PATEA versus WAITARA.

Patea Mail, 2 August 1881, Page 3

PATEA versus WAITARA.

Which is to be the seaport for Hawera and the Plains? Visitors who look only at the map will say Opnnaki is the best place for a harbor. People who know the district and understand the conditions of a practicable harbor will say Patea is the most convenient outlet. Other people up North will say New Plymouth is the pprt of the future ; and some say Waitara is the port of the present. The problem is interesting, and will be better understood by looking at distances as they will exist when the Coast Railway is connected between Hawera and Waverley, which is likely to be done within three years, while t the south line will probably be working up to Manutahi within 18 months. Taking Hawera or Norman by as the starting point by rail for the most convenient seaport, and reckoning 10 miles by road from Manaia to Hawera, or 11 to Norraanby, the differences will stand thus:—

The differences from Manaia in favor of Patea port are these;— Patea nearer than Waitara by .27 „ nearer than N. Plymouth by 33 These figures show that a storekeeper at Manaia, as the centre of the Plains, would pay the following rates for a ton of merchandise, say drapery goods, at 8d per mile by rail:— Waitara. freight per ton £0 12 6 ~ Rail to Hawera, 45m. 110 0 ~ Cartage to Manaia ... 17 6 Total by Waitara £3 0 0 Patea, freight per ton £0 12 6 , „ Sail to Hawera, 18m. ... 12 0 „ Cartage to Manaia 17 6 Total by Patea £2 2 0 The Manaia storekeeper would want to Ipow why he should pay 18s more for bringing the same goods by Waitara as compared with Patea. Getting five tons of average merchandise would cost £4 10s more by Waitara than by Patea, supposing merchants to sell the same goods at the same figure. The freight from Wellington to Patea is at present 15s a ton for quantities, and was 25s a year ago. It is certain to go lower with competition, and may be estimated at 12s fid for the future. The settler on the Plains would have to pay the same rate of excess on produce exported by Waitara as compared with Patea. Of course some exports must go north and some must go south, according to the market. Cattle will go north during the winter for the Auckland market, but the general run of merchandise and produce will go much cheaper by Patea because of the short distance. When the dead-meat export gets into swing, that will be the main export, and will give a lead to the cheapest outlet. Facts cannot be fought against; and why should people set up prejudices and waste their strength by pretending that facts about harbors are of no consequence ? It is not necessary to show what would be the cost of importing by way of New Plymouth, for that unfortunate colonial harbor may now be regarded as a dead scheme.

Waitara, N.Ptymouth. Patea . Hawera to... 45 miles 51 18 Normanby to 41 ,, 47 22 Manaia to ... 55 „ 61 28