PIAKO RIVER WHARVES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5506, 27 November 1929, Page 2

PIAKO RIVER WHARVES

PURCHASED BY COUNCIL. REPAIRS AT KAIHERE. The sale of the Piako River wharves by the Lands Drainage Department to the Hauraki Plains County Council for the sum of Is was advanced yesterday afterooon, when the chief drainage engineer, Mr R. D. Macmorran, conferred with members of the council. In the absence of the county chairman, Cr. C. AV. Harris, Cr. AV. Madgwick was appointed to preside. There were also present Crs. F. J. Mayn, AV. McDuff, C. AV. Parfitt, AV. E. Hale, and J. Motion, and in attendance were the engineer (Mr F. Basham) and the clerk (Mr E. A. Mahoney).

Mr Macmorran said that with regard to Johnstone’s wharf he was prepared to have it removed from the river. His department had not been able to secure money for putting the Kaihere wharf in order, and he did not See that it should be done out of the Hauraki Plains Settlement Account. It might be possible to secure a special grant of £4OO at some later stage. Under the circumstances he did not know how far the negotiations could proceed, in view of his inability to give an undertaking in regard to the Kaihere wharf.

Cr. Madgwick suggested dealing witht the other wharves and leaving Kaihere for future negotiations. Cr. Mayn pointed out that the Kaihere wharf was one of the most used on the river, and would be one of the best revenue producers. Cr. Hale advocated deferring consideration of the whole matter until the Kaihere wharf had been put in repair and Johnstone’s wharf removed. Cr. McDuff agreed with this and Cr. Parfitt could not see that the delay would matter much. If the Lands Department could give a promise to have the repairs effected within, say, 12 months, he would support taking over the wharves at once. Mr Macmorran said he was not able to make any promise. Cr. Hale said that there were quite a number of wharves on the river which the council did not want. This aspect should be considered. Cr. Mayn said that the ratepayers were not pushing the council to take over the wharves, as they recognised that they would not be an asset but a continuous liability. Mr Macmorran suggested that‘the council should take over all the wharves except the Kaihere structure. Cr. Hale said they did not want them all. Cr. Madgwick suggested taking all the wharves over provided the Kaihere wharf was' reconditioned by March, 1931. Cr. Mayn : Give them a year. Cr. Mayn moved that the council agree to take over all the Piako River wharves mentioned in the schedule with the exception of the Kaihere wharf : provided the department puts Kaihere wharf in serviceable order before November 30, 1930, after which the council will take over that wharf. Seconded by Cr. Motion and carried. Mr Macmorran referred to a draft agreement on the matter submitted by the department to the council some time ago, and asked for a discussion on the modifications mentioned. Most of these points were legal ones questioning the power of the Minister of Lands to do certain acts in connect tion with the river and its banks, and other ones were alterations in the drafting. All were satisfactorily arranged.