INNER HARBOUR

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 74, 21 March 1933, Page 7

INNER HARBOUR

REQUEST BY MR. JULL BOARD NOT IN SYMPATHY A suggestion by Air A. E. Jull ,AI.P., that the. dredge Apiti should be recommissioned immediately to do some dredging at the junction of West Quay and the Iron Pot, was not viewed favourably by members of the Napier Harbour Board yesterday. Mr Jull said that the suggested dredging would enable the board to make full use of the facilities of the West Quay, while it would be in the interest generally of the users of the port. Air P. F. Higgins: It would cost something to put the dredge into commission and carry out the amount of dredging you referred to. Wo haven't the finances to do the work at the piesent time. It is not urgent just now, nor is it even necessary. The chairman (Mr T. M. Geddis): The board is watching the position, and in the meantime the Inner Harbour is being worked, although there is a. little difficulty. While the fine weather lasts, the board is being saved expenditure which it will be able to use when dredging is made necessary. Air J. C. Bryant: How many people would it serve 1 Air Geddis: It. affects chiefly the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ No. 1 store. Air Bryant: Anybody else? Mr Jull: Yes, the general users of the port, because it would make available a lot of extra accommodation and relievo the congestion at the Tron Pot. The railway along the West Quay belongs to the Railway Department, which runs the meat there without any cost to the board, while to take it 1o Nelson Quay it has to bo shunted at a cost to the hoard. Loading meat there reduces the space available for the loading of wool. I submit that the extra cost of hauling to the Nelson Quay, and the waste of time would he as great as putting the Apiti on to do the work.

Mr L. Stephenson: I would support Mr .Tull’s suggestion if I thought there was anything permanent about it. A fresh may occur in th<* river and the work done wouldn’t last a week. Mr Harris: It might last for years. Mr Stephenson: There is nothing urgent obout it while the fine weather lasts. The hoard then proceeded to discuss other questions in the works committee’s report.