PICTON'S NEW WHARF.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10242, 19 May 1911, Page 5

PICTON'S NEW WHARF.

DRIVING THE FIRST PILE

SPEECH BY THE HON. J. A MILLAR.

(By Telegraph—Pr»ss Association.)

BLENHEIM, Last Night

The first pip© of Picton's new ferroconcrete wharf, which is the iuss structure of its kind built by the New Zealand Government, was driven by the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways and Marine, to-day, in the presence of a largo gathering of the public. • Before performing the ceremony, tho Minister delivered a speech. He said the Government had been twitted with an unnecessary expenditure of public money and an increase in 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 necessary by reason of tho increased trade. In construtcing the new Picton wharf, the Government was looking to the future—to the day when Picton would become the terminal port of the South Island Main Trunk railway. No doubt the trade of the port would greatly increase in tho near future. i

The new wharf is 616 ft long (compared with 450 ft in the present structure), and 68 feet wide. There will be a"'depth of 25ft to 30ft at low water, which can easily be increased as requiiements demand. The estimated cost is about £35,000, and with the reclamation and other works, £56,000

Ihe Minister expects to see the new wharf working in two years. He mentioned pha* last year the total number of ships ehtered'inwards and outwards was 1639, of a total tonnage of 861,518. In conclusion, Mr Millar said he had great hopes in the future of Marlborough.

The Minister was ferried out to the end of the wharf and superintended the ceremony of driving the first pile.

He was afterwards entertained at luncheon by the Mayor and councillors, and left for Wellington by the evening steamer.