Ngakuta’s Berthage.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1922, Page 4

Ngakuta’s Berthage.

A 25 MINUTES’ DAY

Because she was registered by the Harbourmaster (Captain F. W. Cox) as sailing at 0.25 on April 1, the owners of the Ngakuta were charged an extra day’s berthage, under the by-laws of the Grey Harbour Board. At Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Board, Hr Leitch, manager of the Blackball Coal Company, submitted the following letter to the Board;—“The Ngakuta berthed at Greymouth from March 26 to March 31. The vessel is ,stated to have sailed at 0.25 a.m. on ; April 1 and the company is charged a | lull day for 25 minutes. The tidetable ! gave high water as 0.18 a.m. for April | 1, and the vessel was actually across i the bar right on top of high water. ! did not work after 11.30 p.m. and

■was ready to depart before midnight,! but the time has to be fixed for ten hours ahead, and to make certain of obtaining the full advantage of the tide, this time is made high-water, which, in this case was 0-18 a.m. whereas harbour officials give the time of the Xgakuta’s sailing as 0-2 o a.m. I would be pleased to know if it is still the intention of the Board to ! charge one day’s berthage for 25 minutes beyond midnight.” The Secretary (Mr \V. B. Gilbert) explained that the time had been given by the Harbourmaster at 0.25 and as it wa« beyond the time of the tide, he had no option, but to charge the extra day’s berthage. “We don’t want to split straws," said the Chairman (Mr J. Steer), on : whose motion the matter was referred j to me Harbourmaster for eonsideraI tion.