FREEZING WORKS SITE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6490, 17 September 1915, Page 4

FREEZING WORKS SITE.

Experts Visit Tauranga.

In pursuance of arrangements made between the Harbour Board, Borough Council, Chamber of Commerce and Farmers' Union, delegates representing these bodies, at the invitation of the first named, eratarked on the launch "Sybil" at the Town Wharf on Tuesday morning, and proceeded to the railway station at the Mount to

meet Messrs Powdrell, Cresswell and Stevens, the experts selected to advi c the farmers of the Bay of Plenty as to the best site for the proposed freezing works. The party consisted of the following gentlemen: —Colonel Warf\ Mesn-3 Green, Adam°, Lowe. Sharp and Taylor. The Mayor, and Chairmen of the Harbour Board and Chamber of Commerce were unable to bo present for various reasons. The visitors arrived by the (.).<is a.m.

train from Te Puke and were accompanied by Messrs G. W. Brown, E. J. Day, Martin (Whakatane), Gill (Te Puke), and C. McNaugh'-on. Scarcely had introductions been performed when heavy rain set in, which besides being very uncomfortable, necessitated the intended proceedings being very much curtailed.

Briefly-Mr Powdrall explained to the delegates some of the more important requirements ;n deciding the site lor freezing works, among them being the following:—Proximity to a railway, a deep water frontage, with <J0 to U5 feet of water, accessible to ocean going steamers, a copious supply of pure water not less than 500,000 or 600,000 ga*llon3 a day, ground which lent itself to the gravitation system of handling the meat, good s*ock paddock, easy access from main roads, etc. There were very few places in the Dominion, Mr Powdrell added, which gave really ideal sites, but the object of himself and his colleagues was to try and find in the Bay of Plenty the site which had as many as possible of the desired characteristics.

The site which had been set apart by Government.- north-east of the railway line, was dismissed at once as unsuitable, partly because it was too far from the shipping point, partly because it was too flat and law-lying, but mainly because it necessitated all trie products being conveyed across the railway line from the works to the shipping.

The party walked along to th? rising ground at the extreme south end cf the railway works and the delegates seemed to consider that if the works were to be established on the;harbour the only site would be on Maire ridge, when terminates ori the harbour on the big white sandhill known as "Maketu Mound." Many questions were asked and answered about depths of water, dhtance to deep water, method of obtaining fresh water, etc., and the party then returned /to the railway wharf and embarked on tha Sybil, where as many as possible took refuge from the pelting rain in the cabin, where some light refreshments had been provided by Mr J. G. Green.

The boat was then hoacled for the entrance and various matters in connection with the harbour and the work of the Harbour Board were explained to the delegates by Col. Ward, Chairman of Committee. At the North West rock, the direction of the line of exploratory borings was indicated, and its bearing on the future development of the harbour pointed out, but as the discomforts of a heavy swell were being added to that of the rain, it was decided to return to town.

On arrival at the Town Wharf, the party temporarily separated to obtain dry clothing, and reassembled later at the Club, Devonport Road, where maps and charts were produced and studied until 1 p.m. when an adjournment for lunch at the Star Hotel wa3 made.

After lunch work was resumed at the Club, the party being augmented by a considerable number of town and country folk interested in the matter in hand. A fairly general discussion of many points lasted over an hour, and some other possible sites around the harbour were brought forward, only to be dismissed from consideration by the experts on one ground or another. At length, when these gentlemen signified that they thought they had obtained all the informatio they required for the present, a unanimous request was made that Mr Powdrell should give an address on the freezing works question generally. After some hesitation Mr Powdrell complied and an adjournment was made to tbe billiard room, where some 30.0r 40 farmers and others assembled. Col. Ward was voted to the chair and an address which lasted about three-quarters of an hour was given by Mr Powdrell and listened to with the greatest interest, and a report of which will appear in a future issue of this paper.

At its conclusion Mr 'J'olleinache moved a very hearty vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation, a similar compliment being paid also to the three experts combined, for their thorough and patient study of the problem set before them.. All three visitors responded and without exception spoke in the highest terms of their belief in a splendid future before tbe Bay of Plenty, whose fertility and climate had greatly impressed tkem during their tour.

Mr Stevens later in the day returned to Te Puke, being desirous of seeing more of some portions of that district,

and Messrs Powdrell and Ch?ssv?ell proceeded by the s.s. Nj;apuhi u> Auckland, where they desired to gather Force additional c%ridence from shipping circles relative ti facilities in the Bay of Plenty for shipping frozen meat by lightering or otherwise from the various ports.

Before separating here tin* thrac experts held a brief conference at tbe office of the Secretary, Mr H. J. Day, of whose services they expressed the greatest appreciation; ihey decided. we understand, to hold a further meeting at Wanganui at an early date to deliberate and form their report, end iri the meantime explained that, of course, they could give no indication sa to the lines their report would take, or the nature of any; recommendations they might think fit to make.