MANUKAU HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13762, 29 May 1908, Page 6

MANUKAU HARBOUR.

CONFERENCE "AT ONEHUNGA. AN INDECISIVE MEETING. Thk conference of delegates from local bodies interested in the formation of a Manukau Harbour Board took place at he Council Chamber, Onehunga,; last evening, when the Mayor (Mr. John Rove) presided.' Mr. F.W. Lang, M.P., was in attendance, while the delegates present were 'Messrs. J. K. Taylor (Manukau-Onehunga Chamber of Commerce), Godwin D. Smith (Papakura, Town Board), S. Hodge (Papatoetoe Road Board), E. G. Ellett (Mangere Road Board), R, Higginsotl (Waiuku Road Board), Vincent Kerr-Taylor '(chairman), and A. Cochrane (Waitemata, County Council), ■A. '' M. Barriball ' (Waipipi Road Board), J. G. Hamilton (Pollock Bead Board), John Brady and F. Lippiatt (Otahuliu Road Board),"c. Bagley (Mount Eoskill Road Board), A. S. Holmes (secretary) and lv (J. Allsworth (Onehiinga and the Harbour Board Committee).

The Mayor, in an introductory address, expressed the opinion that the port of Onehunga had been neglected, and slighted in the. past, while proper facilities were alto gether lacking. Twelve months ago,a representative'meeting had been held, while the Chamber of Commerce had also considered the proposal to establish a Manuka Harbour Board. ' He detailed the steps taken by tho committee appointed to further the proposal.- The port. was, undoubtedly an important' one, for last year no less 'than 42,000 persons and 170,000 tons of; cargo passed in and out of the Manukau. It was now a question of whether the harbour should 1)0 allowed to pass under; the control- of the Auckland Harbour Board, or whether a local board should he established. It was not the intention, if a local board'was formed, to' tax the proposed harbour board area. Mr. 8. Hodge thought that a local controlling body would be .likely to expend local revenue judiciously than would •an outside body. If the revenue was not sufficient to maintain the' port, theu it would be better to allow-the Government to'continue in authority. Personally, he favoured local control. ' The secretary (Mr. A. S. Holmes) then read the report of the Manukau Harbour Board Sub-committee, report of tho revenue and expenditure on the Manukau as supplied by the Marino ; Department, and also the suggested ridings, of the proposed ;Mahukan Harbour district, as follows: — The sub-committee' reported they were fully satisfied that art income of £4317 could easily be'obtained by a Manukau Harbour. Board, which, of course, would increase as time" went on.- The following particulars (approximate) were given':;Vessels-, 470; tonnage, 179,844. ", Income: Wharfage, £1860; ; 'berthage, '■ £1291; \ light ' dues, £416 ; port charges, £250; other' sources, £500: total, £4317. . A return showing the revenue and expenditure on the Manukau on account of the Marine Department during the financial years ended March 31, 1906 and 1907 respectively was also given, that for the first year being as follows: — Year. Kevenue: Port charges. £21110s 6&. Expenditure: ..Salaries, harbour staff, £468; house allowance, harbourmaster. £24; .new beacon, £74 19s Cd; repairs to, dwelling, £70 2s Ad ; stores and contingencies. £116 14s 3d: maintenance. North Headjeading lights, £146 17a 7d: total, £900 13s 8(1.. '; ; The revenue in 1906-7 was £254 14s and the expenditure £749 4s 9d. .This return was only with reference to the harbour, information relative'' to' the Onehunga Wharf, which is under the control of the Railway Department, not being available. The r revenue at Onehunga ! Wharf for the two rears ended March 31, 1907, was £3787-. 14s ,4d,.. and the expenditure £5376 115.7 d. ..,.-.'.:'.,.; : ; v',- - ~,.* .. Ridings of the proposed Manukau Harbour District, showing names of local bodies, including population, number of ratepayer.*, .and valuation, were as follows: —! -, , <£ m ... Name of proposed • _; o>, © Riding- (Local Dis- ■/.. s .'»;, "-g > fricts included). -,',=' 2" '" ~ ! , ■';., '„..-.■ -:•,:';■ , '■■£ '■',' •-« ;."'.', > , £ i Waiuku: Awhitu '-....■-.';.- 416 130 57.056 Pollok • ... 109 22 17,548 ; • -"■ '■' Waipipi ... 1,044 320 197.166 !'.;.'. ...'-. Waiuku ..... 592 220 144,741 ■ ' '•" ,' ;; / 2.161 ■ 692 416,511 l 1 Papakura:. Mauku ... 982 " 143 86,680 !. v Karaka ... ... 314 ' 125 ' 78.049 ■ • Drury :.. ... 453' 123 74,306 Papakura ... 396, 126 70,805 :--.-. Papakura T.D. ..' 352 157 37,421 Papatoitoi ... 188 v 39 > 81.185 •/ ' Mannrewa ... 298 75 57.986 . \ 2.933 788 . 486.520 Otahubu: Mangere... 771 164 336,143 Otabulm ... 1,302 298 162.016 J •■■ Mt. Wellington '450 150 ".- 75.000 .'; ~ : 2,525 603 573. I lit. Koskill: One-tree ! .--■■,■ Hill ... 675 160 155.001) Mt. PiOskill ... '-883 219 244,826 , Avondale ... 175',, 60 , 50,000 Waitemata ... 500 .125 75,000 "i,233 564 '■■ .544,326' Onehunga: Onehunga ' ~.■ ~_*«t e> Borough ... 3,756 675 467,468 • Grand totals ... 13,658 3,322 2.488.484 A long and desultory discussion then ensued, Messrs. J. K. Taylor. Godwin Smith, ! E. Allsworth, S. Hodges, E. G. Elicit, A. S. Holmes, and the Mayor, favouring local control, and desiring a decision as to whether a harbour board should be formed or otherwise.!- Messrs. V. Kerr-Taylor, A. Cochrane, C. Barley, J. - Bradv, A. M. Barriball, J.- G. Hamilton, and R. Higgin"son were not prepared vote, and required further information. Rather than divide the conference it was resolved on the motion of Mr. J. E. Taylor, seconded by Mr. S,. Hodge,. "That the meeting stand , adjourned, until June.,l7,*; also, that the committee, consisting of Messrs. , Allsworth. Taylor, and Holmes, be appointed to secure all the. information possible in the meantime, and, the. delegates to come prepared to vote-on the next occasion."