The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 15, 1918. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 15, 1918. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

I For many years there existed a doubt amongst certain sections of Taranaki settlers that a safe, deep " sea harbor could ever be made at Motnroa, and that, consequently, * the money expended upon the work represented so much wasteIful expenditure. But this feeling of doubt and scepticism has been very largely, if not totally, dissipated during the last year or two, principally because of the fact that what the promoters of the improved harbor scheme undertook to do has come about, nameIly, the provision of accommodation for ocean liners, which have, been duly coming in to take away supplies of meat, etc. Satisfactory as this achievement is, it is evident that with the great development of the province, and the post war trade prospects, further provision will have to be made. The Harbor Board has realised this for some time, and | engaged Mr. Blair-Mason, the 8 emiuent marine engineer, to reS port upon the harbor and prepare I plans for its extension. This he I has done, and the matter has en- | gaged the close attention of the | Board for some time past. "We b> understand the scheme has now been finally approved by the - Board, and will be submitted to a meeting of representative Tarait naki men on Thursday next, when (1 the engineer will explain the n v whole proposals. Until then the [ schema gpaot.-&e d^cusaediinyifiK

tail, but it is perhaps permissible to say that it is very comprehensive and one that will eventually make Moturoa a iivst-class harbor capable of dealing with all tho trade of the future, however greatly it may increase. It is not proposed to indulge in "big licks" at once. The idea is to work from the present facilities, strengthening and increasing them, thus obtaining an immediate benefit. The first part of the scheme can be put in hand as soon as the necessary powers are obtained 'and will not involve an expenditure beyond the ability of the district to bear. As the needs grow so will the extensions, the underlying idea being that all work done shall fit in the general, complete scheme that some day, we hope, will make Moturoa the last port of call for Home liners and the first port for Australian vessels. The engineer and Board have taken a long view in connection with the development of the port. And rightly so. Great as Taranaki's productivity is to-day, it is little compared .with what it will be in ten or twenty years' time. For this certain development the Board has laid its plans, which will, we are sure, appeal to | every level-headed man as being | destined to add immeasurably to the wealth of Taranaki and be of advantage to the whole of the west coast of New Zealand.