PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1920, Page 5

PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH.

THE START OF THE HARBOR. AN INTERESTING ANNIVERSARY. To-day is the anniversary of the commencement of the harbor works at New Plymouth, the foundation stone having been laid on February 7, ISBI. Tlie thirty-nine years which have elapsed since that/day have embraced wonderful progress in Taranaki. The province has grown from its small beginnings to be one of the leading dairying districts of the Dominion. New Plymouth has expanded from a township to a leading provincial town, a port which accommodates Homo liners has grown up on a roadstead, and now it is entering on a period of wonderful prosperity, which will follow from its deve'opiuent into one of the leading ports of New Zealand.

The foundation stone wa? laid by Mr. F. A. Carrington (the fifth and last Superiatendcrit of Taranakii. Mr Carrington was always active in agitating for the formation of the protective harbor works, and it was chiefly through his exertions that the growth of the land revenue of the district was set aside for harbor purposes, and a Harbor Board created. The raising of the loan of £350,000 was first authorised for the harbor works, but this was later reduced to £200,000. In 1908 the TTarhor Board raised its second loan, the amount totalling £300,000. Now the Board,is embarking on a further scheme of improvements, for which a further amount of £300,000 will be raised. When the chairman presented his annual report to tljp Board a few weeks ago lie set out the steady progress made at the port. The necessity for pushing on with the new scheme was emphasised., for the new work is essential in order to cope with the expansion of the trade of the port.