PATEA HARBOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 241, 12 October 1931, Page 15

PATEA HARBOUR

MUCH PRODUCE EXPORTED BOARD 54 YEARS OLD. Town and harbour have for many years depended on each other for prosperity, Patea itself originating from the splendid facilities the river afforded for trading. As early as 1877, before Patea was declared a borough, a harbour board was in existence, and eagerly striving to better the possibilities of the port. For fifty-four years, therefore, it has worked hard, until to-day the port is in the best condition for navigation that it has attained. Finance was established through the provision of a grant from the Government, gained by the sale of part of a harbour endowment. This totalled £2263. In 1873 a comprehensive scheme of harbour development, to cost £179,290, was designed by Sir John Coode. This plan was carried out in instalments, and as improvements to the port appeared shipping increased. With the change of the site of the town, the wharves of the port have altered position considerably. In the ’sixties, there was just a small, shaky jetty out into the river, used only for the landing of passengers. When the town moved to its present locality a small jetty was built by Mr Hirst and Mr Milroy in 1871. This entered the river from a point near to where the Diesel-plant is now. This jetty was replaced by the present wharves on the opposite back in 1881, these being constructed at a cost of £l7lO. 'Holding its first meeting on May 2. 1877, the Harbour Board has continued, during its fifty-four years of office, to carry out its duties conscientiously and ably. The first board was composed ot Messrs G. F. Sherwood (chairman), W. Williams, J. Milroy, V. Wilson, H. Williamson and Capt. Gt A. Wray. Mr Sherwood continued ab chairman of the board until 1881, when he resigned on account of being elected Mayor of Patea. Other chairmen who have presided over the board were: Messrs D. Coutts, 1881-82; John Gibson, 1882-86; C. Finnerty, 1886-94; H. E. Deane, 1894-1901; J. A. McKenna, 1901-08; G. V. Pearce, 1908-12; A. I. Christensen, 1912-31. The board has been well served by two harbourmasters who both guided the shipping of the port for long terms. One was Captain Flowerday, who carried out the duties for 22 years dating from 1882-1904. The other was the late Captain Tinney who held this position from 1906 until his death in 1930. Captain Tinney will long be remembered by the children of the district for the fun he gave them on sports days at the Domain. The present board comprises Messrs A. Pearce, A. N. Williams, A. H. Hodge, A. T. Christensen (chairman), J. R. Corrigan, S. Blake and W. H. Watkins. Mr E. O. Horner is secretary. The Local Authorities Handbook of 1931 reveals that for the year ended September 30, 1930 4,975 tons of cargo was imported to Patea through the harbour. A total of 17,485 tons, mostly dairy produce, was exported. A total of 148 coastal vessels berthed at the port, their tonnage totalling to 14,74. The board derived receipts amounting to £10.200 during the year mentioned, the bulk of it coming from a harbour rate (£5,667) and wharfage £2,449. Payments for the same period ran to £10.939. In 1914 a progressive policy of development was propounded involving the raising of a loan of £86,000. The works proposed included the purchase of a dredge, the building of the western wall and the raising and extension of the eastern breakwater. The loan was carried and the eastern wall is now 1800 feet long and the western wall 1200 feet.