THE BOILING DOWN COMPANY AND THE COMING HARBOR ELECTIONS

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 396, 1 February 1879, Page 2

THE BOILING DOWN COMPANY AND THE COMING HARBOR ELECTIONS

(To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir, —ln my last letter I dealt with the question of the power of the Board to grant the Boiling Down Company permission to erect a wharf on the Pilot Reserve. I will now, according to promise, give reasons against the erection of the wharf, even if the Board had the power. Wo have an Engineer to whom we pay £SOO per annum. ' In return for this we have his professional services and advice. Being requested to report upon this proposed wharf, he, in October 1878, wrote as follows “The site of the Boiling Down Establishment is about 300 yards from the Breakwater, at which point the river is wide and shallow. The distance from the bank to low water is about 40 feet. As a rule it is unadvisable to construct wharves in small rapid rivers, although it is very hard to draw the line in some cases, particularly where no information of any

kind respecting the-proposed structure is given.*’ In any case it would be injudicious • o construct wharves along the riyer'bniik till we receive Sir John Goode’s report on how lie pi eposes to treat the river. ] should be prepared to advise (lie con" si ruction of a low water training wa from the hj off to the heads on that side o the rivei ° in order to confine the stream from half tide downwards. There shmi he fittle difficulty in bringing produce ot ••my kind to the present wharves in a flat punt of 15 or 20 ions and light draft, which conk! easily float in close to the present gangway,”. That report wasduly presented to the Boafd and agreed to unanimously. Now, sir, in the-face of that can you understand disinterested men voting for the erection of the wharf. It, has been stated that this Boiling Down Company is a local industry, and that consequently it should he encouraged. Granted (assuming that it is a local industry) hut not to the extent of granting a monopoly. If the • 0 :co ssion was made, how could other appl cations he refused ? The lino must he drawn somewhere, lot if he done at the outset—far hotter to prevent than to create difficulties. The applicants say they ate willing to pay wharfage. Very fair' (apparently) hut in that case someone would have to keep a check and collect the dues. Tin’s would no doubt have to he done by Ibe wharfinger, who would oi course charge for ids services, by giving less per annum for the other wharves, and there the Harbor Board would have a direct annual loss. Thu applicants say that this proposed wharf is to be used only for purposes connected with the Boiling. Down Establishment—but what guarantee is there for that ? It has taken the Company over twelve months to secure a majority in the Board, in their favour. May they not in another twelve months, secure a majority, who would give Uie.m further concessions, and so increase the liability of Ihigation. When Bir tolm Goode was here I pointed out the position of this proposed wharf. Me at once said, “ 1 think it would bo very ima.ivisable to construct wharves, or anything else, especially just about here.” Buhsequently he mentioned that iris scheme might include a training wall—pointing out the site. This would just go through the proposed wharf. Now, sir, I have gone into this matter somewhat in detail, not because I think there is any probability of the wharf being erected—but in order that the public may know something about the matter. . Everything is being - made subordinate to tins wharf question. The importance of the breakwater is as nothing to if. Thu Board has and will have, plenty of natural difficulties to contend with, without creating art.ficia! ones. I have continually urged the Board to confine its attention to the work at the Meads, where there is plenty to do. When the result of that work is known, the B >ard will ha in possession of such knowledge as will enable it to deal with other matters, in a way suitable to the then circumstances oi the port. \Ve must lonk ahead and s'u ly as much as possible, the wants of the future—(l don’t mean of posterity.) In a lew years the land occupied by the Boiling Down Company (as I think illegally), may ho enormously enhanced in value. Then let the Harbour Board and the public reap tin: benefit of it, as it must very shortly become the property of the Board, if it 'taken the ’proper means to secure it. lam fniiy sensible tint even some ot my friends consider I am wrong in this matter. 1 can only say that I have given great thought and attention to the whole circumstances, and I am more than ever convinced that in opposing this wharf, I am acting in the true interests of Cue public. That being the case, I shall go straight on, win or lose. Meanwhile the Company should endeavour to get the O der-in-Couueii,—Yours, fee., G. F. NiIFUWOOD. Cl The site of the proposed Wharf.