NEW WHARF AT PICTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15620, 19 May 1911, Page 8

NEW WHARF AT PICTON.

[Per Press Association.] _ BLENHEIM, Alay 18. The first pile of Picton’s new ferroconcrete wharf, the first structure of the kind built by the New Zealand Government, was driven by the Hon J’. A. Millar, Minister_ of Railways and Marine, to-day, in the presence of a large gathering of the public. Before performing the ceremony the Minister delivered a speech. The Government, he said, had been twitted with unnecessary expenditure of publio money and increase of the national debt. It had to do one of two things, either construct public works with borrowed money, or leave them alone. He considered that the Government was justified in granting every facility necessary by reason of increased trade, in constructing the new Picton wharf. The Government was looking to the future, to the day when Picton would become the terminal port of the South Island Alain Trunk railway. No doubt the trad© of the port would, greatly increase in the near future.

The new wharf is 616 f- long, and 68ft "’Me. There will be a depth of 25ft to 30ft at low water, which can easily be increased as requirements demand. The estimated cost is about £35,000, and r° clamatloU and other works £-00,000.

The Alinister expats to see the new wharf working m two years. He mentioned that last year the total number or ships entered inwards or outwards

was 1639, of a total tonnage of 861,518. In conclusion, Air Millar said that he had great hopes for the future of Marlborough. The Alinister was then ferried out to the end of tho wharf, and superintended the ceremony of driving the first pile. He was entertained at luncheon by the Mayor and councillors of Picton, and left for Wellington by steamer in the evening.