Nelson Harbour and the Wharves.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 12975, 14 December 1910, Page 2

Nelson Harbour and the Wharves.

The dual cofltrol of the harbour and the wharves has been the cause of some trouble between the Nelson Harbour Board and the Railway Department. The latter own tha wharves ar.d j the harbour in the immediate .vicinity. When.the present wharf was extended the Department made an arrangement with the Harbour Board to dredgo berthage accommodation to a depth ot 20 feet, agreeing to .pay the' Board all working expenses, cortaiu renewals to plant, and £20 a week for tlie liire o° the dredge during the progress of the work, payments to be made four-wook-ly. A verbal arrangement to this effect was made between the Board's representatives and the Minister for Railways, which was subsequently ratified ', by the latter. The work was carried out by tho-Board, which also, at the request, of the Department, dredgsd portions which had silted up. Payments."were not made as arranged, although accounts were rendered regularly, and thai Board were temporarily inconvenienced, four payments only having been made Oil fifteen accounts rendered. ...Last, month, a; statement of accounts was received from -the Departmantwith a cheque for £531 17s--Bd., which made it appear that it was a- final payment. TL© statement read "oost of dredging in Nelson Harbour, 20,000 yardsjat Is; lOd, £1833 6s, less payments, £1301 9s, balance due, £531 17s Bd." At the request^ of the Board the Chairman made strong representation to the Department,' pointing out that the Board had paid out £3651 on its behalf- and had only been repaid £1833, leaving £1818 still due, and that no contract for dredging had-been entered into. Now that the positionhas been puti so plainly before the Department by the Chairman of the Board, no doubt the matter will be settled, promptly.