1926 - 1929 Building the Wharf On November 13, 1924 Frederick Goodman of Kaitia Bridge, Gisborne, signed a contract with the Harbour Board for the construction of a wharf and road for the sum of £60,331. In February 1925 G.D. White-Parsons was appointed Resident Engineer and Inspector of Works. In August 1925 the approach road according to original plans was abandoned and the engineer provided new plans for a relocated road and shortened wharf. Miscalculations were probably due to William's unfamiliarity with the site. The contractor was paid a relatively large sum (£5,000) for work already implemented. During 1926 to 1928 the construction of the wharf progressed; heavy seas caused much damage to the new piles resulting in delays and the £70,000 loan being expended well before completion of the project. In March 1928 Tolaga Bay Harbour Board began negotiations with Gisborne Sheep farmers Frozen Meat and Mercantile over the purchase of their "plant and moveable buildings". It is not clear from Tolaga Bay Harbour Board meeting minutes exactly where the plant and buildings were located - the most likely place is the old Hauiti Wharf. Three buildings are mentioned in the minutes but in June, 1929 when F.Goodman successfully tendered for the removal and re-erection contract the shed is mentioned in the singular. In July the deal with Gisborne Sheep farmers Frozen Meat and Mercantile was finalised and by November the job was complete. In 1929 Tolaga Bay Harbour Board resolved to buy twelve pairs of axles and wheels from New Zealand Railways at Otahuhu and an Austin industrial tractor (£400). These were apparently bought and operating by the opening of the wharf. Goodman's wharf contract included the supply and laying of railway track. On 22 November the wharf and shed were officially opened. The Hon. J.G. Cobbe, Minister of Marine officiated. The opening was marred by a terrible accident when a truck pulling a rail wagon loaded with people down the wharf passed ships tied up at bollards; four women with legs dangling over the side had their legs crushed. Photographs of the opening show completed railway flatcars and the seaward elevation of the cargo shed which bears no immediate resemblance to any of the buildings in the complex at Hauiti Wharf. However there may have been substantial redesign in the reconstruction of the fabric purchased from Gisborne Sheepfamers. Evident in photographs of the opening is a large main building with a gabled hip roof, an open-ended lean-to where the railway tracks run through the building, and what appears to be a canopy (referred to as a 'verandah' in the minutes) over the loading docks on the I opposite side. Other details visible are paired horizontal windows, two skylights, water tanks and large ventilators on the main roof ridge. Records show that the building existed more or less in its 1929 form on another site - it is possible that the fabric of the shed was already nearly thirty years old. Later in 1929 the Tolaga Bay Harbour Board offices were shifted to the wharf shed; it was resolved to buy four M dropside - 3'6" gauge wagons, sleepers, points and rails." If these were purchased it is not clear where the extra track was located (in relation to the wharf and shed line). Motor lorries (Messrs Bray and Co.) were to be permitted on the wharf. Deterioration of several piles was discussed at Board meetings. In June Gisborne Sheepfarmers requested the Board's permission "to remove that part of the old river wharf (Hauiti) extending to the high water mark" - this establishes their location and assists in tracing the origin of the Tolaga Bay wharf shed.

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