IMPROVING THE ENTRANCE.

Patea Mail, Volume XXIX, 4 December 1907, Page 2

IMPROVING THE ENTRANCE.

THE EASTERN WALL

TO BE EXTENDED 200 FEET,

At yeatorday's meeting of the Patea Harbor Board the Chairman in moving his notice of motion that tho Eastern Wall be oxtonded another 200 feet, said this matter had been before the Board on several occasions and members had asked when the Eastern Wall would be oxtendod. He had always advised them that tho question should be held over until it had been definitely ascertained how r<he Western Wall v/ould act, Up thought thit the time had arrived when the Eastern Wall should bo extended, He had gone into the matter and after considering the plans and specifications prepared by Mr Leslie Reynolds, and consuiting with Mr Dowdswcll he was of the opinion that the wall could be ex. tended for 200 feet for £IOOO ami possibly under that sum. Ho had interviewed the Board's banker who had agrocd to give thetu an overdraft for £2OOO for this purpose. The revenue exceeded the expenditure by £IOOO a year B.Ud with careful management this amount could be put asido for the purpose of

extending the wall. It would take nearly two years to completo the wall so that they could count on two years revenue. There were two reasons for going on with tho work at once. It was imperative that the two walls should run out for nearly the same distance. Sir John Coode advised in his report* that the Western Wall should not be allowed to overlap tho other by more than 150 feet. It was noteworthy that those Harbor Boards that had followed Sir John Coode's advice came off best and he instanced Westport. At present the Western Wall overlapped the Eastern Wall by some 400 feet. One of the effeots that this had was that the river did not scour as it should. In the past the experience had beon that the river waa invariably deeper than the bar, but since the extension of the Western wall they found that the bar had materially improved but that a sandspit had of late formed near the entrance to tho river. He quoted from Mr Eeynolds' reports as to the advantage to be gainad by the extension'of the Eastern Wall. Mr Eeynolds' estimated the cost at £22 per foot, but Mr Dowdswell, who had practical experience during the building of the Western Wall, considered it could be done for under £2O par foot. It had been suggested that the big rocks near tho wreck of the Aotea could be utilised in the construction. The second reason for urging that the work be proceeded with straight away was that the plant at present at the Heads would not improve with age, and if they deferred the commencement of the work they might find that they would be put to the expense of procuring some new plant. The work had to be done sooner or later and he held that in the interest of the port it was advisable to start at orice. He moved the motion standing in his name Mr Eossiter, in seconding the motion, confessed he would have liked to have seen a little more daylight thrown on the financial position. He quoted from Sir John Coode's report in favor of tho schema and said he would like to see the work proceeded with at once as he was satisfied it would improve the entrance and add to the trade of the port: Mr Pearce moved an amendment that the question of extending the Eastern Wall be postponed until the dispute with the railway department over the wharf repairs was settled. He agreed with tho Chairman- that the extension of the Eastern Wall was desirable but he thought that the Chairman entirely failed to make the financial position clear. He said the Bank would give an overdraft, but it should not be forgotten that they .could also give notice to pay it off. At present the Board had liabilities amounting to £9OO and they must not lose sight of the fact that they might be called upon to increase the wharfage accommodation. If this was so they could not devote their surplus revenue to the extension of the Eastern Wall. He thought it would bo a great mistake to start the work and then have to stop when they had only 100 feet completed. They ought not to do anything until they were in a financial position to carry out the wall for at least 200 feet, in fact it would be better if it were taken out another 50 feet after that. He would be prepared to vote to start the extension at the next meeting if the Chairman could procure a settlement of the wharf dispute. Meeting after meeting the Board had been told that this would be shortly settled and it appeared as if they were as far off a settlement as ever. He oontended that tha whole affair should have been settled long'ago, and thought at the present rate of progress it might be used as a will-o-wisp at the next election. He considered the Board would not be acting in a sensible manner if they proceeded with, the work till the other question was settled. Mr Johnston seconded the resolution.

Mr Davidson differed with Mr Pearce that the finances would not stand the strain. Mr Pearce had taken into consideration the liabilities but not the assets. He advocated proceeding at once with the work as they would improve the river and increase the trade. Mr Sutton said he would support the resolution. If they adopted ft policy of waiting till the railway dispute was settled and other money oame in they might have to wait a very long time before they made a commencement. It was their duty to improve the river and to do so they must riot be adverse to spending money. Mr Johnston said all the Board wanted the improvements to be carried out but he thought that the railway matter should be settled first. Mr Deane was in favor of proceeding with the work as long as the finances were in good order, and it was the chairman's business to know this.

The Chairman, in reply, said if the

entrance was not improved a certain amount of produce which should coma through Patea might drift to Moturoa. It was no good sitting still and they must continue to improve the port and the only way to do this was to extend the Eastern Wall.

The amendment was then put and loatl ! Mr Pearce, in speaking to the resolution, said he was very sorry to notice that the Chairman had avoided any reference to finance. All the members agreed with the wisdom of extending the Eastern wall. He brought forward his amendment with the hopes that the Chairman would explain more clearly the financial position. .The proposals made might place the Board in a curious position and might force them to stop the works when only half done. This would be a very detrimental step. The railway question could be settled he thought in a month. His amendment was not to the effect of stopping the works at the Heads but to accelerate the speed bv making the settlement of the railway wharf- question imperative and thereby improving, if the hopes of the Chairman were realised, the financial position of the Board or at the worst make it perfectly I clear what funds were available.

Mr Sutton pointed out that Mr Pearce's complaint was only over a very small matter involving a liability of £4OO. Thin should not be allowed to stand in the way of improvement. The Chairman pointed out that in their last Harbor Bill there was provision to borrow £SOOO.

Mr Pearce : But you have got to get it,

Tho Chairman: Yes if wo can get it. Continuing, he said he hoped the work could be done without borrowing this amount, but he wished to point out to Mr Pearce that the Board had the power to raiao this amount. Mr Pearce contended that if the Board let a contract for the extension of the wall they accepted liabilities of £5300 with no assets.

The Chairman opposed this view and pointed out that if they let the contracts they did not anticipate that the work would be finished for two years and consequently the Board would not be liablo for the full amount of the contract til] after that period. It was also reasonable to set off the revenue that would be derived during those two years. After further argument between the Chairman and Mr Pearce as to the finances the resolution was put and carried.