The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1913. THE HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 285, 25 April 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1913. THE HARBOR.

At the meeting of burgesses at Xew& Plymouth on Tuesday evening Mr. Fred Bellringer expressed the opinion that it was time the Harbor Board was told tiiat they must have direct results, and that the Board should push on its work with the utmost speed. The whole district, he went on to say, was looking to New Plymouth for a lead, and "we must wake up and give that lead." We have 110 doubt the members of the Harbor Board are just us anxious as anyone else to complete the dredging work in order to provide accommodation for direct liners, and are doing everything they can with the means at their disposal in furtherance of this end. Still, there is no use denying that the public are disappointed with the present rate of progress of the dredging work. They were led to believe at the time they sanctioned the loan that the necessary accommodation would be available ere this, and they are now asking, When will the port be ready?. They know that when it is ready the large boats will call, for they have had definite assurances on this point from those in authority. And tliey know, too, that the day on which the overseas service commences will usher in a new and brighter era for the town, as well as for the province as a whole. It is therefore but natural to find them chafing under the delay that is occurring. Whether this ciui be avoided, however, is another matter. The dredging, it must be confessed, has proved much more difficult than was ever expected. Adverse conditions have been encountered, and have had to be overcome, that could not have been reasonably foreseen. Take, as an example, the delay that occurred a month or two back through the dredge having to go to Wellington for its annual overhaul. For six weeks it was oil' duty—six weeks, too. of the best time of the year for dredging. If the work is to be expedited, and it should be if it is at all possible, the Board will have to do one of two things—(l) work an extra shift on the dredges; or (2) hire another dredge for a time. l T p to the present the Board has regarded the former course as expensive and inndvisable; indeed, almost impracticable. The other proposition has probably not occurred to the Board. It is an alternative that cannot be disregarded if the Board is not prepared to run extra shifts and is anxious to complete the dredging within a reasonable time. The cost would be heavy, certainly, and it might entail the striking of a small rate. Would the public be prepared to incur this rate? It may not. The fact is now apparent that if the present rate of progress is not accelerated, it will be some time yet before the Home liners will be able to lie up at Moturoa at low tide. At present they can come in at high water: there is ample water for berthage, with all the necessary facilities; but, naturally enough, owners of 'big vessels will not risk coming into a harbor that, in ease of emergency, they' could not steam out of at any state of the tide. And even if owners were agreeable, it would hardly be politic to allow boats to take even the slightest risk with the harbor. The fairway is now dredged to a mean depth of about 20 feet; this has to be reduced by at lea.it another Jive feet and necessary swinging room provided before the harbor can be said to be ready for the Home boats. Of course vessels up to 500!) to liOOl) tons could come, in now in safely, but. -unfortunately for us, the class ot vessel that could be induced to call here is very much bigger, and the tendency is lor the boats to increase, and not decrease, in size. But there is another point that people of the town and district should carefully consider; Are we ready for the Home boats? We are not. Some will say, "When the Home boats come it will be time enough to make arrangements for transhipment and to organise, if necessary, a coastal •service." This is all very well so far as it; goes, but unless we show a little luore enterprise! and take time by the forelock, we may find ourselves "left" when the big boats arrive. A small coastal service would do more for the development of trade in New Plymouth than anything else we know of, and probably would pay from the outset. The inauguration of such a service is a matter deserving of the earliest consideration of those with a stake in the district. As Air. Bellringer said, "the whole district is looking to New Plymouth for a lead, and we must wake up and give that lead.'' We have the opportunity right

before us in regard to providing a shipping service, like those ut Patea, Waitara, Wanganui or Nelson. Are we going to embrace it, or are we going to let ft slide, as we have allowed other things to slide? The district will respond to such a move, of that we are certain; lmt the lead must come from the capital of the province, and come soon, or it will be too late to be effective.