THE PORT OF PATEA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 170, 5 December 1912, Page 8

THE PORT OF PATEA.

SOME DIFFICULT PROBLEMS. A deputation of the local shipping and freezing companies waited upon the Patea Harbor Board at its meeting on Tuesday, and urged it to proceed with the completion of the eastern wall and the dredging of the entrance to the river. The spokesman mentioned that the two" accidents which had occurred during the past twelve months had cost his company £2500. In regard to dredging, he stated that the cost could be met hv levying a toll on every ton of cargo, inward and outward, and also on the tonnage of every ship. The chairman staled that the cost of* running the Wanganui dredge was £IO.OOO a year. How could the Board" raise (lie money? Out of the £3OOO recently floated, only .CISOO would be available. There was no earthly chance of obtaining a further loan from the Government. He mentioned that the Board had before them an estimate for a grab dredge. It would not increase the scour to any extent, but it would deepen the river between the wharves and so save a great deal of time to the ships. If there was any possible chance of raising the money the Board would no doubt tackle the larger scheme. The spokesman said that grab dredging would not .affect the tidal basin. It would only dig holes in the bottom. What the shipping people required was an improvement to the entrance. The chairman could not get past the obstacle of where £IO,OOO was to' be raised. v >\ Mr. McKenna was emphatic in his assertion that the first work was to complete the wall. The chairman estimated that this i would cost £IOO, but Messrs. McKenna and Williams thought it would cost more like £3OO. Mr. McKenna repeated a statement he had previously made that imports had this year decreased. At the next meeting they would be in possession of ) the figure? for the year, and they should know this before deciding on any large J expendit are. They all agreed that dredg- ' ing was necessary, but the completion • of the wall was the first matter. After speaking against the shipping companies for having raised their freights, he moved that the eastern wall be completed immediately, and that the further question of dredging and employing an expert be postponed until the January meeting. It was further decided tlint the chairman should interview Mr. Holmes, Marine Department engineer, to ascertain if he would give a report on a \ dredging scheme. —Abridged' from Patea Press.