Chamber of Commerce.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 127, 2 June 1904, Page 2

Chamber of Commerce.

Q4jAB.TE.IUjY MEETING. 'rile quarterly meeting of the Chumbe* of Commerce was held in Messrs Bewley und Griffiths'' rooms last evening. Present—Messrs W. llewley (president'), VV. U. Webster, A. Goldwater, AJPaul, W. A. Ewing, i'. M. | Moilteatli, J. W. Wilson, ij. VV. Alexander,' \V: Ambury, W. J. Penn, M. iKniser, llewton King, I<\ P. Corkill, I J. I'atoii, G. Grey, J. *> George, G. 110. jMann.iring, Jt. Cock, and E. Grifiiths (secretary). I An upo\ogy was received from Mr (!. 11. 'Morgan. Messrs W. L. Fiteherbert and 11. Bedford were elected members. —The Mokau Trade.—

Mr W. J.. I'enn introduced the matter of so opening . the Mokau rivetto commerce as to secure to New Plymouth the trade of the Ohura district now being opened up. At present most of the stores for tlie settlers there came from Auckland, freights being about £3 3s per ton ■by' rail, with heavy cartage charges ty'ter that. At present the amount of trade was small, but would dou■|b;le itself in the next year, and go on increasing, as the land was now being closely settled. The trade from this district would, unices some action were taken, go to Auckland. The Tongaporutu road was aa yet unexplored, the Tangarakau route was impracticable, and the railway would not be through for years. There was another route, that of the Mokau river. From the confluence of the Panirau and the Mokau, to which point the river was navigable for fair-sized steamers, a good road of about eighteen miles could be made to Mangaroa, the heart of the Ohura district, only twelve miles away in a straight line. Some of the country here wa's rough, but most of it fairly easy. He thought the New Plymouth merchants could easily beat Auckland in the matter of freights, as the mouth of the Panirau was, say, .18 utiles from Manga- | roa, and the Auckland railway about thirty miles, lie would suggest that steps be taken to urge on the Government the necessity of" making a dying survey during the coming summer in order to ascertain whether or not there was an easy road route. The Maoris formerly had a track from the Mokau through this district to the head of the Wanganui. He mentioned that Auckland was now securing the trade from this district and unless early action were taken would secure it all, He moved that the Chamber of Commerce urge upon the Crown Lands Department to have a survey made to dotine a road line from the Ohura to a navigable point on the Mokau near Panirau. Mi- Eraser said he had taken a great interest in this subject foxsome time, and had interviewed Mr Mackenzie about it, and had recently visited the Mokau river. He had there teen told that a road could be inexpensively constructed from the Mokau river to the Mangaroa township. Mr Mackenzie had expressed surprise that the New Plymouth people were sutislied with living on the iringe of a vast district capable of great extension without attempting to cater for its trade. Were the river opened for traffic from New I'lvmouth, he thought the people there could get their goods at less than £1 per ton. Why, produce went to Dunedin foi; 10s per ton ! Ti,is Was, however, not a matter for talk. I,ul' ior action. He had much pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr J. C. George said that there were some present who had been unabltj to hear Mr .Mackenzie's remarks on this subject. That gentleman had said that if New Plymouth people were not altogether dead to their interests they must act ill this mutter at once. Jlo thought that there was nothing to be gained by waiting for the summer. Why not push on now ? No stone should be left unturned to bring about this much-desired result.

The Mayor was not content to merely talk without acting. It was '•'bunkum" to ask the Oovcrnment to open up the back-blocks. 11' they were going to open up the Mokau for trade let thorn fonn a steamship company for that purpose. Not a jnun in the district would vote againet a harbour loan if the New Plymouth people would institute a coastal steam service. Tiie Chairman remarked that this question would be -dealt with later on. There was no doubt that the backblocks oX Taranaki held l a big future for New Plymouth. 110 thought, with Mr Coak, that sometiling more than passing a resolution- should be done. Motions were useless ,They might send .a deputation, tfith- their- Parliamentary meinour, tp wait'-oifj the Government in this matter, . 'i'

~Mr Alexander thought the deputation-' "could make tfuuch of the fact that the peffpite,,, wero prepared t o forni # stetyiislflf*••company. Tho this latter rather premature.*-".' ' Mr Newton "King s&vid that the .Aeaiutjhip subject was not premature and also that the Moftau .matter hinged on this proposal to form a steamship company. Ue would support the motion. The road would mako another link in a chain, of events benefiting the harbour. On the suggestion of Mr Newton King, it was deckled to atld to the resolution "and that a deputation consisting of the chairman (Mr Bowley), his Worship the Mayor, and Messrs Penn, Fraser, J. C. (ieorge, ami Newton King wait on the Commissioner with regard to the mattor." Mr i'enn, in replying, said the road inland from Panirau must come first, llis reason for moving in this matter was that he knew that the Crown Lands Department would next summer make flying surveys of probablo routes between the Ohura and tho Mokau. Mr Fraser quoted the opinion ol Air, Skinner, an undoubted authority, that where the water naturally found its way a road would' be practicable. He was, however, in favoin of approaching the (iovcrnmvnt direct. The motion was carried without dissent. —Coasting Service.— Mr A. C. (leorge introduced tho matter of inaugurating a coastal service between New Plymouth and smaller ports. He felt sure that tho Opunake people would support any proposal that would reduce, freights and guarantee a more regular stirvice. The great drawback in regard' to the present import service from Wellington was that the steamers we-e often compelled to pass by, owing to the state of the bay. With a New Plymouth-Opimake service the steamers would he aide to rundown when the weather was suitable, ami thus the delivery of goods would be more prompt and regular. Messrs Paul and Penn favoured the proposal. Mr (loldwater was surprised that New Plymouth merchants had not. taken this mfcitter in hand iong ago. He was sorry that Mr Morgan was nat present, as this seemed t<> him to;he a matter for the Cnion vSleamshfp Company. However, before the trade could bo properly developed, there must be better wharf and shed fiiTommodal'jon at, Moturoa. Hi- \w~ li«'\ed a great trade must eventually lm opened up between New Plymouth, Kawlria ami Opunake. Mr K. V. Corkill Kuid tho boat that would be .suitable for the Mokau trade would be utterly unsuitable for. )k.awhia. Mr N. King thought there would be no difficulty about steamers. If (here were trade, they could easily get boats. Mr Alexander referred (o the necessity for bettor harbour facilities. Mi* Fraser said the matter stood thus. For the two steamship companies. New Plymouth was the fattest of milch cows. No one but the wholesale merchants had any idea of the large amounts paid away for freights. -Was New Plymouth going

ing it to put on sltymiers tor this west coast trade, as it was doing on the east coast. He was sura it would pay. The merchants of New Plymouth were determined that if the I steamship companies did not tako this matter, up the merchants would Ido it themselves, and form a coinI puny. He moved that the chamber wait on the steamship companies in this connection.

ilr Newton King did not conceive it possible that New Plymouth merchants could compete with Wellington merchants. They were penalised in the lirst instance by 12s (id per ton coastal freight on imported merchandise. Then thefe was the charge of 5s per ton from the port to New Plymouth railway station, and an additional 3s per ton to the I harbour before the Bluff reached the distributing steamers. Where then could a reasonable freight pay? He was strongly in favour of the scheme, and urged the erection of sheds and other transhipping facilities. This harbour matter was not to he allowed to die; it would come up again shortly. Tht present extensions would have no effect on the matter under discussion. One of the greatest difficulties was in the sorting of cargo, which would rrtmire very large sheds that could not be provided with present space. He was not supporting the motion for the benefit of the New Plymouth people, but in order to allow the country people to obtain their goods without paying excessive charges. Mr Cock could not see why a transhipment shed could not be erected at Moturoa. There was ample room at the head of the wharf. He was sure that a proposal to form a coastal steamship company would receivo very wide support. Mr Ewing said tile transhipment shed must bo on the whurf, so that cargoes discharged into the sited on one side could be re-loaded into the small coastal steamer on the opposite side.

Mr George thought the resolution would prove of great indirect hon& lit to the harbour, as the steamship companies when approached would urge the completion of the harbour works. Mr Webster thought there would be 'no difficulty in obtaining h boat if : there were trade and transhipping facilities. A KJimll boat would not pay. Mr George : There would J)e a good cargo of dairy produce froiu Opunake to New Plymouth. Mr Paul tusked if the motion would strengthen the hands of the board on tlie transhipment question. Mr King said the whole thing depended on the completion of the harbour scheme. Eventually a motion was carried to the effect "That it is the opinion of the chamber that if the Harbour Hoard will provide proper facilities for transhipment at the harbour, steps will be taken to inaugurate direct coastal services between New Plymouth and Opunake and other ports." —The Hallway Line— Mi' Jiewley brought up the matter of the' 1 diversion of the railway line from the centre of the town. The chamber had now a splendid case, owing to the vast increase of trade and the consequent saving of haulage if the deviation were agreed to. Then there was the matter of preventing encroachment of the sea at Wooicombe terrace. The public safety, too,must be considered. There were ijjjoru trains now than when the last representations were .mulf to the Government on the matter some years ago,, and tho population had increased. He moved that Mr K. M. Smith, M.H.H., be requested 1o endeavour to obtain a vote on the estimates for thi» work. Mr King seconded pro forma. lie did not think there was any chance of getting the deviation. Mr Cock spoke at some length, remarking on the very fast erosion of the Wootcoinbe Terrace clilT. Quite forty feet must go this winter, Within a few years a four-acre paddock had disappeared. If the ltailway Department leased this foreshore for railway .lines it could, by retaining walls as now existing at the railway yard, prevent the ultimate washing away of much property. Mr Paul thought the beat thing would be l:o conduct the Minister for Railways, over the two routes. Mr Ambury deprecated the chamber's frequent attitude of " taking things for granted." Other places were getting things done while New Plymouth was standing still. They must keep on worrying the member for tho district and the Government on the matter. The motion was carried, and aftor tho usual compliment to the chair, the meeting terminated.