TUTUKAKA OR NGUNGURU?

Northern Advocate, 20 March 1931, Page 2

TUTUKAKA OR NGUNGURU?

SHIPPING- FACILITIES COMPARED

SETTLERS* MEETING- SUGGESTED,

Whether Tutukaka or Ngunguru is vli o more suitable com l to for a wharf was discussed at the Whangaroi Harbour Board meeting on Wednesday. At the January meeting of the board Mr Fraser was instructed to investigate conditions in the Ngunguru harbour, He reported as follows to the meeting yesterday: “The storekeeper at Ngunguru, Mr Shoebridge, made a request that a wharf bo built on a, site about half a mile from the river entrance. Mr Shoebridgo’s proposed eite is a good one, but it is distant only two miles from Tutukaka harbour, where the settlers are still agitating, with every justification, for the construction of a new wharf., It is quite evident that if a vessel were called upon to run to a wharf at both Ngunguru and Tutukaka, on the existing volume of imports and exports of those districts, the duos which the board would necessarily levy to pay for interest, depreciation and upkeep of the wharves, together with the cost of running a boat into these places, would represent prohibitive freight charges. For three-quarters of a mile from the entrance, the Ngunguru River carries a low water depth of about 5 feet, and further up the channel the depths vary from 3 feet to 7 feet. Little change has taken place in this river since it was first surveyed by Mr N. O. Phillips, second master of H.M.S. 1 Buffalo, ’ in the yfear 1837. I beg to report that, as direetied, and accompanied by yourself, I visited Ngunguru on 6th inst., when the question as to whether any further shipping facilities were necessary at that place was gone into. It was ascertained that the three iron beacons and two wooden leading marks situated near the entrance of the river, which were erected there some years ago by the Marine Department, are not yet in need of overhaul. Capt. Patterson, the only shipowner trading to Ngunguru, states that he does not require any navigation marks beyond those mentioned. The provision of a wharf or landing place, situated about half-way between Ngunguru and Karipaka, designed for the loading of fireclay and coal, etc., and the receiving of manures and general goods direct from Auckland, was considered, but on consulting the settlers interested, it appeared that the project was not warranted at present,** A table compiled by a settler showed those who Would be likely to use ani tipper wharf ' between Ngungurii and Kiripaka, and their requirements in tons.

'Captain Hammond, of the Northern Steamship Company, wrote 4 that the provision of wharves did not seem to, bo warranted at both Ngunguru and , Tutukaka. Most settlors apparently lived in the vicinity of Ngunguru, which also had a store. Capt. Hammond suggested that the people of Tutukaka and Ngunguru should hold a meeting, / which the company's Whangarei agent could ..attend. The engineer said that the landing suggested by the.fireclay suppliers was too far up the river to be of use to the people of Ngunguru itself. The chairman said there was a diffileult bar at Ngunguru, which made the exit in bad weather extremely tricky, whereas ships sometimes sheltered in Tutukaka. Good linking roads were being provided as far as Matapouri, and Ngunguru and Tutukaka were only distant pi miles. The harbour board could not afford any heavy expenditure for provision, of wharves, and now that the settlers of Ngunguru and Tutukaka understood the position he thought the next move should come from them. Upon them rested the responsibility of. putting up a strong ease. The matter was held in abeyance.