WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12379, 1 February 1908, Page 5

WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD

Important Proposals by Chairman

Loan of a Million Recommended

(Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, January 30. The Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, chairman for tho past two years of the Wellington Harbour Board, made an important speech at the meeting of that body this afternoon. Inter alia, he stated that it was absolutely necessary to at once increase the area of berthage and shed accommodation. It was the duty of the Board without delay to take steps to provide the money required to keep the port of Wellington at its present high standard, and to undertake such additional works as would completely provide for the yearly expansion of trade activities.

Mr Macdonald then gave details of various works in hand and required, representing in all an expenditure of .£556,000. In addition to this, he said there v was the pur chase of the patent slip — ,£25,000 — and the cost of reclamation of land, dredging, construction of berthage accommodation, con struction of retaining walls, street formation, interest and contingencies, estimated to cost in all .£100,000; or a total in connection with the patent slip .aad- its de velopment works of not less than £135,000. The negotiations which had been proceeding for some time with the Union Company for the purchase of its inter wt in top Patent Slip Company had not come to a definite issue. This being so, he recommended that, in accordance with the resolution of the Board; adopted on the 6tli cf December last, the solicitors should he asked to proceed at once and give effect to the resolution, which meant the compulsory acquisition of the property andei 1 tho powers vested in the Board. The Harbour Board had a right to feel strongly in Hie way in which it — as the guardian of public interests — had been treated ty the directors of the Wellington Patent Slip Company, and the Wellington Gas Company acting jointly in this Titittp-. Dip Union Steam Ship Copany was quite within its rights in purchasing the ?Hlr.r*>st of the major portion of the jhdreaoMcrs in the Patent Slip Company. He found no fault with them. In addition to the ox penditure to which he had already referred, he would ask the Board to priced at once with the work of adding to the industrial advantages of Wellington, an area of land at Evans Bay, in accordant with the resolution already arrived at. As they were aware, ihis work had/ been v,st]<«ued in consequence of the high estimate ploc< d upon the steep hill sides by many rf thiir owners. This would require lo te rao< with by asking the Compensation Court to ascertain the true values, of t>uch properties. It would therefore be seen jro»n ln's remarks that no less a auin than .£872,836 must be faced as expenditure, to place the port of Wellington during the next three yeans in the position which its rapidlygrowing commerce .imperatively demanded. Parliament should therefore be asked next session for authority to be given to the Board to raise one million for necessary harbour works. This woul<J mean an assured finance— an absolute necessity, if the success of the Board during the past 25 years was to be maintained. Mr Macdonald's proposals will b© considered at a special meeting of the Board shortly. •