouse, a director of the Nelson " Freezing Company, Limited, said that for a long timo, the settlers had experienced difficulty in getting their products to the "markets of the world ; in facfc, up to the present moment they were not ie torch with theHome market. Captain Bone, Marine Superintendent of tne Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, had told him that they could have a direct liner at tho Nelson wharf pro vided about fourteen days' dredging was done. It would be a great thing for Nelson when this work was completed, and he was sure Mr McKenzie would assist them in getting an ocean liner to the wharf. There was m'dispute the matter ot who should pay for this dredging, as the wharf belonged to fche Kailway Department, but he urged that fc-ie Harbour Board -*-do the work at once, so as to open the port to fche world, and then settle the quesfcnn of payment afterwards. Hitherto they had had to look to the middle-' man,.. and therfore did not get true value for , their products. Mr Macmahon said the harbour was a matter they were all deeply interested in, although little interest was being taken in the election. He expressed his regret that Mr Best had not been re-nominated. .He had been a member of the Board since its inception, and he wa*? sorry, he had retired before the compJetion of the work. He understood that there was about 30 feet to be dredged at the end of the wharf by seven feet in depth- before an ocean steamer could bo. alongside the wharf. In an interview, the member for the city had told them tbat it was not the place of the Harbour Board, but the Railway Department, to do the. dredging", and tbe Minister for Railways had promised to do it,* but it had not been done. The Chairman of the Board bad told mm it could be done in 14 days if the work was authorised bythe Railway Department. It" was absolutely necessary that the work should bi=[ completed before the Ist of March.

Dr. Hudson said the Board had bad insuperable difficulties to contend with, and they bad been subjected to a great deal of stupid criticism. The Board had carried out the works grandly, and they had cut a passage _ thre ugh the Boulder Bank, where people said a passage could not be out. Vessels could now go m and out of the harbour at any stage of the tide, and the improvements were a great benefit ■to the travelling public-

Mr BesG said it was really neglect on his parfc fchafc he had nofc been nominated. There had, he said, been many difficulties to overcome, but they had got through the bank, and vessels could now work the port at all,timea. If he had been on tbe Board he would have done his best to get the dredging of the wharf done, as the freezing works were practically ready to commence operations.

The Bon. R. McKenzie, who had also been a member of the Board from its inception until his appointment to the Ministry, said the Board deserved the thanks of everyone in tbe district, as they had effected great improvements. If fourteen days' dredging would be the means of getting in a steamer for a shipment of frozen mutton they should get; it done. Ifc was ao im-portant"-question as to who should do the work, as there was a principle involved. He would do his level bf-st to get the fourteen days' dredging done, and the bigger question could stand over until the firstocean steamer got away. The question of control should never be allowed to stand against the interest of the community. He would certainly try and induce his colleagues to have the dredging done. The Harbour Board would no doubt lend the dredge for the purpose, and the riien's wages could be found somewhere.

In 'responding to the' toast of "The Farming Community," Mr J. Allan Mitchell, the manager of the Nelson Freezing Company, said thafc as soon as the dredging at the wharf was carried out the shipping companies would send ocean steamers to Nelson. : The machinery, at" the works would be started next week, and on Monday week the first day's killing would take plaoe. He expressed -the* hope that there wGuld be a steamer in tbe port to take away their first lot of trozen mutton.