HARBOUR AT AKITIO

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12750, 24 March 1914, Page 8

HARBOUR AT AKITIO

IF SETTLERS ESTABLISH FREEZING WORKS. Press Association.—By Telegraph. PONGAROA, March 23. The matter of a port for the coast has long engaged the attention of Akitio County settlers. Two harbour schemes were suggested—one at Aohanga 18 miles from Pongaroa, and the other at Akito 21 miles away. At Akito there is a good surf landing and over 500 tons of cargo was landed last year. The Hon. Fisher, Minister for Marine, and Mr Holmes, Chief Engineer, visited both sites. Yesterday the Minister received a deputation of supporters of both schemes. Mr Holmes considered Aohanga impracticable. It would cost £40,000 to make a harbour there and he stated the locality is similar to Patea. Mr Fisher made an important announcement to-day regarding Akito, propounding a scheme in the direction of a wharf 900 feet long which would do away with the surfing wharf and it would be under the shelter of a reef. Mr Fisher stated that Mr Frank Armstrong, who owned the foreshore, had offered to vest the whole of the land in the Department if the scheme was gone on with. The wharf scheme would cost £1,5000. Mr Fisher said there was fine anchorage for big liners at Akitio and the wharf scheme would be granted on condition that the settlers subscribe £OO,OOO to establish freezing works at Akitio. It was not reasonable that Government should put a port if they did not get the trade of the district. He believed the money could be subscribed and he urged settlers to get to work at once in order that provision could be made on the next Estimates. The settlers at present drive their freezing stock very long distances to the freezing works or the railways and sooner or later freezing works must be established at Akitio. Messrs Sykes and Escott, M.'sP.. expressed hearty approval of the scheme. Mr Sykes said he believed Wellington Harbour Board ;ui<l th« freezing company at Waingawa

would be agreeable to establish work« <it Akitio. The Minister's announcement was received with considerable applause.