THE PORT OF NAPIER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 457, 16 March 1909, Page 8

THE PORT OF NAPIER.

A REVERSION TO LIGHTERS. (ni TELEGRAM—SPECIAL COItUESrONDENT.) Napier, March 15. Tho action of the Union Steam Ship Co. in anchoring tho Monowai out in tho bay today aroused considerable comment in town, and resulted in groat inconvenience to tho travelling public. Tho re-building of tiio Glasgow Wharf in ferrorconcrcte is now approaching completion, and the Union Co. and Huddart, Parker and Co. recently decided not to avail themsolves of the facilities for berthing at tho old wharf while the tvork is in progress. To-day the harbour showed tho striking anomaly of the Capo Breton, one of tho N.Z. Shipping Co.'s chartered steamers, lying snugly at tho wharf, while tho Monowai, a smaller boat, lightered in tho bay. Tho Cape Breton loaded a cargo of 3GOO bales of wool, and tho cliicf officer informed a pressman that tho boat came alongside tho wharf very nicely, au<J. tbo moorings and other facilities were quite sufficient to hold tho ship. The irony of the situation lay in the fact that, while tho Capo Breton lay alongside tho wharf with a gross tonnage of 3871 tons, a length of 360 ft., and a breadth of 49ft., tho red funnel liner Monowai, 3433 tons gross, 330 ft. long, and 42ft. 2in. broad, lay out in tho roadstead whilo tho wharf was there for her if tie company had cared to uso it.

Tho lightering nuisanco was distinctly galling to passengers by the Monowai, who had to submit to an extra charge for beiug landed at Port Ahuriri, whoro they had 10 desiro to go. _ Cabs had to be hired to convoy them to Napier, and a number, missing the mail train for Wellington, had to remain .nil extra day in town.