PATEA HARBOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 44, 19 February 1903, Page 2

PATEA HARBOUR.

As showing the necessity of something being done to enable New Plymouth to even hold its owo, we commend the following from the llawera Star to the consideration of our readers: The annual report of the Chairman of the Patea Harbour Board, Mr J. A. McKenna, apeaks of progre?s in every line, and, indeed, gives substantial

proof of it. One fact alone tells even mot j than figures —the fact that private enterprise is investing additional capital in steamers, Two new boats of larger dimensions than those now running are to be put in the trade. One of them is now in the colony, and the i othtr will soon be here." The chairman's figures show that the butter export trade has developed greatly, In | 1901 10,000 boxes were shipped through the port, in 1902 no less than 79,000 boxes. The probability is that practi- j cally all the butter and cheese made on, ihis side of Stratford or Ngaire will be shipped through Fatea, provided, of course, that certainty of despatch can be relied on. Attached to the statement are a series of tables made up by the secretary to the Biard, giving the statistics of the port since ! 388. The progress shown is very steady and satisfactory. The suspension of the meat industry has, it is true, affected! the results during the last year or so, | the figures having gone down fromj 8910 cases in 1899 to a nominal export last year; but other lines have more than made up for the shortage, and with the resumption of operations at the works, which is hoped for, the trade of the port would show a very substantial increase. The current finances of the Board appears to be satisfactory, for the past year shows an excess of income over expenditure by £BOS. As to harbour improvements, the chairman speaks very confidently, After referring to the inability of the Board to get tenders for the work of extending the west pier, and the decision to do it by day labour under a competent 1 foreman, he says: "lam gratifi.ad to know that the Board, in appointing Mr McKirdy, made a most excellont choice, and I doubt if there is a more capable man in New Zealand to supervise the work. I feel confident that Mr McKirdy will be able to save £2OOO on the 500 feet, and that he will be able to narrf the work out to a dis-

tance of 600 feet for the same amount J of m-ney that our engineer informed us 1 500 feat would cost." Tha snagging of j the river is about to be undflrtakao. i 1 There has been considerable delay, but ] the chairman explains the B)ard is < f scarcely to blame. Tna Government j made a grant of £2OO, but no part of ] this amount was to be expended in \ plant. The Board is now in possession ' of plant, so that the whole of the ' grant fram the Government can bs 1 expanded in labour on the river. "It , is very important that the river should = bo snagged from the Heads to the - bridge, and I have no doubt that the q shoaling between the wharves is in a \ greit measure due to the large snags „ in the immediate vicinity of the I wharves, I trust to be able to stars snagging in March." The ironsand _ p ojpct has not progressed very far. " I am sorry also to report that no 3 progress has been made in this in- ® dustry, As you are aware, the Iron--3 smd 00. (at least tbeir sgea ) eoc--3 tracted to erect buildings and o - h»r i improvements to the vilun of £3OO, ® wi' hin two years from commencement = of lease. The two ytars has expired, it and no improvements have been carried ,r out, and the conditions of -t he l«aee 3 ' have not been complied with. It is my intention to take steps to compel the lessees to carry out such condi- > 'ions."