The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1887. The Wanganui Harbour

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 135, 21 May 1887, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1887. The Wanganui Harbour

The Herald of the 18th instant has au excellent article on the intercolonial trade which might be opened between this West Coast and Australian ports, for farm and dairy produoe. We cordially agree with ©very statement made and indorse . the arguments adduced in favor of .the proposals for Harbor improvements in the Wanganui river. .But our contemporary passes in silence the singular apathy which has been displayed by the merchants in Wanganui wbo have allowed so many golden opportunities to escape them of utilising the river ,as a port.; It would appear they haye hitherto depended entirely on others to supply vessels, whether sailing or steam, to maintain what . little trade was done even in.the good old days, with one honorable exception, the firm of Taylor- and Watt! Before Wanganui can even hope to become a shipping port of the smaller consequence, one or. more business firms must become the actual owners of vessels suitable for the trade desired to be created or attracted., The ratepayers may squander thousands upon thousands of pounds, of borrowed ' money, in ex-? pensive works, or so called improvements, but until the port can send out vessels whose masters and crews call Wanganui their home and whose owners are her citizens, all such expenditure is absolute waste. It takes years to gather the maritime population necessary to provide the first requirements of a seaport—unless nature has been exceptionally ki nd in providing a good harbour. We can quite understand the feeling bf the Rangitikei people who object to be rated for money to be spent in the harbour works in Wanganui, when they see no movement' On the part of Wanganui business men to make use of the works after they are completed. It would appear that it. was intended outside owners were to derive the chief profit and dance, while the country settlers paid the piper. We have always held the opinion that the Wanganui river in its natural state, had capacity enough to admit of vessels suitable in every way for trade with Australian ports. We mean sailing vessels of small tonnage, say of not exceeding two hundred tons, schooners or brigantines, inexpensive to ; man and work, and safe in any weather at sea. With three such vessels a continuous trade communication oould be kept, up by each one making the round trip in a month. Between Wanganui and Australia there is nearly always a. fair wind each way as the prevailing winds are north or south, while the ships courses would be., east or west. The enormous increase apparent, each succeeding year, in farm and dairy 1 produce, with the admitted fact of this coast being " the dairy farm of Australia" puts out of sight any doubt as to whether owners would be recouped for their outlay. By means of vessels limited to the tonnage we havo mentioned, cargoes in such small quantities as to secure a certain market would be carried at such intervals as to render impossible the workings of " a ring" similar to that now existing in Sydney which governs the prices ob.tainable for New Zealand produce. The shipments, under the system we advocate, would be sold at the ship's side immediately on .arrival, and the small dealer would have a voice in the price he would have to pay for lots suitable to bis means and business ; a. privilege he does not now possess. We notice the House has thrown . out tiie proposal to include Rangitikei in the rateable district under the Wanganui Harbor Board Bill, so the whole Bill may now be considered as extinguished.