ORHDGING AT THE GOVERNMENT WHARF.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 12723, 15 December 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

ORHDGING AT THE GOVERNMENT WHARF.

THE HARBOUR BOARD AND THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT.

A SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT

(From "The Colonist." Dee. 7.

At the meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday, the Chairman Graham, M.P.) reported on the interview which the Hon. F. Trask and himself had with the Minister lcr Railways in regard to the dredging required for the extension of the Liov'ernment wharf to provide berthage accommodation for ocean liners. He said that the result had been most satisfactory, as woigsl be seen Irc-m the following correspondence, wnich he read : — . .

"Sir, — With reference to your lettor of the 24th ultimo and your interview respecting the necessity for improving the facilities at present existing at Nelson for dealing with ocean liners, I have the honour to inform you that as verbally intimated it has been decided that the Railway Department will now pay for the dredging of a berth 70ft wide in lieu of 33ft wide along tho new railway wharf at Nelson. It is uudcrstoj*» that the Harbour Board's dredge will bo available to do the necessary work and in accordance with the suggested arrangements discussed between ns, the Board will do the dredging' charging the Railway Deaprtment with the cost of wages, fuel, stores and repairs of any damage done to the dredge and machinery while actually engaged on the work, spins £20 per week to cover fair wear and tear of the machinery (hiring tho timo the ciredgc is actually so engaged ot if the Board prefers, it may fix and submit a price per cubic yard at which it is prepared to do the necessary dredging and depositing of the material at suitable sites, to be mutually agreed upon, (such price to bs quoted before the dredging is commenced.^ About 18,000 cubic yards of spoil will require to be deposited on railway land in the vicinity" of the site of the bond store, the b.-ilapco fit a place to be mutually determined by representatives of the ITa.rbaur Board and the Department. Tt will bo necessary for tho Railway Department to acquire by proclamation a portion of the Harbour Board's lsnd as a dumping site for the dredging and also the 70ft strip from the edge of the wharf, which will constitute the berthage of the vessels, ard is to be dredged nuclei- the arrangement herein referred to.

As the Board regards the matter as one of urgency, I shall be glad if arrangements are m a <]„ s „ that tb c dredging may bo proceeded, with immediately. "I have instructed tho Railway Department to arrange that ro delay tnkes place in so far as the Departmental arrangements arc -oiteernod and an officer of the Department will in dun course visit Nelson for th" pnrpnso of n.rrnn«in« with the TV.->^l as to the m-of.t suitable site for-dump-ing tlie surplus tnilin/rs over and above iho onnntitv required for filling in the Railway Department's ree amation --J. A. Millar, Minister of Hallways.

"Dear Sir,— Referring to your letter dated 11th November, and the interview between yourself, Mr Trask aud myself on the above subject' when the suggested rrrangomcnt was discussed and approved by you that, it the Harbour Board would undertlliCO the necessary dredging the l{i;'lwa.v Department' would pa"y iho cost ot wages, fuel, stores, and' repairs cf any damage done to the dre dire machinery and plant while engaged in the work, phis an amount to' covefair wear and tear of the machinery and plant during the time the work is in progress. The Beard is wil'irg to execute Uio v.nrk on the sugger-tcd basis, the approximate cost of whi-h per week was contained in the Hoard's lett- r dated 14th January, 1:)08, in reply to an application by the District Engineer of New Zealand Railways, Greymouth, dated about the end of the previous mouth. Tho cost of wages would be a little more now, viz.: Dredgemasier's salary. £5 Ids per week, which was omitted", and the cost of coal, owing to the iiic'i\ai>e in price, would be wimeivjiat irmo 00-.v than then. As then staled tho work would be done much quicker, and consequently cheaper by n: ing the centrifugal pump and discharge pipes, than by removing the spoil in hopper barges only; but as rt.-itcd then, the pump will require to be prepared for the work. This, I find, v.ill necessitate a m:w fliaft, which' as stated in tho letter referred to the Department would b.-. requited to pay for, bee;iiisc tho pump would not be again required for the Boatd's work. I have visited Nelson in reference to the matter, and find that the dredge and plant is in working order, and ready to proceed with the work, except the pump already re-lo-rred to.

"I have given instructions that winle tiie new shaft is being prepared and fitted, the discharge pip'cs," etc., shall be brought from the Boulder Bank, and the pipe line, joints, \ete fitted up to connect the drcch'e with tho site to be reclaimed, ready to start the actual dredging as soon as the pump is ready.

"It is understood that the Board will be the servants of the Department in carrying out the work, and that the cost of the work as it profeeds will be paid monthly by the Department to the Board, the Board will be glad to meet and arrange a.nv necessary details as to site for'dumping surplus spoil, etc., as may be required, and would suggest that it should be kept in view that it will be very much better, easier, and the cost very much less to pro-. :'<k> for reclamation within the compass of the pipe discharge, instead of conveying the spoil to sea by means of Jiopp- r btirgos.for which additional steam tugs and hopper barges would be required. As the Board has just incurred the cost of a new set of mooring lines (£170), which must be instelWl for this work, the charge for the ii.cc of the dredge, tug, punts, discharge pipes, etc., will be £20 per week instead of £1G as offered in January, 1003. — John Graham, Chairman.— P.S.— I shall be pleased to receive your approval and confirmation of the terms of this letter." ."Sir, — With reference to yonr letter r'.' the 13th instant respecting the prop'isfd arrangement for dredging the berth at the railway wharf, Nelson, and the terms on which the Harbour Hoard's dredge may bn used, I have the .honour to inform you tliat thf: proposal that the Department should pay the cost of wages, fuel, stores, and repairs to any damage done to tho dredging machinery and plant while engaged on the work, plus £20 per week to cover fair wear and tear of the machinery and plant during the time the dredge is actually ngagd oii the work i'nd«.rte.l:oii or ho-half of the Railway Department, is hereby continued and arrangementr will lie made to pay "to tlie Board four weekly the amounts accruing to the Board in respect to the working o r the dredge. The Department will air' p.iy the cost of providing the newshaft for the Dump. — J. A Afillar. Minister of Railways." The Chairman said that he Wiif pleased to to able to r,nv i]-at thr whole of the/ work in connection with repairing .and fittirux up the dredge wc.'dd be done in Nelson. - The Board nnaniinouelv resolved te express its "'rent patisfactir.n ni. thr wav in which thi matter had boor settled: after so long a delay . Eulorristic references worp""m."de +• the fww.blc rnan.-ner in wh'e.h the ne"•^eiil.i'mf; -vrt 4 ,b t.he Minister wer^ cn.ryiod out. and tho. Ch. r iiri»n.n neki'AwWlftcvl the a s.s: stance rond/wed by +htrensurer, the Hon." F. Tr.ifcV. Th° members, by a unanimous vote, expressed tb»ir a.ppreciat.inn of,tl ; e siv-r.Pß«-iful efforts of the chairman, and treasurer. . , " ■ ■ ' -..„■' 'Mr Franklyn remarked that the

Chairman's position as representative for the district r.o doubt had added weight to the deputation's l'c-pres-.'r.-

tations, and he paid v tribute to Mr Grain :ii's capabilities. Mr .tV'ttit said the sett'-e/eor.t of t'uvext:! question would be a s-ouice of satisfaction to the people a : ; well as the members, and should be appreciated by every well- wisher. He suggested that any surplus spoil from the dredging might be utilised by the City Council in reclaiming part of their foreshore.