OPUNAKE HARBOUR MOLE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1929, Page 14

OPUNAKE HARBOUR MOLE

PROPOSAL FOR COMPLETION RATEPAYERS DISCUSS SCHEME « BOARD’S PRELIMINARY STEPS. On Saturday morning th© Opunake 'Harbour Board held a special meeting -when, after a full discussion, it was 'unanimously resolved on the motion of the chairman that steps be taken to procure a special loan of £20,000 to complete the, mole to 900 feet, and to carry out any other harbour improvements deemed advisable by the board, the (security and rating to be on the *ame basis as the former loan; that is, the ratepayers of the town district are rated on a basis three times as high as the county ratepayers. . The board may*'pay the first year’s interest and linking fund out of the loan. It was . -further decided to take steps to give effect to the resolution. . On the preceding evening, after the proposals had been fully explained to a meeting of ratepayers, a resolution was passed by a majority of one (29 to 28), approving of the proposal to raise a loan of £20,000 to complete the mole to 900 feet, and recommending the board to take the necessary steps to accomplish that object. Mr.-A. J. Brennan, chairman of the Town ®ided. Xi „ Mr. A. J. Brennan, chairman oi the Opunake Town Board, expressed the hope that all present would give the speakers a fair and patient hearing. Reasonable questions would be answered. Mr. T. P. Hughson, chairman of the Harbour Board, said the occasion was an important one for the district. There had been a' good deal of criticism levelled at both the board and himself, but he always welcomed honest and fair criticism. He had even been told by one man that he would be willing to vote for another £20,000 to complete the work but would not entrust its expenditure to the chairman. The board, however, had, since its inception, striven to carry out the work as economically as possible. Indeed, at the start they had no revenue at all, and Mr. Chambers 'had acted as honorary secretary, later being succeeded by Mr. A. O Brien at ■£9 per annum. a _ , r When the loan was floated Mr. Stephenson had been elected secretary at £lOO per annum. For years the members received no travelling expenses, but after the loan was raised they received the statutory allowance of 6d per mile. That amount frequently had not been claimed. They had also been criticised for carrying out the work by day labour instead of contract. However, the board was not responsible for that action but was guided by the recommendation of its engineer, a man engaged on the recommendation of some of the greatest, engineers. It was proved afterwards that, day labour was the cheaper. .■, , • While that was perhaps ancient history he felt some explanation was necessary. No doubt mistakes had been made, but he did not know of any harbour scheme where no mistakes had been made It was found by experience that some of the. money might have been spent to better advantage. ' A BETTER SYSTEM. Since the appointment of Mr. Vickerman they had instituted a better system of hauling stone which had decreased the cost considerably. By statute they were bound to have an engineer, though sometimes the practical man could compete with an engineer. He made it clear that the board was very much indebted to Mr. Vickerman for the way in winch the work had been carried out, always being within. the estimates. The mole was now extended to 600 feet, Mr. Vickerman having extended it for 2UU feet, that distance taking two years and three months, but the latter 400 feet was carried out much more expeditiously, lhe etone averaged 4s 7d per ton to deposit, though it had to be carted a long way. The arrangement with regard to the drilling, etc., "was exceedingly successful, the experiment of using the pneumatic drill having proved very successful. The board had been fortunate, said Mr. Hughson, in its choice of Mr. Hardy to fill °the combined position of harbourmaster and secretary, as he was using his utmost endeavours to make the port a success. The chairman also justified the action of the board in providing ac- - eommodation for the harbourmaster and the board’s office, which had cost £3aU, or less than 10s per week, thus saving ratepayers 30s per week. THE RATE QUESTION. This however, must come to the main point—the rate. “I suppose,” he said, “that is what you are all thinking about. I know I am.” A voice: Too true! Mr Hughson said they now had the harbour completed to a certain point and had had some ships in, but they could not get the southern ships, the reply being that there was not sufficient shelter. By extending the mole another 000 feet to 900 feet they could provide shelter to ensure a regular service, which importers all realised was most importl, „ J Unnn nnahlp

Recently the Arapawa had been unable to work the port and had discharged the Opunake cargo at New Plymouth with the result that six tons of cargo had cost him an ’additional £8 19s 9d, one ton of sugar costing £2 7s 9d extra, fortunately the bulk of the cargo was cement, a low-rate cargo on the rails. In addition, the Opunake harbour board lost 5s per ton wharfage. Storekeepers, owinor to competition, based their costs on the lowest charges, so the position was unsatisfactory for importers .and .was likely to jeopardise the port altogether. The question was how to reduce or abolish the rate. The only way was to make the port revenue producing, lhe secretary had compiled figures showing the savin" that could be effected if regutaring could bo scoured. Neeewary shelter, however must be provided make the available for shipping in all weathers, unless they wished to damn the port altogether. He had bee assured by the harbourmaster, engineer and sea captains that the additional 300 feet to the mole, with the bend as suggested. would give that shelter. At pre sent,' owing to lack, of P™^ 11 ! were paying a premium of 8s or 10s on New Plymouth charges, as the g ener ? manager of the Northern Stearns)ip Company stated they could not give same rate as New Plymouth until regular discharge was assured.

MAKING THE PORT I’AY, _ > y

Mr. Hughson pointed out that they had done better than his most sanguine nH lie had never considered

Hawera in his calculations, and Hawera business people had already made appreciable savings. The point to be stressed was that they must complete the breakwater to make the port reproductive; otherwise they would have to pay the rate till the loan was paid off. In addition to saving rate charges the ratepayers would benefit by decreased cost of goods and so admittedly could people outside their district. For an estimated annual cargo of 10,000 tons they would save to the district, at a conservative estimate, £lO,OOO, and outside the harbour revenue entirely. It should therefore be clear that it must be worth while making the harbour self-supporting. While the board was divided, all were certain that shelter must be provided at some time.

There was nothing to bo gained by delay, but a lot to be lost. There was the point that they might lose the staging, which cost £12,000, by the ravages of the toredo. He was pleased to say that as far as could be scon the toredo had been checked on two of the piles and they could see no signs of it on any others. He, as a member of the board, was not inclined to take the responsibility of the loss of that £12,000 without appealing to the ratepayers. There was also the question of deterioration of the machinery to be considered. At present their machinery was in excellent order to carry out the work. Delay would mean a loss of trade, and if trade was lost so was revenue. Mr. Hughson was satisfied that the breakwater as it stood was of a pei manent nature. It had stood the storm following the earthquake -without a stone being displaced. All that was required was to extend, it to provide the shelter. Mr. Vickerman was also satisfied from soundings, etc., that there was no fear of sand drift. The depth of water had not decreased but rather had increased.

HARBOURMASTER’S VIEWS. Mr. A. G. Hardy, the harbourmaster, said he wished to make it clear that he was not competent to speak as to whether a loan should be raised or not, as he was not a ratepayer. He wished to point out conditions as they stood today. They-had many advantages and only one disadvantage—the lack of shelter. They had what many coastal ports had not—a depth of 12 feet. It had been suo’cested in somo quarters that the main factor in bringing down his report was his position, but he said he had no axe to grind. As long as shipping came to Opunake he was there at the board’s service, but as soon as shipping ceased he was off as it was foreign to his ambition to be a mere rate. collector. It must be apparent to all that there was not the necessary shelter, and that was all that was required. This did not at present need extra wharf accommodation. He explained at length the difficulties of berthing and the risks taken under present conditions. If, however, the breakwater was carried out to 900 feet he had not the slightest doubt that therei." would be ample and better accommodation in all weathers, even though the waves might be breaking oyer the mole. There was full protection from a southerly gale and for the south-east gale the reef gave protection. As a nautical man Mr. Hardy could say definitely that < the extension, with the turn, would give the desired protection. At present the mole was useless as with the least swell it did not give the desired protection. It had been suggested that it might be possible to dredge further • in towards .the root or the mole, but he condemned that suggestion because, even on the finest day, there was a swell of at least six inches, and to have a ship so close in was only courting disaster. To have regularity and a port satisfactory for shipping there was only the one solution to complete the mole. It would cost money certainly, but he knew the feeling of the shipping masters, and if the mole was not completed Opunake as a port would simply be wiped off the map. Ship masters had refused to send their ships. He felt assured that if thb'com--pletidn scheme was turned down the Northern company would withdraw its ship immediately because it knew no one else would take up the running. So far the cargo imported had been very disappointing, but that was not the fault of the board. In April the Arapawa brought 46 tons, in May 51 tons and in June 55 tons, a total of 152 tons, though 27 tons had to be landed at New Plymouth. People in Opunake laughed at the small amount of the imports, but they had only one boat and one class of trade from one port. The bulk was sugar,- but he thought that was an infinitesimal portion of what was used. Twenty-five per cent, of the sugar went to Hawera, and the merchants there would not risk any other commodity unless there were regular shipments, lhe ship was due the next day, he said, with 47 tons, of which 24 tons was going to Hawera. Mr. Hardy bad canvassed the district from' Pungarehu to Kaponga, Okaiawa and Kaupokonui—s7 storekeepers and merchants—and he had carefully computed figures which showed on a conservative basis a total import of 800 tons per month. If the port of Opunake could not import 10,000 tons per year he maintained the harbour should never have been started. They could make more out of 10,000 tons of imports than from 20,000 tons of produce exported, as there was a difference oi 2s in the wharfage and, moreover, it cost moie to load outwards than to unload. The cost of handling had been Is 4d per ton, so they made 3s 8d on each ton landed on the wharf. They could unload at the rate of 25 tons per gang per hour, and with full loads could unload even more cheaply. , , Mr. Hardy said he had not touched on coal which, despite hydro-electric eneigy, would be required in considerable quantities Screened coal could be landed at the port at £2 12s 6d per ton, winch was cheaper than it could be landed from the Waikato. Small coal would cost 2s 3d at the wharf, wharfage paid, which was 5s less than the cost of Waikato coal landed at the station, and it gave treater efficiency. Though exports did not pay so well there was no reason why there should not ba exports if the facilities were given. Farmers could effect a great saving by getting their impoita direct. Moreover, there was a man in the hall who could sell them 50,000 tons of Walpole Island guano at £1 per ton and freight would cost £1 5s per ton extra, making the cost £2 ss, but farmers could not take advantage of that offer because they did not have the port facilities. Why was it considered by many, that it was necessary to erect a cool store before they could ship dairy produce? _ Mr. Hickey; Why is it necessary anywhere? - , 41 Mr Hardy: Because at the central ports'it has to be graded - before being nut on the Home steamers. Mr. Looney: Where would you ship Hardy: Wellington,’if I had a cheese factory. I would ship my stuff • to Wellington and save transport • and so wipe the floor with other companies.

Mr. Hardy pointed out what had happened at Chatham Islands, where, cheese ' that took 2J days to ship to Lyttelton had been shipped Home and brought top price, THE WOOLLY FLAVOUR! A voice: The woolly flavour! Why ’did they have to put a grading store at Patea? Mr. Hardys Because the boats sometimes cannot get out for a few days, but with the mole completed the boats could get away at any time at Opunake.

Mr. Hardy said there was no guarantee that the produce would always be shipped direct from New Plymouth. Mr. Hickey: No, but we have the wool store to put it in. Mr. Hardy said he was satisfied there was no fear of any sand drift and as showing the depth of water, the Aiapawa, drawing lift, entered the port at low water spring tides. He read a letter from the Northern S.S. Co. stressing the need for the mole to be completed, otherwise the port would never bo workable except in fine weather. If it were completed the port would be workable at all times for small coastal vessels. It was estimated, he said, that the imports would produce a net revenue of £1846, and as the interest and sinking fund on £20,000 would be only £l4OO there would be a balance of £456..

Mr. Vickerman said that from an engineering point of view there was not much to bo said about the harbour. He had visited it that afternoon with members of the board and had come to the conclusion that the work done was done satisfactorily and was standing well, but they were also satisfied that it was no use as a harbour for the reason that they had not completed the work they had set out to do. He was satisfied that when the mole was completed -to 900 feet it would be available for shipping in all weathers and that was borne out by the harbourmaster and sea captains. A BUSINESS PROPOSITION. It became a business proposition as to whether it was worth while completing the harbour. As an engineer he was concerned with the estimate and was satisfied that for £20,000 the work could be continued to the 900 feet mark. He pointed out that they were not making a shot in the dark, as their estimates were based on work already done with a liberal allowance for contingencies. He had no hesitation in saying that the work could be carried out for £20,000 and that there was sufficient stone.

Air. Vickerman could bear out the effect of the blasting deepening the water. As to the possibility of doing further blasting so as to bring ships closer in, that would not be advisable until the mole was extended.

Another engineering point was as to whether sand was accumulating. His opinion was that it was not, nor was it likely to do so as where there were so many bays or indentations there was not likely to be much sand drift. He was satisfied they would get no more sand drift than Air. Williams said they would when he initiated the scheme.

Mr. Vickerman paid a tribute to the interest taken by members. That had resulted in the stone being placed in the mole so economically. ■ Mr. H. Young, as a member of the board, agreed that the harbour would never pay until the mole was completed. Mr. J. S. Tosland, another member, said the .truth was that as the harbour was at present it was useless to anyone. It was possible it might take certain value if they put in the bend, but he would not say it would. Ratepavers must decide that for themselves. He had suggested bringing the boats in closer, continued Mr. Tosland, but the engineer said it was not feasible. He believed the estimates were correct and that there was plenty of stone. The machinery was there and would rust. RATEPAYERS’ ALTERNATIVES. They had to carry the loan for 36J years. Personally Mr. Tosland did not like shouldering another, but it was for the ratepayers to consider that, and he had voted in favour of giving them that opportunity. This remark was greeted with applause. Mr. Pettigrew said his attitude in desiring to defer- the matter was not from any want of confidence in the scheme, but he felt the ratepayers had received such disappointment that talk was useless, and it was only by the actual work of the port they would realise its benefits. They must have the confidence of the ratepayers, and he did not want to see a poll turned down. If that happened it would be years before another poll would be taken. He therefore thought the matter should be deferred till ratepayers were more favourable. . The chairman said Mr. Hardy had thrown out a challenge regarding dairy produce, but he pointed out that cool stores were necessary, as once the produce was graded the Home steamets paid any coastal freight, whereas from the Chatham Islands and other places the dairy companies paid their own fieight. It would be much more expensive to ship from Opunake either to New Plymouth or Wellington than to send under the present system. Replying to Mr. H. Young, Mr. Vickerman said there had been less money wasted at Opunake than at any ..other harbour he knew. Mr. George Looney agreed that the harbourmaster had gone to a lot of trouble in preparing statistics, but some of the items mentioned were seasonal, and should not be taken over a 12monthly period. That had been taken into consideration, said Mr. Hardy. Mr. G. Hickey asked if Mr. Vickermon could show any reason why New Plymouth should have to dredge and Opunake should not. Mr. Vickerman replied that there was a definite drift with continuous beaches towards New Plymouth. There was no such trouble in the Opunake locality, as otherwise the bays would be full of sand. Instead of that the divers find boulders. Mr. C. 0. Edmonds asked what prooi the board could give that £20,000 would complete the work and that in a few years the board would not come back for another loan. POLICY OF ECONOMY. The chairman said that the only proof was the cost of the work already carried out. .The board would use the most economical methods recommended by the engineer. Moreover, it would do the work on the cheapest basis possible by contract if that were considered more economical. In the past the engineers’ estimates had been over, rather than under the mark. Mr. Hickey said that apart from the engineer they could not rely on any-

one’s assurance. They had been told the work would be completed for £55,000 when the £32,000 had been expended, and now they wanted a further £20,000.

The engineer said it was then calculated to do the' work as far as 650 foet.

Mr. Hickey said the statement had been made at a meeting prior to that report coming through. Replying further to Mr. Hickey, the engineer said the work could proceed at the same rate as the previous 400 feet had, say, possibly a year from the time of getting under - way. If the work were started within six months there should bo no danger that the stage would not stand up till the work was completed. “The chairman,” said Mr. Hickey, “has painted a terrible picture of the ravages of the toreador.”

When the laughter had died down Mr. Hickey continued that ratepayers therefore might be faced with the expenditure of a further £12,000 for the staging. Mr. Tosland thought the work could bo done for the money. Personally he had no great faith in— A voice: Harbour boards! Mr. Tosland: No, in day work. He favoured contract. He pointed out that if the matter were delayed there was the danger of the staging going. Ml W. A. Sheat asked what the present rate was, and how much relief they could expect if the optimistic forecasts came to pass. Mr. Tosland said the total estimated expenditure was £4lOO and the revenue £4500, of which rates amounted to £4286 (town £1621, county £2665). Of the rates £3640 had been collected, leaving £6lB in arrears. “THE RISK THEY RAN.” z Mr. Sheat said the most they could expect would be relief to the extent of 40 per cent., and for that they ran the risk of an additional rate if the 10,000 tons of imports did not materialise. The chairman referred to the increase at Wanganui. Mr. Sheat said it was no use comparing Opunake with Wanganui. The chairman: There would be a gradual increase here. Mr. Sheat: A gradual increase of rates is all we will get. If £20,000 will save 10 per eent., why not go the whole hog, raise £200,000 and wipe off 100 per cent, of the rate? Mr. Hickey said they were slipping baek; the chairman’s estimates of imports and exports some years ago totalled nearly 50,000 tons. The chairman: My estimates were for 10 years hence, and I am satisfied that they will if we give the facilities. Mr. Sheat asked why that had not been made an election issue instead of being kept in the dark until after the election.

There had been no keeping in the dark, as notice of motion had been tabled some time ago, but had been deferred until the port had been given a chance to prove itself, answered the chairman.

Air. Hickey said it would have made no difference had it been brought forward before the election, as the majority of voters in the town were irresponsible people without being ratepayers, and it might have had a boomerang effect if they had known £20,000 had to be spent. Air. Sheat recognised that was so, but after the money was spent it would have a boomerang effect on those electors. They were not finalising the matter now, Air. T. P. Hughson pointed out, but were taking only preliminary steps. There were numerous formalities that protected ratepayers. The position was, did they want to go on paying the present rate or were they prepared to go in for a further loan and give the harbour a chance to be revenue producing? He was satisfied that in ten years the harbour, if given that chance, would be self-supporting. Air. Sheat asked" why some members took up the attitude that they would resign if the scheme were not supported. He thought public men should resign rather if the board had not carried 0 out a policy they were elected to put through. His resignation did not refer to tne ratepayers, but to the members of .the board, said the chairman, as his opinion was that he would take no responsibility in the matter unless it was first referred to the ratepayers. Air. J. C. O’Rorke asked how much was outstanding in rates. “BLUE PAPERS” OUT. There was now outstanding £G4S, said Air. Tosland, and “-blue papers” were now out for them. There had been some trouble owing to the roll being out of date. They were now pressing for payment in all cases. Air. O’Rorke thought the staging could have been built more economically. Three sets of rails were not necessary. . . The chairman said the engineer , three prominent men, considered it was necessary, and the board therefore had to instal it. . Replying to Air. O’Rorke, Air. Hug son said the board might possibly require some of the timber that had been sold, but it was sold so as to provide funds to complete the mole and enable the board to demonstrate its practicability. They had received current prices for the timber. Air. T. P. Hughson, jun., moved:— “That this meeting of ratepayers of the Opunake Harbour Board District approves of the scheme to raise a further loan of £20,000_ to complete the mole to the goo test point and recommends the Harbour Board to take the necessary steps to accomplish the object.” Air. Hughson made it clear that he was not moving as a son of his father, but as a business man. The matter of wasted money was past history, an they now had. to look at it as I®'® ' headed business men. ' It had been demonstrated that the port could be worked and money could be saved to ie ratepayers. It had been demonstrated that the mole would stand the 10U S seas. Were they going to carry on and borrow £20,000 to finish the scheme (cries of No!)’—or scrap the scheme. (A voice, “Scrap it.”) The motion was declared lost on the voices, but was carried on a show o hands by 23 to 21. Air. Sheat: I ask for a recount. Another voice: Let it go; it makes no difference. , On a further recount it was declare carried by 28 to 27.