The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1918. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1918. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

The report and plans for the improvement of Taranaki's harbor at Moturoa, laid before a representative meeting on Thursday, mark another step in the progress of the province and the necessity for keeping abreast of the times. The report of Mr. Blair Mason is so very full and comprehensive that those who read it, with the assistance of the sketch plan published in yesterday's issue, cannot fail to be impressed with the conelusions arrived at by this eminent expert in this class of work. It practically gives a history of the port, from the early days when passengers and goods were landed by means of surf boats up to the present time when ocean liners berth at the wharf, while the views of the various engineers who have been called upon to advise the Harbor Board on the process of creating a safe harbor are set forth and discussed as to their bearing on the present scheme. So far as the harbor at Moturoa is concerned, there have been difficulties in the past, but most of these have been overcome up to a point. The time has now arrived when it is not only expedient, but essential to the welfare of the province, and to the prosperity of the Dominion, that our produce shall be shipped under conditions that will facilitate rapid loading, while our imports must receive the same treatment, and have the necessary facilities for rapid distribution, 'in preparing for after-war trade, the New Plymouth Harbor Board is acting wisely, and it is to be congratulated on its action in engaging Mr. Blair Mason to prepare plans for a. harbor that will be workable in all weathers and at any state of the tide, by the largest vesselthat are likely to visit the Do minion for many years to com; There is every probability that th advent of peace will see a gre;;i increase in the size of vessels having refrigerated space, and the larger tire vessel the greater is the necessity for eliminating all risks when entering harbors, berthing, loading and sailing. Mr. Mason has evidently approached his task with the greatest care and skill. We are not prepared at this juncture to offer any criticism on his scheme, but there are certain points therein which appear to

meet the needs of the case in a way that do other plan has attempted. Among these,outstanding features may he mentioned the rubble, wall from Moluroa island to the present end of the breakwater. The provision of a connection between Moturoa and the Lion Rock, and a large reclaimed area stretching from the rubble wall to the shore will in time be formed by the sand-drift, and form a valuable addition to the space needed for the purposes of the port, and at the same time provide berthage on the eastern side of the present breakwater, which is to be widened and straightened for the purpose. This will double the capacity of the harbor at a minimum of expense. The new wall placed in the position suggested—previous suggestions were to connect Mikotahi with Moturoa—is the key to the whole position, and provides the board with land that in years to come must bring in a large revenue ; it gets rid of the sand difficulty permanently, and gives safe berthage in all weathers alongside the breakwater. The lengthening of the breakwater to 2700 feet from the end of the present work will be a matter of time, the immediate extension being, limited to 800 feet, but when the full length is built, and the eastern mole provided, the harbor should be one of the best in the Dominion. This proposed work is really more national than local, and when the details are fully explained to the settlers in the various parts of the harbor district they will doubtless be discussed from every point of view. The great fact to be borne in mind is that after the war there will inevitably be a larger output of produce than formerly, not to speak of the increase occasioned by the opening up of the back country by the Stratford —Main Trunk line, and it will mean that very large sums of money will be involved in shipping charges, so that direct and regular shipment will be an economic factor of considerable importance beside which the interest and sinking fund on a £300,000 loan will be a bagatelle. The scheme deserves serious consideration and the board is entitled to the thanks of the community for its enterprise in submitting such a comprehensive plan of harbor improvements and facilities. There are numerous points in the proposals that merit notice, and may be referred to on some other occasion.