SHIPPING STOCK.

Patea Mail, 4 September 1880, Page 2

SHIPPING STOCK.

The Cattle Wharf at Patea harbor is now' under construction. Mr Dickson has had some trouble in procuring timber, owdng to the failure of a mill at Rangitikei, where his order had been placed. The delay will bo made up by employing a steam pile machine, in addition to a hand machine, and the work can in this waj' be finished inside the five months. The steam pile machine will come from Wellington with the next cargo. The earthwork for the cattleyai-d is now being formed, and the timber work will soon be in hand. The export trade of this district is at a standstill for want of convenience to ship stock. Some persons are still of opinion that the money to be spent on this wharf would be better employed on the breakwater. Looking at the facts, and putting aside the interested suggestions of half a dozen people who have a personal interest to serve in opposing this wharf, our opinion is that £I7OO spent on this wharf will give an immediate benefit to the district which ought to bo felt by every farmer ; Avhoreas £I7OO spent in adding a few feet to the breakwater would make so slight a difference as to be inappreciable to any single settler in the district. We think that is a fair test to apply. There must be wharf accommodation on the town side, no matter how much accommodation may exist on the other, because the trade which is done in the river is entirely on the town side at present, and that trade ought not to be choked. All goods passing between the river and the town would naturally go to and from the town wharf, the distance being shorter and the gradients easier than on the farther side. Only those cargoes intended for the railway would bo taken across to the railway wharf. If a portion of the trade, probably the larger portion, is found to gravitate towards the town-side wharf, both inward and outward, after the railway is opened, everyone will then recognise the impolicy of trying to force trade in a direction which docs not suit the convenience of those engaged in it. This is the probable course of events, in our opinion. The railway side should have fair-play ; but we conceive it to be a public duty to resist any schemes or suggestions which are intended to force all trade to pass over the railway side for the purpose of creating an artificial value to sections and frontages held on that side by a few hardy speculators. The interest of the majority must rule in this matter.