GROWING TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1392, 19 March 1912, Page 8

GROWING TRADE.

<, MORE WIIAIiI'AOK WANTED. In his annual report, presented to the HarlxHir Hoard yoitcnl.iy, tho engineer (Mr. .1. Jlarrliljanli") alludes to the, need for iucreiiH'il wharfage accommodation at the local part. "JOiirini; (lie year," lie remarks, "them was an increase in British ami foreign oversea shipping arriving at the port of 52.157 ions.. The, total arrivals were just under 3,000,000 lons, an incrcafo of %,S'l9 ton-:. Little or no inconvenience was caused to vessels wailing for berths, but the harbourmaster had at times considerable difficulty in dealing satisfactorily with the number of lar*e forcignHoing vessels which were in port nt once. The, size, of the intercolonial vessels is likely to increase, and (ho Union Company propose to provide a larger ferry steamer of the Maori class to cater for the Lyttelton ferry service. It is, in my opiuion, necessary that steps be taken at an early data to provide further berlhage accommodation. It appears to me that the first addition should l)c the l'ipitea Wharf, which will lie to the east of the King's Wharf. If a wharf wns constructed suitable for the largest steamers and capable, of dealing with large import cargoes, and also available when required for exports, there would be 110 need to bar Hi any but coastal and intercolonial si earners at the Queen's Wharf, and for a timo at least the Lyttelton ferry steamers could bo accommodated at a more convenient berth than at present. Later on it will probably be found advisable to construct a wharf to the oast of the Taranaki Street Wharf. Should a Sydney ferry service bo inauguralud, a wharf in this locality would provide a suitable berth for the steamers engaged in it, and could, if required, bo used for the Lyttelton ferry service, if the mail trains were rim through to Te Aro Station. In tho event of tho board deciding to go cm with tho construction of the Pipitea Wharf, I would propose to build it in reinforced concrete, as there, is now very great difficulty in obtaining suitable timber for this" class of work nt n reasonable cost."