NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12506, 6 April 1909, Page 2

NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board was held" yesterday. Present — Messrs J. Graham, M.P., (chairman), F. Trasfc, M.L.C., W. N. Franklyn, G. Talbot, E. S. Hoult, and A. A. Grace. .. Messrs W. Cblcman, J. C. Mercer, and F. C. Pettit. were excused from attendance. DREDGING AT THE WHARF. The Chairman referred to the dredging being done at the wharf to enable an ocean liner to. lie there. He said that it was originally understood that the dredging was -to be done for a disance of 100 feet from the end of the wharf, but he had ascertained that it was now intended to dredge only 20 feet.. The length of "the wharf was 3GO feet, and the vessel expected was 426 feet long, so that she would project a good distance over both ends of the wharf. The proposed distance of 20 feet dredging would not allow sufficient facilities for the berthing of the Union Company's steamers on the inside while an ocean-going steamer was at the wharf, and a request had been - sent to the to have a further 20 feet dredged, but no reply had yet been received. The Chairman also stated that, in reply to inquiries from Captain Macdougall, of-the Shaw. Savill Company, lie had intimated that the 20 feet of dredging would be completed this week. FINANCE. The Bank- pass book-showed that the loan account was £832 in debit,and the general account £371 in credit Pilotage receipts for March wore £294, against £285 in March, 190 S. Since April Ist the amount received was £2996, against £2958 for the corresponding ~j>erio<l ~fco Ma-reli. lOOS- THg monthly average was £250, against £247. Payments amounting to £86 on general account and £276 on loan account were, passed. It was resolved that the City Council be informed that the Board had nob been using water since the beginning of the year, although, it. had been paid for till 31st March, and that payment would bs discontinued until further notice from the Board. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr T. E. Donne requested theBoard, in view of his departure to take 'up his duties at the High "Commissioner's office, to supply him with a copy of the Board's annual report and a map of the harbour. It was resolved to accede to his -request. The Engineer supplied a report of the cost of dredging at Nelson, in response to a request from the Motueka Harbour Board for information. He gave the cost, excluding cost of plant, etc., as approximately 7^d per ton. The secretary of the Nelson Freez-' ing Company wrote in regard to the draining of tho works ' through the Board's foreshore, and enclosed a draft agreement for signature by the Board. ' Two residents of the locality wrote complaining that the drainage was being carried back by the. tide, and stating that eels and small fish were being killed;' A letter was .also received from thirteen residents and property owners, protesting against the drainage being allowed on the foreshore, as it was "a menace to health. • Theysuggested that it should be carried out for 40 chains through Dines, and discharged only when the tide was on the ebb. One of. the signatories subsequently requested that his name, be deleted from the petition, on the ground that- he had since been satisfied that ample precautions were taken to prevent a_ nuisance. A good deal of discussion took place on the subject, and it was untimately resolved, on thn motion of Mr Franklyn, seconded by Mr. Grace, that in accordance with the Board's resolution of August 3rd last, the- Freezing Compa'iTT7 subject to strict compliance with the conditions imposed by the Health Department, and to the saisf action of the Board, be permitted ; without charge, to drain as requested by them, subject to the company* signing an undertaking that no nuisance would be permitted to exist, but tho permission to be subject to -he Board terminating it at any time. . It was also decided to- acknowledge the receipt of tho letters from residents, and 1 to forward copies of same to the Freezing Company, asking "the Company to remove any cause for complaint. - ' - . REPORT^. The Engineer (Mr J. Barrownmn) reported that during the month he had been chiefly engaged in making soundings of the harbour suitable for blue printing on different scales. During' the last spring tides there "were symptoms of scouring on the northern side of the entrance channel. On examining the slope of the northern hank he found it maintaining its slope —if anything it was a "little steeper, durr no doubt to the bottom scouring. The dredgemaster (Mr J. McHarg) reported that the sides of the dredge had been painted, and other" work done to the plant during the month. The Harbourmaster (Capt Collins) reported that the trade for the month had been of the usual volume for this time of the year. During the month 43 Union Coy's steamers, 106 small steamers, and 28 sailing vessels entered and left the port, or a total of 39,488 tons register. The soundings taken since last report showed that the depths through the new channel, inside and outside the harbour, were being well maintained. For the purpose of marking the northern edge of the channel through the bank inside the harbour, and from the black buoy opposite the Government wharf-to-wards the new entrance, three black buoys .have- been placed, and a" red buoy marking the southern end of the channel. Masters of vessels drawing more than 10 feet of wa£er, when".entering the'port at low" water, should not pass less than 20 feet off the black buoys, and at least 10 feet off the red buoy. . - - Mr Jrask presented to the Board, on behalf of Mr. John Sharp, an original Admiralty chart of the Nelsoiu harb<3ur in. 1850, and it was resolved that Mr Sharp be thanked for his gift. In reply to Mr Franklyn the chairman"said that there was still a little Jredging'to; be done. Some portions >f ,the plant were at present being ussd by the Railway "Department for iredgihg a£ the wharf , but the work ivculd'be done as soon as possible. It was resolved that new rollers be procured for the dredge.