GREYMOUTH HARBOUR COMMISSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1921, Page 4

GREYMOUTH HARBOUR COMMISSION.

SITTING AT HOKITIKA

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14tli. |

AFTERNOON SITTING

The Commission resumed at 2.15 p.m. James Fleming deposed he was a settler of Kokatahi and Chairman of Kokatahi Dairy Factory. He was of opinion the inclusion of the district in the Grey harbour area would be a great injustice. They had already sent their butter overland through the unworkableness of the Grey bar and stoppage of shipping, some of their butter being live weeks on the journey. It was waggoned over Otira Gorge at a cost of £4 per ton. When the tunnel was opened all their output would go direct by rail to Lyttelton. The output this year was expected to reach 130 tons of butter. Last year Topliss of Grey had some of the cream from the Kokatahi district, and that they also last year got 300 boxes of butter from Kokatahi.

J Malcolm Houston deposed ho was an auctioneer and general produce merchant. Ho considered that when the railway is> completed practically the whole of the produce will come from Canterbury, by rail, as it will he the j cheapest b v that, route. Wool and farm products from the West Coast will all go to Christchurch. I William Jeffries, auctioneer, Hokitika deposed that during the past three years the hulk of the cattle grown below I Bruce Bay went over Haast Pass to • Otago. He was of opinion there was a - big future for the port of-Hokitika. | To Mr Kitchingham--He lis® fteen partly through Haast Pass, about 11 miles of it. Some 5 or (S drafts of cattle had gone over the Haast Pass since Mr Duff’s visit in 1019, and some four drafts to Wataroa. | Robert Houliston, farmer of Koiterangi 'deposed that the district where lie resided was very much opposed to being rated for the Grey harbor; that they seriously objected to taking over liabilities in which they had no say in incurring. They were already paying for a rate for Hokitika harbour, on which

a poll of the ratepayers was previously taken, before the expenditure was incurred. He concurred with previous evidence that practically the whole of the produce would go by rail to Christchurch. He entered his strongest protest against including the Westland County in tbe Grey harbour area.

The Chairman read a telegram from the Mayor of Boss expressing regret, owing to the train arrangements not being suitable, at his inability to be present, and protesting against the inclusion of Boss Borough in the Grey harbour area.

Herman Baucke, deposed ho was Chairman of the Miners’ Association o! Westland. It was absolutely wrong and dishonest to ask them to accept the liability for

which they had no say in the expendi tore. He protested most strongly Against the district being included in the rating area and also specially against the inclusion of mining property therein. The mining industry was unable to stand an v further strain. David John Evans, clerk to the Westland County Council, Secretary of Chamber of Commerce and Westland Power Board, deposed the Haast Pass track was under tbe charge ol the Public Works Department. It was an easy pass, and is being used more now iliaii,in the past. There was a shortage of horses and drays for work. He had always held that the opening of the Midland Railway would give a great impetus to the district. The hulk of the trade will go through the tunnel. That was the opinion of the railway traffic officers, who considered that the tunnel would have to he worked night and da y to cope with the traffic that would ensure. He was present at an interview with Sir Wm Herries and Mr Hiley in 1917, who said the rates would lie such as would ensure the trade. He was of opinion that if the County had to collect, a harbour ratp it would throw a certain onus on the Council that they would not care to accept. He thought that it would he a hardship to have to pay another harbor rate as the v wore already paying, a rate for the Hokitika harbour and not getti»g much return for it. Mining property was not rated for the Hokitika harbor and he did not tlnnk it would he rated for the Grey harbor. If the rate was collected through a local body it would cost a considerable amount. He was of opinion if there was taxation there should be an election.

Louis H. Morel deposed he was a settler at Koiterangi, a member of the Westland County Council, Charitable Aid Hoard, and President of the Westland A. and P. Association. The members were of opinion that the strongest protest should be made against inclusion in the Greymouth harbor area. There would be less inconvenience in shipping from Lyttelton as against Greymouth. The whole of their butter output will be sent through to Lyttelton. Ths concluded the evidence. The Chairman said the evidence would be carefully considered.