THE RONA BAY WHARF.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1904, Page 6

THE RONA BAY WHARF.

TO THE EDITOIt. Sir, — I was greatly pleased, to learn that the Harbour Board has at length decided that a ferry wharf south of Day's Bay had become absolutely necessary in the interests of the general public. I much regret, however, that at Thursday's meeting of tbc Board it was decided (not finally, I hop<_), to adopt the Fabianstreet site. Grunting, as I do, that the Board has gone to a great amount of trouble and borne expense before arriving , at this decision, I hope, Sir, it is not too late to point out once more the very serious objections to the site chosen, which are apparent to myself and to many others who are even better qualified to express an opinion. In the first place, let me state that the Fabian-street site is exposed to all the prevailing winds, which are north-west,! west, south-west, and south-eaet; thti north-west and west winds blowing over the harbour for a distance of six or seven miles; and those who, like myself, have takeft careful observation of the force of the sea at this point during a gale, can fuUy see the grave error which would be> committed by erecting a wharf there. With a southerly _ wind a wharf of the proposed length would be seriously exposed to the full- force of the open sea, and in any gale, from whatever quarter, vessels would be in very considerable jeopardy, indeed. There would be many days in almost every month when it would bo difficult or impossible to land passengers, in which case the residents under the new conditions would be worse served than at present, for the sake of saving about 200 yds. It has been granted that a mistake was made in the erection of the Seatoun Wharf, but this mistake is as nothing compared with the mistake which will be made in erecting a wharf at Fabianstreet. Seatoun and Karaka Bay wharves are not exposed to the full force of either wind or sea, the very reverse being the cafe at Fabian-street. It was some time ago decided that members of the Harbour Board, accompanied by experts, should .visit the locality, choosing a time (say, in bad weather), when they could come to a well-advised decision as to the most suitable site. This has not been done;*for, although such a visit has been made, the weather at the time, or times, has not been such as to afford a true comparison of the values of the respective sites. The site at the northerly point of the beach has always been considered by those best able to judge, and more especially by the fishermen and old sailors of the 'listrict, as the best ; and as between this and the site chosen there is in point of safety a wide difference in favour of the former. There are- members of the Harbour Board who are perfectly cognisant of these facts, but who have i hot apparently impressed their ideas on other members who are not so well posted. | One word more : Would any fisherman or yachtsman anchor off Fabian-street, or would not he, and does not he, in breezy weather, always anchor just immediately south of the reef? The Harbour Board has its duty to perform to the public, not only in tho way of public convenience, but, which is of far greater importance, of public safety. — I am, etc., 3UURITAI. 26th November, 1904.