TAUBANGA HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17696, 3 February 1921, Page 6

TAUBANGA HARBOUR.

LOAN AT 5| PER CENT.

LOCATION OF THE WHAP.VES. [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN COXXESPOITDEST.;

TAUKANGA. Wednesday.

A meeting of the Tauranga Harbour Board was held yesterday. The superintendent of the State Advances Office advised that the precedent consent of the Governor-General-in-Council had been obtained to the board's loan of £125,000 The request of the board for permission to sell debentures at such a figure as would produce 6 per cent, to the investor had received consideration, and it ■was decided that the return to the lender should not exceed 5J per cent. The board resolved that the matter of raising the money be referred to the Finance Committee.

It was decided that Mr. J. Blair Mason, consulting engineer to the board, be authorised to prepare a plan of the board's proposed works at the Mount, and confer with the chief engineer of the Public Works Department with the object of harmonising the Harbour Board's scheme with that being prepared by the department. The condition of Victoria Wharf was discussed, and the matter was referred to the Executive Committee to have repairs effected, or, if it deems it advisable, to call tenders for the sale of the structure, which i' now used only for the shipment of cattie. The board decided not to grant permission to remove buildings from its reserve at Fraser's Point

At a conference of local bodies, including members of the Harbour Board, held yesterday, strong representations were made by borough and county representatives that the permanent wharves should be located north of Victoria Wharf. Mr. Blair Mason said he did not see any difficulty in shifting the wharf further north. Taking the plan as approximately correct, there should not be much difference in the depth of the water. The space available north of Victoria Wharf was about the same as in front of the Strand, and that would continue until close to Mission Point. So far as placing the wharf between the present site and Mission Point was concerned, it would be quite immaterial from an engineering point of view. He could not state definitely the difference in cost until he had completed the survey on which he was now engaged, but he was quite in sympathy with the desire to have the wharf shifted north of the present site, and he hoped his plan would show the board that the cost would not exceed that of placing the wharves on the site already selected. The conference adopted a motion trusting that on further investigation it may be possible to change the position of the wharves to the north of Victoria Wharf. A motion was also passed urging the Borough Council to appoint a committee to co-operate with the Harbour Board in negotiating with the Public Works Department in regard to the location of the wharves. The Harbour Board later considered the matter, and decided to authorise Mr. Blair Mason to confer on the subject with the engineer of the Public Works Department, and report to the board.