OUR DISTRICT WHARVES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 242, 27 October 1914, Page 2

OUR DISTRICT WHARVES.

Question of their Control. The Waiuku "Advocate" in its last issue says : At last meeting of the Town Board, as will have been seen by our report, the Board indicated that before handing over control of the Waiuku wharf to the Auckland Harbour Board they would carefully consider the question. The following day a cumber of Harbour Board members paid a visit to Waiuku in the course of an inspection of the upper reaches of the Manukau, and the Town Board met them to learn what the Harbour Board proposed to do in the event of getting control. Although the Harbour Board representatives were heard on the matter, we understand that no definite particulars are available as to their intentions, and until the Town Board is in possession of some guaranteed scheme it will be a justifiable policy to rttain control. The people of this district, through their local governing body, are at present in charge of the wharf and lauding reserve, and their interests should be carefully safeguarded before any alteration in management is effected. Briefly, our argument is that local people should know how much money the Harbour Board proposes to spend on improving the wharf and waterway, and to what extent the district would be penalised by way of wharfage, etc., to meet the cost of same. It is only reasonable that this information should be supplied before a wharf, vested in the people, is handed over to Harbour Board authority. We feel quite cafe in saying that the Harbour Board has no intention of conferring untold benefits upon this district; whatever facilities are provided Waiuku will have to pay for, and every precaution should be taken to ensure that the district does not pay too dearly. The Waiuku Landing Reserve was vested in the inhabitants of the Waiuku Road Board district in 1894. J his consists of 1 rood 14 perches, and is bounded towards the north and east by high water mark, towards the south-east by allotment 67 for 78 link?, and towards the south-west by a road for 250 links. Tha wharf is presumably on portion rf the landing reserve. In June, 1896, the management of the wharf, which was built by the Government, was vested in Waiuku Road Board. The Waipipi Road Board first got control of the wharf, but when the Marine Department found that it was situated in Waiuku district, control was transferred to the proper authority, and a quarrel between the two local bodies on the matter was terminated. Since the Road Board merged into the County Council the latter have been the controlling body, but with the advent of a Town Board the wharf and landing reserve revert to their jurisdiction. To the original wharf the Waiuku Road Board made extensions and also added the western portion by reclamation, towards which the Government gave a subsidy of £1">0, and valuable assistance was also given by the Northern Shipping Company. The Board, however, while being fully alert on roading and rating problems, did not care to undertake the functions of a marine authority, and thoroughly improve the waterway, so nothing substantial was done. A scheme was discussed for the necessary dredging and deepening to give better facilities for shipping, for which a wharfage rate would be required, but this was not proceeded with. The revenue for berthage and rents is approximately £.50 a year, so that on this income alone the Board could not carry out any notable scheme. Last year about £IOO was spent on wharf improvements and repairs. The Waiuku Towu Board are now confronted with the same circumstances that beset the late Road Board. An improved waterway aud shed accommodation ou the wharf is desirable, and any liability undertaken tor this purpose would have to bo met by means of a wharfage rate. It will doubtless lie widely recognised that the Harbour Board, already in pos-essiou of the appliances and the stall, could cany out a scheme of improvements to bettor advantage than the local authority. The negotiations thfliofore for the more powerful bod)' to assume control will have wide support, and the only fault we can seo in the business is that we have no statement of the Harbour Board's intentions