NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12767, 8 February 1910, Page 3

NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board was held yesterday. Members present: Messrs John Graham, M.P. (chairman), W. Coleman, F. C. Pettit, J. D. Beuke, E. S. Hoult,. and W. N. Franklyn. Messrs G. Talbot and J. C. mercer wero excused from attendance. FINANCE. The bank pass book showed the following balances : Cr. : General account, £1523 6s sd. Dr. : Loan ac- , count, £1413 6s 9d. The receipts for pilotage for the month of January were £468 6s lOd, as against £267 Is ld for January last year; since "April Ist, £3431 19s Bd, as against £2421 Os 2d; monthly average being £343 4s, as against £242 3s 3d. Accounts amounting to £333 18s lOd were passed for payment (£l3l 18s (3d of whicli is to be paid the Railway Department).

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company wrote asking for remission of harbour light dues in respect ot thd visit of tn© stoamer Waimea to Nelson on Christmas Day. It was pointed out that th© vessel was fully loaded from Greymouth to Gisborne, and only called in here to allow the crew to ' spend Christmas Day at home. , , The Anchor Company also wrote pointing out that owing to Motueka being a tidal harbour it was found necessary, at times, t<j work Nelson ■liarbour with tho Nikau twice in one day ; on January 28th, after landing mails, passengers, etc., she sailed for Motueka, arriving back in Nelson at 2 p.m., and leaving for Wellington in the evening. It was requested that when a steamer called more than once during the samo day dues should be charged as for one trip only. The Chairman stated that tho company's steamers wero exempt from pilotage, but paid light dues. He doubted if the Board could grant a remission of the dues, which were fixed by lie by-laws. It seemed a i little rough to hay© to pay. dues twice in the same day, but the steamer came here to land, passengers, etc. If the request was granted, it would be establishing a dangerous precedent. Mr Hoult moved that the requests be not granted. He objected to any concessions being made. Mr Beuke, in seconding the motion, said the company in sending the steamer here were doing business for their own benefit. Mr Pettit moved, as an amendment, that the request in respect to the Nikau be granted when she worked the port twic© in the samo day. It was of great advantage to th© people of the Nelson district to have the Nikau call in here for cargo. When she left here in the evening she took fruit in timo for th© early morning market in Wellington. He instanced the. advantage of the vessel calling here the other day. A quantity of fruit was forwarded by train for shipment by the Pateena, but the Union Steam Ship Company would not keep the steamer ten minutes, the result being that a large proportion was shut out. Only for the presence in port of th© Nikau this fruit would havo missed the Wellington market, and there would in consequence have been a great loss to the growers. Tho Chairman pointed out that they could not make a by-law to apply to the Nikau only; it would have to b© made to apply to any steamer exempt from pilotage visiting the port twice in one day. Mr Coleman seconded th© amendment. , „ Mr Hoult asked the Chairman if he could accept th© amendment without uotice of motion. The Chairman said Mr Hoult had tho right to ask that consideration, be deferred. Continuing, Mr Hoult said that, since the Board had altered the harbour dues the Anchor Company had raised the fares between Nelson and Motueka. If the Union Company could not tak© all the fruit it opened th© door for other steamers. Mr Beuke objected to the amendment. Mr Franklyn supported Mr Hoult' s motion, and thought the Anchor Company had been treated very. well. He did not know if freights had been raised since tho alterations in the dues were made, but passenger rates between Motueka and Nelson had been increased. The public were paying for the increase in the rates. Mr Pettit pointed out that the travelling publio were getting a much better service between here and Motueka than formerly, and the oomfort was worth the increase in rates, considering the difference in the class of steamer. . . Th© Chairman said the increase in the rates was not made until the dues had been raised. Mr Coleman said that he favoured anything that would assist the farmers to get their produce to the Wellington market. If it would assist them to grant the concession he would favour giving the company the concession. # The Chairman said it was a matter which affected the by-laws. Any resolution could not take effect until the by-laws had been altered. It was then resolved on the motion of Messrs Hoult and Beuke that the Board regrets that under its by-laws it lias no power to grant th© requests. ' - The motion was earned on the voices. , The Anohor Company wrote offering terms for towage by steamer Koi— inward £10, outward £10 each way, both ways £15. Referred to Pilot. A communication was received from the secretary of the Harbour Boards Association, enclosing legal opinion in regard to th© liability of harbour boards in respect of acts committed by their pilots. Referred to the Ohairman to make further enquiries. The Secretary of tli© Nelson Amateur Swimming Club wrote asking permission to use the Board's yard for dressing purposes on th© day of their sports (February 19th). Granted." An invitation was received from the Town Clerk for the Chairman of the Board to attend the meeting to bo held this afternoon in the Council Chambers to mak© arrangements for the reception of his Excellency the Governor.