OPUNAKE SHIPPING FACILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 123, 26 May 1903, Page 4

OPUNAKE SHIPPING FACILITIES.

AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME. Os Tuesday of last week Major Coyle and his staff, who have for the last few weeks been engaged in removing to ks in the fair way of the bay at Opucake, were entertained at a tmoko conce.t prior to their departure. In response to the toatt. " Our Guests," Major Coyle Slid he fouid more work to do than he anticipated, but he did not feel justified in going away until he had finished his work, and now he felt satisfied wrh the result; cf the operations. The Aotei or A ore re can now come alongside of the j-tty at any etate of the tide with pet feet safdiy. Now that a certain amount had b t-n done he thought the people shcu'd help themselves a little. When tbe Glenelg comes here a boat has to ba sent out to mdit h;-r, and often when the steanvr is in the bay it is too rough for the boat to go through the suif. He suggested having the boat kept at the jetty, which would be more convenient, and would always be ready when the steamer arrived. If an arm were run on" and the veesels got behind it, so that the waves wculd have a tendency t.» keep the ve.-sel off' tbe structure, it would be a meao£ cf making the ehippiog much saf r. There are plenty of boulders ready for the work, which should not cost mora than £2OOO, He had drawn out a chart of the bay, which he bad much pleasure in handing to Mr Lambie, as chairman of tbe Wharf Company. In proposing "Agricultural Interests," Mr Maxwell said Major Coyle had- done a very good thing for the place, and he saw no reason wby Opunake should not export all tho butti r for twenty miles aroutd. The question of small protection for the jetty was an important one, and he felt tuie it would be Bi lf-supportiog owing to the increased trade. A boulder bank could ba built at a minimum cost, as the material was at band, and a good bar- j courage made for the smalt vessels. It would aho provide shelter fur a I tender for larger boats, and there was no reason why we should not hive it. |

Mr Stevtneoa in the course of his reply caid tbat at present bu'ter his to ! be carted 25 miles, the roads hare to be repaired at much cost, atd Ihe eettl n have to find the money. If we can manage to sbip til our butter it will save our road?, and be a benefi l ; to the faimers and townsmen. The New Plymouth harbcur rate w:s a great drawback to the dis'rict, but that rate' would run out in six years, and the settlers would try to stop any further liability. The money thac we ssnd to New Plymouth would soon make a difference in our harbour, and when the six years had expired there will be no trouble in getting money for a harbour here. We must fijho agaicst tie New Plymouth loan, becaus: if we have to pay for it there will be very little hope for us.