The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-07-21
COMMERCECHAMBER
'C0MMITTEE REFUSES
TO ENDORSE WHARF
Maritime Affairs Auxiliary De-
cllnes To Advise Shipowners
To Dock At HiIo
QUESTION OF SAFETY
NOT FINALLY SETTLED
After Discus zion Matter Is Laid
Over Pending Reports On In
yestigatio1srin Progress

hnAreport of the maritime affairs com
miftee Of the chamber of commerce
presented at a meeting held yesterday
afternoon on the KuhiO (Hilo) whari
matter, declining to advise general us'
Of the wharf at present by steamship
companies, was filed without action
During the discussion which FOLLOWED
the reading of the report, II wal
brought out that the chamber In due
time will be in possession of more in
formation regarding currents which art
supposed to make the wharf dangerou,
atf times, now,
~ The fling of the report was on mo
fion of +. J. Lowrey, seconded by Ed
Towse, with instructions 10 the secre
taFy that copies be sent to the super
intendent of public works, who is also
chairman of the board of harbor com
missioners.
Tsrritory Brings Matter Up
II was a letter from the superintend
ent and chairman, Charles r. Forbes
that brought the matter up, Forbes
better having asked the chamber to use
its influence to cause steamship com.
panies to use the Kuhio wharf. The
report is as follows:
(" Under date of June o the board of
harbor commissioners through its chair.
man, Mr.. Forbes, forwarded to the
ohamber of commerce letter referring
70 .Kuhio wharf. EE.f
!" Briefly this letter stated that the
board Of harbOr commissioners had
cOtnpleted wharf at Kuhio Bay, Hilo.
which met all requirements for safely
end adequately embarking and disem-
barking passengers and loading and dis
charging freight, and requested the CO.
operation of the chamber to the end
that Kuhio wharf be patronized by YES.
sells trading ut the port of Hilo. Ac-
companying this letter were several
reports Of the harbormaster and pilot
at Hilo to the board of harbor com
missioners describing the condition ex.
4sting during some of the times when
vessels were moored to Kuhio wharf.
Before Directors Of Chamber
This letter was presented at the
last directors meeting of the chamber
and referred to the maritime affairs
committee for such action as the com
mittee deemed necessary. The mari
time affairs committee held a meeting
on Tuesday, June 20. The result of this
meeting was that your committee deeid-
cd to call an open meeting of the com,
mittee for the following Tuesday, June
N, at which time representatives of all
the various steamship companies would
be invited to present their views. A
letter 70 this effect was sent to the
Cfucials of the American n Hawaiian
hteamship Company, Matson Naviga-
tion Company, Great Northern Pacific
3teqmship Company, Inter Island Steam
Navigation Company, Ltd, Union Oil
Company, Associated Oil Company and
Standard Oil Company.
This meeting was held as stated
with full committee present: also
Mr. Walron, representing the Great
Northern Pacific Steamship Company:
MT, Petrie and Mr.. Drew Of Castle 4
Cooke, agents for the Matson Navipa.
ton Company; Mr. Mclean, vice
Pfefident Of the Inter Island Steam
navigation Company, Ltd, and Mr..
Morse, member of the committee as
ehe representative of the American.
Hawaiian Steamship Company.
shipping Men Make Statements
iFyF The reports of Captain Mosher,
harbor master at Hilo, had been read
by the members of the committee prior
10 the meeting
asst Mr.. Waldron, Mr.. MOrse. Mr.. Drew
and Mr.. Mclean made stateme nts be.
fore the committee in the order men.
toned, and letter was read from the
agents of the Union Oil Company,
signed by Mr.. Van Valkenburg.
The Standard and Associated Oil
companies did not respond, apparently
mot being interested, as Hilo was not
q port of call for their vessels.
d y These statements and the reports
Of Captain Mosher having been dis
cursed, your committee submits it's
cpncinsions for the consideration of
The board Of directors as follows:
I'D At the present time the wharf
does not offer a safe berth under all
uQnditions Of weather, there being un
der certain conditions of wind and sea
ap undertow at Kuhio bay affecting
Ihe safety of vessels moored alongside
KuhiO wharf.
Lighting Facilities Inadequate
. f--1z) The enamel and bay have not
had proper lighting facilities to allow
vessels to depart in safety from Kuhio
Nharf until after range lights were
put IN operation, June 30, 1916.
't(3) Under certain conditions of
weather the nndertow is such at the
|kohio bay wharf that it does not. on
evidence submitted, permit of safe
nooring Of vessels alongside.
go Under the law, the master of
vessel is held responsible for the
'efety Of the ship, cargo and passe n
gers. Marine insurance is issued on
his definite understanding, aud as |
natter Of practise agents and owners
cave this matter entirely in the hands
Il the master.
90 The wharf today is not com
lleteiy equipped TO handle freight |
With despatch.
~ From the above it will be noted
Int yonr committee findings do not
gree with the facts as stated in the