THE PATEA BREAK WATER.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 10 July 1914, Page 2

THE PATEA BREAK WATER.

Its Early History

We are indebted to . an esteemed correspondent for the following int*r» eating particulars with regard to the early history of the local breakwater. In February 1878 the following gentlemen were elected members ’bl the Pntea Harbour Board : -Messrs G F Sherwood, John Milroy, Samuel Taplin, WAG Wiochcomb, H Wil* liamson and J Gibson.

In the following May, Sir John Coode arrived in Patea and '.went up the river as far as the eel weirs. Sir John, after a thorough examination expressed himself as favourably ira. pressed with the river, believing that it had very great capabilities. The foundation stone of the breakwater was laid on June 14th by Mr Sherwood, chairman of the Harbour Board. A close holiday was observed in Pataa and a largo crowd attended the celebrations. In the evening a 0 mnty Ball was held in honour of the event. The following were p esentMr and Mrs Sherwood, Mr and Mrs B Dickson, Mr and Mrs W Govern, Mr and iMrs Fraser, Mr and Mrs T Haywood, Mr and Mrs Hastie, Mr and Mrs Kenworthy, Mr end Mrs E E MeEae, Mr abd Mrs J Nicholson, Mr end Mrs S Taplin, Mr and Mrs R C Tennent, Mr and Mrs W A Winchomb, Mr and Mrs W Wilson. Dr end Mrs Warren, Mrs Ballam (Waverley), Mr 8 Dixon end Mrs 8 Davidam (Whenuakura), Mrs Tingey, Miss Ooutts, Miss Drake, Mies Dasent, Miss Newing, Mies Parsons, Misses Turner (2), Miss O’Rourke. Messrs H E P,Adams, G F Bayly. H Ooutts, Dr Croft, 0 and B Dasent, J Dawson, J and G Ginger, A and 0 Hutchinson, 0 Hargreaves, D M Harris, W Hume, F Lukis, R Hook. Lsslie La’shley. J McLean, 0 H Monck'on. E D Norris, W Newland, Norman, H 8 Peacock, W D Powdrell A R Pye, H Shaw, Oscar and Albert Symes, J Thompson, Thomas Turner, 1 B Tregear. P Wilson (Whenuakura). and W L Weiss. Mr B E Mcßae was M.O, and the music was supplied by Mr Knight (piano), _Mr Dixon (violin), and Mr King (piccolo). It was a brilliant success.

In the following month 400 yards of rubble work had been completed and the channel straightened some* what in the manner in which it ap pears at the present time. The whole work was to consist of a'breakwater 600 feet long, tenders for which had been invited the previous January, Mr Thomson being engaged as Engineer to superintend the carrying out of the work.