HARBOUR AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 34, 7 October 1946, Page 5

HARBOUR AFFAIRS

81-MONTHLY MEETING PROPOSED WAR MEMORIAL The bi-monthly meeting of the Whakatane Harbour Board took place in .the .Whakatane County Council Chambers last Friday morning, Messrs. W. R. Boon (Chairman), J. A. Mitchell, A. L. Richardson,- R. Ruddick, C. T. Smith, C. McKenzie, W. Hunter and H. G. Warren being present. Leave of absence due to ill-health was granted to Mr G.-A. Brabant./ Intimation was received from the Borough Council concerning the public meeting to be called on October 10, for the purpose of discussing the proposed War Memorial. The letter asked that the Board appoint two representatives to be in attendance.

Mr H. G. Warren stated that there was a scheme afoat, which was backed by the various sports bodies of the town to have the development of the Domain for recreational purposes dedicated as the Memorial. This would work in with the plans •of the Domain Board, and all inter--ested parties would be enabled to work together. Mr Hunter pointed out that there "was .a feeling in the various country centres which had raised such large sums for patriotic purposes, that they were entitled to memorials of their own. The Harbour Board, he pointed out, combined representation , from both Borough and County, and when, the matter was being discussed, it was highly probable that the County members would urge for individual memorials.

Mr Warren replied that everyone -recognised the right of country centres to have their own individ- ■ ual plans, but the meeting in question was mainly to decide what :form the Borough memorial should take. The scheme he had mentioned was merely one which he knew was going to be put forward. Anothet which he thought would arise concerned a memorial town hall. ' The Chairman and Secretary and Mr Warren were appointed as representatives from the Board to attend the meeting. Road Dedication The matter of the dedication of the road to the Whakatane River from Keepa’s Road was dealt with in a letter from the County Council which stated that the Board’s application had been granted on the understanding that all costs in the matter would be refunded to the 'Council by the Board. The Secretary reported that he had conferred with Judge Harvey, ;Native Land Court, Rotorua, and if the Board so. wished,- application could be made to the Native Land 'Court to have the Board’s right of .access to the river frontage.reserv--ed.to it, either by the laying off of a native road or by the creation of an easement in favour of the Board.

Tht Board decided to make application as indicated. Wharf Shed The Chairman reported that the work at the wharf shed was almost complete, and represented a very satisfactory job. Commenting on he stated that this was very reasonable, the apportioning of the labour being well-adjusted. Wairere Stream Bubble The Chairman reported that the dredge had almost completed the job of removing spoil from the waterfront, and the whole area down to the wharf shed had been cleaned up. The spoil had been removed and used in reclamation work. The cost of the job would approximate £6OO, but the money was being well spent, as two jobs were being done for the one cost. The engineer’s report was not yet to hand. Car Parking Space The question of using the reclamation at the Western end of the trand as a car parking area was reported on by the Chairman who stated that the Borough Council felt the area suggested to be better than the alternative of parking in Quay Street, as motorists were unwilling to leave their vehicles in back streets after dark. The committee representing the Board had considered that no objection should be raised as the Council was willing to clean up the area, and wanted to have the park in use by the holiday season.

It was decided to allow the Borough Council to use the reclamation as a parking area, with the proviso that if the Board later required the sections these would be vacated.