THE COLLINGWOOD WHARF.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12483, 9 March 1909, Page 3

THE COLLINGWOOD WHARF.

(To the Editor of "The Colonist.") Sir,— l should like to ;' say a few words through the medium . of your paper with, ref erence to the* proposed new wharf and 'harbour improvements at Coilingwood. Firstly, 1 presume, it is the intention of forming a Board of Control, 'and to build a wharf at "Miles' Point" Coilingwood, etc., to ■. provide better facilities for shipping '. 'than at present existing, and with that end in view to obtain a Govern- , ment grant of some £800. Now, it appears to me a trifle previous*' to go ' : into iiHis e_xpe****T<3i*fc«-re " ■w*i*blio*U'fc going more thoroughly into' : the subject, which I contend has not*, been . done. Certainly some*:meetings have been ■ held by the local Chamber- of Commerce , and also the subject brought up at times by the County Council, but-nothing of a tangible nature has since resulted. The question is what results would be obtained by an expenditure of £800 on a wharf at Miles Point? Would any good come of it.-' I question £800 being hai fthe amount required to clear the new berths ' and channel of snags, etc.; and making berthage fit for vessels to lay aground at low water. At the proposed site the channel* is about 70 feet wide and three feet deep at low' water, exposed to easterly and-" northerly weather, with a bank on either. side.. I think 1 it will be found that shipping people willbe adverse to laying andloading aground in an exposed position, .and on a bad bottom. These conditions certainly exist* at Miles' Point, f^he wharf would also, be m an inconvenient place for shippers. *. I presume it Is* with the intention 0f. .. • odtaining . direct com ?™*%™ with-- Wellington which would certainly be : a Mp . to the , cus . triet But there is only about nine inches more. water-in. the channel to Miles'. Point than in the present channel Would it. not be far better to start at the beginning ;. .get a boat to run here once a week from Wellington and obtain a subsidy to encourage • and foster trade with Wellington L l very much . doubt if any of the mem : bers of -the Chamber of Commerce or County Council have the very Temot-: est idea of ■*'• the- import and export trade = of : the port. . .There is .plenty of water at present to allow a boat. or sufficient size to work the WeUington rim, except atjlowest neaps, and .with a very little expenditure the. present 1 channel could.be^made equal to the proposed one, besides having, the advantage of: a natural harbour. _We have very little less water than Motueka. who manage temn some tour ' trjps weekly to Wellington. ... Under existing conditions, we have no harbour •dues Or extra' taxation for harbour works, but they appear to .be looming up. *My opinion is, get your trade .first established -and then go into the , (Continued, on fourth page.) *

ways and means of improving shipping facihties. I contend the new proposed way is incurring useless expenditure and courting .failure when the. money might be used more advantageously otherwise" td further /the object in view. Let us improve our present channel and when trade warrants it go infor an effective scheme planned and laid out^By an efficient engineer, and not go muddling. I am, etc., ADVANCEMENT. Coilingwood, March 5.