PIAKO RIVER WHARVES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4992, 25 June 1926, Page 2

PIAKO RIVER WHARVES.

CONTROL BY COUNTY.

POSITION TO BE INVESTIGATED.

The question of the future control of .the wharves built by the Lands Department on the, Piako River by the Plains County Council was discussed at a special meeting yesterday, in view of the department’s desire to relinquish control. The chairman said that the Shipping Company had estimated that the annual inward tonnage, .was 4'876, and the outward cargoes amounted to 3200 tons. Of this about 60 per cent, passed over the public wharves. The Lands Department had offered to sell these wharves to the council for £3500, the payment to be. spread over 21 years at 5 per cent, interest. He had interviewed the Lands Drainage engineer, and also the captain of the . river steamer. The captain had said that there were only two structures which could be classed as good wharves, and he had recommended that the council should not take over any of the wharves except Ngatea and Kerepeehi. There was very little cargo for the other landings, and the shipping company would be glad to have them closed. The Lands Department was not agreeable to handing over a portion of the total number of wharves, though it agreed that at present there were; too mifey. Continuing, Cr. Walton said that to pay off the purchase price and interest as dues on the. estimated amount of cargo would require a rate of Is 6d per ton, while to maintain the wharves would probably cost another Is 6d per ton. The dues would be collected by the Northern Steam Ship Co. for 10 pe.r cent. He did not think it would be wise at the present time to definitely say that the wharves should be bought by the council, but he understood that there was a strong feeling among the people of the district against any other body than the council having control. At the same time he did not think the settlers fully realised that the taking over of the wharves by any locaj body would mean a, wharfage rate of 3si or 4s per ton, and he therefore suggested that the feeling of the settlers be ascertained by mea.ns of a postal ballot. Cr. Mayn urged seeking ,a reduction in the Lands Department’s price of £3500.

Cr. Harris voiced the opinion that the number of wharves should be reduced, so that the wharfage, rate of 4s per ton, which was more than any body of settlers could afford to pay, could be reduced.

Cr. Mayn moved that a committee be set up to go into the matter with the. Lands Department, with a, view to getting a reduction in the price.

In reply to Cr. Reid the chairman said that power would have to be obtained to compel .the payment on all goods shipped to and from the river. If this was not done settlers or firms would have private wharves built to evade payment of dues. In reply to Cr. Hicks the chairman said that to do this might Necessitate the constitution of a river board. The motion was carried, and the engineer was instructed to have a report obtained on the cost of effecting repairs' to the wharves. The chairman, and Crs. Harris and Mayn were appointed the committee to go into the matter with the Lands Department. THE TURUA WHARF. The chairman said that letters had been received from the Turua Town Board, Hauraki Drainage Board, and the - Hauraki Plains Co-operative Dairy Company, Turua, asking that the council take, over the control of the Turua wharf. He did not see the wjsdom of including the Turua wharf, and moved in that direction. This was seconded by Cr. Mayn and supported by Crs. Harris and Reid. Cr. Hicks said that the idea was to have a river board formed to administer all the wharves in the county, and thus treat everyone on the same basis.

In reply Cr. Walton said he. could not see that the council could give the same service as the Harbour Board was now giving. The cost would probably be greater than at present, on account of the existing liability. If there was a, way of avoiding having anything to do with the Piako River wharves he would advise the council to adopt it. Cr. Walton explained how the Piako River wharves had been financed, and said that he did not think it wise for the council to rush in and undertake a service at Turua which 'it could not perform as well as at present, or as cheaply. He. therefore moved- that the request, in the three letters be declined. ’

This was carried, Cr. Hicks voting .against.