THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1905. HARBOUR MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3535, 15 June 1905, Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1905. HARBOUR MATTERS.

Some days since we published a series of figures dealing with the trade passing through the port of Eoxton. The nett import ol these was that during the year 1904 the number of vessels entered inwards and outwards was Xvftfe 'i WIiUVgS of 27,870; imports loia'lled 29,396 tons-, and exports 5473 to 'S. In addition to the latter item liimst be mentioned a considerable nibb.bef df live! sleek. Inquiries Since made at Patea and Waitara, both of which places are river ports and possess harbour boards, show that neither of them deal with so great a volume of trade as Foxton. At Patea last year 204 vessels entered and left) the imports totalled 8874 tons dfdrditP ary goods Piul I*B-49 fdiis df tidal? And e?i----p ftß t'chieliy liutter, clteese, and wool) were valued at £315,671. The earnings of the port were £3031 9s gd, including rents £599 ns 3d, and expenditure was £2632 16s yd. Of this latter sum £862 6s 6d was for interest on loans. Customs duties collected at Patea amounted to £5016 73 iocl; Vv aitdrd returns show 196 vessels worked, of a total tonnage ol 49,239; but of this number it must be remembered (hat eight were large ocean-going steamers loaded in the roadstead, so that the actual tonnage ot vessels worked in the river would be probably under 20,000. Coastwise imports were about 6000 tons of general cargo, and 4710 tons of coal, added to which was 444,277 feet of timber and 1657 sheep. Receipts were £8903 6s 3d, including £573 15 9d from endowments and £6644 16s 6d brought forward from the previous year, leaving the nett earnings as £1685 8s 2d, and expenditure os 4d. The last item, however, included transfers to interest and sinking fund accounts, totalling £579 ißs gd, bringing the nett expenditure down to £1683 is yd. In each of these cases endowments assist very materially in providing revenue ; shorn of thes-j the northern ports’ revenue would not exceed that probably derivable at Foxton. The boards controlling Patea and Waitara have done much valuable work in endeavouring to improve the river channels, and such a body, if one existed, at Foxton would be placed in an advantageous position by reason of possessing a better river. The Manawatu requires attention in places, however ; but most important, wharf extension is badly wanted. If the Railway Departme.it, in whose hands the working of the port now li. s, connot or will not see its way to provide such facilities as will expedite present shipping bin iness and attract more, then it is surely time other influences were brought to bear upon the matter. The whole question is one of real and vital importance to i.b.- i-eople of this town and, in fact, to ilia whole of the M.mawatn district and we commd it to the serious consideration of the council of the Chamber of Commerce, which meets on uonday evening next.