PIPIROA FERRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4872, 2 September 1925, Page 2

PIPIROA FERRY.

NEG OTIATIONS TO DATE. COMMITTEES REPORT EXPECTED. A committee of the Hauraki Plains County Council comprising Crs. J. C. Miller, C. W. Harris, and C. Parfitt met on Monday to consider matters in. connection with the proposed ferry at Pipiroa. A report will probably be brought down at the next meeting of the council. A letter had been received from Mr A. E. E. Dodd, of R. P. Gibbons-, Ltd., Kopu, asking that the council discontinue any further action in the matter wihch would involve him. He had been on his way to Wellington to interview the Marine Department when lie fell ill and had to enter , hospital. His doctor had forbidden him to undertake any work for .12 months, and it was therefore necessary for him to retire from active, participation. He would strongly advfee the eonucil to take on the ferry itself. This could be done by shifting the Wharepoa ferry to Pipiroa, the usefulness and money-earning capacity of tnat ferry having seriously, deteriorated, if it had not vanished entirely. He was confident that the annual profit on a ferry- at Pipiroa would be from £2'so upwards, and would increase raipdly during the next few years. The charges, should be such as to make the ferry a paying proposition —nothing less than 6d tor anything. Passengers and cattle 6d each, horses Is, horse and trap or motor-car 2s.

The Thames Chamber of Commerce wrote .advising that Mr Dodd had advised that he had intimated his. inability to arrange porterage for the proposed ferry. The letter stated thta the chamber would therefore be pleased to leant if other arrangements were in hand to enable the connection to be made. The chamber had in hand the sum of £lO7, subscribed by - the business people of Thames towards the cost of the approaches. / and urgent representations had been: made to it that action be taken so that the ferry would he made available for the coming summers’ traffic. In reply to this letter the county clerk wrote that the matter would be referred to the committee of the council set up to discuss ferry matters. . Although he could not answer the letter at the moment on behalf of the council he felt free, to say that the council was relying on Mr Dodd being able to provide the ferry and equipment. The council had been waiting on Mr Dodd for a good many months, but he( the clerk) thought the members appreciated how matters , stood with him. Quite recently Mr Dodd had written to the council withdrawing from the negotiations and at the same time urging that the council should establish and run the ferry. In the second paragraph of the chamber’s letter it was asked if other arrangements were in hand. He was • afraid the chamber was overlooking the fact that quite a different position had arisen on account of Mr Dodd’s withdrawal. In order to remove any misconception he would outline, the position before the withdrawal. The proposal was for Mr Dodd to find the punt and all equipment, the council to provide the approaches, estimated to cost about £450. Afterwards it was found that the site chosen was not available, and another site would cost more. Towards the cost of the approaches the Highways Board was to pay £2OO ; contributions were to be received, and the council was to find the balance. It was not at present permissible at law for the council to advance large amounts .to any separate account. The council had no special fund for the Pipiroa ferry, and could only create one by raising a loan. The only other matter outstanding between the council and Mr Dodd was the charges. A scale of charges had been submitted as a basis for discussion, and up to the time of his withdrawal his final views on the question had not been received. So the matter stood when Mr Dbdd withdrew.' To enable the council to establish a ferry at Pipiroa a punt , and equipment would have to befound. New, this would cost at least £lOOO. Frankly, he did not know how the council could pay that sum in ad- .' dition to its proportion of the cost of the approaches. There might be . other ways of providing a punt and : equipment, and he had no doubt that tlie committee would consider them. • ■