THE NEW CHATHAM INLANDS WHARF

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21121, 23 March 1934, Page 9

THE NEW CHATHAM INLANDS WHARF

TO TIE IDITOR Or TH» r»»<=*. Sir.—The much-boosted new WaiI tangi wharf has been opened to traffic \ informally, and most ingloriously and. ! so far. to the great loss and discomfort of passengers and shippers. For this I result the Chatham Islands County Council is whollv responsible. It has excelled itself on this occasion, when it dismantled the old wharf before the I new one was completed, and thereby i caused no end of expense and inconvenience to local shippers and to the travelling public. Nor had it the ! gumption to transfer its winch and i engine from the old wharf to the new one before dismantling the former, the consequence being that cargo had to be carried from the surf boat to the wharf-head by workmen. This new wharf was opened for pub- ! lie traffic for the first time o\i March ! 1 when some 1500 sheep were passed 1 over it The wharf not being properly i equipped, it was found impossible to I "race" the sheep to the ship, so they I had to be transferred by sling as ' formerly. Then, again, on March 10. ' after having been anchored in the bay I for three days, owing to the wharf not ! being properlv equipped, the Tees had ! to discharge cargo into surf boats, by I which it was conveyed to the landing ' singe of the new wharf. Thence it 1 was carried up a flight of stairs to the wharf-head, the winch and engine being meanwhile marooned on the old wharf, a monument to the incapacity of the local governing authority. Yet the council had been advised by the Timaru harbourmaster what equip- ! merit was necessary: but the council ; ordered less, with deplorable consequences, i This, however, need not occasion ! much surprise because anything may be expected from men who, in the • depth of the depression, could raise the countv rate of one penny in the pound, ' which thev could not collect, to two pennies and one third of :> penny m the pound. And with this new wharf there comes into existence a new scale of wharf charges, very moderate charges. Only one shilling a sheep. onlv live pounds a hundred sheep, as wharfage! But the farim-r was assured bv the more visionary of the superontimists who championed this under- j taking that freights would be reduced bv one-half. I am of opinion that something larger than a hot.-e or cow will now occupy ! the mind, and command the attention, of the nitopavers of Chatham Island ],. a period o'f some ~~ year.-. -Yours. lU A SIIIPPKK. Waitaii"'. Chatham l-laud-.