BLACK SEA HARBOURS. Very Extensive Works at Batoum and Novorossisk.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 188, 22 January 1887, Page 2

BLACK SEA HARBOURS. Very Extensive Works at Batoum and Novorossisk.

The Russians appear very much in earnes* in obtaining two first class harbours on the eastern coast of the Black Sea for the asyet undeveloped resources of the Caucasus districts, writes an Odessa correspondent. The harbour workß at Batoum are being rapidly completed, under the supervision and partly at the cost of the administration of the Transcau'casian Railway Company, who look for a great and lucrative commercial traffic through this port. The railway administration have now received from the Government a supplementary grant of 1,500,000 roubles, and pledge themselves to complete the works within twelve months, when it is believed Batoum will be the finest harbour on the Black Sea. Novorossisk, situated higher up on the Circassian coast, posseeses many advantages from its natural position for becoming a central emporium for the rich mineral districts of the upper Caucasus. Although its sea frontage has a natural formation admitting of the construction of a sheltered and deepwater harbour, the necessary works are nofe likely to be completed before ISBB. The Government has increased the first grant for this harbour from 3,000,000 to ,'5,500,000 roubles, and the works are being actively carried on. It is announced that the Great Briansk Steel Company is to be amalgamated with the recently established Belgian firm of Messrs Cockerill at Nicolaieff, with a capital of 15,000,000 rouble?* and a branch establishment of the united firms, it is stated, will be founded at Novorossisk, with a capital of 3,000,000 roubles. With the Briansk supply of Russian steel, and the plant and mechanical appliances of Cockerill for marine engineering, and the production of every requisite for shipbuilding, Russia, it is hoped, will be able at once to dispense with English or any other foreign marine engines and fittings. Another report on i\e same subject adds that Messrs Krupp have accepted the terms of the concession offered by the Imperial Government for the erection of a gun factory at Nicolaieff, conjointly with Messrs Cockerill. The latter report, 1 am in a position to state, is entirely incorrect. Messrs Krupp have, at least for the present, and I believe finally, abandoned all idea of establishing eitner separately or conjointly with Messrs Cockerill any gun works at Nicolaieff. I» is, however, true that the Krupps were for some time in negotiation with the Russian Government on th& subject.