THE PROPOSED WHARF AT TAKAPUNA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9187, 17 October 1888, Page 6

THE PROPOSED WHARF AT TAKAPUNA.

TO THE UDITOK. Sir,—At the last meeting of the Waitemata County Council, a resolution was passed that in addition to giving the services of the County Engineer in designing and constructine the wharf at Takapuna, the County should contribute one-fourth of the contract price. As is well known, the Lake district is better provided than any other part of the County wich good metalled roads, connecting both with Devonport and Northcote, and I, for one, strongly protest against the expenditure of County funds for the purpose proposed. The wharf is designea, mainly, for the convenience of pleasure-seekers and visitors from Auckland. Surely the urgent necessities of country settlers living in parts of the County where no roads exist should have precedence ! In this district the settlers who for years have been called upon to pay rates both to a local Board and the County have been long agitating for a cart track to connect with the main road, but as yet without effect, although the amount the County are willing to give to the new wharf would probably cover their requirements. To all intent's and purposes the wharf is to be constructed in the interests of the Ferry Company, and the proprietor of the new hotel, who could well afford to build it themselves. Of course it would not be the iirst tiir.o in the history of the colony that public funds have been used to fester private interests, but so long as the legitimate wants of the country settlers are unprovided for, it appears to me the contemplated contribution of the County Council towards the construction of the wharf would be a gross misappropriation of the ratepayers' money.—l am, kc, 11. J. Blyth. Greenhithe, October 15, ISSS.