COROMANDEL NEWS IS IT NEEDED?

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32795, 27 November 1946, Page 10

COROMANDEL NEWS IS IT NEEDED?

NEW WHARF AT COLVILLE DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL POWER BARGE FOR COLVILLE When the question of the building of the new wharf at Otautu came up for discussion at the November meeting of the Coromandel County Council a new development occurred, a letter being read from the Strongman Shipping Company which stated that a new boat was on order for the Coromandel run, and a powered barge had been ordered for the Colville trade. The new barge, stated the letter, would be able to drop settlers cargo along the coast and use the present Colville wharf—thus making it appear unnecessary to spend any money in providing better facilities at Otautu. Wharf For Lime Works Cr. A. J.. Denize: “ What about the lime works ? We’ll still want the wharf; we’ve been let down completely, but others will use it, and we’ll be forced to make other arrangements. Antiquated ideas going back to landing stuff on the shores, like scratching up pur gardens with 'a bent stick in the old days. I suggest putting the £2OOO profit from the sale of the Hot Water Beach buildings to the credit of Coromandel, Te Kuanga and Otautu wharves. There will be no difficulty in getting settlers to help if you go in for a big scheme in Coromandel.” Cr. W. Hamilton said that he was fully convinced that they required a

new wharf at Colville. “ The Te Kuanga wharf was one of the best things that happened in our district,” he said. “ Fancy, in weather like this, lugging manure up the beach. I’m going to support it for all I’m worth.” Cr. A. Watkins: “ I’m going to support Cr. Denize wholeheartedly and I hope it will be finalised today.” Against The Idea Cr. H. C. Bull said he was against the idea. He could not see where it was going to be any use spending all that money if the wharf would never be used. “The present wharf is all they need,” he concluded. Cr. T. E. Simpson: “It’s not only what is desirable —is it essential? If cargo can be unloaded at the present wharf what is the use of building another one ? ”' ; The chairman, Cr. Deeble: “It all comes as a bombshell to me. Mr Strongman was going to send his new boat; now he says he is going to have a barge to use the present wharf. I suggest the wharf could be done out of loan moneys. We could use our money and repay out of loan, the same with Te Kuanga. Now, if Mr Strongman’s boat is not going there why go to the expense of building another wharf. Are your ratepayers agreeable to having the wharf included in the loan proposals ? ” Stormy Interlude A stormy interlude occurred , between Crs. Denize and Bull at this stage. Cr. Watkins asked if he might speak—without any hot air. He said: “ We’re too prone to scrap all we’ve done. Just because of what Mr Strongman says, we go and scrap all we have done.” Cr. A. M. Winstone: “ I’m sorry to have been humbugged around—-to put it mildly—but I don’t like being one of the imbeciles at this table (alluding to Cr. Denize’s remarks). “I’ve been under the assumption the new boat was going to trade there. We should go into the matter thoroughly under the new light that has been thrown on to the question. At this stage the clerk, Mr J. H. Lucas, read a letter written by Mi Strongman in 1944 in which he stated

that he would not be able to take his new boat to Colville to the present wharf, and suggested if a wharf was ■built at Otautu he would be able to go there with the new boat. Councillor’s Suggestion Cr. Denize: “ I regret I got heated, but that letter Mr Lucas has just read led us to go as far as we have, and to considerable cost getting out plans. Now you suggest we scrap all plans just because Mr Strongman has changed his mind. Am I going to get the support of the council if we can get some other company to trade to the new wharf? ” Cr. Simpson suggested putting the matter before the Colville ratepayers. It was finally decided to call a meeting of ratepayers at Colville, the chairman to put the whole matter before them.