BAYSWATER WHARF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 9

BAYSWATER WHARF.

NO PERMANENT SHELTERS

DECISION OF THE BOARD

HARBOUR BRIDGE POSSIBILITIES

In view of the possibility that a harbour bridgo may be constructed in tho not. distant future, the Auckland Harbour Board definitely declined yesterday to bring the shelter accommodation on the Bayswater Ferry Wharf up to the standard of that provided at Devon port. As a temporary measure the board decided to transfer the shelter shed on the Kohiniarama Wharf to Jiayswater. and to make the central fence on the wharf windproof, at a total cost of about £l5O. It was staled that the full permanent scheme would have cost ill GOO.

The, proposals adopted were those of the Works Committee, which had considered a request from the Takapuna Borough Council that more shelter be provided.

When the committee's report came up Mr. A. H. Greenslade moved that the £J6CO scheme be adopted instead of the one recommended. He said that Bayswater deserved the same treatment as Devonport. It was the gateway to Takapuna, which, had a population of 6300. The borough was growing rapidly and the building permits issued in the past 12 months represented £IOO,OOO worth of work. The wharf was a permanent one and deserved to have permanent structures upon it. Mr. 'J'. B'oodworth seconded the am end-

mcnt. The chairman, Mr. M. 11. WynyarJ, said the board's engineer had prepared three schemesi (1) to cover the whole wharf at a cost of £1600; (2) to erect a canopy shelter, 30ft. wide, for the full length of the wharf, at a cost of £900; and (3) to transfer the Kohimarama waiting stage at a cost of £l5O.

The last-named building measured 50ft. square, was only five years old. was in good repair, and could be transferred bodily. ]t was proposed also to improve the central fence at Bayswater.

The Works Committee had decided that while the harbour bridge was under discussion it would be foolish to erect permanent improvements at Bayswater. The new Devonport Wharf was on an entirely different footing. When it was begun a bridge had noL been previously considered. The board believed at that time that the Devonport Ferry Company was an established concern, which would continue to run services for many years—as possibly it would in any event between Auckland and Devonport. Bayswater, however, was much nearer the site of the proposed bridge, and most of its ferry traffic was drawn from Takapuna, several miles away, which would certainly make for less use of the Bayswater facilities if there were a bridge. The Devonport Wharf, on the other hand, was right on the shore of a thickly-settled

aica. Mr. E. Aldridge: Does the board seriously consider the construction of a bridge as an imminent possibility? Mr. Wynyard: I will not answer that. (Laughter.) The amendment was lost on the voices.