THE PORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1921, Page 5

THE PORT.

A BUSY MONTH

SIX OVERSEA LINERS.

VALUABLE EXPORTS.

The Pbrt Pirie leaves the port early this morning for I’ort Chalmers Her berth will immediately be taken by the Port Hacking, which left the Wanganui roadstead last, evening at 10 o’clock. In fact, the harbormaster (Captain Waller) will, as it were, step off one boat to bring the other in. Both ships belong to the C. and D. Line.

The Port Pirie brought nearly 2000 tons of general cargo direct from Antwerp and England, all landing in firstclass condition, aud will take away a cargo of tallow, case meats, wool and hides.

The Port Hacking will load 20,000 boxes of butter, 5000 crates of cheese, and 15,000 freight carcases of meat, of a total value of about £200,000, the butter being the balance of the Imperial contract from this port. Nine thousand, carcases of meat will be railed from Waitata.

The Waimate will arrive In port shortly after the Port Hacking is loaded, and lift 6700 carcases of meat. Two vessels from the United States will follow, the West Wind aud the City of Winchester, the latter being due on May 14. The Commonwealth Line steamer Australcrag, from the Continent with a large cargo of slag and general merchandise, is also due next month.

THREE ESSENTIALS.

VIEWS ON HARBOR IMPROVE MENTS.

CAPTAIN 'MASON INTERVIEWED.

Before the Port Pirie, left Captain Mason, in conversation with a News’ representative, said that shipping people in London have a very hazy idea of the position of the port of New Plymouth. His own idea was that it was not able to accommodate a ship of any size, and was not conspicuous for its safety in bad weather However, he had gained a different impression of the port after he was appointed to the Port Pirie and got into conversation with some of the officers, who had been with the ship when she was last 13 New Plymouth, and this had heen emphasised by what he had seen for himself whilst here. They had had splendid weather conditions whilst at the wharf, and everything had proceeded most satisfactorily. But the port was only in the making, and much required to be done before it wbs in a position to cater fully for the growing trade of the district. “There are three essentials to the welfare of the port,” the captain continued. “They are: (1) The lengthening of the breakwater; (2) the extension of the swinging basin near the berth; and (3) the construction of the rubble wall between the end of the breakwater and the island of Moturoa. The first is the most important, and work should be concentrated upon it. The extension means that the range of the water will at once be reduced. It is not the winds or the seas themselves that are the trouble; it is the back-wash. Extend the breakwater and you divert the range further along, leaving the berth perfectly safe in any weather. Th? breakwater is being built with a curve that will, when finished, act as a shield to the ships lying beside the wharf. 'Then any sized boats will be able to come in and stay in in perfect safety, and, depend upon it, from what I can see. the trade of your fertile district will grow to such an extent in the immediate future as to warrant much larger vessels trading to the port.” The 1 swinging basin, he continued, was not yet wide enough to enable a ship to manoeuvre in' case of trouble. He recognised that for orAinary times the basin was sufficient, but no risk should be taken if the port were to progress, “for depend-upon it,” he said, “if a boat ever did meet with a mishap your port, no matter how you afterwards proceed to develop it, will be seriously prejudiced in the eyes of the shipping companies, who really cannot afford to take any risks.” The captain also recognised tha£ the extension of the breakwater would appreciably lessen sueh a risk. The construction of the rubble wall was the next work of importance. This would build up land, stop the sand drift, and make it possible to use the side of the breakwater for berthing purposes for the smaller craft. . He had seen and studied the plan of harbor improvement, and agreed it was a great conception, and provided for a harbor that eventually would be a first-class one. He had also talked the matter over several times with Captain Waller, “a man,” he said, “that works and lives for your harbor.” The harbormaster’s ideas were quite right and sound — must push ahead with all vigor with* the extension of the breakwater. The rest of the works would follow. In conclusion, Captain Mason said lie had seen a little of the district since he had been In pors, and was charmed with it, especially the mountain, which he visited last Sunday, and saw it in the clear air in all its grandeur and majesty. He had often seen Fujiyama on his visits to the East, but Egmont to him was infinitely more beautiful and impressive. “You have a splendid country in Taranaki,” he said: “go on pushing it ahead, always keeping in mind the important fact that the port is your gateway to the outside world, and develop it as fast as you can—for you are already behind the requirements of your growing trade —and you will never regret it.”