GATHERING ON BOARD

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12518, 21 April 1909, Page 2

GATHERING ON BOARD

Yesterday afternoon, at tho invitation of -Jie agents for the New Zealand Shipping Company, about thirty gciitloim-n, representing tho Frwzill" Company and the Chamber of Con£ merce and Harbour Board, attended a pleasant function on board the Bakaia. Captain Bone,, the Company's Marine Superintendent, presided, and Mr Galbraith, of tho Wellington office,, was also present. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs John Graham, M.P., chairman of the Harbour Board, F. Trask, M.L.C a member of that body, and Mr T. Edwards, stationinaster in charge. ; Captain Bone heartily welcomed the guests to the vessel, and said they now had ocular demonstration of what the Harbour Board had done for the port. When he was asked by his chief, Mr Isaac Gibbs, whose unavoidable absence that day he much regretted, to visit Nelson in company with Captain McDougall and report on the facilities offered by the harbour, for large vessels, he hardly knew what they were to inspect. Of course some people said it was madness to send a Dig ship to Nelson ; but they made up their minds that their report would" be a favourable one if possible. The opinion they had formed of the port had been realised. The questions they had asked the Harbour Board's officials were answered : freely, arid every_ facility was given them for ascertaining the real position. Although it was possible to bring large vessels up to the wharf, further improvements were wanted, such as more dredging and wharf accommodation.- The room of dredged area was very restricted. The wharf acoommodation ,too, was insufficient, and it was important "that these works should be pushed on with all speed. -In his opinion it would be a most beneficial thing for the port if a cut were macle ou-fcsiclo i>lio onfcranoo,- so --fcliat ocean-going steamers could como in without anxiety, by obviating the sharp turns now necessary. The Board was not in possession of a tug, -and he had to thaiik the Anchor Company for placing its fine vessel, the Alexander, at their disposal, and the trouble it had taken to help them. It -would have been difficult to berth the steamer without the Alexander's assistance. Captain Bono then proposed "Success to the. Harbour Board," coupling with the toast the name of Major Franklyn. Major Franklyn, in responding, said the Board had had a difficult task, being pledged to do the work' •with £65,000. and without imposing a rate, and it had to cut tho cloth according to the. measure. Tho community was indebted to the chairman of the Board for his work. If the Government had handed over the wharves to the Board, they would have had good accommodation by this time. That would bo done before long. ■ Very few people realised the importance of the vessel coming alongside the wharf. (Applause.) Tho merchants would bo relieved of very heavy freight charges, and he hoped that the people would got the benefit of it. Mr L. J. Frank proposed,' "Prosperity to the Freezing Company," eulogising the enterprise which had resulted in the establishment' of the freezing industry in the district. Mr Macmahon, chairman of directors of the Company, responded. He said the Company had. had great difficulty in bringing the ivorks into existence. He regretted that tho townspeople did not take a more active interest in the matter. If they could get more shares disposed of in the city, i; would place them in a much better position. He paid a tribute to Mr Mitchell, the Company's manager, who was the right man in the right place. . Mr Mitchell also responded. Mr H. R. Duncan proposed the health of the New Zealand .Shipping ■ Company, to whose enterprise he said tho Dorr inion was indebted for much of its prosperity. The toast was acknowledged by Captain Bone and Mr Galbraith, The latter urged the people of Nelson to hammer away until they got control of the wharves. Tho only difficulty in the way of the discharge of inward cargo at- Nelson was the lack ot wharfagei and shed accommodation If that were provided, there would bo nothing to prevent shipments every three months, or as or ten as they were required. He thought suihcient revenue would bo raised to pay the interest on-a loan for the purpose of effecting those improvements, iliey wor© very delighted at the visit ot the Rakaia to Nelson, and he wished to acknowledge the assistance they had received from the Harbour Hoard, and Mr Edwards, of the Railway Departm Tho last toast was that of the health of Captain and Mrs Bono, proposed by Mr J. H. Cock which was enthusiastically honoured. Captain Bone briefly responded, and the proceedings terminated.