THE WAINGONGORO BEACH

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 7 February 1914, Page 5

THE WAINGONGORO BEACH

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES

A conference of delegates from ]oca 3 bodies interested in the Waingongor< j beach as a seaside resort for the resi { dents of Hawera and for the settler > • :£ c grounding district, was hel( )• ™ the Borough Chambers on Frida^ • moon- -'-l^e Mayor (Mr A W , tnllies) presided, and there were als< present: Messrs E. Barton, J. Finlav it ving ston (Ohawe Domain Board) • W. Goodland, J. B. Murdoch (Hawer; l County Council), E. Dixon (Chamber oi I Commerce), E. Morrissey (Borougl ' £? c% and *&" B. McCarthy. 1 hJ ayor safd the conference had been convened to enable the various local bodies interested in the Wain^ongorp beach to meet, to see if they could come to some satisfactory solution with reference to improving the beaoh and making it the'seaside resort for the district. The present position was. bad. There were 24 acresin the hand® of the natives, and that had been illegally leased to a European, showing quite clearly that the reserve was not required by the natives ;w aJr— s reserve- It was desired that this reserve should be vested in one ot the local bodies interested as a. seaside resort for the district, and to do this it would be necessary to acquire the land. The Ohawe Domain Board,whose nowers were restricted, had done what it could for the beach, and to enable something more to be carried out the Board would require further powers in the matter of administration, etc The Board should have control or the beach, with a resident caretaker^ there during the summer months; bathing sheds and conveniences should be erected, and a lot done to make the resort a popular one for the people. One of the difficulties always had been in regard to revenue, and as a councillor he would be prepared to ask the Borough Council to give a small subsidy towards a caretaker for the beach in the summer months. Then; again, certain revenue could be obtained from the letting of camn sites. He thought it would be the duty, of the Borough Council to give a small subsidy as he had suggested, % and he was quite sure the citizens of rHawera and those settlers who used the beach would be willing to give assistance in paying for a caretaker there. At the present time the._Hawera County Council had jurisdiction over all the roads leading up to the edge of the y reserve, and he quite appreciated the (very difficult position 1 the County Council were in in the heavy cost they were put to in the upkeep of the particular road from the beach, over which large quantities of metal were carted. He hoped that the revenue now being received from the royalty on the metal would be sufficient to keep the road in order as far as Mr Finlay's prdpeprty. That was all" they could reasonably ask the County Council to do. \Vith reference to acquiring" the native reserve, .this could be done under the Public Works Act. but that would be rather a costly procedure. Under an Act of last ses T sion the Government could acquire the freehold of native land, and this being so it fcbuld secure a portion of the reserve at Waingongoio and vest in the Ohawe Domain Board. He moved—-• "That a sub-committee, consisting of the Mayor, Chairman-of.-.the^ Hawer% County Council, Chairman of : .the Ohawe Domain Board, a»d the: Borough Solicitor, confer with Mr G : V: Pearce.i M.Pi.,' 'and.I1 -Mr; '.'. Wilkinson,; M.P., with^ reference^ to: the desirably ness oft 'thY Government' taking' over the reserve." ■* , ; Mr Livingston seconded -the ivotioii'. Mr Morrissey said, that, as far. us the result went, it was all risht. He was doubtful if the reserve could be secured. He favored the conference considering the advisableness of endeavoring to secure a site at the Waihi beach, which was closer to Hawera, and which seemed to him a better place in many respects than the Waingbngovo, A toad could he made through Mr Pease's property, and he believed that Mr Pease could be, approached in this direction. The Council had approached the Public Trustee! with reference to the y.Waingongorb reserve, but so far had been unsuccessful. : .

The Mayor pointed out that the conference had been convened to consider the Waingohgoro beach, and personally he would be against having anything to do with or spending any money on the Waibi proposal. In taking over the Waingongpr reserve the natives would not be deprived *f their fishing rights, as they would; have the,same right as the white man to fish, there. He must differ from Mr Morrissey as to the Waihi beach offering better facilities as a seaside resort.

Mr Morrissey replied that when the question of the conference was discussed at the Council meeting he raised the point as to the Waihr.beach, and it was then agreed that the whole thing should be discussed at the conference.

Mr Dixon said he had been to both, beaches lately, and he wa6 satisfied that for the Hawera. people there was no beach like the Waingohgoro. If there was only the beach to be considered, then he would admit that the Wami: was the better of the two, but the approaches to this beach were more dangerous than those of the Waingongoro. One of the difficulties to be faced in connection with the present movement was that of obtaining; suitable 6ites at "the Waingongoro fpr building purposes, and he urged on the meeting the importance of getting the sections in the Ohawe township thrown open for selection. In addition to urging upon the Government the | purchase of ,the sections near the .beach, he thought- representations might also be made in the direction of I obtaining 60 sections held by Wangai nui natives, and which, had been lying waste for a- great number of years. Mr Dixon also spoke of the dangerous condition of the road leading to .the beach, and considered a road should be cut through the Ohawe township. Mr Barton suggested that there were other reserves in the locality for which they might negotiate, and thus make a compact little seaside resort. Mr Murdoch asked if one of the Ministers had not been approached with reference to the Waingongoro beach reserve. Mr McCarthy" replied that the Premier had promised to look into the matter. Mr Dixon pointed out that the Premier had distinctly said a special Bill would have to be passed to deal with the matter. Mr Goodland: On what -grounds can the boroufh take the land under the Public Works Act? The Mayor: On the grounds o£ .public health. In the course of further discussion it was mentioned by Mr Finlay that the Hawera County .Council did not have a seat on the Ohawe Domain Board, and Mr McCarthy suggested that this could be remedied by the Board being reconstituted in a special Washing-up Bill. The Mayor's motion was carried unanimously. Mr Livingston said that if tliev could not p;et the freehold they should try and obtain a 999 venrs'. lease. ; Mr Barton thought that the Oh awo i Domain Board should W allowed to | frame by-laws for contr-oiluu: the beach : -^imilar to those in operation at the Mountain House. * ■ " The suggestion v.tk pov,.: .:!< red a .-nod . Ollc ,. and will h.- not- ! by the : <» ■i-?omMiittoe when it interviews •nessrs Pearce and Wilkinson, MPr 6

On the motion of Mr Dixor se -vi- >- ed by the Mayor, it was decided"^ write to the Ohawe DomakT hL% asking if lt would accept the iJJIJ tsi^ *•£*?% On the motion of Mr Goodland & vote of thanks was tendered to the Mayor for presiding.