MAPUA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 3 January 1931, Page 12

MAPUA

FRUIT SHIPPING FACILITIES GROWTH OF PORT A RED-LETTER DAY Another milestone in the progress of Die Port at Mapua ! Extensive improvements have been made the last few weeks by putting in piles and decking all the open space between the two jetties behind the outer wharf; and building a commodious shed over the whole of the new work and the jetties. A new inspection shed has also been built for the convenience of the fruit inspectors j &s well as a cottage for the use of the Harbour Board’s staff when engaged in' work over here. All this very necessary work will make for ease and despatch in inspection of fruit and loading of vessels in the rush of the fruit season; as well as providing shelter for large quantities of fruit when awaiting shipment. NELSON HARBOUR HOARD THANKED The new equipment was officially opened when members of the Nelson Harbour Board, and a large and representative gathering of the orchardists of the district, were entertained at afternoon tea on the wharf which was gaily decorated with bunting for the occasion. After tea Mr Nottage formally welcomed the visitors, and on behalf of the fruitgrowers of the district expressed their great appreciation of the generous spirit in which the Nelson Harbour Board had met their needs; and also of the efficient way in which the Board s staff had carried out the work, making the new shed, in his opinion, the finest fruit shed in the province. LOOKING BACK Mr McKee, the next speaker, took his hearers back, some 25 years to the veiy beginning of the fruit industry of the district, when,, himself an orchardist at Riwaka, he had approached the late Mr Seddon with a scheme for a Government special settlement to grow apples for export. This scheme not being accepted, he began to make enquiries himself, and decided that the Moutere country was the most suitable in which to establish an apple-growing community. He received much help from the late Mr Kirk, of the Horticultural Department, and also Mr Blackmore; and made close enquiries re rainfall, sunshine, and soil analysis; and as a result he took up a block of Moutere Hills land about 1910 for the purpose of growing apples for export. To-day the fruit from the Moutere Hills was about one-third of all that leaves the country. Mr McKee expressed his pleasure at being present on this occasion, and complimented the Harbour Board on the new shed which he said was worthy of the industry, while the industry was worthy of the shed, adding, with a smile, that if they found they could not deepen the Nelson Harbour, they must bring the Home boats here. FAITH IN THE INDUSTRY Mr Dicker, as chairman of the Advisory Board, had always found the members of the Nelson Harbour Board ready to assist the fruit industry to the extent of their ability. Though they had once been pessimistic they now realised that the fruit industry was here to stay, and was the leading industry of the Nelson province.' The fruitgrowers appreciated what the Boai;d had done. It was a fine shed and , a fipe wharf. Mr Dicker recalled the first, little tin shed at the Mapua wharf a dozen years ago, and contrasted it with the present fine building; but prophesied that this new shed would be to the shed of the not far distant future as the little tin shed was compared with this one. Speaking of Nelson shipments, Mr Dicker said the Advisory Board felt that it was not in the interests of the growers to forward any except pre-cool-ed fruit from Nelson, as the accumulation of fruit and delay involved led to deterioration.

MR' BLANCHE’S SERVICES Mi* Dicker spoke in appreciation of Mr Blanche’s services as wharfinger, saying that in Mr Blanche the Harbour Board had a most enthusiastic official. Mr Davey, Government orchard instructor at Mapua, wished to thank the Harbour Board, on behalf of the Department, for the improved facilities provided for the Department's officials in the carrying out of their duties. These had been considered in detail., ' An apology having been received from Mr J. L. Brown for his unavoidable absence, Mr Parker was next called on. He said the Federation was very pleased to see the shed up. here. TheyJbad brought more supplies over this wharf this year than ever before; and it was Mr Blanche who had enabled them to do so. His services were highly appreciated. Mr Parker thanked the growers for the way they had supported their own organisation. It had been a record year. NELSON LOADING? Mr Brunt was very pleased to be present as shipping supervisor. For the past three years it had been necessary to take fruit over to the packing shed and cool store, when the wharf shed space was filled, giving extra handling and cost. He expected this would not be necessary this season. The Anchor'Company had also procured two new boats suitable for fruit. They hoped to reduce transhipments, which were costly, and Act ttiib Moment^and Patent it In Patenting act on th 6 moment. Any delay and others may forestall you, and you may lose a fortune. Consult us confidentially. Henry Hughes Ltd. (Directors, W. E. Hughes and J. T. Hunter), Registered Patent Attorneys, 214-217 D.I.C. Building, Wellington. Local Agents: W. Rout' and Sons, Ltd., Hardy -st.

to cut out Saturday loadings this season. 'l’hoy did not feel there was any advantage in shipping fruit through Nelson until they could load, in Nelson for all the destinations to which fruit was shipped. There was quicker despatch through Wellington. On behalf of Mr Carlyon and himself he wished to compliment Mr Blanche on the good work he was doing. The Federation wished to co-operate with the Harbour Board and the Anchor Company. Mi' Brunt stated that 107 exporters shipped through Mapua an aveiagc of 2.700 cases each. Mr Blanche said ho was one of the most pleased men to be present that afternoon. In looking back, and noting all that the Harbour Board had done for the port, lie felt that the industry had justified the expense, and the port had justified the expense. The Harbour Board was fully alive to the needs of the industry and of the port of Mapua. At the present rate if increase, there would be three-quarters of a million cases going through Mapua in five years’ time, ihe Harbour Board always gave lnm a good hearing whenever he had gone before them with a good case, lie had got IUU per cent. This time it was 125 pei cent, what he asked. PRODUCTION INCREASING Me Forsyth, called on by the chairman as “the man who gets things done, remarked that a point jiossibly overlooked was that if possibly half our fruit came to be shipped through Nelson, in a lew years there would be just as much fruit as ever shipped through Mapua. Ine most optimistic of them hardly knew yet what these orchards were equal to. Ihe orchardists had gone through years of difficulty and struggle, but they are lioping the “corner” is not far off now. When a change of feeling was manifest and men begin to have faith in the industry, as evidenced in the improvements there, it cheered the growers. They welcomed very heartily the representatives of the Harbour Board present. NELSON HARBOUR BOARD IN REPLY

Mr Gould, in rising to speak, apologised for the absence of Mr Duncan, chairman of the Harbour Board, and expressed his appreciation of the gathering that afternoon. It gave the Board great pleasure to hear that the work done had been so very necessary, and so much appreciated. He gave figures showing that the Board had spent' up to 1926 some £3OOO on this port, with very little income from it. Since that time over £4OOO had been spent, which was conclusive evidence that the Board was keeping its eye on the needs of Mapua. The Board had not found' it necessary to come over frequently as. they had a very capable representative in Mr Blanche. Jt had been remarked that it was hoped this wastlhe beginning of greater things ; the Board,hoped so. too. As the industry , v " ! et&nded i the Board would keep up with the needs of the district. Mr Gould warned the growers that if they shipped most of their fruit through Wellington costs must go up. It was not impossible to deepen the Nelson Harbour, or to extend cool stores and wharves, but growers should put some direct offer to the Board. If the charge had to be put up, it would not be in a vindictive spirit, but only because of loss of revenue. He wished all present a happy Christmas and New Year.

The chairman of the gathering, Mr Nottage, said in regard to Nelson loading, it was the Control Board’s job to consider the greatest number of shippers. If the Control Board could put up as good an offer to Nelson Harbour Board as to Wellington, then our fruit could be shipped as well from Nelson as from Wellington. A scheme of harbour improvements was of the utmost value to growers.

Mr P. Coutts, on behalf of the growers. wished to thank the Harbour Board for their presence that afternoon, and also for the very fine shed they had given them.

Mr J. Glasgow, on behalf of the visitors, thanked the ladies for the hospitality shown that day. He contrasted it with a visit he paid to Mapua thirty years ago, when only one family lived in the place; and when lie knocked at the door the lady mistook him for a tramp, and feeling nervous shut, the door in his face. At the conclusion some nice cool stored apples of the Tasma variety, contributed by Mr McKee were handed round.