KUTARERE WHARF

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 157, 8 May 1940, Page 8

KUTARERE WHARF

COUNCIL WANTS SETTLEMENT CLOSING DISCUSSED At Friday's meeting of the Opotiki County Council, a letter AA r as received from the' Whakatane County Clerk, enclosing a cheque for the Kutarere wharf. The letter also mentioned comment in the Press. The chairman said the comments did not come .from Opotiki. The Opotiki Borough Council wrote enclosing a letter from the Marine Department. Cr Maxwell suggested that the letter be handed to the Press for publication, as in the previous report there Avas no mention of the wharf account. It was decided to Avritc to the Northern Company and arrive at a definite understanding within a limited time. Letter from Marine Department. The council decided to to the county clerk, Whakatane, explaining proceedings. Mr Merry said that the impression that the council could not closr* the AA'harf Avas incorrect. Cr Black said that the Borough Council had Avritten a lettei; to the Marine Department, and th(j coun-* cil had no ltnoAvledge of the contents of the letter. The folloAving letter from) the Marine Department to th; Borough Council, Avas forAvarded to the coun cil: Kutarere Wharf. I have to ackr noAvledge receipt of your letter of the 28th February inquiring Avhetlxer authority can be issued fop your council to pay an annual subsidy from the Opotiki wharf funds to the Opotiki County Council in ircspect of the Kutarere Wharf and also for your council to collect wharfage on goods landed on tho Kutarere Wharf and transported to Opotiki. In reply I to advise you that any payment from the Ope. tiki wharf funds for purposes other than strictly for the Opotiki Avharf cannot be made in accordance Avith law. You will recollect that pay. inents made a feAV years ago in connection Avith unemployment schemes in the Opotiki County had to be subsequently A r alildated and Avhild this Avas a A r ery exceptional occa j sion payments in respect of another wharf could not be so treated. The Avharf at Kutarere being iil the Ohiwa Harbour, in respect ot which the County Council has the) poAvers of a Harbour Board, it is the duty of the County Council to maintain the AA'harf and to enab«3 this to be done the Council has charges prescribed by by-law for all cargo passing over the Avharf. If these charges are not sufficient for the purpose, then the County Council may haA r e them increased. No application has been received from the County Council either for an increase in the rates of Avharfage or in respect of the proposal to dismantle the wharf.