HOKITIKA RIVER

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1933, Page 6

HOKITIKA RIVER

IMPROVED BERTHAGE URGED

representations TO minister:

Great stress upon the urgent necessity of carrying out immediate improvements to'' the berthage of shipping in tne Hokitika river was laid oy the deputation from the Hokitika Harbour Board which waited on thp Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. Bitchener), on Wednesday evening. Mr J. O'Brien, ALP., introduced the. delegation, and briefly referred to the importance of the project, necessitating the turning of the river to its original' course.

Tne chairman of the Board (Mr E. W. Keenan), said the matter was one of tile utmost urgency, affecting not only the harbour itself, but tile whole district in general. The Board was absolutely penniless as far as money lor tiiis purpose was concerned. The main channel had now silted up, and in a few weeks it would he impossible to get a boat up or down, except at high tide.. The position had .become so desperate that a public body meeting had been called, when various schemes were suggested. Continuing, thy speaker said that he had interviewed the District Engineer (Mr Joliriston), who had gone thoroughly into the matter, and he wished; to thank the Department, for the assistance of Mr Jonnston in the matter.. The latter, ho thought, was now ableto suggest a possible- solution. • The sawrnillors in the district were now faced'with keen opposition, and if the timber could be shipped from Hokitika, it would reach Wellington at a much cheaper rate. A company in South Westland would ship its output from here if facilities offered, so that improvements to the river channel would result in . increased business.

•Hokitika was once the premier port of New Zealand, he added, and he asked the Department if it could help them out of their difficulties, and lead them back towards their former prosperous position. Mr N. Warren endorsed Mr Hecnnn’s remarks, and eaid that, prior to this present handicap, shipping at Hokitika, had been on the increase, and if improvements could be effected, it would mean greatly increased trade and employment. The- Board 'was. now at the end of its. resources, and something would have to be done, sooner or later.

. Mr M., Houston, senr., supported the proposal. He said that there was another aspect of the case which had not been mentioned. Since the river had changed its course to the present channel it had caused damage to the traffic bridge, and if the river were allowed to remain as at present it would jeopardise the future safety of the. bridge, and cause the Department eon«idei;able expense. It was alsc possible that the river might later take, the .aerodrome site, fit would be cheaper for the Government in-the long run .if.-•something...were. ,dpne now. Mr Warren, of Auckland, representing a southern milling company, said that a better berthage would undoubtedly 'mean-. increased business and, his company would snip its 1 timber from Hokitika, if (suitable conditions prevailed. Mr D. P. Stuart, as one of the largest millers in'the' district said that freight by rail to Creymouth made competition almost prohibitive to local millers. • Mr Bitchener said that he fully, appreciated the difficulty under which They were ’labouring. However, before any money was found by the Marine Department or the Public Works Department, the first thing to do would be to carry out a, proper survey, and draw up an estimate.of i the cost. He wa« quite agreeable for the survey tc be (Tone bv the Department on their, behalf, and he would give Air Johnston authority to proceed with the matter when convenient to him. . Mr Heonan said that that was just what was required. H-a sincerely thanked the Minister for his sympathetic consideration. Mr O’Brien thanked the Minister for the manner in which he had received the various deputations, the interest taken in each speaker, and the' nature of his own replies. . . VISIT PAID TO HIGH school.

The Minister visited-the Hokitika District High School "yesterday after-, noon, and was received by the Rector, Mr Monzies, who conducted him through the different class rooms. The earthquake damage to the school was also, inspected. Mr Savage, the Education Department’s architect, also made a detailed examination later. 1 ARTY INSPECTS RIMIJ DREDGE.

;The Ministerial party later- visited the Riinu Dredge, where they were taken in hand by Air W. J. Radford, and shown over the dredge. Mr Radford also pointed out that the R-imu company had planted TB6 acres of the dredge tailings with pine trees, which were coming on Well. AT THE KOKATAHI SCHOOL.

In th,a.afternoon Mr Bitch fener visited- tlie Kokatahi Selioo* where lie was met by the Kokatahi School Committee, and by-Mr Tv O’Neil, chairman of the Farmers’ Union, and Mr Fleming, chairman of the Kokatahi Dairy Factory Coy. The Kokatahi rschboi'. and ground were inspected,'Hie representatives of the district pointing out to the Minister the overcrowding of the. school and the wretched state ofthe shcool ground, which was subject to severe flooding in the rainy J weather.: Until recently, , it was stated, ' a farmer in the district had offered the School- Committee .sufficient "ground in the vicinity of the present school- to •which-to shift the building, but-.‘Had now withdrawn that offer. There was an education reserve q£ eight

acres some two miles further away, and the deputation "thought it might, be sold and another piece of ground, no re centrally situated, bought with hhe proceeds. The' school wais a very, aid one and out of date. The . resi- • dents had been agitating for over -AV'-nty rears .for a new ground. t The Alinister. said that lie would go into their representations vpry ■ larefully with a view -of bettering the. •’Onditions, which he were ■very unsatisfatcory. , Helqield: jihat the Kokatahi school ground fyvas Mono- of. the worts he-had seen, ’ •' • ! • The party then viewed the Education reserve, which the Alinister stated, was an - ideal .site for a school ! or an agricultural college. The party also drov.9. to Upper Kokatahi, where Air Bitchener expressed a - pleasure’ with ijlie farming latid and the type of settler lie- had met that day.