TARANAKI MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1919, Page 4

TARANAKI MATTERS.

CLAIMS OF THE NEW PLYMOUTH- I HARBOR, i By Wire—Own Correspondent. " Wellington, Last Night. In the House to-night Mr S. G. Smith suggested that New Plymouth should be made the first and last port of call for mail steamers. New Plymouth, he said, was the nearest port to Australia and had a 'harbor that would accommodate the inter-colonial steamers and that within a few years would be able to receive the largest ships trading to New Zealand. A day could bo saved in the handling of mails by making New Plymouth the first and last port of call for the inter-colonial steamers. ELECTRICITY FOB TARANAKI. Mr Short, Under-Secretary for Public Works, who was appointed a Commissioner to hold an inquiry into the objections made against the New Plymouth hydro-electrie scheme, has given his report, which indicates that, in the public interest, the application for a hydro-electric license should be granted. Mr Smith has been informed by the Minister for Public Works that-the Minister ha_s approved the New Plymouth Borough Council's application for a linSiim for an extended area for sts hydro-eleotrie scheme. Provisio.n is made for a review of the bulk charg at five years' intervals, and the possible provision of dealing with the interchange of power between the borough and natipnal schemes when the latter reaches the boundary of the Taranaki province. INGLEWOOD COUNTY BILL. The Local Bills Committee has recommended that the Inglewood County Bill be allowed to proceed subject to amendments, providing it shall not £ome into operation before April 1, 1920 and the addition of a new clause that no greater amount of subsidy shall be paid to the Inglewqod County Council, than would have been paid in respect of the rates collected in the area if the Act had not been passed.