BUILDING BOAT HARBOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1932, Page 17

BUILDING BOAT HARBOUR.

ONXJHTTNGA COUNCIL'S WORK,

HARBOUR BOARD DISSATISFIED.

Dissatisfaction with the work of closing the harbour basin at Onehunga and the construction of a boat harbour was expressed by the Auckland Harbour Board in a letter to the Onehunga Borough Council on Monday. The board stated that for a considerable time there had been no apparent progress on the boat harbour, although work was being pushed ahead on the closing of the basin. Authority had been given to the council to remove and utilise stone from the foreshore for the construction of the boat harbour wall, but that stone was now being removed with the intention of using it for the wall across the basin. The board insisted upon the council carrying out its agreement, which provided that the portion of foreshore land asked for be vested in the council on condition that the council leave the entrance to the basin reserve for yachts and launches until such time as the council made sufficient provision for the shelter of boats by extending the wall from the point of land at the foot of Church Street and enclosing a snelter to the satisfaction of the board's engineer.

The Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club also wrote to the council asking when the protecting wall enclosing a boat harbour would bo built. The Mayor, Mr. E. Morton, said the two boating clubs and the Harbour Board had agreed to assist the council, but they had not done so. The basin was a bigger job than the building of the boat harbour wall, and required much more'stono. However, the work had been stopped and the men put on street work. He thought it was a storm in a teacup.

Mr. F. W. Mountjoy hold that the council should never have undertaken work on Harbour Board territory. By doing so it had been drawn into a controversy. It would be a costly job if the council was compelled to proceed with the construction of the wall.

Mr. T. 11. Geraghty contended that it was not the duty of the council to undertake harbour works. Ho moved that the work cease, and that a return of the cost up to date be forwarded to the council. This was seconded by Mr. J. E. Cowell.

Mr. S. Vclla said the council had given the Harbour Board some ground for believing that it was not carrying out its part of the agreement. He moved that the council proceed with the erection of the boat harbour wall and that a deputation wait on the Harbour Board on June 21.

The amendment was carried by six votes to four.