PROPOSED UAWA COUNTY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14839, 17 February 1919, Page 6

PROPOSED UAWA COUNTY.

HARBOR. FACILTTIOTS FOR TOLAGA BAY. Fountain gazette notice, is now being awaited respediin.g' the constitution of the new Uiawa. County. Questioned onthle subject torday, Cr. El. B. Bolland said that the Subdivision of the ridings had been, agreed upon (providing five ridings and seven, members), and it was anticipated ttinib the first election would take •place early in April. It was probable that there would be no contest with the first, election, but that the representation would be amicably, agreed upon, with' a view to obtaining the beat Council possible to initiate matters. The desirability of the new Council 'being constituted 1 and to fcako over office from Cook County a,s from March 31 had been urpred upon the Government.

Que&tioned regarding harbor matters, Cr. Boland stated that they had received a report from the Marine Department, concerning the report and investigation of Mr. Armstrong, district engineer. Mr. Armstrong's recommendations respecting the erection of a wharf on' the southern side of Tolaga Bay had been endorsed by Mr. Holmes. The scheme provided for the erection of a | wharf, and also a suggested breakwater for protection. • The, wharf was sheltered from all weather but from the north-east, and weather from that direction was seldom experienced. Mr. Holmes thought it would be possible to do without the breakwater, providing similar facilities to those at Kaikoura. The elimination of the breakwater would save the* expenditure of £30,000. The wharf itself would be 600ft. in length, and Would allow of 14ft. of water at [ half tide, and would thus accommodate I the Coastal vessels. There would •be practically no expense of roading, simply half a mile across the flats, the site of the wharf being* fairly close to the town.

• Or. Bolan-d went on to say that it was eslimateid that the saving, of 7s 6d' per bale that had been pa ; .dl for lighterage each' year orn about 6COO bales of wool Would provide more than sufficient to cover tnie cost- of the scheme. Anxious, llowever, a s the Tolaga Bay people were to proceed l with the scheme, nothing could be done until the new County was formed and' steps had been taken ,to have the. Uawa Oounty constituted as the harbor authority and the Uawa harbor d'istrict separated from Gisborne and. diefined. This would necessitate a Bill being passed next session. As /regards the Oisbprne -Tolaga road, Cr. Bolanid said he thought the ntew Oohinty would be in favor of it being metalled from end to end, and in. oixter to avoid being 1 blocked this winter through th© temporary bridge across the Pakai'ae being covered) in flood time,, it had been arranged to open the. old road to Pakarae for light vehicular trafilo for tlie doming (winter. A ©tart was; now being made on this work.