HARBOUR FOR AKITIO COUNTY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 8, 4 October 1919, Page 10

HARBOUR FOR AKITIO COUNTY

DEVELOPMENT SCHEME PROPOSED.

A meeting of ratepayers of Akitio County and residents of the district, convened by the Pongaroa Chamber of Commerce, .was held in the Town Hall, Pongaroa, to consider the possibility of developing harbour or port facilities for the Akitio County. Mr. A. Dickins, president of the chamber, presided, and there was a good attendance of ratepayers. Mr. W. B. Mathieson, the Independent Reform candidate for the Mnsterton electorate, was also present. Mr. S. Gibson, vice-president of the chamber, explained the object of the meeting. He stated that the problem of providing further port facilities for the county and surrounding district had been a matter of some agitation and discussion, and it wns just seven years since the matter was first brought before the ratepayers and public by the chamber. At that time a report on the two possible ports, Akitio and Aohanga, was obtained from the district engineer of tho Public Works Department. Akitio, was already established as a port, but the' facilities were old-fnshioncd, loading being from coastal steamer to surf-boat, and thence by bullock wagon to lbs shore. Such methods were costly and the work was tedious, and it might, be that if the weal her were too heavy for the bullock team, the boat would have to pass on ami call oh the. return journey. The speaker went on to say that they all had great faith in the district and its possibilities and future prospects, and appealed to the ratepayers to loyally consider their own county. By reason of its position, surrounded by other counties, over whose, roads was access to the railway 10 miles away, ratepayers were heavily' handicapped, inasmuch a? the county had to pay heavy contributions to maintain roads over which they had littCe or no control. These contributions varied from MHi to .£9(10 per annum. Basing his arguments on the lower figures, this capitalised represented .JIO.OOO, for they could,..at 5 per cent, interest and 1. per cent, sinking fund, raise a loan for that amount, which could bo spent on improvements to the harbour and roads leading to the samo within their own county. He quoted figures which showed that the. cost of transport to Wellington via Pahiatun or Pannevirke was approximately ,C 8 2s. per ton, whereas the rates via the present port, with its old-fashioned method of working, amounted to -C 3 lis. Wool cartage and freights s'howed simfiar. comparisons. Tn view of the divided opinions as,to whether -Okitio or Aohanga would be the more suitable port to develop the chamber deemed it ndvisablo to, bring the matter before the puttie, with tho suggestion that a competent and expert engineer be engaged to inspect 'both places, and to survey and report. He, therefore, asked the meeting to decide whether they considered coastal, de\elopment would be of advantage, and, if so, to set to work, raise the funds, and on obtaining the report, whatever individual opinion might be, sink all differences and go for tho best with a united effort and loyalty. Mr. Gibson tlion moved: Thnt in order to obtain definite and accurate information, the services of an independent, mid qualified engineer be obtained to survey, inspect, and report upon the possibilities of establishing and developing a port, and tho most 'suitable place for such port upon the coastal boundary of the county, and thnt a spcoinil committee be set up to receive and consider such report, and to tako the necessary steps to carry out such development as advised.

The motion was carncil, and tlic following were nominated for the special committee, with power to add to their number:—For the ratepayers. Messrs. F. Aimslrnnjr (Akifio), P. V. Sinilll (Akitio), 8. D. Thomson (Pongaroa). A. F.. Burnett (Wnionc), W. Liuit (Horoeka). A. C. Herbert (Ivorora); for the Chani'lyr of Commerce: Messrs. F. Herbert, A. Diekins, S. Gibson. J. M'lntyre, W. J. Whvto, and E. W. Bond.