NEW VESSEL FOR FOXTON TRADE.

Shannon News, 28 June 1929, Page 4

NEW VESSEL FOR FOXTON TRADE.

SERVICE INAUGURATED BY HIMATANGI. CELEBRATED BY SOCIAL GATHERING. After the failure of the Kennedy to maintain a shipping service to the port of Fox ton, steps were taken by a group of residents there, headed by the Mayors to secure another vessel more suited to the requirements of the river. With a great deal of public spirit and commendable confidence they formed a private company with £IO,OOO, capital, of which they were successful in raising over £7ooo—sufficient to justify the purchase of a steamer —and after long and -careful enquiry they found a steamer that gave every promise of fulfilling the need. This Avas the Coolabah;' 479 tons, formerly belonging to the North Coast Steam Navigation Company, of Sydney. The ! Coolabah has' been brought, to New Zealand, refitted and re-named the Himatangi. She was to make her first trip. to Foxton yesterday with, general cargo from Lyttelton and Wellington. In honour of th/j event the company invited representatives of various local bodies and others interested to attend a social function at Foxton. Unfortunately, owing to the very heavy sea on the coast the bar was not deemed workable and the guests did not have an opportunity of inspecting the t vessel, but the arranged social function took place, and proved to be a very cordial gathering full-of good auguries for the new era that it is hoped the Himatangi will institute for the port of Foxton. Already substantial promises of support have been received for the service" and the general opinion of experts is that the new steamer's association with the trade will be as happy as was that of the Queen of the South. "Amongst those present .Wednesday were the Mayor of Levin, Mr C. Blenkhorn, who is also a member of the Foxton Harbour Board, and Mrs Blenkhorn, Captain Holm, who brought the vessel from Sydney, Mr W. E. Barber, chairman of the Manawatu County Council, and Messrs H. B. Free and E. V. West, of Palmerston North.

The gathering was presided over by the Mayor of Foxton, Mr M. Perreau, who, it appeared, was chiefly responsible for the formation of the Company and the launching of the venture. He read apologies from several Palmerston and Levin firms for absence, all conveying good wishes and some promising support for the bbat. He regretted the absence of Mr Linklater, M.P., who s'3nt a telegram stating that his Parliamentary duties, precluded his attendance and congratulating Foxton on the success of their efforts to obtain a suitable boat. Mr Perreau said he was disappointed because the new steamer had not arrived. He was sure some of those present, would have been able to.speak with greater inspiration if they had only seen the ship, instead of merely the plans which were exhibited to those present. Some time ago a small private company was * formed for the purpose of assisting the shipping of Foxton. A committee was set up to look for a suitable boat for the river service and they made enquiries practically throughout the world. Then they were enabled through the good offices of a friend to get in touch with a steamer in Sydney called the Coolabah and the opinioif was formed that it seemed to be a very suitable boat for the Lyttelton-Foxton trade. The matter was considered very carefully in conjunction with the expert opinion of the Dominion which gave them every encouragement to think that the boat was the very thing they had been looking for. Then they made a canvass amongst the jjeopie who wished to see Foxton develop, as a port and the prineipal business men in the Harbour Board district, with very gratifying results. It was disappointing that they were not able to inspect the new boat, but he felt sure that she would be what she was represented to be and quite suitable for the trade and con-' ditioiu of the port. Mr Perreau mentioned that the promoters had sought i the advice of Captain Holm, of the Holmdale Shipping Company, and he had gone to Australia • to examine the Coolabah. His opinion Avas favourable to the purchase and he had backed his opinion by putting a substantia! amount into the fund 3 of the Company. He invited Captain Holm to speak. Captain Holm paid a tribute to the Mayor's optimism and said the committee who had overcome all the difficulties was a band of heroes. The new boat was-a light draught ship. Her present cargo consisted of 281 tons and full bunkers, and she was only drawing eight feet, of water—a cargo that was very near a record for Foxton. There would shortly be trading to Foxton another boat and a smaller vessel, so that three boats would be using the port. The only thing that would trouble Foxton would be if they went in for a big loan and started out to emulate Wanganui and New Plymouth. The Himatangi would serve Foxton for many years to come—that was if their chairman, in his enthusiasm, did not pull her in over the bar too hard. Mr Perreau said the Himatangi was 150 feet long—larger than the Kennedy and had-30 feet beam. She could carry 325 tons dead weight of cargo and only draw 8 feet 3 J inches, whereas the Kennedy needed 8 feet 9 inches with 200 tons of cargo. The Himatangi would probably come in' with the Kennedy's load on about seven feet of water.

The next speaker was Mr Bergin, who proposed the health of the Himatangi Shipping Company. He paid a tribute to the public spirit of the citizens of Foxton and the district, who realising the hazardous, nature of the venture and knowing what capital had already been los. in local shipping, were yet ready" to show their confidence in the future of the rirer port.

They did- this without hope of larj dividends and for lhat reason we public benefactors. It was the earue hope of all present that time wou justify their confidence and give the a reward worthy of their altruist motives. v Mr Blenkhorn, Mayor of Levin, nddi a few words of congratulation, vvhi expressing disappointment that the gt lant ship Himatangi had not bean ah to come iu over the bar. Foxton peop had the habit of succeeding iu gettii what they wanted. He had had t opportunity of inspecting their beau t'ul school and felt that such a fine e viremuent must have a very great ai beneficial influence on the. future ci zens of the town. The new eourthou was also a creditable public buildi and he hoped that the town's ventu into shipping would be. on a par wi the success achieved in these din tions. Mr Perreau mentioned that the Fc ton Chamber of Commerce had co-op* ated and taken a leading part in t movement to obtain ihu Himatangi a invited the President to speak. Mr J. K. Hornblovv, President of t Chamber, congratulated the Mayor the formation of the company,, whi was a creditable instance, of local p riotism, and would probably not ho been brought to a successful issue I for Mr Perreau's enthusiasm. He co mended the policy of 'f safety first represented by the absence of the v sel that day. It was far bettor to w for favourable conditions to come' than to spend five or six weeks on 1 slip or on a bank/ lie hoped the c; tlbus policy would be continued in 1 economical running of the compa: While people had put their money ii the venture not hoping to get huge vidends out, he felt sure that, runni on the lines they had begun, the Hii tangi would, be as remunerative as ; Queen of die South was. Mr Ho blow stressed the value of the sea c ncction with the South Island, to pc try farmers. iMr W. E. Barber, chairman of Manawatu County" Council, in pay a tribute to the pioneers of this p of the country, contrasted its pres productive condition, with the swai and sandhills of a few years ago. 1 felt justified in saying that there wa llarge district waiting for cargoes t would come from the South Island,, they must have a service that was c tinuous. He congratulated the ch; man and Messrs Eraser, Rooic i Holm on the success of their efforts supply a suitable vessel. Mr D. Christie, vice-president i-f Chamber of Commerce, added a j words on similar lines* to previ speakers. Replying on behalf of the risil for their entertainment, Mr H. B. F of the C. M. Ross Co., said Palmers 1 North was greatly interested in the i vessel and' he felt sure would supj the venture in a very substantial,w and ho thought it had very good p: pects of success.. They only had give the Himatangi a reasonable eha and he believed the optimism voi that day would be justified. Me E. V. West (Palmerston North), H, Kerslake (Levin), and R. Bryant (E ton) also spoke briefly congratulat the company on the successful issue its efforts.