THE DEBOUCH OF A GREAT RIVER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 6

THE DEBOUCH OF A GREAT RIVER.

ITS COMMERCIAL 'SIDE. (By Telegrapb.-rSpecial Correspondent.) Wanganui, August 26. Mr. H, ■¥. Toogood, marine engineer, with considerable experience in tho Far East, and now engineer for the Hokitika Harbour Board, has been on a visit to Waugamii, the conditions ■. at Hokitika ■ being similar to those, at the Wanganui entrance, Tho object of tho visit w'as to ! inspect the local works, 'and obtain a guide as to the completion of tho Hokitika scheme. . Interviewed to-day, ho'expressed himself as being surprised at the excellent work done hero at very economical cost, and ho was greatly ■ impressed with the possibility of making Wanganui a first-class port. . He is .quite convinced that the local Harbour Board is proceeding on right lines, but said that tho scheme should not stop' with the moles. It ought to.go out another thousand feet, .'and thus secure a wellsheltered, deep-water entrance, and that ■ accommodation for oversea shipping should thus be provided at Castlecliff. Wanganui and Castlocliff ought to occupy tlie same position relatively as Dunedin . and Port Chalmers. The big shipping ought to be at Castlecliff, and tho smaller: at the town. Also the- Harbour Board ought to, own the railway between the two. There was every opportunity of this being done, and thougb : what ho termed, "nervous business interests" might question tho wisdom 'qf such a policy, there need be no misgivings concerning it.