Patea Breakwater.

Patea Mail, 2 October 1880, Page 3

Patea Breakwater.

A dinner to the workmen engaged on the breakwater was given on Thursday evening by Mrs Dickson, widow of the late contractor, to signalise the close of the contract. The brothers Dickson arranaged the feast, and invited a few friends to join the workmen in spending a convivial evening. The dinner was served at Captain Odgcrs’s Hotel, and was a substantial and satisfactory spread. Among the company were the Chairman of the Harbor Board, who took the chair ; Mr Thomson, enginer of the work, in the vice-chair; Mr George and Mr William Dickson ; Mr Downes and Mr Proctor, contractors for the railway work ; Mr Wood, pilot; Mr Houghton, &c. Toasts and speech-making filled up the evening, with one good song, which induced regret there wasn’t more. The health of the contractor, Mrs Dickson, was neatly proposed by Mr Thomson. Mr William Dickson responded, and said the workmen on this job were a good lot of men, and everythlag had gone on satisfactorily. Chairman proposed the health of workmen, and said it was matter of regret that the work they had been so long engaged in and performed so well should be stopped at this stage for want of funds. This necessary and successful work had been ignored by the Government in favor of other works that could not be so useful. The work at the breakwater had been thoroughly well done, and it was a pleasure to propose the health of so fine a body of workmen. The toast was drunk by the visitors with musical honors, and responded to by Mr Hawken. Mr George Dickson proposed the health of the Engineer in laudatory terms. Mr Thomson responded, saying it was gratifying to be able to chronicle a success as the result of their joint labors. When the work commenced there were about G feet of water on the bar at neap tides and 9 at springs, whereas there are now 10 feet at neap tides and over 13 at springs. At very few works had an equal result been accomplished for so small a sum of money. Most if not all the credit was due to the way in which the Chairman of the Harbor Board had managed to engineer them through financial difficulties. Mr Murphy proposed the health of the Harbor Board, and Mr Sherwood responded in suitable terms. Mr Houghton proposed “ The town and trade of Patea and district.” The Chairman responded, enlarging on the importance of a good harbor to develop the trade of the district. The health of the Harbor Master was proposed by the Chairman in a complimentary manner, and neatly acknowledged by Mr Wood.

The health of Messrs Proctor & Downes was proposed by Mr George Dickson, and sensibly acknowledged by Mr Proctor. The Chairman’s health was proposed by Mr Thomson, and acknowledged. A compliment to the Press closed the proceedings.