HARBOUR BOARD'S AFFAIRS.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15048, 16 April 1919, Page 1 (Supplement)

HARBOUR BOARD'S AFFAIRS.

, REVIEW OP THE YEAR.

Harbbur vßoard;tKe <^%&^pfeKwked that it^asjthe^last meeti^soF^e-prei-r sent: Before^';;aiid ■■Hei members'; for fe^ during- tHe year^ ih1 tho {transactiotft^f ttte £ Board' s business/;;: The ;igas^yejir had been;; memorable; one; in; ;t!b^]iistqry "of 'the; Jfoaixlqwi^ pavershaving given ;the; rieciessary -authprity to?raise' the'lbanbf £1(^,000 for the purchase of the^ wliaryes; *^r'pr*Jdifeted that the purchase %ould: prbve of great prospective value to the: district^ foi; when the port regained- its pre-war trade it would :be found that the district had; niade a 'good bargain. The Board's revenue,: liKe vthat of other Boards,' had been seriouslyir«duced during the war. In 1913-14 me 'revenue was £4518 and in 1919-18 £22^8; a'di'op of £2270. The loss in revenue had been met by the levying1 of. a rate of onesixth of a penny on the ariginal loan of £65.000. This would .enable the new board to meet, jilus the 1-evenues front-the wharf, its interest charges:without calling on the ratepayers to find anything further. A great deal -would depend upon whetherthe fooard met its respohsibilities in regard to whaif management. The working of the wharves ■•'would require very careful •eonsider.ation^ and they would require .to be' administered with the least possible friction, consistent with, firmness. The wharves must be made to first provide- interest on the purchase, and the new board -might £«td it necessary to increase. its wharfage rates (as intknated by the Ifciirvvay pepartmont), but after providing for interest and upkeep the aim should be to make the .port a cheap .and easily worked one. Mlhe fruit industry promised to be a -big factor in Nelson's future prosperity, and he "hoped that the conference of .local bodies to >be held next May would and endeavour to induce.the Government to construct ;i rai'way .^f a serviceable kind between Motneka and Nekon.

During the past year the old dredge was'sold for £2000. Efforts for the past five >eai'3 had been made to dispose of her at a higher figure, but without result, and they anight itherefore consider that as she avjis unsuitable for the work of dredging this harbour that; the sale was a good one. They, had also sold a considerable quantity df scrap iron^ and owing to war conditions these sales ■ might also be '.considered satisfactory. Sundry repairs to '- the mole had "been ■made, which had hail .the effect of .making it he trusted, strong enough to resist all ordinary storms. At Mapua the wharf had been strengthened, and was now in a condition, as would be gathered from the Harbourmaster's report, to meet this year's requirements. - The new board would have, besides the important question of whart organisation and management, to •■consider the question of merging the Murefiisoh< district and the aifea around Mapua iin-fhe Nelson Harbour District.-^ " .

The important question also as to whethere there should be one Harbom Board for Nelson and "Motudka was one that should, he thought engage the attention of both boards. To him it seemed such a scheme combined with a light railway wpuid~:link up and ■ consolidate the 'interests of /Both; districts to the great advantage of their respective populations. In conclusion, he again thanked tlie members for the support accorded the chair.

Mr Washbburn spdke ;_o'f .the good spirit that had pTe\raile&/'among' the members"in the transaction of the board's business, and Mr Edwards thanked members Jor the countesy extended to him as a hew member during his term of office.