MORE ABOUT WANGANUI HARBOUR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 968, 8 November 1910, Page 5

MORE ABOUT WANGANUI HARBOUR.

A REALLY BIG PROPOSAL. Interesting indeed are the port schemes in progress at Wanganui at present, and, of these, the proposed basin at Castlecliff for oceau liners is really a striking project. Remarks on this proposal by Mr. Leslie Reynolds (consulting engineer to the Wanganui Harbour Board) were published on Saturday, and additional particulars are now to hand.

Referring to future works, Mr. Eeynblds advises a "go-ahead" policy, in connection with which he says: "It is not my business to suggest a loan, but I hope "that tho people of Wangamii and outlying districts will support whatever move the Harbour Board makes. 1 don't for a moment wonder at their disinclination for rating, in view of the dismal failures of the past, and what has generally occurred throughout har-, hours in Now Zealand, where they have cost two or three times more than tho estimated figure, but I would suggest' that tho ratepayers should now pin their faith upon the little (comparatively speaking) which the present board has expended on new works and improvements so far gained, and go right ahead to build up a harbour as I hopo it to be —that is, an open door for ocean liners. I have dealt with most harbours in the colony, and I definitely say that this harbour, which is my pet scheme, is capablo of becoming a port to admit ocean liners, not to the town, but to Castlecliff, which will be the centre, very shortly, of enormous trade, and I trust I may live to see tho day that Wanganui will appreciate the possibility that it has in its river." Speaking to a "Chronicle" reporter on the probable future policy, Mr. J. B. Murray, chairman of the Harbour Board, said that that body had sufficient funds in hand to go on extending tho works for eight months more, when ho thought, they should raise a loan of £200,000 for pushing the moles still further seaward, and in constructing a floating basin at Castlecliff for the nccommodntion of ocean steamers. Ho also advocated further dredging, and making a swinging basin close to the town wharf to ensuro tho easy , handling of a larger typo of vessels.