The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1917. THE HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1917. THE HARBOR.

The berthing of an ocean liner at Motu10a yesterday was one of the most important events in the history of Taranaki, and it is' no mere platitude to say that it marks tyi epoch in the development of the province. For forty odd years Taranaki—or,, at least, the progressive element—has striven to providea harbor capable of accommodating the largest vessels trading to New Zealand, realising full well that direct trading would prove of immense value to everybody and enable the province to take its rightful place in the Dominion. Yesterday's berthing of a liner was the consummation of that long period of labor, and it is only natural that thoso left to us who have taken a foremost part in the harbor development should feel gratified with the success that the event denoted. The conditions yesterday were splendid and should provide an effective reply to those who have taken a pessimistic view of the utility of the harbor. The tide was almost at its lowest point, yet the big boat came easily under her own steam and was berthed in a manner that could not bJ improved upon in any port in New Zealand. In point of fact, there was plenty of water, notwithstanding it was lowspring tide —25ft. at the shallowest point in the fairway and 33ft. in the swinging basin and berth. The successful berthing was a tr'bute to the skill of the- harbormaster (Captain Waller), not that there are any unusual difficulties, because there are not, even for a liner twiee the size of that now lying at Moturoa. It has taken a long time Certainly to provide the accommodation, but the natural uillicuities have been immense, and tnat they have been overcome is a matter for gratitude and a tribute to the courage and determination of the far-seeing hand of men who have had charge of me operations. None has exhibited these sterling qualities to a greater degree than Mr. J. B. Connett, the chairman, who has appropriately been called the "father of the harbor." He never lost faith in the harbor; from the beginning he visualised what tiie future had in store for Taranaki, and nothing daunted him. He met every difficulty, every set-back, with the same philosophic qourage, and it must have

been a proud moment for him yesterday to see his faith so effectively vindicated and liis vision of forty odd years become a reality. He has remained at the helm of the Board until this meritorious day. and ho can now rest upon his laurels, feeling that he has achieved a work of vast importance to the province, and for which, we feel sure, the public will ever bold him in grateful remembrance. The harbor is not complete, by any meanß. Much remains to be done, and this fact is recognised by no one more than by members of the Harbor Board. Settlers now have concrete evidence of the success and value of the harbor, and we are sure that now tliey will have no hesitation in sanctioning any further loan the Board thinks necessary for the further improvement of the port. -Captain ChiKllcy spoke of the harbor being as yet but a "fine weather" port. VVc all recognise that the harbor is in the developmental stage, and that it must be made as safe as possible, and work to this end cannot be slackened. Captain C'hudley's point is interesting in t:iat it proves the Board was right when it determined seven years ago to jettison the old scheme providing' for a long, crooked wharf, and substitute blasting and dredging out deep berthage nearer the shore. Had the original plan been followed we question very much if large vessels would have been permitted to enter, Moturoa. It meant delay and further expense, but both have been amply justified. We hope the Board will now come down with a scheme of further development, for, apart from the point of making the port a "bad weather" one, it is quite plain, as 'Mr. F. C. Cooper pointed out, the general manager of the Farmers' Meat Company, and who also lias been the directing genius of the Wairarapa Farmers' Freezing Company—a company that now ranks as one of the leading and most successful concerns in the Dominion—that the harbor as it ia now will soon be totally inadequate for the shipping offering. Mr. Cooper showed that bej sides the great dairying and beef country Taranaki held an important position as a sheep-grower, it already possessing a million sheep, and the number was yearly increasing. There is no doubt about that. Taranaki has a big future in respect to sheep, as is realised by those who know our back country, and especially the Ohura, all the trade of which must come this way as soon as the railway is put through, and this work is one of the most important upon which Taranaki should concentrate. Mr. Morton, in the course of his speech, pointed put that there was no reason why our butter and cheese should not be shipped here along with the meat, instead of having to be sent by coastal ships and then transferred to the very same ships that called here. We have confidence in tho business ability of the shipping companies to feel they will remove, the anomaly in their own good time. But we must go on improving the port. This done, we can next look to Taranaki's imports coming direct, instead of via Wellington, and the business of the province is now such that there should be no difficulty when normal conditions are reached again in offering such cargo as would warrant at least a monthly service from Home to New Plymouth. Mr. Morton's second point was of equal, if not greater importance. It referred to the urgent necessity for a sufficient extension of wharf accommodation and transhipment sheds to facilitate dealing with goods by carriers for transport along the coast by road. In this connection he stressed the prime importance of clearing out the railway monopoly of the wharf, so that carriers could take their goods direct, and thus save railage to town and cartage back over most part ol the railway, to tbe breakwater. Tho suggestion is one that may well receive serious consideration. It is easy of solution if only the departmental authorities can be brought into line. There is a consensus of opinion that the time has arrived for this anomaly to be abolished, and Mr. Morton has done good service by giving prominence to the matter. The public of Taranaki diould not rest at possessing a good, deep-sea harbor. It should foster trade in every way, am! seek to form a Taranaki coastal shipping company, for tradinj, with the coastal ports, and further afield, just as Wanganui and Nelson are doing. The project should be gone on with at once, for it must prove successful from the start and be a source of benefit, not only to the harbor, but to every interest in Taranaki.