PROPOSED STEAM SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 873, 20 July 1910, Page 6

PROPOSED STEAM SERVICE.

TRADE WITH BAY OF PLENTY.

A couple of years ago the possibility of a steam service between the Bay of Plenty and Wellington, via* ccaatal ports," was mooted. Krom news received in Wellington there is still a possibility of such, a proposition taking form, but it will probably emanate from Auckland, through the medium of a steamship company in which , Mr. Thomas Henderson, of Auckland, is interesting himself. That gentleman recently attended u meeting at Tauranga, and explained the proposals respecting the steam service. They were favourably received, and a committee was appointed, and it is hoped to obtain sufficient support to iniluws the company to make Taiiranga u port of call. Amongst other inducements the company proposes to allow shareholders of not less than 100 shares a bonuti uf 10 per cent, on the aniounL of freight paid by them to the company. Speaking about the proposal, a Wellington gentleman with big interests in Tauranga states that in his opinion there la an exceptional chance for opening up a trade between the Bay of Plenty ports— Tanranga, Wbnkatnne, and Opotiki—-and Wellington, though Auckland is much the nearer port. The reason for his belief lay in the fact that Auckland' got most of her early fruit ami produce from the .north of Auckland, and by the time the Bay of Plenty produce was ready, the market was" 'glutted, whilst it was still early for Wellington. For that rwisou he believed that producers at the Buy would welcoiii.- a slnam s'crvico with Wellington. The same argument applied to mnize—thu staple product of the Bay. Any merehaiuliso forw.M.vW to tho Bay ports troin Wellington Is now forwarded to" Auckland, via the East Const, f.ncl lias to be transhipped there to Tauranaa, and brought hnck , for some hundreds of miles practically over the same ocean track. _ If tlie proposed new service materialised, and the steamers came on to Wellington, such freifrht could be slurped here direct to "the port of destination.