HARBOUR BOARD MATTERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17397, 7 October 1918, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD MATTERS.

RIVER CHANNEL BOGEY

REPLY TO THE INGA CANARD

ANSWER TO OTHER CRITICS

The Harbour Board stood on its dignity on Friday even ing, and with its back to the wad spiritedly defended th e honour of the por.-. Several important matters came up for consideration, ihc first arose over the depth of the river, introduced, bj- the recent letter from Mr. G. D. Stone, manager of Itie Gad Works to the Borough Council. A deputation from tile Council, consisting ol' the Deputy-Mayor (Or. G. Snriggeus), and Crs. Dust in, Burnett, and L"i niton and Mr. S'ono, waited on the Board. The Deputy-Mayor explained that they had not conic to complain iind find fault v, hh the Board, but Iveause Mr. Stone had written the Council in regard *o tlio state of 11 to river, whie.-i prevented the Inga from coming to the coal wharf and so necessitated th« discharging <.«: some of hpr coal at Castlecliff. Thi s meant greater eosP. and would mean the increase in the price of gas if it could not be remedied.

Mr. Stone explained what the Captain had told, him about there being not enough water in the river. He required at least Ofi- 6'in. The Captain said he was prepared to substantiate his claim.

Cr. Burnett emphasised what a seri©ts matter it was to "VVanganui for the sake of the reputation of the Harbour and for financial reasons. Th c coal bill was £80,000 more this year than last. To unload at Castlecliff meant 4s. per ton extra.

Crs. Dustin and Liffiton jiko spoke, urging the nece^.ity of deepening tin river.

Mr .Bas-ett suggested that masters of ship s were magnifying the difficulties because they preferred to unload at Castlecliff, where they could discharge much more quickly and then slip away without waiting for the tide. The Chairman of the Boaul, Mr. A. G. Bignell, said that if the position were as stated by the Captain of the Inga, the position would be very sen. ous, but. Captain Melnlyre, who was a very reliable man, had sounded before the Inga went up the river and found that she had at least 18 inches under her keel. Three days later, on ji falling tide, and drawing lljf't.. the Ngator'o had been piloted up the Channel by Captain Mcintyre himself, without any trouble whatever. The facts of the matter were the captains preferred to go to the Heads because they could save time there. It was quite unfair that Mr. Stone should make such a state, ment tc the Council on such flimsy audi

]ii'.s.-ed evidence. It should not have been mad c public. He had told Mr. Stone before the letter riinio before the Council that the statement was wrong. ■If Captain Bull had dragged on^ the flats he was not in tlie Channel. There was no difficulty in the Inga going to town with v heavier load of coal than she had last- time. It was quite unfair *mj blame the Channel. Siich statemencs wotiid injure the port, for it w=is not what we knew here that counted, but what others outride- believed. Captain Mcintyre, Mr. Bignell -repeated, would take ships like the inga up tho rive:1 without difficulty.

Th ( . Deputy-Mayor said there was no doubt something in what Mr. Biguell had said. He, however, should not blame Mr. Stone. Ir was the Captain who ,-hoM.ld be conrsured.

Mr. Eignell said Captain Bull hsul nothing to do with the river. Considering that ho OJV. Bignell) had told Mr. StoiU' that the statement was incorrect, it was quite wrong of Mr. Stone, to publish it, knowing it to be incorrect.

Mr. Stono, in ivply. said that his lettor had then gone forward to the Council,' but he rang up Mr. Bignell as an net of courtesy. The contract stipulated that tho t'o.al had to be delivered at the gasworks wharf, and when the Captain of the Ingfl refused, it had to be reported to tin; Council, with the Captain's reason He (Mr. Stone) was not prepared to fay who was correct —McFn_ tyre or Bull, but Captain Bull was prepared to stand by what he had .-aid. I' what Mr. Bignell said was correct, Captain Bull would b e forced to com-' pV with the specifications.

Mr. Bignell: If tho Inga- wants to come in drawing the same as the Xgatoro, Captain Mcintyre should be employed as pilot. Mr. Stone: lam glad to have that assurance.

Mr. Bignell repeated that he was only relying on what the responsible officer had said. Ho was sorry Mr. Stone had been misinformed and made the state, ment he had. The nVtts were in thesame state, now as for years past. As the. result of the flood, there had been some shoaling, but that was being re-

moved

The deputation, after the nsual felicitations, then withdrew.

Tho Board decided to send a reply to the Council that when the Inga wishes t-.: com c to town on a certain draught the pilot is available to take her up the Channel.