THE EASTERN BAYS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1791, 2 July 1913, Page 4

THE EASTERN BAYS.

ROADS AND FERRIES. The annual meeting of the Eastern Harbour Association was hold yesterday afternoon. Mr. C. P. Sjkerrctt presided, and there was mi attendance of about eight members. ' Tho annual report recited the_ principal works which had been, set; in train largely as the result of tho association's efforts. Tho oominittee emphasised tho necessity for the continuation of tho activities of the association with regard_ to the approaches of the Hutt and Waiwetu Bridges; the construction of the new' road from' the eastern •terminus, of tha Hutt Bridge to the western terminus of the Waiwetu Bridge, and from tho eastern terminus of the Waiwetu Bridgo to the District Road; the continuation of tho. widen in? of the District Road to Day's Bay—already referred to in tho ■ report-rand the general improvement of the whole road; improvement of the ferry service between tho city and thfe eastern side of tho 'harbour; an equitublo expenditure in tho district of rates collected therein. Tho balance-sheet showed a credit o" . J!7 • 17s. 7d. 'In moving the adoption of tho repor and balance-sheet the chairman said tha lie considered' tho association had Jus titled its existence, but lie believed then Was still room for it to display its activi ties, The road from tho Hutt Bridge' t< Lowry Bay Road was still incomplete Sis years had elapsed from _ tho tim< the road : was undertaken, and it was stil incomplete. It was 'hoped to have ii completed by December next. Ho understood the arrangements were being. mads with the trustees of the Hutt Park Race course to permit of a 'deviation beinf mado to shorten the'disitance. .... Mr. W. H. Turnbull seconded tha mo; tiott for the adoption/ of tho report anc . balance-sheet, aitd this: was carried. .. . The 'Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. W. J. Organ), in commenting on the fact thai tho association' had justified its existonce, said that tho association member: comprised the owners and residents south of the Hutt boundary. There was out local body there—'the Eastbourne borough—but besides that there were a number of residents who came under the Hutt County Council, a body that controlled a very large area of land, and whose point of view, he was inclined to think, was too often bound by parts of the country other than the eastern side of the harbour. It was high time that the construction of the road between tho Hutt and Waiwetu Bridges was completed. It was a scandal that it was still unfinished. The Ferry Service. He considered that it was in the best interests of the wholei of the eastern side of tbe harbour that the ferry service should be under municipal control. The fact that tho service was made stable lvould enhance the value of property, on the eastern side of the harbour; and induce settlement' there. Tha present couiftil, and its predecessors, had gone into tho matter carefully, and experts had been employed to report on the proposition. The price at which they had secured the })oats was .£3090 below the estimate of the experts. The returns for ,th'o' last two years would seem to indicate that'the service should not only pay its way, but should show a substantial profit. The council .would bo concerned only with tbe passenger traffic. On the motion of Mr. W. J. Hee'nah the 'following resolution was'carried: "That t'h.is association views with approval the efforts of the Eastbourne Borough Council to municipalise tho harbour ferry services." The following officers were t-lected Chairman, Mr. C. P. Skevrett; secretary and . treasurer, Mr. P.., D'J!. Hodgkins; committeo, Messrs. W. H. V. Bell, M.P., Robt. Tumbull, and J. S. Swan (Lowry Bay), W. H. Turnbull and Frank Shaw (York Bay), A.'W. Blair and S. ■]?. Wright (Day's Bay), D. Robertson. W. J. Organ, J. P, Kelly and P. I)'E. Hodgkins (Rona Bay), H. W. Shcrtt, J. D. Avery and H. |A. Wright (Muritf.i).