THE NEW GOVERNMENT WHARF AT ONEHUNGA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2393, 22 March 1865, Page 5

THE NEW GOVERNMENT WHARF AT ONEHUNGA.

Among the recent improvements at Onehuuga is the new Government "Whaif. In compliance with the wishes of a large number of tho inhabitants, his Honor the Superintendent at tlie close of last year determined to eauy out this work, and it is now rapidly approaching completion. In compliance with the report of the Government Engineer, the north-east point of Geddes's Basin was chosen as the site ; and it was at ranged that the inner or land side of the wharf should bo constructed of stone. Messrs. Kelly and Dmmovan obtained the contract for this pait of the woik, which, by the beginning of this year, they completed in the most creditable manner. Prom the stone-work, it was decided to run out about 200 feet of wood-work, with a T at tho end on piles to reach the channel, where six feet of water could always be obtained at the lowest tides. Subsequently, however, the fun^s were found inadequate, and a tender was called for 140 feet of wood-woik, by 22 feet iv bieadth. and Messrs. Amos and Co. were the successful tcndcieis. They have now just completed their contract iv a very satisfactoiy manner. The whaif is built 'on the best squared totara piles, and the planking has been laid most caiefully, so as to give the gieatost stiongth to the wLole consfciuctiou. Tho brig ' Highlandei' is now alongside discharging coal, which proves that vessels of large diauglib can come up. It is, however, to Le legretted that the whaif was not ran out to the oiiginal length iuteuded, as now its ouly fault is found to be a want of water at all tunes ot the tide. The deficiency in the funds might easily have been meb by the haibour endowments, which could be leased by bis Honor for teims of three yoars, or by Act of the General Assembly for longer terms still. The valne of these harbour endowments may be estimated fiom the large sums that the land adjacont to the new whai f Las fetched ; and when the commercial piospeufcy of the place is at stake, the cost of GO feet of wharfage ought uob to staud in the way. It is to bo hoped that the Government will look into this matter, and that early steps will be taken to forward the wishes of the shipping population of Onehungai