SHIPPING FACILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 196, 17 September 1900, Page 2

SHIPPING FACILITIES.

r, -* Our evening contemporary is to be congratulated on makiug a discovery. In fact he has made several discoveries, 'e First he has discovered that the wharf - ir age accommodat : on at the Breakwater . is inadequate, secondly that the Takag puna can use the inside berth at the wharf, and thirdly tint there is more * water (or less sand) in the sheltered area. 1 hese discoveries are important, not because they were not already publicly known, but because the anj nnuncement of them in our contemporary'n columns is an indication that = he is, at Lst, waking up to what is going on around him and to what is required for the welfare of the community. We agree with the Herald that the lack of accommodation at the wharf is it lorious reflection on the Harbour Board, and have, on more ' than oik! oncatiion, called attention to; it. !' :, o bertiiii!;' of the 'I.V-'ramai i bsui' ro'ttrT:', fcel! us iu his iicliiiiiabl, latter that appeared some tiuvi ago in the JSsw3, that the increased depth of water in the harbour was caused by Mr, Maxwell's sand-pump pumping it in from outside. Notwithstanding the time it has taken our contemporary to acquaint himself with all these facts, we shall rejoice to have his assistance in bringing about a better stataof affairs and cordially endorse all he said on the subject. Considering the neglect of all precautions for the safety and comfort of those landing and working on tho wharf, the"passenger tax is a disgraceful imposition. Indeed, if tha owner I of a mill or factory showad a similar ' disregard for tho safety of tho lives and limbs of those frequenting' or working on tho premises, a prosecution would follow. The question of effecting improvements at the harbour is, however, part of a very big question. ■ f It is the most easy thing in the world to find fault, but there are so many things requiring attention that the - Harbour Board must be at its wit's end to know which to do first. One of the most urgent matters requiring attention is the increase of wharfage. It is a common thing for three steamers to be in port at the same time, while rhe anival and departure of vessels is 3 now of daily occurrence, and there is every probability of a large increase in both the trade and the number of steamers. Thanks to tho energy and S systematic manner in which Captain . Hood is working the dredge and other ' appliances at his command, the sand ( : difficulty is now under control, but he g informs ui that another berth is badly < needed. We under.-.tand the Board had ' decided on an extension of the wha> f, but the cost of the sand pump, which lias been very much more than was at f iir.it expected, appears to have delayed II matters. Only i short lime back we . pointed out the folly of indulging in .•xperiments, and advocated theadoption of a well considered and approved scheme of harbour improvement, so that 1 every penny spent would be in f uriher(i :ince of a systematic phn bringing us C iteadily, if slowly, nearor the d,y when he port will provide a thoroughly sat'M itid i-oiiviMiieu i liavi-n ?•);■ i:viv chu of ■' ..,.'.■■.,, i i ' , ' I -.he d,".y that a direct steamer is berthed •i'on«sifle the wh.-u-f ,-it Mot-i'-oa v.-\!i add ?5 poi- cent, to the value cf all oiop,?rty thj'QiJi'ho'!*; ft ho PrpyiiK-iiil district, " * |