OPUNAKE HARBOUR AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1934, Page 11

OPUNAKE HARBOUR AFFAIRS

WAI AU RIVER EROSION DANGER. FINANCIAL POSITION IMPROVED. The Waiau River erosion and the financial position, which is considered to be very satisfactory, formeo the principal business at the monthly meeting of the Opunake Harbour Board yesterday. There were present Messrs. W. A. Sheat (deputy chairman), G. F. Prosser, C. R. Julian, D. Mourie and R. C. Watson. . In connection with the Waiau River erosion, and the need for joint action to provide protective measures, strong comment was made by the chairman on the action of the Egmont County Council in refusing to appoint representatives to a joint committee of the four bodies concerned, i.e., the Opunake Town, Harbour and Power Boards, and the Egmont County Council. The clerk (Mr. T. N. Thayer) reported that he had written the various bodies as suggested at last meeting, pointing out that the board was prepared to contribute 25 per cent, of the cost of a protective scheme, and asking that .they appoint two representatives to a joint committee, providing they were prepared to contribute also. Replies had been received from the town board appointing the chairman and Dr. Griffen as its delegates, from the power board appointing the chairman and Mr. C. Q. Edmonds, and stating also that the board had communicated with the Public Works Department to ascertain its opinion as to the chance of any damage and also the position of the board regarding spending any money in such a scheme for protective measures. The county council notified that no action had been taken. The secretary said that Mr. A. J. Baker, an engineer of the Public Works Department from Wellington, had visited the district and inspected the erosion. He understood that a report had not yet been received. Mr. Julian said it looked as though the Egmont County Council was ready to get in on “a grouter.” ATTITUDE OF COUNTY. . Mr. Sheat said the attitude taken up by the Egmont County Council was unfortunate. When representatives of the four local bodies visited the site some 12 months ago, all were agreed that the position was serious and that something must be done. There was considerable erosion which was still going on, and only needed to be speeded up when before long considerable damage would be done. Now through the action of the county council it would be impossible for the four bodies to confer and take joint action. He considered the council should have appointed delegates to a joint committee and have been prepared to cooperate up to the point of deciding what was necessary whether they were prepared to face any expenditure or not. It was no more the duty of the board to protect its own property than it was that of the county council to protect the county property. In this case the county had more than three times aS much at stake as had tire harbour board because the Government valuation of the section owned by the board was £320 and of the building owned by the county £lO2O. It was obvious, therefore, that if the section were carried away, the county council would be the heavier loser. He understood the question had been raised as to whether the council had the legal power to expend money on the work, bitt that question had been arranged at the original, conference, when it was decided that the delegates request their various .boards to go into the question of obtaining legislative power if necessary. The fact that they •might have no power to expend money was no real obstacle. The main objective Was to find but if some practical scheme was available at a reasonable expenditure. Now that the Egmont County Council was standing out he did not know whether the board should accept the position or go further and call a meeting of the Opunake Town, Power and Harbour Boards. TOWN BOARD INTERESTED. The Harbour Board had less at stake than any other of the bodies interested. The power board lake must ultimately be affected, as the silt must be coming from the erosion. The town board was interested as one of its streets, as well as some of its ratepayers’ properties, was endangered. If the whole cost of the protective work were to be left to the Harbour Board, Mr. Sheat considered that the board might as well let its section be washed away, as the revenue it earned would not warrant much expenditure. He considered, therefore, that it might be quite safe to let the position drift until it reached a stage when the county shed was actually in danger. Then the county council would probably become concerned about saving its own property. For all the harbour board got out of it, Mr. Julian did not think the board should be the prime movers. The Chairman agreed. The board had indicated its willingness to co-operate with the other bodies concerned. It was questionable whether the board should take further action.

Mr. Mourie suggested that the matter be deferred pending receipt of a report from the Public Works Department. The chairman understood that the county chairman had given his casting vote in favour of taking no action on the grounds that he was leaving matters as they were. In that he was wrong as the county council had already appointed two delegates. . Mr. Julian considered that unless there were changes at the source of the rivers —and ■ there was ' a possibility of the Waiau. linking up with the Oaonui —there would ultimately be considerable damage at the site of the erosion. On the motion of Messrs R. C. Watson and D. Mourie, it was resolved to defer consideration until further advice was received from the power board. The chairman said he was never in favour of spending very much money in protective works. The clerk submitted a financial statement, showing that there was a credit balance of £1543 ill the No. 2 account and a debit balance of £2Bl 14s lid in the harbour fund account. The £398 6s 8d from the wharf demolition raised the balance, but after deducting that there was sufficient for the payment of the November interest. The amount collected of current year’s rates had been £l7l, and of arrears and penalties £l6O. The harbour demolition account showed that receipts had been £526 6s 3d, and expenditure £ll4 8s Id, leaving a credit balance of £4ll 18s 2d. The chairman said it was gratifying to know that the payment of the November interest was assured, although there was still two months to go. The chairman said ratepayers appreciated the action of the board in reducing the interest, and were endeavouring to assist the board by paying their rates as promptly as they could. The board had reduced its liability td the bank by £lOOO in a little over 12 months.