PATEA HARBOUR BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 7 September 1926, Page 5

PATEA HARBOUR BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the ordinary meeting held yesterday of the Patea Harbour Board there were present: Messrs A, T. Christensen (chairjjwui), J. R. Corrigan, W. H. Watkins, • A,. Pearce, A. Hodge, anil A. N. A\ illiams. REPORTS.

The dredgemaster (Mr. A. Mercer) reported: Since last meeting. 3426 cubic yards of silt have been dredged and deposited at the mouth of the river, the work being mostly done at the grader wharf and at the viaduct. A day was spent in snagging in the vicinity of Pulley’s wharf. After carrying out- minor repairs on the dredge, a be noon was re—erected at- tlie hencLs. Assisted Captahi Tinney to sound the bar and the river. The poorest sounding obtained .showed 3tt. Gin. more than the tide gauge, which registeied Sft. 6in.

The harboui master (Cnptaiby Tinhey) reported that the channel over the" bar was straight,” with good water on jtlie bar and between the walls." Soundings taken on September 6 .showed 12 feet between the walls aud 13 feet' on the bar, with 8 feet- 6 inches on .the tide gauge. There should be about 14 feet on the bar and 13 feet between the wails at high water spring tide, and about 9 feet between the walls and 10 feet on the bar" at high water neap tides. There were 14 arrivals and Id departures and 6 went out on the lights. Soundings in the river this morning showed a. great improvement, the only shallow place being down by Pulley’s wharf. The chairman said the master’s report wa.s very .satisfactory. . Mr. Corrigan said it. was gratifying -to knew all was in good "order at the beginning of the- season, for it would help the meat and dairy industry. Mn regard to dredging, the chairman said that this had been well done. In reply to a. question lie said that the dredge was not working above the bridge or the viaduct. LOCAL BODIES LOANS BOARD BILL. Mr ED. G. Dickie, M.P., in reply to a request- to him to oppose the Bill, advised that it was designed' to assist local bodies with expert advice and) to protect ratepayers' against schemes where estimates were purposely made low in order to carry a poll and l where further large sums were afterwards necessary. He referred to the scheme adopted ‘by the board some years ago which, if put into operation, } would ‘have spelt disaster to. the port. Mr Holmes, engineer-in-chief, had refused to pass the plans, and a comprehensive scheme was finally adopted. He added that, i'f such a scheme had been submitted to a board such, as Was proposed! in the Bill expert advice' would have been available gratuitously, and indeed the board’s services would be available as a. preliminary before any scheme was placed before ratepayers. Mr Dickie added that he .did not ap-

nrove of the clause .prohibiting a: local body .applying to the board for 12 months after the refusal o.f consent to a proposal. He said he considered it a ‘workable measure. He added also that" he noticed Patea was in favour of an advisory committee being set up, aud hoped for such aw amendment when the Bill was in committee. He thanked the chairman and members for their. comments, and Said! their suggestions would be placed before the House while the Bill' was in committee. Appreciation was expressed "by members at the care and * a ttention bein g' given by Mr Dickie. IRONSAND. Inquiry had come from San Francisco some time ago in regard to. operating at Patea in ironsand, and) a series of questions were _ asked l and answered. These were of interest, and - are quoted as below: Population of Patea, 120 Q (1926 census); principal

industries, butter,- cheese- and - meat. The harbour would' accommodate steamers up to 200 tons, and 1 there are wharves necessary to accommodate them. It is a river and open roadstead. Rail rates for iron and steel Patea. to Wellington, manufactured 59s yd, unmanufactured 49s 4d, (by ship 22s 6d). aud to New Plymouth 39s 9d and 31s; and by_ship. 15s. Tlie nearest coal deposits were Westport, 200 sea miles distant, at about 40s per ton ; lignite and bituminous ooaL were also available in .both island's. The nearest limestone quarries - were at Toko, about 25 miles away. Electrical energy was available., at Tariki, 40 miles away, and there was local power, hydro and l Diesel engine, with 200 h.p. available. This latter- had' been established about 20 years. A largo power scheme: would! be available In the near futui'C. The nearest- ironworks were in the South "Islandi, • 200 miles away. In regard "to wages,. Is lOd was paid for unskilled! -.-and 2s 3d for skilled 1 workers,. The foreshore was . vested in the Crown, and' extended to New Plymouth.; and for 40 miles southof Patea. In regard to other matters concerning mines, coal and general information, .the. clerk .advised that he Had written to the Publicity, andi other departments for the information? Which would" be forwarded as requested. It was left to the chairman and secretary to finally send replies. STRATFORD RAILWAY. The Stratford Progress League; wrote asking the board to assist it in an effort .to secure larger grants' for the Okahakura ’ railway, from . Stratford. The board was asked to co-operate with the league in a deputation to the Minister of Public Works (Hon." TC V S. Williams) when he visited' the district.. Mr Corrigan endorsed' the appeal, - and said the new line would be. a most useful one. It was not a lengthy section, hut it was a very difficult, hilly route. It was agreed that" the chairman join, in the deputation.