ISLAND BAY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 4

ISLAND BAY

AND THE FISHING PROBLEM REPORT BY TOWN CLERK At last night's meeting of the City Council, the town clerk (Mr. I). P. Norman) presented an interim report ou island nay and the problem relating to the fishermen. The report was as follows “Reef Islet or Tapu to lianga is a reserve administered by the City Council as a Domnin Board under the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908. The ejection of a bridge connecting the island with the mainland capable of carrying motor trucks is an expensive project, and it is very important to ascertain whether it is an ausolute necessity for the abatement of the tish nuisance; if not a necessity, then its erection should not be decided ou until it uau be justified by an adequate return. The proposed aquarium could only bo built on the island if the bridge were constructed, but the maintenance of the aquarium would absorb the money collected from visitors. The number of fishlug boats around Wellington licensed by the Marine Department is 65, and of this number 22 operate from Island Bay, 9 from Petone, 6 from Lyall Bay, 5 from Makara Beach, 5 from Ronu Bay, 4 from Seatoun. 3 from Wellington, 2 from Day’s Bay, and one each from Worser Bay, Karaka Bay, Marital, Breaker Bay, Shelley Bay, Hutt River, Ohiro Bay, Evans Bay, and Palmer Head. "The abatement of the nuisance caused by fishermen’s nets on the beach, and portions of decaying fish lying <n the foreshore, cr in dinghies, will require the building of a small wharf 50ft. long, and approach n the island, with cleaning benches and dessication; in addition the council must have control of all the sheltered water in the vicinity os that nothing can be done thereon which may create a nuisance. To prevent fish being brought ashore, exposed in dinghies, and thus causing a nuisance, it would be necessary, to bring in a by-law enforcing the use of approved fly-proof boxes or containers nt all times. These boxes could be brought round daily to the city wharves in one of the fishing launches, or, if 'the weather is top rough, they could be brought ashore by dinghies to a new set of small steps to be built near the esplanade. Whether any works are put in hand or not, fish should not be exposed to dust and flies and containers are a necessity in any case. “By providing also a small slipway for. fishing vessels, the traded would be attracted, and a revenue assured. However, under the Harbours Act. 1923, no dues can be imposed on fishing vessels, and this includes docking and slipping dues, so that the return should be obtained by leasing portion of the island to the fishermen, allowing them the use of the slipway, etc., in accordance with the City Council by-laws (to be formed) an annual rental of <£3oo would justify an outlay of at least £33W. It should be noted that the Harbour Board make no charges for fish taken over their wharves for local consumption. Before anything can be done it would be necessary to obtain an Empowering Act giving the council full control of all that area whether covered by water or not, and lying within, say, a radius of 2500 ft. of the highest point of the island with all the powers of a harbour board. “I have consulted the city solicitor as to all points of law involved, and would recommend that the necessary powers be obtained, and that plans and estimates be prenared at once for slipway, wharf, cleaning benches, dessicator, hanging areas for nets, and steps <m the beach, due regard being paid to the possibility of a bridge being eonracted and cool chamber built later, and nothing planned which would interfere therewith. ’’ The Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) said he hoped that the Health ancL By-laws Committees would seriously study the report submitted by the town clerk, which brought them nearer to a solution of the problem than they had yet been. , Councillor H.. D. Bennett said that if the council was going to expend such a large sum as 4)25.090, the fishermen should be prepared to contribute somethin-’ annually for the facilities which would he provided. The fishermen had suggested £5OO. , The Mayor said that the Town Clerk had been endeavouring to obtain an estimate of tiie value of fho fish which was being brought into flic city by the fishermen, and as far as he could ascertain the value to the fishermen was SOTOOII a year. The town clerk advised that the work nt Island Bay should not be undertaken unless ihe council could see that the expenditure was justified. It would be for the Finance Committee to go into the matter, and the subject could be discussed when the question had been thoroughly looked into.