The Queenstown Bay.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4264, 26 May 1936, Page 5

The Queenstown Bay.

PROPOSAL FOR PROTECTION OF SMALL CRAFT. A meeting of owners of power boats and other small craft was held in in Mr J. S. Royd’s shop on Saturday evening last. There were about eight present. Major Mackenzie was voted to the chair. Tiie purpose of the meeting was to discuss some scheme to provide greater protection against the weather for small craft anchored in the bay. Mr A. F. CriHin introduced the subject by referring to the lack of suitable mooring for power boats and motor launcdies, etc. The present arrangements were very unsatisfactory because there was insullicient protection from rough weather conditions. Major Mackenzie said he had long recognised the need for greater protection for small craft from the prevailing winds. It seemed to him that adequate protection could only be obtained by constructing a wall across the entrance of the bay, leaving sufficient room for navigation purposes. The Bay was the front entrance to the town of Queenstown, which they could rightly claim as one of the principal tourist resorts in the Dominion. The increase in small cralt in the bay in late years was creating a problem in respect of proper shelter and as time went on the necessity for protection would manifest itself to a greater degree. Major Mackenzie also referred to the shoaling that was going on round about the present jetties and wharf, making it difficult to navigate the steamers and moor smaller craft. The wall suggested by him would end for all time the menace that small craft was at present subjected to. He submitted that they must take a long view of the matter. It was a question ol national importance and in such case he thought that the Government might find in such undertaking an outlet for the employment of men on public works jobs or as a relief measure. The work would probably cost several thousand pounds and they had men and material on the spot. Mr J. S. Boyds said that local people did not seem to realise the possibilities in the smaller type ol craft, but he believed that if better conditions could be brought about a greater incentive would be given to put more boats on the lake. Messrs J. Fraser and A. Griffin spoke in support of the scheme. The latter stressed the value of Queenstown as a tourist resort and he thought that anything that could be done to improve the water conditions for swimming' as well as for boating would add to the attractions of the town. The esplanade was a popular resort but it could be made more so were there more life on the Ijay. He suggested that they might enlist the help of the borough council in the matter. Mr W. U. Warren, speaking on behalf of the Regatta Club, said that the wall would prove an obstacle to the outrigger events at the Easter regatta—ln reply it was suggested that the races might be shortened. Mr W. H. Overton said he did not think people realised the asset they had in the lake. In latter years the borough council, with the assistance of the Government, had greatly improved the foreshore by retaining walls. The idea of a wall at the entrance of the bay was a good one, but it would be very costly and the advisability of undertaking such a work would lie largely with the Public Works Department. If the said wall would stop the drift of sand the Council at least would not experience the difficulty of their drain being silted up. He agreed that anything that could be done to improve their national asset would be a move in the right direction, and in view ol its local importance he considered that some financial assistance should be solicited from interests concerned, including local bodies. It was resolved to wait upon the Minister of Public Works when he comes to the town after the session of Parliament and make representations to him on the lines indicated. It was also resolved to write the Queenstown Borough Council, the Lake County Council, the Queenstown and Southland Progressive Leagues asking for their support. It was decided to ask Mr S. Aburn to make a report on the feasibility of the scheme.

A vote of thanks was accorded Major Mackenzie for his attendance and interest in the matter.