PORT AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 60, 9 December 1946, Page 5

PORT AFFAIRS

WHAKATANE HARBOUR BOARD 81-MONTHLY MEETING The bi-monthly meeting of the Whakatane Harbour jßoard took, place in the County Council Chambers'last Friday. Present were Messrs. W. Pc. Boon (chairman), J. A. Mitchell, A. L. Richardson, C. T. Smith, C. McKenzie, W. Hunter and H. G. Warren. On the chairman’s motion, it was resolved that the Board should convey to Mrs Brabant and her sons, a message of sympathy with her and her family, in her bereavement. Scout Jamboree A letter was received from the Scouts Local Association, setting out details of the world Scout Jamboree to take place in France early next August, and asking the Board if it could offer any financial assistance towards the sending of at least three Scouts from Whakatane at an overall cost not exceeding JBNZ2OO per boy. Both the Chairman and Mr Hunter spoke in support of the proposal, whilst Mr Warren also added his endorsement. It was decided to vote the sum of £lO as a donation, provided it was utilised for the purpose expressed in the letter. Harbours Conference The Chairman reported on the recent visit made by the Secretary and himself to Auckland to attend the Harbours Conference. He intimated that although there was not a great amount of discussion on matters concerning the smaller Boards, it was very interesting to be present and hear the opinions and ideas expressed by the representatives of the larger Boards present. The whole of New Zealand, from the Bluff to the Bay of Islands was well represented, and the Conference was excellently managed. As the guests of the Auckland Harbour Board, the visitors were treated royally, and on the day in which there was no sitting, representatives spent a day oh the harbour visiting many points of interest. The Secretary (Mr C. G. Lucas) then dealt briefly with matters which had been discussed at the Conference.

Rate Struck

The Balance Sheet was received and adopted, and the Estimates discussed. On the motion of Mr Mitchell it was decided to strike the usual rate of fd in the £. Commenting on this, the Chairman added that he trusted that the Board would be able to reduce it in the not too far distant future. The Whakatane Harbour Board, he said, was in a far happier financial position than were many other small Boards.

Electric Power

A communication was received from the Northern Steamship Company Ltd., regarding the proposed supply of electric power to ships lying at wharves. The letter stated that at the present time the Auckland wharf was supplied with D.C. current and as uniform A.C. current was necessary at all ports, the Company would not go ahead until advice was received from the Auckland Harbour Board regarding the reticulation of the Auckland wharf. It was understood that the Harbours Asscoiation of New Zealand was making provision for 25 K.V. but the Company did not consider that their vessels would require more than 6 K.V. It was regretted that it was impossible to give any indication of the average number of units required each ti'ip. New Appointment It was decided that the Whakatane Borough Council should be asked to appoint some qualified person to fill the vacant position on the Board caused by tlie death of Mr G. A. Brabant.

Harbourmaster’s Report

The main question arising from the report of the Harbourmaster, Captain G. Carey, was the matter of working the bar at night. Captain Carey stated that at the request of the master, he had on several occasions, taken the Clansman out at night. On one occasion it had become stuck on the west side of the bar due to the vessel keeping too much to port, and for a half an hour the situation had been rather precarious. He did not wish to work the bar at night, and in this matter, he would like the support of the Board.

The Chairman said that he thought there was enough trouble working the bar already, without performing the operation at night, and if the Harbourmaster did not favour it, then he should have the full backing of the Board. The Board decided to adopt this attitude. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairman extended to members and staff, best wishesjfor the festive season.