COASTAL TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 893, 16 May 1903, Page 2

COASTAL TRADE.

DEPUTATION TO MR CRAMOND

Yesterday afternoon a deputation of commercial gontlemon and pastoralists interviewed Mr F. C. Cramond, Gisborne agent for the U.S.S. Compuny. There wore present : —Messrs C. A. DeLautour, J. Townley, J. W. Bright, A. R. DeLautour, W. O'Meara, W. F. Sommerville, A. T. Hookey, W. B. Common, Barker, L. T. Sytnes, Murphy, and Eliott. Mr C. A. DeLautour explained the object of the deputation. He spoke in high terms of the service that tiio<> Company provides for colonial ports generally, but held that much better facilities could be given for the East Coast trade. The visits of tho vessels wore at such distant dates and so uncertain that people could not well arrange to travel by the steamers. Tho Omapere’s movements were irregular, .but those of tho Herald were worse. They thought some arrangement might be made by which tho Wednesday and Sunday boats could call off tho coast to land and embark passengers. It might bo said the expense would not be justified, but there was reason to believe that if there was a regular service it would be well patronised. Then as to the cargo trade a boat of lighter draught that could [.come into tho river was required, and with more regularity as to times of arrival and departure should give a good return.

Mr Cramond said that he was pleased to meet the deputation, and it would be a pleasure to him to forward any requests to tho head oflice for consideration. The question about steamers calling off a coast port was whether there would be sufficient passengers to mako it worth while. Waipiro would probably be the best port to call at.

Mi: DeLauiour said (here would he many more travel, that way if (hey had an opportunity to get up quickly and he hack by a certain time. If he could land at Waipiro in the afternoon he would reach Te Araroa the same night.

'l’iie Mayor added his testimony to that of the first, speaker, urging that if a more regular coastal service were established the trade would greatly increase. • As to the river, a great improvement, would yet he made in that, but he believed that a depth fit it’ll to twelve feet could he relied on The steamer Balmain had come in on several, occasions, and had had no mishap. Mr Bright said he was pleased to see united action, though this .was not the lirst time the matter ’ had been represented to the Company. They had been liter with the reply that the trade was not .sufficient to warrant tlie granting of the request. Il would be better for both the Mast Coast people and those in Gisborne for rite Coast to he served from Gisborne, instead of from either Wellington or Auckland, the vessel having a terminus at Gisborne.

In reply, 31 r Cramond promised (lie deputation that the representations made would he forwarded to dieadquarters, where no doubt they would have careful consideration. At present the Company had not a boat of the draught that would suit the river and ji would he expensive lo build one, though that might lie done if there were sufficient inducements. In the summer Hie Omapcre had been kept on at the Coastal trade, but flic trouble was that, there was not sufficient employment in that trade for such vessels all the year round, and other work had to ho found in the winter months. The Herald was on temporarily only, but he supposed the run would lie about the same. He assured the deputation that the fullest consideration would lie given to their representations.