Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 269, 10 February 1941, Page 4

Local and General

Improvements to Wharf. The AA r ork ori the approaches to the neAV wharf at Whakatanc has been held up owing to the shortage of labour caused by the County Council having all aA*ailable men engaged in completing its yearly programme. However, men were released on Friday and the work at the wharf continued. The approaches should be finished at an early date. Local Body Picnic. "All the local bodies arc ol' the owe mind and that is that the annual picnic brings us together and creates , better understanding," said the chair man of the Harbour Board on Friday, adding that all favoured once again holding the annual locttfl bodies' picnic.. lie stated that he was keen that the event should be held for the fourth year and it Avas t-he f unanimous decision of the meeting . that the chairman and harbourmaster check tides a-nd arrange a- date for the e\ r ent. Permission Avas also granted for the holding of the Harbour Board's staff annual picnic.

Finances Satisfactory.

The treasurer (Mr C. G. Lucas) at b rid ay's meeting of the Whakala.no Harbour Board reported that after the passing of accounts for payment the financial position Avas fairlj? satisfactory, the account showing a credit of £200.

Launch Jetty,

The consulting engineer to the Whakatanc Harbour Board reported 011 Friday that the launch jetty is now nearly complete# and that until this was finished Ijhe work on the approaches of t'ke new wharf was held up. The new -launch jetty Avill provide ample accommodation for launches for years to come.

January Shipping".

At Friday's meeting of the HarJ hour Board, the harbourmaster. Captain Carey, reported that during January there Avere 12 arrivals and 11 departures from the local port,' The bar was on four days of the; month unworkable and. the average depth of water 011 the bar Avas Bft. Gin., making the entrance easily

Avorkable.

Loading Facilities. The improved loading facilities at the local wluirf shed have been spoken highly of by local lorry drivers, according to Ihe chairman of the Harbour Board, who slated on Friday that all concerned were of the opinion that there "was no further need for improvement. In fact, he said, a visitor had remarked that there was nothing better in New Zealand.

Spring Board at Wharf

When the new launch jetty was being built at the wharf .a spring board erected for tlie use of swimmers bad to 1)0 removed, and now that the workmen have practically completed tlie jetty it will be possible to re-erect the board. At Friday's meeting of tlie Harbour Board the chairman, engineer and harbour master were delegated to have tlie board re-creeled in a suitable position. Use for Rocket Gun. The Whakatane Harbour Board's rocket gun was recently in use although not for its most important purpose. It was lent to the Public Works Department and went as Tar afield as the Waikato where the P.W.D. was working in rugged country and wished to sling cables across deep gullies. To make the task easi-

er the Department borrowed the rocket gun and shot leads across the

gorges,

No Passengers Allowed,

Mr G. A. Brabant, at the Harbour Board meeting of Friday", introduced the matter of passengers being carried on the launch when sounding or towings were being made. He said that he knew that often bystanders just jumped aboard without permission and that, in the event of anyone bein.g injured, the Board might be responsible. The secretary pointed out that such an accident might have more-, serious repercussions as, when the launch was towing, it was hired to the particular ship's owners and that such passengers would then be their responsibility. The members agreed that it was difficult for the harbourmaster, although he tried to do so, to keep passengers from taking uninvited rides, and to strengthen his hand a motion was passed that passengers not be carried when the launch

was towing or sounding,