NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3034, 22 March 1917, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR

RECEIVES A BIG LINER. By Telegraph—Press Association. New Plymouth, March 21. To-day was Taranaki's biggest day, inasmuch as tho first ocoan liner was borthed at Moturoa Harbour. For 42 years tho work of making tho harbour has proceeded, and now tho harbour can accommodate any of tho largest vosscls trading to New Zealand. Tho liner camo in at 2 o'clock, under her own steam, and with tho greatest ease, though it was extreme low wiiiEor, and 1 the work of filling her with meat from the now Farmers' Co-op. Freezing Works at New Plymouth immediately commenced. Tho occasion was celebrated by a public holiday, and a day on the seashore, whero sports woro held, and a banquet given by New Plytnou/th to 'representatives of tho rest of the province. Mr. A. Morton, chairman of tho National Dairy Association, expressed tho hope that very soon tho whole of the cheese and butter would be takon by ships at New Plymouth, as well as meat, instead of paying coastal charges to Wellington, and" there transhipping to tho x same boats as were now to call at New Plymouth for meat. It is understood that from now on tho Shaw-Savill and N.Z. Shipping Companies will send their vessels here regularly for meat, and it is likely that in tho near future tho dairy produce of tbo whole of Taranaki will also bo taken. The Harbour Board proposes to continue the work of extending and improving the harbour, which now has 25 feet in the fairway at the lowest tides, and berthage and a swinging basin of 33 feet at tho lowest tides.