PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVIII, 10 May 1910, Page 5

PATEA HARBOR BOARD.

1 MESSRS LEVIN AND CO.'S APPLICATION. At Monday's meeting of the Rp.tea Harbor Board a letter was received from Messrs Levin and Co., shipping agents, Wellington, thanking the Board for the letter of the sth inst. conveying the information that the Board had decided to offer them the site applied ! for, which was for the purpose of erecting a warehouse on, for lease of 21 years, renewable on conditions that were being prepared to submit to the - firm. They trusted that the conditions as to a renewal of the lease would be such that they would be acceptable to the firm. The Chairman (Mr G. V. Pearce) said he had a few remarks to make on the question, and also to report having met Messrs' Pearco and Mcwbray, the firm's representatives. He said he was rather surprised on returning from Auckland to find such a resolution had been passed by the Bqai;d as at last meeting. He had previously attended the wharf with Mr Chisholm (company's representative) and pointed out all the sites available with wharf frontage. At that time he had informed Mr Chisholm that in his opinion the Board would not offer the site which had been partly earmarked to put their own shed on if- thought advisable. Continuing, Mr Pearce said ho had approached the railway authorities fo as to get the land referred to for the Board's requirements, and it would look too bad, almost like a breach of trust. \ if they leased it. The firm's representatives had expressed the opinion that their firm would not tender for the site under review, as it was entirely unsuitable to them. A place was wanted so that none of the goods would be stored above the water. The site further on near tho grading works would probably suit Levin and Co. A store for kerosene was also wanted by the firm, but he pointed out the objection to having such a store near the wharves. He was then informed that the company could get a section further away from the river. Mr Sutton said he saw Mr Chisholm on Saturday, who had stated that Levin and Co. had secured a place at the rear of the station and would build there. Mr McKenna referred to outside talk havina 1 been that a majority' of tho Board would be against granting the particular site to the firm. It seemed likely that tho site would suit the firm, and if tho Board had not offered it at that particular moment the chances wore ihat they would have built at Waiitara instead, where they had a very I good offer. I Chairman : That is entirely contradictory to what I said. Levin's representatives (Pearce and Mowbray) stated distinctly that whether the Board wished to gi v © that site or not it was no use to them. Mr McKenna replied that at the kist Board meeting Mr Chisholm had said that the site would suit them. 'In reply to queries the Secretary said no tenders had been received for the site in reply to tlie advertisement, also that th# Board's last communication to L^vin and Co. had not been answered. 2*o further action was taken.