The Patea Mail. Established 1875. MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1882. HARBOUR ACCOMMODATION WANTED.

Patea Mail, Issue 949, 23 October 1882, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1882. HARBOUR ACCOMMODATION WANTED.

In our hist issue we reprinted under the above heading an article from the Hawera Star of the JBth instant, ihe indications of feeling shown by the writer arc amongst the most hopeful signs in connection with Harbor matters that have come under our notice for some time past. It appears from the article in question, that the people of Hawera and the surrounding district are awakening to the fact that Patea is the natural channel for over sea trade with the Plains. New Plymouth is looked upon as a hopeless failure. Month after month money is being spent on the Harbor, and the result, we are told, is that “ a few yards are added to the breakwater; then comes a peiiod of idleness occasioned by the weather; then a report that this, that, and the other have been washed away ‘ by the last storm and, finally expenditure in repairs.” Small wonder then that our contemporary characterises the enterprise as “ desperate,” and turns away jccling that nothing is to be expected

from that quarter. Waitara is next allncled (o. Here we find that money has been raised and expended upon the improvement of the river, and the result is dolefully described by our contemporary thus : “ The agents of the Macgregor inform ns that owing to the long prevalence of S.W. winds the river has become very tortuous and a spit has run out inside the bar. It is not deemed advisable to risk the Macgregor coming in there until next spring unless tides or a fresh occur to scour the channel again.” Here is failure number two, and with regular communication cut off witli Auckland, it seems but natural that longing eyes should be turned in this direction, The effect of the expenditure on the river here is too well known to need recapitulation. It is sufficient to say that what has been done basproved beneficial. The point to be impressed upon people here is the growing favour of Patea as a harbour in the minds of the settlers. Such we gather to be the case from a perusal of the article in the Star, which is written in a straightforward and unprejudiced tone. The settlers are groaning under the heavy cost of goods brought about by the uncertainty of communication, and the ncccessit.y of some means of relief is being painfully brought homo to them. We agree with our contemporary that the position is a very serious one. Its gravity is fully recognised by the townspeople here, and we arc pleased to think a strong effort is being made to overcome all obstacles, and take the work ot improvement in hand once more. No doubt the gentlemen wiio are moving in the matter will be greatly encouraged in their attempt by the opinion of our contemporary, which may be taken as an expression of feeling in the Hawcra district. The change is a welcome one. The Harbour, Harbor Board, and Shipping Company appear at one time or another to have been rather low down in the estimation of our neighbors. The Shipping Company has been blamed for their high rates and anxiety to put money into the pockets of the shareholders. We believe that a§ a matter of fact, the Company has not made one shilling of profit during the past twelve months ; indeed, we should not be surprised to learn that they lost considerably. If anyone lias suffered, therefore, -at the hands of the Company-, it is because of the series of unfortunate mishaps to which their steamer has been subjected, and the attendant expenses, and not on account of a desire to grow rich out of the profits of the trade. Undoubtedly the Company have been the greatest sufferers themselves, and are therefore deserving of a good deal more sympathy than they have received. The Harbour Board, in imposing the extra dues, were, we venture to think, in the wrong. The reason, as given by the Chairman last week, was that some £IOO per annum would be added to the Board’s revenue, and by that means they hoped to have sufficient security to warrant them asking the Government for a loan.. The idea was laudable enough, but even with the additional duos the amount available for security for the payment of interest would have not been more than enough to provide for a £SOOO or £6OOO loan ; and that, from all accounts, is a long way behind the sum actually required to ensure the construction of efficient works. If that supposition is correct, it would have been better, in face of the competition from the other end of the Plains and the uncertainty of the trade here, to have allowed the dues to have remained at the former figure. But with all this there are encouraging signs that things will soon mend. Everybody is desirous that “something” should be done. What that something is we are not in a position to say ; but when we find the business men of the town, we may say, unanimous upon the point, and the settlers in the country anxious to see the work carried out, surely we may reasonably hope that a start will be made before long.