THE KAWHIA TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 167, 24 October 1910, Page 3

THE KAWHIA TRADE

OVERTURES IX WELLINGTON. Ka-.v'.iia. is making overtures to Wellington, through the medium of .Mr. (leorge J. Jonathan, chairman of the Town Board, and a member of the local County Council. "We .look to Wellington to trade with us rather than Auckland." he said, in speaking to a. Post reporter. "We have a population of some 1300 or 20(H) people, but we »'•? not growing as rapidly as we should like, and this on account of,our isolation. At present the bulk of our trade is with Auckland, but, it is a costly affair to us, by reason of the cost and difficulty of transport. Auckland does not care, it seems to us. We are a dairying and wool-growing people, but we do not go ahead as we should. 'Still we are progressiii'.:, in spite ofi: our geographical position. "I lay no stress on the quantities, but rather the rate of increase of the value of our wool trade. In 1008. we sent away 420 bales of wool; in 10UI). S2O bales; and this year we shall send .away, say, HIM) bales. Then again (it is oniy a little matter, I know, still, it is an

indication of progress), the number of telegrams passing through the Kawhia oilice during the past six months was 22(K) more than those of the previous halfyear. These are small things in themselves. perhaps; but you will see by them that Kawhia is not goiii™ back. ''Now, as to navigation of the Kawhia harbor. Any vessel drawing 20ft can get over the so-called bar, and the distance between deep water and the Main Trunk line is but "28 miles, over a railway route which presents no great engineering difficulties. The question of route may be left open. 1 think Kawhia will not worry about the route if it gets the line. The Kawhia people wish to be in closer touch with Wellington. 1 have interviewed the Chamber of Commerce in Wellington on the matter, and with good results, so far as the relationship with out district and the capital city is concerned.

"As an alternative to using the costly combination of steamer and "rail bv the Manukau-Onehunga route to Auckland, ive have the long sea journey round the North Cape. To land 'goods 'in the Waikato via. Kawhia and the 28-mile railway i have suggested would cosFjusc naif what it now costs. Taking Te Awamutu as a Waikato ease, goods could lie landed from Wellington on any other southern port by way of Kawhia at 23s per ton at the outside, as against 4(!s !)d per ton. the present freight by rail from Auckland.

'"There are in the Kawhiai harbor within five chains of water deep enousrh for a barge, enormous coal deposits. The coal is similar to the Taupiri,'and has been used with success by coastal steamers. There are also 'IOO,OOO acres of excellent native lands awaiting opening; up —some of it two-sheep-to-the-acre, and 75 per cent, of it plougha.ble. There are two thousand acres of magnificent timber, which 1 am assured would pay interest on the railway line I have" suggested. Then, too, ivawhia is clo-ser to Sydney than any port in Xew Zealand. It is a district of enormous possibilities. Will Wellington help us. trade with us, and assist us in getting into closer touch with her by rail and by water?"