THE LOCAL PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 834, 3 May 1910, Page 3

THE LOCAL PORT.

AN UNSATISFACTORY STATE OF AFFAIRS.

The following letter was read at last night’s meeting of the Harbour Board from Messrs Fevin and Co., in respect to the local port, and it was decided to discuss it together with other important matters, at a special meeting to be held at Palmerston on the 19th iust., —

‘‘We beg to bring before your notice the most unsatisfactory state that the shipping of this port has reached during the last two or three months. Of course the delays incidental to a bar harbour and tidal port are risks that in the ordinary way of business are taken as a matter of course, but the present state of the bar is a most serious matter, not only to the shipping interest, but to the district as a whole. We would mention a few incidents of late showing the great disadvantages under which vessels are labouring. The “Himitangi” arrived here on the 26th March, and was discharged and loaded on the 27th, but was unable to cross the bar until the Ist April. The ‘‘Queen of the South,” drawing about 6ft 6iu, arrived at the bar on the 2nd April, but stuck while attempting to cross. She was floated next day and loaded on the 4th (Monday) with half a load, but could not sail until the following Thursday, 7th April. The “Gertie” arrived here on the 13th ulto., and although loaded to about 7ft was not able to cross outwards until the 20th, seven days in port, three of which she was wind bound and four delayed through the shallowness of the bar. The “Queen ot the South” stranded twice in April and once in March, and each time this happens salvage gear is required which costs the vessel £2O to £ 25. Another aspect of the question is that practically no coal has been lauded here during the last six weeks and we are informed that could vessels be induced to load for Foxton that from 1000 to 1500 tons of coal would be landed here almost immediately. The port is not. only losing dues and wharfages on these cargoes, but consumers of coal are paying about 5s more for their coal than they should do, thus costing them from ,£l5O to ,£2OO per month extra. The most serious aspect of the matter however is, that should very heavy rain occur the bar is so banked up that it is most likely that the flood waters could not be carried away and would devastate the low lying country. If this happens the outlay incurred by the Government, Focal Bodies and private land owners would, if spent on improving the bar and river, make same safe and navigable two or three times over. Of course in placing the matter before you in this light we do not for one moment attach any blame to your Board as we know the unfortunate circumstances in connection with the Board finances, but we think that very strong representations should be made to the Government, which holds all the revenueproducing functions of the port, pointing out not only the great inconveniences to shipping and the financial loss to mercnants and farmers in the district, but the absolute danger to the country skirting the Manawatu River from floods during the coming winter. The only practical means of making an improvement to the bar seems to us to be by systematic and periodical dredging, but of course, this is a matter for the Board to decide.”