PIAKO RIVER WHARVES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5480, 27 September 1929, Page 2

PIAKO RIVER WHARVES

COUNTY FAVOURS ACQUISITION

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING.

The negotiations between the Hauraki Plains County Council and the Lands Drainage Department concerning the administration of the wharves on the Piako River and at Waitakaruru were reviewed at a special meeting of the council yesterday. All the members were present.

These negotiations led up to the council offering to take over the wharves some years ago for the nominal sum of One shilling, and this offer was accepted on certain conditions which, however, were not acceptable to the council, so nothing further was done at the time. The major objection was the state of the Kaihere and Johnstone’s wharves.

Cr. Madgwick said it appeared that the arrangement with the department was about as good as could be secured. He moved that it be accepted. The chairman said that the council had spent money on some of the wharves. ■ This could not be recovered, but it had been done to make them fit for use in landing metal.

The engineer said that in April, 1925, an inspection of all the wharves had been made, and it had been estimated that the cost of repairs would be some hundred's of pounds. Since then the Kerepeehi wharf had been maintained by the department, but the Kaihere wharf now needed renewing almost entirely. The chairman said the department had promised to put the Kaihere wharf in order and remove Johnstone’s wharf.

The engineer stated that the Pipiroa wharf would cost a great deal to repair; Puhanga, Kopuarahi, Rawerawe, and Hopai wharves had been maintained by the council, and Johnstone’s, Paul’s, Shelly Beach, and some others should be abandoned. The chairman said that if the council took over the wharves it would have to maintain them, and this would necessitate a wharfage charge or a call on riding funds. Cr. Madgwick added to his resolution a clause providing that the offer would be accepted provided the Kaihere wharf was repaired and Johnstone’s wharf removed.

In reply to a question the engineer said that from the point of view of landing road metal he would not require Johnstone’s, Paul’s, Shelly Beach, or Waitakaruru wharves. At Waitakaruru he would recommend the making of a new landing place on the canal.

Cr. Hale considered that the Shelly Beach wharf was of so little use that it could be dismantled without imposing any hardship on anyone. Cr. Parfitt suggested defining what wharves would be maintained by the council, so that the others need not lie taken over.

The motion to accept the offei' was carried, and the chairman, clerk, and Crs. Hale and Parfitt were appointed to continue the negotiations.