SHIPPING TO THE LOCAL PORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2305, 21 July 1921, Page 2

SHIPPING TO THE LOCAL PORT.

REPLIES TO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ‘

At the last meeting • of the local Chamber of Commerce it was decided to communicate with a number of coastal shipping firms, asking them if they would trade with the port, and if not to state reasons. Nine firms were communicated with, and the following replies have so far been received: — From Messrs Cathie, Dempster and Co., Wellington:—“We have to acknowledge receipt of your circular letter of the 11th instant in reference to shipping between Foxton and Wellington. We have passed on your communication to our principals, Messrs The Kaiapoi Shipping and Trading Co., Kaiapoi, for n reply.”

From Messrs Johnston and Co., Ltd., Wellington —“We beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 11 tli inst. We cannot send any vessel to Foxton, as we have no steamer running now suitable for working flint, port. As you are no doubt aware, owing to the slackness of trade, the s.s. ‘Blenheim’ is now laid up, and is for sale.”

From The Canterbury Steam Shipping Company, Limited, Christchurch: —Your letter of the 11th July to hand, and having reference to working the port of Foxton. As you are aware, we are fully occupied at the present moment with our recognised trade, Southern ports to Wellington and Wanganui, but learning that Foxton was not being served, we did make some enquiries quite recently with the idea of allowing one of our steamers to call if your port. We found, however, that the state of your river and bar iVsis such that we could not with safety send one of our steamers to vnur port, at any rate until Midi Mine as your Harbour Board lakes -licit steps to make navigation suitable for the draught required, and ri, avoid delays. Unless the small coastal steamers can obtain full dads and receive prompt despatch it either end it is absolutely imposible to cope with I he heavy running ■barges for wages, coal, upkeep, Me., and we would, therefore, urge your Chamber to see that the port is improved when we are quite eonlident that you will have no difficulty whatever in securing regular shipping with the-main ports.”