HARBOR SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1921, Page 4

HARBOR SCHEME.

PRESENT POSITION OF WORKS. FUTURE POLICY UNDECIDED. FINANCE THE SEY. 'The present position of the harbor construction works at New Plymouth was enquired into by a Daily News reporter yesterday, but little light can be thrown on the subject by the officials, pending important decisions which are expected at the next meeting of the board. At the last meeting a decision was. looked for as to Whether the Paritutu quarry should be opened up at once and the breakwater extension proceeded with, but financial matters occupied the attention of the board and the decision regarding Paritutu was left in abeyance. The tests as to the suitability of the Paritutu stone for construction work appear to have been satisfactory, but with the unpromising financial outlook and the very small amount of capital in hand ( £10,000) an immediate commencement of the work is held up until the board decides on its future policy. Meanwhile, the trader of the port is expanding and the need for more adequate berthage is daily becoming more acute. It is extremely doubtful if within the next month the shipping that is offering can be handled without serious congestion and delay. Following on the liner Port Pirie, at present discharging cargo from the United Kingdom and the Continent, will be the Port Hacking, Waimate, and the Australcrag, all iners with overseas cargoes, and due at the end of this month or early in May. Besides this the ordinary coastal trade must be carried on, so that it is evident that the port facilities will be taxed to their utmost.

, Referring to the financial position, Mr. Blair Mason said that in his opinion it would be an unwise step for the Harbor Board to commit themselves to a loan at a high rate of interest, as had been suggested, at the present juncture, as the financial stress of to-day was only a passing phase, and in a comparatively short space of time ample funds might be secured at an interest of 5per cent. If a heavy liability was incurred hastily and at a high rate of interest, and essentially for a long term, the board would still be paying an exorbitant price for its 'capital long after the difficult financial phase had passed.

Mr. Blair Mason said that the work was now proceeding quite as well as could be expected under the circumstances. While regretting the necessity of destroying Paritutu he said that in the interests of the harbor an ample supply of stone must be secured, and in the absence of the necessary funds and plant to work Moturoa island the Paritutu quarry was the best source of supply offering. Mr. Blair Mason incidentally mentioned that the New Plymouth harbor was still, in his opinion, one of the best propositions of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Captain Mason, of the Port Pirie, expressed the opinion that the first essential to make the harbor safe for vessels of heavy draft and cumbrous length, was tov widen the swinging basin alongside the wharf. In the event of westerly gale, he said, the mooring lines were liable to snap, in which case the vessel would swing out on its anchor chains and come into contact at the stern with the ragged outer wall of the swinging basin. A wider basin would also facilitate the berthing of large vessels, as at present a steamer of the Port Pirie’s length had to turn practically in its own length, and this was a difficult task, especially with single screw steamers. In this connection it should be noted the deepening and widening of the swinging basin is proceeding with all the means at the board’s command, the dredge Paritutu being employed practically full time at the work. Another urgent necessity, said Captain Mason, was a more effective light at the harbor, the present one being of very little value at any distance, and its position rendered it invisible except from a narrow triangle of the sea. He suggested Moturoa Island as a very suitable site for a harbor light. Construction work at the harbor is now proceeding as usual. Stone is being obtained from the Fishing Rock quarry, but this source of supply is almost exhausted, and even now, on account of its depleted state, the supply is not so economical as it would be if stone was more plentiful. At the present time about 32 men are employed on the works.