WAIKOUAITI HARBOUR

Otago Witness, Issue 1597, 1 July 1882, Page 14

WAIKOUAITI HARBOUR

A public meeting of residents of Waikouaiti and others was held in the Mechanics' Institute, Waikouaiti, on Tuesday evening. Abou 150 persons were present.

Mr Reid (the mayor) was voted to the chair, on the motion of Mr v. Malloch. He stated that the meeting was called to devise ways and means to deepen Waikouaiti Bay, and he trusted that what they did that night would sot the whole wheels in motion. Probably large steamers would soon be coming to Otago, and tho only place that would be able to accommodate them would be Waikouaiti. There was plenty of water in their bay, and all that was wanted to make it complete was the erection of an inexpensive breakwater. He read from a letter in the Star the particulars of a survey made by Mr Swyer, the pro- -4 vincial engineer, in 1862, and added that another ' survey had been made by Mr Thomson with favourable results. In fact, the harbour was so formed by Nature that it only required one touch to make it thoroughly suitable for all purposes of an important harbour. Mr J. Bates addressed the meeting, stating that he, with Mr Pratt and another gentleman, had been appointed a deputation, so far back as 1869, to receive a report from Messrs Dobson, Blackett, and Balfour, engineers, who were appointed by the Municipal Council of Pahnerston to report on Waikouaiti Harbour. They_ stated that they did not find any harbour so suitable for a principal port for Otago as the Waikouaiti Harbour. They referred to the reef that existed, and saw that it was a natural foundation for a breakwater, which need only cost £50,000 or £GO,OOO. The harbour was sheltered from all the prevailing winds, and it had a good sand and clay bottom ; in fact, so good was it that ho believed that one ship which diuppesl anchor thoro had to cut her cable in order to got away. Mr i). Mataooh said ho had a resolution to propose, but before proposing it be would like

to make a few remarks about the Dunedm Harbour Board. Every bag of grain and bale of wool grown in this part of Otago had to go through the hands of the Harbour Board and heavy dues were put upon exports. It was proposed to borrow more money, and those C would be increased I this was detrimental to the interests of settlers, he thought they should make objection. It was proposed to raise £600,000 for expenditure in an eliort to i make- a, deep-sea harbour at Uunedin. There was already there a harbour suitable .for intercolonial and coastal shipping, but there was no accommodation for vessels of heavy tonnage. With the .aid of £150,000 at the most^aikouaiti Harbour could be improved as much as was necessary, and as it was only JwXmrs' sail from the other port-not ment oning rail' communication-it would be ; TdfeSsea larbour for .Otago it must be he thouSt at Waikouaiti; He moved-" That the member for this district in Parliament be requested to ask the Government to get a reSort o?the Waikouaiti Bay, to ascertain the VpSSTcost. and suitability. of the bay as U rde?p-seaHarbour.fovtheProvmcialDistrictof ° $?' J. 'Allen seconded the motion, which was put and carried unanimously. "^Mx Mallooh then suggested that a copy of • the resolution should be forwarded to the dis- ,«" member by the' Mayor, and that the • Sough Council should look after the matter. WORSHIP undertookthat this should be There was some discussion about, appointing the opinion/that j ■ what required to be ■ done now was prmcipalLy 109 and that A £ ould *? Tht^SS takenVtheßorough. Aftei^Bttey would c be Rlad df the assistance of these gentlemen. . ]R Blaib believed the Government might, >*££%££& tctirman, proposed ; by.iMr W. Di. Sutherland, closed the proceedings.' -',; ' , . -j -'