NEW WHARF AT PICTON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 305, 19 May 1911, Page 5

NEW WHARF AT PICTON.

niUVIKfi THE FIRST PILE. By Telegraph.-Press Association. Jilenheim, Last -Night. The fttft pile of Picton's new ferroconcrete wharf, (he first structure of the kind built by the Xew Zealand Government, was driven by the Hon. J. A, Millar. Minister of Railways and Marine, to-day. in the presence of a large gathering of die public. Before performing the reremony the Minister delivered a speech. The Government, he said, had been twitted with unnecessary expenditure of public money, and with the increase of the national debt. It had' to do one of two things, either construct public works with borrowed money, or leave them alone. He considered that the Government was justified in granting every facility rendered necessary by reason of increased trade. In constructing the new I'icton wharf, the Government was looking to the future, to the day when Pieton would become a terminal port for the South Island Main Trunk railway. Xo doubt the trade of the port, would greatly increase in the near future. The new wharf will be filfift long, as compared with the present structure's 4.10 ft.: and it will be 08ft wide. There will be a depth of 2." to 30ft at lowwater, which can easily be increased a« the ret|iiircments demand. The estimated cost is about £35,000, and with reclamation and other works £»(i,000. The Minister expects to see the new wharf in working order in two years' time. He mentioned that last year the number of ships entered inwards or outwards was Mi.'Kl. of a total tonnage of 501.515. Tn conclusion, the Hon. J. Millar said that he had great hopes for the future of Mnrlboroush. The Minister was then ferried out to the end of the wharf, and superintended the ceremony of driving the first pile. He was afterwards entertained at lunchen by the Mayor and councillors of Pieton. and left for Wellington by the evening steamer.