MINISTER OF MARINE AND THE BOATING SERVICE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9287, 13 January 1892, Page 2

MINISTER OF MARINE AND THE BOATING SERVICE.

THIS DAY. The following letter from the Assistant Secretary to the Marine Department to the Harbour Board, and the Chairman's reply, were read at a meeting of the Board, on Wednesday :—: — Marine Department, Wellington, December 29, 1891. Sir, — I am directed by the Minister having charge of this Department, to inform you that his attention has been drawn to the manner in which the boats landing passengers and cargo from the steamers are loaded. Ou Tuesday last, 22 nd inst, the boat attending the Takapuna was first filled with cargo, and then forty-four persons in all were taken on board. The Minister trusts that you will take immediate steps to put a etop to such practice, and I am to inform you that, should such steps not be taken, he will feel constrained to recommend His Excellency the Governor in Council to pass stringent regulations on the subject. — I have, &c., Lewis H. H. Wilson, Assistant-Secretary. The Chairman, under date January 5, replied as follows: — Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Assistant-Secretary's letter of tho 29th ult, stating " that you have had your attention called to the manner in which the boats landing passengers and cargo from tho steamers are loaded." I havo made careful enquiry respec ing the occurrence of 22nd Decem- < bar, to which you referred, and I find there is no warrant whatever for the charge made against the Board and its officers, but that the facts are in a contrary direction, and that the Board deserves credit rathor than reproof in discharging itß duty in tendering tho Takapuna. The Government in aware that for some months past the accumulation of sand at the end ot the wharf has prevented the Takapuna from going alongside to land and embark pas« eengcrs and mails in connection with tho express trains to and from Wellington. It has therefore been imperative to tender her ct eea. On some occasions, owing to ■ the inclemency of the weather, she hns been compelled to pass the port without communicating, but she has been tendered j whenever it was possible. Up to a recent period passengers by the Takapuna have been' accustomed to the convenience of being brought alongside tho trains on the wharf, and I cannot therefore wonder at their disappointment when they find themselves compelled to be boated to and fro at an early hour in the morning and long after dark in the evening, or lose the train. They would be more than mortal if they did not complain. I have ascertained that it .was a fino morning on December 22. Tho boat went alongside tho steamer in good time,' and the boatmen informed the passengers that all those who wanted to avail themselves of the train, then ready for departure, must embark in the boat at once, while the other passengers, could remain on board until its leturri. The boat was then loaded with the mails and tho passengers' luggage, and no carg n } arid about forty passengers embarked and reached tho train. The boat then returned to the steamer and took on board three, passengers who were not bound beyond this port, and landed them. The Government cannot regret more than the Boa r d the ' silting up of the head of the wharf. The Mahinapna and Gairloch 1 are never required to be tendered, as they go alongside, but tho captain of the Takapdnas'Tofuse*, and I think quite rightly, to incur such risk as there may be in passing through an intricate channel with a steamer like the one he commands. I cannot but express my regret at the want, of due dili-* gence on the part of the Government in providing a dredge to clear out the channel. The Hon. the' Prtmier- kindly promised me in March last that a dredge should be here in October, and that a sum of money should bo placed on the Estimates to defray the cost of the work. Three thousand pounds were voted by Parliament for the purpose on the 22nd September, and had reasonable diligence bean displayed the channel would be open for the, Takapuna at this moment. Ah unusually favorable season has been allowed to pass by, and the days are on the wane, but I hope and trust that no further loss of time will bo permitted to elapse before the work ia commencod in earnest. — I havo, &c., T. KiKG, Chairman. ' Tho Chairman said that ho saw Mr J. C. Davics, who came down on tho Taka puna on Tuesday, and he statod that a ' large number of passengers got, into tho boat in order to catch the train. Tho boat got bo full that tho boatmeu refused to take any more on board. This showed that the boatmen were careful. Mr Kyngdon said that tho Chairman's letter explained the matter. Mr Smith said that he agreed with tho letter of the. Minister of Lands, who was Minister of Marine, and at the same time he agreed with the Chairman's reply. Tho sea was certainly calm on the morning in question, but there was a swell on, and as the Minister landed in the boat he considered that the Minister only did his duty in pointing out that there was danger in overcrowding the boats. From tho newspaper that morning he was surprised to learn that there was going to bo a breeze at tho Board meeting over this affair. Tho newspaper also stated that strong language had boon used towards the Minister by the boatmen. Mr Corkill : No ; it said that the mate of the steamer had done «o, and not tho boatmen . The Chairman explained that the position was mainly duo to the dilutorioess of the Government in sending tho dredge up. [The Chairman hero road a letter he had sent to the Government on October Bth last on tho subject]. Mr Smith explained to the Board that the difficulty about the dredge had beon sottled, and the dredge might now be expected at an early date. The discussion then ceased.