COROMANDEL WHARF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21471, 20 April 1933, Page 11

COROMANDEL WHARF

QUESTION OF REPLACEMENT EXTENSION SCHEME OPPOSED [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] COROMANDEL, Wednesday The need for improvement to the existing Coromandel Wharf has recently been the subject of representations by the Coromandel County Council, and a letter from the Minister of Public Works was received by the council to-day. The Minister stated that the proposal to replace the wharf, including an extension of the present road approach by 1500 ft. to obtain an extra 4ft. of water at the wharf, was estimated to cost £14,700, of which £2500 would be the cost of the wharf and £IO,OOO spent on labour, mostly for filling, metalling and stone pitching. The County Council had offered to contribute £2OOO toward the cost of the work and it desired that the filling be done as a relief measure.

The Minister said that a careful review of the Circumstances did not disclose any reason why this large expenditure should be incurred, as the trade of the port was not increasing and the present facilities had met requirements. A new wharf was certainly required, but if the structure was built on the present site this would meet the position and would entail an expenditure of £4OOO. If it was warranted later, a dredged approach could be made. If this were satisfactory, then the Minister would be prepared to make provision for a pound for pound subsidy provided the Government quota did not exceed £'2ooo.

At present there is approximately £2OOO standing to the credit of the wharf account. Mr. W. C. Denize said it would be nonsense to spend £4OOO on a wharf which would be in the same position as the present one. Ho advocated an extension of the ramp to deeper water. The chairman, Mr. B. Dawson, said he and Mr. N. A-. Wells had gone fully into the matter with the Unemployment Board, asking for £SOO free money toward the wharf extension, which would benefit the whole district. They had received a favourable hearing. The sum of money was not large, but it would be a start, and help to absorb a number of unemployed men. So far he had not heard any more of the matter. He was disappointed at the proposal to dredge a channel. Mr. Dawson moved that the engineer's report be obtained regarding harbour facilities at Coromandel and a proper site for the wharf. The motion was carried.