THE RAILWAY WHARF.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 322, 17 January 1879, Page 2

THE RAILWAY WHARF.

? TENDERS TO BE CALLBD FOR IMMEDIATELY. This morning a deputation consisting of. his Worship the Mayor, Councillors Xogan, Thompson, "Allen, Young, and Dlxon, with Mr. Baird, City Engineer, and Mr. Graham, Town Clerk, waited upon the Hon. Mr. Macandrew, Minister for Public Works, relative to the proposed railway wharf. The Mayor said the object of the deputation was to point out the necessity for increased wharf accommodation in Wellington. Every day the want was felt more tad more, and about ten days ago even steamera could not find berths, while several sailing vettels were lying out in the stream. Bad the Corporation succeeded in obtaining power to reclaim the To Aro foreshore they would have built a wharf almost immediately, but they had failed to obtain that power. Even the brea9twoik, at which small vessels laid, was now only used on sufferance, as it was really Government property, and the Corporation could not run a wharf out from there. Mr. Macandrbw said he did not think any difficulty need arise from the Government owning the breastwork. Could not a wharf be built there ? Mr. Graham said a bill with that object in view was introduced into Parliament, but was thrown out. Mr. Macavdrbw said be did not think the Government rights need stand ia the way. As to the railway wharf, Mr. Blackett had already prepared plans, and tenders would be called for as soon as the spndficatlons had been prepared — that would be within ton days or a fortnight. There were materials on the ground to the value of £7000 or £8000, aud there was nothing to binder the work being proceeded with as soou as the specifications were out. Still, that would not suffice for the rapidly t tftftwlng wants of the city, and the Corpoß|9on should not relax their effort* to findnstill further accommodation. The Government had been fully alivo to the Motion of the town, and the necessity for tho milway wharf, and it was only extreme presiwre oi work which had prevented the plans being prepared before. At the request of Mr. Thompson, Mr. Macandrbw laid on the table the plan of the new wharf. This showed, directly opposite the Government Buildings, a small triangular reclamation for turn-tables, &c , from which the wharf will bo carried out to a distance of 650 feet, the width being rather less than that of the present wharf. It runs almost at right angles to the existing wharf, In nearly the same direction as tho cross T's, and has provision for arms running out like the fork of a tree, with inner branches, but this extension is not to be carried out at once. The deputation, after examining the plaus, thauked Mr. Macandrew and retired.