HARBOUR BOARD MATTERS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13412, 9 May 1912, Page 3 (Supplement)

HARBOUR BOARD MATTERS.

CONTROL OF THE "WHARVES.

BERTHAGE ACCOMMODATION.

(From "The Colonist," May 7.) Yesterday afternoon a deputation from tho Nelson Harbour Board, consisting of Messrs G. Macmahon (chairman), J. C. Mercer, W. Lock, and Captain Macnab, waited upon tho Horn G. Laurcnson (Minister for Marine), in connection with the question of providing adequate berthago accommodation for ocean liners and control of the wharves. The deputation was introduced by Mr Hairy Atraoro, M.P.

Tho Chairman explained that the wharves and seventy foet of tho land within the immediate vicinity was owned by tho Railway Department. The Harbour Board had provided facilities for tho admission cf ocean liners to tho harbour, but thoro was not a sufficient depth of water for them, to bo at the wharf at low water. For three hundred foot there was a depth of 25 foet, but for tho balance of the length of tho wharf there was only IS feet at low water, and it was this portion that the Harbour desired the Department to dredge. The Hon Mi-" Millar had promised to loavo a recommendation that this work should bo proceeded with, and he asked the Hon Mr Lauren son to give this matter his support when it was brought before the Cabinet. Mr Macmahon pointed out that one ocean liner booked for Nelson had boon unable to come owing to their being insufficient depth of water at the wharf at low water. In regard to tho wharves, Mr Macmahon said that at present the . position was xinsatisfactory, and the Board desired to obtain control. The Hon Sir Millar had promised to look into tho matter and had suggested that n basis of purchase might bo a sum at 3J* per cent, which would bring in an amount equal to the present revenue. Tho Hon Mr Laurenson : Pretty strong terms. What is the revenue of tho wharf ? •Tho Chairman: We don't know. In reply to another questian by the Minister, it was stated that the value of the wharves wcrotstimutod fit £50,900. Thiii Minister asked if the Board had a dredge capable- of doing tho work re--quired, and w.a:> informed that while the dredge- could do the work there was no place in tho harbour where the spoil could bo deposited. It was explained that tho Board intended to hire the dredge Rubi Soddon to provido additional facilities for tho admission of large steamers, and it was suggested that tho Government might make arrangements to hire her to do the work. • Tho Minister said it was an extraordinary thing for him to think that the wharves wero not owned by tho Harbour Board. Mr Mercer said that in addition to the £60,000 already spent by tho Harbour Board, tho expenditure of another £5000 was contemplated, to provide further facilities, and it would be useless expending this amount unless the Railway Department did tho dredging at the wharf. The question of dual control had also been a sore point with the Harbour Board for a long time. In reply to the Minister it was stated that the revenue of the Board was derived from harbour dues, pilotage, etc. Mr Lock said that in asking that the Railway Department should do tho dredging it was a matter that would bo for their own benefit. It ought to be done by the Department in its own interests. Tho Minister said that even if the Board had to pay fivo per cent on the capital valuo of the wharf, in view of the potentialities of the district, he believed it would be a good investment. If the Board could como to some arrangement with tho Department he believed it would bo a good thing to do. As tho dredging required was on the Railway Department's property it seemed only a fair thing that they should do it: However, he would lay tho whole position before Mr Myers (Minister for Railways), and represent what had been done by tho Board. Speaking for > himself, he thought it avus a fair proposition. Personally he was in favour of the dredging at the wharf being done by the Department. The Hon Mr Laurenson then made a personal inspection of tho wharves, and saw for himself what dredging was required. Ho was thanked for receiving tho deputation, and then proceeded to other parts of the city, as reported elsewhere.