1900's - 1926 Increasing need for a Wharf Just after the turn of the century a Farmers' Co-operative Company had erected a wharf in the mouth of the Uawa River at Tolaga Bay, as a loading-out port for lighters taking cargo out to the ships in the roadstead. Control of the wharf passed to Cook County Council, which sat as the Harbour Board after 1908. As early as 1913 there was local interest in a jetty outside the river, partly due to opposition to rating for Gisborne's harbour development and the inadequacy of the existing loading-out system. A freezing works was opened at Tolaga Bay after World War One, by which time the old wharf had silted up. In 1917 the Gisbome Sheep Farmers' Frozen Meat and Mercantile Company Ltd. ran a trading store at Tolaga Bay. They also had a trading store in Tokomaru Bay and had a major interest in the Hick's Bay Freezing Works. This company already controlled the Gisbome lighter trade and now indicated an interest in entering the coastal shipping business. They challenged Richardson and Company and the Union Company's domination of the East Coast trade but the major companies prevailed. In 1919 Tolaga Bay formed its own elected Harbour Board and rates were imposed on the Harbour District from early 1920 onwards. In 1920 renowned marine engineer Cyrus J.R.Williams was appointed as consulting engineer to the Board. His initial report proposed a 900 foot road, a pier or jetty 1500 by 16 feet, a wharf 400 feet long and 51 feet wide, giving a depth at low water of 21 feet. The estimated cost was £60,000. In 1922 a report was produced on procuring a £ I 00,000 loan to finance the harbour works. However, there was difficulty in getting the loan, which was not confirmed until February 1925, when the Public Trustee accepted a sinking ftmd of £70,000. Between 1920 and 1924 there were various changes reducing the length, width and lowwater depth of the proposed wharf and in June 1924 the plans were approved by the Govemor-General.

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