AUCKLAND'S FUTURE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 131, 26 February 1908, Page 11

AUCKLAND'S FUTURE.

A HOPEFUL SPEECHi

. MAIL SERVICES. (BY TELEGIUWI—SrKCIAL CORREBrONDENT.) Auckland, Fobruary 25.- ■ In tho courso of hisispeech at tho annual meeting of the AucMand Chambci'i of Commerce • tliii afternoon, tho retiring president (Mr. N. Alfred Nathan) said that statistics'afforded'evidence of continued and satisfactory increaso .in the volume of imports^and,exports, and .augured well for tho, future development of tho port. . Auckland's commercial prosperity had led to th£ creation of a number of fine/new buildings in the heart of tho city, and these wore to be followed Iby others. . < Features of tho forward movement wore the installation of electrical power by tho. City Council, tho comprehensive, drainago schemo • decided upon, the town ball, and- tho Grafton bridge. • The dry season showed how necessary .an inoreased water supply for .the city was, l and how they had the benefit of ;.tho" Sam®. The growth' of l the : suburbs had vbeen -fully commensurate with; the activity in .the city. ■ Important' extensions. of. tho. tramway servico were' being carried, out,' and it appeared inevitable'that, the surrounding , boroughs and road districts must soon - bo merged 111 11 ..Greater. Auckland, with .economies 111 administration and unification1 of purpose and -interests' affirmed .by tho .Chamber as desirable. . :■

, . Referring ;t9' : the Harbour Board, Mi. Kathan said that body was determined to - keep\paco with tho tunes, and the costly. aridvimportant works m progress woro worthy. 1 .of tho; future to v,-hich they hopefully looked forward,. as\they would make the port second to nono.'in the Dominion; There would, 110 doubt, be /somo iriconvemence to shipowners arid importers , alike during the' substitution of , the .riew..ferro-concrete wharves for tho ' Did: wooden Structures,;' but, when the work was', well advanced, 1 and'. ''the'. new •' sheds srected,i/tho^ -port;;.would ;'\offer ,-: admirable facilities'for-'t.fio handling,of cargo. Already the darge ,'bcean "Jtatatua, Opawa, , Waimate, : and Kaipara liad berthed 'jo ' new; railway-wharf, and tested its. possibili-, ..Sifes for good work. 1 .' ! : , . _ , .. .Regarding': tho. new post-offico site, tho . President said'that both rail-arid water borne mails could be - collected- most' conveniently : arid expeditiously from t-ho point selected. ' On the'matter-;'df- mail services, ;Mr. Nathan ' :.remarked that thore. appeared'^to ; be' reasbnablo';hop'e of ; 'tho?early restoration of a rapid 1 mail .' -arid i' Kssfenger [service:: by .way vof San Francisco! ;?TliO of accelerated com- - : mUriicatiprif with :Eurppojand America.-was'-- so fully .'recogniseil any-movement .in-, such. a direction.would bo heartily .welcomed: ; .Tho , AVeningtonjChamber .'of -Commerco. had ad-; . vocated tho payment'- of - a: subsidy to tho stoiimship^dirics-riow -trading directly ;b'etweeii -London and tho Dominion - conditionally upon tlio.:spoedi.of;-'that servico . being- enhanced..' Any •arrangement of this nature would liavo ;• to''-'.'importers' /of, ■ quickened transit.for .curjjo to .ina ffoni tho, : world's'fgrfeat markets^,":and: must urge : upon the Council-of the Chamber not to lose of the importance of havmgiproper and-quick-mail - services ': established : between the Dominion . nnd IJurope; ■■ ' ■ • ■ The completion of tho-Main Trunk railway. ' might; now bo said to bo in Much remained to be done in 'tho way,, of railway extension and.good roads in the north. Improved Toad . communications with Gisbcrno would bo of .distinct advantage -to the' province.

;.?* had arisen; as, to tho views of, the Chamber regarding; methods of railway control. Tho Chamber; as; a body was non-political, andits 'criticisms of tho traffic mftnagqment;;or financial processes of the Railway -Department were at all. times . freely..'and.. 1 impartially mado'from aii -abso- . lutely; biisiness- standpoint. There was great, need c- for an incrwso of ; rollingriit'ock.. 1 Much business was boing left undeno owing to the' present inadequato'facilities for haul/.aj^3an ■to .thfe. ,end .iwouldisundonbtedly. l lead ■ to . increased returns.■ Tho Government .had done ■ excellent work towards tho."development • of 'tlio • tourist ", traffic,'' but '/something -.might' be' doiio to mini- ' miso'tho dust 'and other, minor (discomfort^;. -

The 'coasthl trade of the ; provmco had' steadily'progressed,: , and ' deserved- all ''thtjfostering caro that. could be dictated by tho enterprise firms. Rkcent, mention of steamers to ply,-betv/eeri:Wellington and. Tauranga," though "apparently not a iorious ;'menace,- : should , stiriiulato them to conduct tho coastal" fra'do: with capacity -.arid' energy. •