FISHERMEN'S WHARF

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 108, 3 November 1926, Page 8

FISHERMEN'S WHARF

PROPOSED ISLAND SITE

MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS VISIT THE SPOT.

The Mayor and a large number of councillors took a short sea trip this morning, and after sundry minor mishaps—for the bay was trifle choppy— landed from the dinghies provided by Island Bay fishermen upßn the island to look over the proposed offshore site of the fishermen's wharf. The suggestion, briefly, is that a bridge, probably of the suspension type,' should bo thrown from the mainland at West Beach to the nearest point of the island, an overall distance of 500 or 600 feet. It is not a new suggestion at all, for it was inquired into by the late Mr. W. H. Morton and reported upon as less advisable than a mainland jetty scheme. The main difficulty1 is the same old difficulty, Finance, and though as yet no plans have been prepared or, estimates taken out, sums of £10,000 and £15,000 were freely mentioned. On* or two real enthusiasts doubled those figures, but all those sums were rather guesses than estimates. It is not suggested that the full distance of 500 feet or more should be bridged by a single span, 25 to 30 feet above water-level, but that approaches and shorter spans should reduce the main distance to 100 or 150 feet. Possibly it may be found that the suspension type is neither the most economical nor advisable, but that question and the taking out of estimates are mattersfor expert consideration. The wharf itself will, if the scheme is found feasible, be constructed on the north—the most sheltered —side of the island, probably' just about the point where a narrow sea creek divides the high portion of the island from the low rocks'on its western side. It would be possible to work almost any fishing boat in this position in any weather, and certainly heavy southerlies would never reach this point. Now that the councillors have been over the ground they will be in a better position to lay down the council's policy upon the matter, which policy ivill naturally be guided largely by tho advice of the Government experts as well as of its own engineers. As the island is at present its beauty is not extreme. The sugar loaf is very steep and talys climbing, the lower parts of the island are rocky and rough, but there is no doubt that if a bridge ever docs go across to the island the bay will have added another very real attraction, for there is something about getting on an island-* even if-it is by a bridge—which gives an afternoon another interest, particularly if there is a cup of tea on the island, and the tea kiosk would almost certainly be there.