KAWHIA HARBOUR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6974, 6 October 1948, Page 8

KAWHIA HARBOUR

THE SHIPPING SERVICES STATE OF THE WHARF Speaking at last week’s meeting of the Kawhia Harbour Board, Cr M. W. Coutts said he had read in the Herald that the Holm Shipping Company had stated its inability to maintain a regular ’ service to Raglan on account of the bar conditions there. He thought the Council should approach the local and the Te Awamutu Chambers of Commerce with a view to pointing out to the shipping companies the potentialities offered by the Kawhia harbour. To get a direct service from South Island ports to Kawhia would be a great thing. The clerk (M'r T. J. de Lacy) reported that he had written to the Wlorks Department asking for information and the revival of a grant of £BOOO for a new wharf at Kawhia. It had appeared on the estimates for 1939.

The chairman (Cr E. Smith) said the wharf was deteriorating rapidly, and he was pleased the clerk had written and hoped he would pursue the matter further. * Cr Coutts moved a motion that the Holm Shipning Company be written to on the lines he had suggested and also pointing out that the State Highway led right up to Otorohanga, Te Awamutu, and Hamilton. Cr F. J. Stokes inquired if any word had been received about the intentions of the Northern Shipping Company. The clerk said that not yet had he received word. He had been asked to take over temporarily till other arrangements could be made the agency in Kawhia. The company hoped this year to pick up wool from Kawhia district. •

Cr T. B. Laimbeer: A load of wool went out by road yesterday. Both Crs Jordon and Stokes emphasised the need for something definite at once as shearing was about to commence. t

The clerk said he would at once pursue that aspect of the matter further. Cr S. B. Dillon seconded Cr Coutts’ motion, which was then carried.

The engineer, Mr E. R. Hone, said that repairs to the wharf would run into hundreds, but if ships were coming to Kawhia something would have to be done. He regarded the loading ramp as reasonably safe, but other parts were in a serious state. The chairman, Cr E. Smith, expressed the fear that unless the freight rates were altered any shippifig service would be little used.