Our Steamer Service.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 387, 29 January 1909, Page 2

Our Steamer Service.

Of late the JJaglan Chronicle has been commenting upon the steamer service i.o that port, and, in quoting on s of the articles, the Taranaki Herald stays :

The fact that the people of Raarlan and its neighbou rhood have lately b eu complain* ing rather bitterly of the steamer service with which they uro supplied encourages ns once more to direct attention to the opening that exists there and at Kawhia for New Plymouth to develop trade. . . . Here, then, is New Plymouth's opportunity, and we do not think the handicap is too great to be overcome. Under present conditions, Auckland merchants are handicapped by having to pay railage from Auckland to Onehunga and transhipping charges at the latter port, in addition to freight from there to Raglan. 'J'raders in New Plymouth have, as against railage and trinshipping, at Onebuirj&, to pay coastal freight—say from Wellington—and transhipping charges end railage between the breakwater and town. '1 he latter item is one which we hope in the near future to see done away with, by the Harbour Board providing storage accommod ition at the wharf; and within three or four years we hope to see Naw Plymouth placed on an equality with the larger porta of the colony in the matter of freights from London. When that time comes merchants here wil< be better situated to do the trade of Raglan and Kawhia than those of Wellington and Auckland. In the meantime they might compete in many iin“B if regular direct steam communication were established between the breakwater and the small ports to the north. As it is, tbe Wait-ngiooca aionally sails from the breakwater direct for those ports; and if pressure were brought to bear on tho Northern S.B, Co , we should think tbe company would provide a regular esrvice. If not, then let ns have a locally-owned steamer In advocating enterprise in this direction we are looking a few years ahead. Tha requirements and exports of the Raglan and Kawlra districts will grow rapidly in the immediate future, and, as soon ae ever we have Home steamers discharging cargo at Moturoa, we shall be more favourably placed than any other port, to do that trade. In the meantime, the settlers there are very dissatisfied ■with the existing service and are ready to welcome any competition for their business. It must be remembered that when trade has established itself in a certain channel, it is difficult to divert it. The trade is compare • lively small now, but every year it will grow; and the longer it continues iu its present channel, unsatisfactory though it may be now, the more difficult will it be for our traders to “ cut in ” when they are more favourably circumstanopd than now.

Anenfc the subject, tbe following letter also appears in the Chronicle: In you laat issue you published a letter from a correspondent containing complaints against the Northern S.S. Company, in which he says, ** It is time better arrangements were made for the carriage and delivery of goodfi, both in and out ” ; and, farther, “ The Kawhia people, like ourselves. have continually had complaints to make about tbe way the present company have treated them.” The last sentence in quotation marks is in the past tense, bnt its context would lead your readers to understand that such is the state of things in Kawhia to-day. It is a very long time since there has been any complaint here as to " the carriage and delivery of goods,” and to imply that there are now is altogether wr.mg and misleading. I have permission from all the painoipal importers and exporters of Kawhia to say so much from them. Since the loss cf the Kia Ora it is admitted that the movements of the two steamers that replaced her have not been occasionally a s regular as could be desired, but that has been chiefly, if not altogether, due to weather conditions. With the Kia Ora it was possible «o keep her on the Onohunga, Raglan, Kawhia and Waitara trade alono, and for a time prior to the wreck she gave a grand service between those ports. It is, however, recognised here that the company are doing all that fairly can be • spec, ted from them under the circumstances and, as it is known that arrangements are well forward for a steamer of a class similar to the Kia Ora to enter this trade, there is no grumbling against tho company on account of a few lapses in keeping up to time-table. Biat the best of workmen can do little without tools, and that, Mr Editor, I think is mostly what is wrong in Raglan Your wharf accommodation during the wool season, or when any extra amount of cargo has to be handled, is qnitaineufticient and the arrangements very primitive. Yoar harbour is one of Raglan’s chief assets, but it is most scurvily treated ; doable the shed accommodation, and there will be little cause for complaint in tho matter of handling cargo, and, if then there Should be trouble, you will know where to put the blame. With much satisfaction, I would point out that the Kawhia Harbour Board treat their asset in their harbonr very differently. They aro about to spend £2OOO in additions to wharf and sheds, and are determined to have the wharf and shed room, to some extent, worthy of the barboar. I'erb, sap.— A. E, Langlet, Agent N.S.S. Co., Kawhia