NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14895, 18 October 1918, Page X

NELSON HARBOUR BOARD.

SPECIAL MEETING.

'X special meeting of tho Nelson Har-' bour Board was held yesterday after-' noon tor the purpose of receiving the'! report of the doputation, comprising! Messrs. Duncan (chairman) and Sherwood (secretary), which visited Wellington in connection with tho loan for tlio purchase of tho wharves. There were present Messrs. H. J{. Duncan (thnu-man), H. v l>. Wasbbourn, H. M. J/eld, T. Edwards, A. V. AUport, I. lunmcliftc, «nd J, Ingram. Mr. Mac-mahon-was excused.

■The report of the interview with the heads of the various departments was read as follows:—

t Assistant Public Trustee (Mr. Macdonald): Mr.'Macdonald said it would suit his department (provided it met with the approval of the liailway De■paroment and Harbour Board) if the loan money was not required until after the end of tho financial year, say, Ist April, 1919, bu,fc would find same if required before that date. This is embodied in a letter handed«to the chairman and attached -herewith.

"Hon. Minister of Railways: We were received very cordially by Mr. Herries, who congratulated the Board on the success of the loan poll. lAs to the date of the Board taking over the wharves, Mr. Herries stated that ho believed it would suit the department of they carried on till the end of the financial year, but "that could be arranged with the General Manager. N "General Manager of Railways: Mr. Hiley stated that lie was quite willing for his department to hand over the wharves at the end of the financial year, say, the Board to take charge on Ist April, 1919. Working: The question of .working the wharves by the Board or Railway Department was discussed. Mr. Hiley pointed out that the wharves at Wanganui, Timaru, Oamaru, and Port Chalmers were worked by the railways on behalf of the respective boards, some on commission, others on a tonnage basis according to local condititnih, but to arrive at a basis for working the wharves at Nelson, it would be necessary to send over two responsible officers of the department to look into details and furnish, a full report. Should tho Board decide to work the wharves themselves, extra sidings would have to be provided for inward and outward cargo, and the Board would havo to convey the cargo to and from the sidings at its own cost, either by horse or engine traction. -Working tools, trucks, weighing machines, etc.. to be taken over at valuation. Drodg' ing at wharf: Any obligations entered into will be tarried out. The question of the bracing under the wharf'was dis-. cussed, but the General Manager indicated that the wharves will be handed over in ■• their present condition, but he woujd look into the matter further. Mr. Hiloy suggested that the Board. should notify him,, in'writing, that .having raised the money for the purchase of the wharves, the question arises as j to working of the same, and the Board i would like, to have some indications asj to terms, and for which purpose would! he have a full report made and submit j same to the Board. The Board also to notify that they would like to take over on Ist April, 1919, and in the event of the Board deciding to work the "wharves themselves, and not being ready at that date, to make arrangements for the Railway Department to carry on for a further' three months, or longer if necessary.

"M.r. "McLean, Chief Engineer, was also interviewed re dredging at the wharf, and he promised to do all he could to facilitate the work."

On the motion of Messrs Ingram and Allportj it was resolved to officially notify the Railway Department that the hoard would *be prepared to take over the wharves-on April Ist, 1919.

It was also resolved, on the motion of Messrs Edwards and IHlpdrt, that the Railway Department be written to and asked to send over two responsible officers of the Department to go into particulars-and'furnish, a full report to the board.

The chairman, Messrs Allport, Edwards, and Washbourn were appointed a"sub-committee to confer with the two railway officers from Wellington. Mr Edwards moved: "That, the chariman haying reported that the Chief Engineer had assured him that the question of dredging at the north end of the wharf would be carried out as promised, the hoard urges npon the Department the urgent necessity of tho dredging being carried out as soon a? possible."

■ This'-was seconded by Mr-Ingrain and carried.

On tho motion of Mr Field, seconded by Mr Allport, it was resolved that the Public Trustee be informed that the board would be taking over the wharves on April Ist, 1919, and that the £103,-

000 loan would. be~ required on that date. ■ ' * On the motion of Mr Allport, it'was resolved that tne chairman bo asked to prepare a report on tho question of the AJSUO subsidy as provided by the Nelson Harbour Act, 1902, and report at next meeting. N