EAST COAST RIVER SCHEMES NOT FAVOURED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 70, 24 March 1914, Page 2

EAST COAST RIVER SCHEMES NOT FAVOURED

A WH VRF FOR £15.0... (It TKLEORU'H— SPECIAL TO TH3 POST.) PONGAROA, 25th ;vl>vdi. Tho finul decision 01 the Miniver ot Matine ou the subject of the p.-nfozal harbour uoiks at Aobonga ami Akn'io was given at a public meeting to-nigK. The ipsuH of his visit, he snid. Ivl be^n^thot they lega'dec" Aohangi as practically impossible. (something migJn, be done uitli.it it' enough money woia available, but the Government hud not enough money to spend to wnVc &ucl) a port there a.s the advocates, of the Aohanga scheme hoped fu> • Mj . Holmes had advised that the Akitio Rovei was, al?o impossible. Whatever work \ht, (tone would Imo to be <Jojie at the pret'.'iit iincTing o" the beach where tht> old wharf ixl present stood. The proposal Fiie bad to make, aiid he haJ discussed it with sDme of the pleading people of the district who had all looked upon it favourably, was that the Government ;;l>ould make under the shelter of the rt-af a whaif which might be anything up to 900 feut in length. It would do away \vith suifing, and a vessel like the Ripple could como alongside. Mr. Armstrong, of Akitio Station, who owned the beach and landing sheds, had offered to vest the Whole of his property at the landing in the Marine Department if tho Deportment would go on with tho ■vttxrf. (Applause.) That was a very generous offer. 'j*be cost of the work would not be less than ■.215,000, but he would make it a condition if the Government guaranteed to carry out the work, that the settlers in tho district should get thp capital together -which they could easily do, and which eotne of the tsettlers assured him they were cjuito willing to do, for the establishment of a freezing works 01 Akitio. This would enable the residents of tho district to get their fat &toi'loway vv-ithout tho long ->oad a lift raihuiy journey*, necessary now. He "presume! they could put the>\vorke up for £GO,000, and there should be enough isheep in the district to keep the- works running i f they started. He thought that \va> a fair proposal. The works would, he iiuderoloo'l, take two yeaTS to erect, and tho Government would have that time in which to carry out the M-nrk of building^ tbe v/harf. (Applause.) Strong approval ot the scheme was expressed by Mr. fcy'cee, M.P. for Masterton, and air. Esoofct, M.P. for Pahiatua, and tlnee h.?arty cheers we gncn for tho Minister.