The Daily News WEDNESDAY, JULY 21. THE HARBOR'S PROSPECTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 150, 21 July 1909, Page 2

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, JULY 21. THE HARBOR'S PROSPECTS.

One of the most remarkable phases of the harbor question is the unanimity ol opinion that now prevails respecting the creation of a deep-sea harbor at Moturoa, or, to be more precise, respecting the almost certain utilisation of'the port, at a very early period, by Home-going steamers. Kven amongst a large section of t'hose who supported the louu proposals there were those who did so because they believed a better bargain, for the country ratepayers, was being made, holdina* stoutly, at the same time, that not for years would ocean-going vessels visit Nqw Plymouth. For one reason and another doubt on this question seems entirely to have dissipated, and it is acknowledged on nil sides, by those who interest themselves in haribor matters, that the day when the first Home-going vessel sllall berth at Moturoa is much closer than the public allow themselves to believe. We have never for a moment doubted that so soon as the requisite berthage ■ is available, deep-sea vessels will load i Taranaki's produce for the Home mar-1 ket at Moturoa instead of, as at present, iu Wellington. And, likewise, that Taranaki's foreign imports will be landed at Jloturoa direct, at a huge annual saving in transshipment and other charges incidental thereto. That that particular class of deep-sea trade will commence automatically with the completion of the necessary harbor works, we have never entertained a doubt. There is another, and highly-import-ant class of shipping, however, for which New Plymouth can advance strong claims —claims supported not by parochial but by national interests. We refer to New Zealand's important intercolonial shipping communication with Sydney. New Plymouth is, in round figures, one hundred miles nearer Sydney than is Wellington, and 140 miles nearer than Auckland, .by the steamer route, representing a saving, in favor of New Plymouth, of from 7 to 12 hours on the passage from Sydney to New -Zealand, fn this commercial age, such a saving of time is of importance, particularly so in the matter of mails. The value of | | 'he shortening.of the sea-journey across | I the Tasman Sea will not be fully real is* I ed, however, until the Stratford-Onga-ruhe railway is completed. That accomplished, Auckland will quickly recognise i that its Sydney mail via Wellington could be delivered at least 12 hour* earlier were New Plymouth made the first port of call. And at the . same time, the Wellington and South mails could reach Wellington, by rail from New Plymouth, probably no later than under the Existing conditions of direct connection.

Irrespective, therefore, of the volume of cargo offering between Australia and Taranakij and vice-versa, and the willingness of the intercolonial boats to include New Plymouth as one of their ports of call, the strongest possible daiiii can he advanced in the interests of the North Inland's mails and pas-sen-gern to ensure the recognition of the harbor's geographical advantages. There U another highly important avenue of trade awaiting development at Moturoa, hut one that must depend alone on the enterprise exhibited by tljis district—the coastal and transhipment trade. Until a reasonable proportion of the seaborne traffic between Raglan to the north and Patea to the south has been centralised at Moturoa, it can never be claimed that the port is fulfilling its natural function. Patea is only 68 milee distant by sea from Mew Plymouth, as against 113 miles from Wellington, a very considerable advantage in favor, of "this port. But unless some enterprise is shown locally in the direction of developing such a trade, 1 it is not likely to come our way unsolicited, and will continue a close preserve to Wellington and Auckland shipping and mercantile interests. What is undoubtedly wanted is a local shipping company to open up trade with the coastal ports | mentioned. At the .present moment l.usiness to tlie value of thousands of pounds annually is being absolutely lost to local merchants because of their inability to supply the market that m iiaturallv theirs. This question is one that should be a profitable one for investigation by the Chamber of Commerce. with a view £>f demonstrating the value of the trade that could be developed were facilities afforded. We ( ljelieve were there reliable data available to show that a profitable field for investment existed in a modest local Shipping company, there is enough enterprise in Xew Plymouth to ensure its establishment.