WEST COAST STEAMSHIP AND TRADING COMPANY, LTD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 467, 14 August 1909, Page 3

WEST COAST STEAMSHIP AND TRADING COMPANY, LTD.

EXPANSION OF A PALMER-

STON BUSINESS.

The geographical formation of a the West Coast of the North Island gives special facilities for supplying its wants through the various small sea —or river ports along its shores. Its coal supplies, its cement, and its merchandise generally in rapidly- . increasing volume find their way iiuo the country via Foxtou, Wanganui, Patea, and New Ply- • mouth, so that any company which proposes to extend its operations in the direction either of supplying this part of the Dominion with the commodities mentioned or supplying the means whereby these, commodities may be more cheaply and efficiently carried and handled must of necessity be opening fresh avenues of profit for its shareholders. In another column We publish the prospectus of a new company, or rather an old and wellknown company under a uevy name, and all who have had business dealings with Messrs McMurray and Co., Ltd., will welcome the evolution of the West Coast Steamship and Trading Company, Ltd. The history of the firm in Palmerston is quite a remarkable one. Ten years ago Mr Robt. McMurray started as a Wood and coal merchant in a very modest way- next to the Club Hotel. It was soon seen, however, that the only way to deal efficiently with the rapidly growing trade was to have a railway siding, and a site was obtained at Terrace End. The business grew steadily, and the next move was to obtain auother yard in Main Street West; On the expiration of the lease of this new acquisition the firm purchased the land, and erected the fine premises known as Britannia Buildings—on the corner of George and Main streets —the first fire-proof building in Palmerston. ' Notwithstanding keen competition, Mr R. McMurray has steadily stuck to his business, and as it still continued to expand, it was found necessary to form a private limited liability company. And now the requirements of the business have called the firm to make still another step forward. _ For many years it has been latent to all that the coal trade must increase enormously in the near future. As the bush and consequently the firewood rapidly go up in smoke, the consumption of coal must also go up in leaps and bounds. Firewood is almost a thing of the past, and coal is now the most common fuel. These facts have encouraged Messrs McMurray and Co. to take the forward step in their business methods. They intend that the coal shall be, handled to the best possible advantage. They have secured a wharf site at Foxton—the only one available—between the present Wharf and that of Levin and Co., and intend to erect a wharf, coal bins, and store there. It is proposed ultimately to have bins capable of carrying 3000 tons of coal, but at present the bins will only have a carrying capacity of 500 tons. The saving in handling under this new arrangement will be enormous. At present the coal has to be handled once at Foxton, and two or three times at Palmerston, and the intention of the firm is that it

will be dumped direct into the —<bins from the steamer. It will be then shovelled into the sacks, weighed at the bins, the daily orders railed to the different towns, and delivered direct from the trucks. It is thus hoped that the retail price ol coal will be reduced to almost the level of its present wholesale price. Probably the most important step of all, however, is the company's proposal to purchase a new and up-to-date cargo steamer, specially built for river port work, and capable of carrying 300 tons of coal. The greatest difficulty in the past has been experienced in getting steamers to carry supplies simply because steamers were not available. The firifl state that it has been quite a rare occurrence to receive their supplies on the

date expected. Although the coal trade and practically all other "trade has greatly increased along the coast during the past few years, the number of steamers engaged has remained practically the same, and owing to the increased freights on ail goods carried on the Manawatu line since the Government assumed control, the greater portion of the merchandise will in future be carried by sea if boats are available. It is tolerably certain that Foxton will eventually become the exclusive channel for supplies to Palmerston North, Feilding,

Jfcarton, the Main Trunk line, Lillis, Sandon; Rongotea, Ashhurst, Woodville. Danneyirke, Pahiatua, Ekethuna, and probably as far down the Manawatu line a* Otaki and Eevin. While the new company naturally expect that the greatest source of profit will be the handling of Puponga coal, it is also proposed that the steamer shall run between the various ports'ou tjie coast, and carry profitably -merchandise and produce. It is pointed put that if a reliable service is commenced between Eoxton and Wellington, the bulk )bf the wool grown in the Manawatu, Kairanga, Rangitikei, Orpua, Kiwitea, and Woodville districts would, go through Foxton. The same might also be said of hemp, butter, and cheese, and the Tatanakii district might be served 'similarly through Patea. ’ It is proposed to continue running the coal business on the

rigid cash basis which has been successfully worked by the present company for some time past. The advertisement gives full particulars of the allotment of shares, etc., and small speculators looking for a sure interestreturning investment would do well to peruse it.