Lyttelton v. Timaru.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6486, 3 February 1905, Page 2

Lyttelton v. Timaru.

A MEETING IN THE DOMAIN.

Taking advantage of their presence m Ashbuiton, whither they accompanied the Lytteltou High School picnic party, Messrs S. K. Webb (Mayor of Lytfcelton), and G. Laurenson (M.H.E. for Lyttolton), who are members of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, decided to address as many of: the Ashburton public' as were yesterday afternoon assembled m the local Domain on tha subject o£ the advantages of Lyttelton over Timuru a-5 a port for Ashborton's import and export trade. The speakers at this impromptu meeting were the Mayors of Lyttelton and Ashburton, and the JVI.E.R.'s for those electorates. Before the proceedings began the Lyttelton Marine Band, under Bandmaster Collins payed, at special request, the selection, „'• Breathe Not of Parting." The Mayor of Ashburton, m introducing Messrs Webb and Laurenson, said that v Bill passed during the last session of Parliament, had provided for the representation of Ashburton on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. He did not know much about the question which was about to be discussed, but Mr Laurenson had a number of figures with which he would endeavour to show that Lyttelton compared more than favourably with Timaru as a port for the inward and outward goods traffic of Ashburton. Both Messrs Laurenson and Webb were members of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and were m a position to speak with knowledge and authority on matters pertaining to the Port of Lyttelton. Mr S. R. Webb (Mayor of Lyttelton), said he had been connected with the Lyttelton Harbour Board for a great many years. Lyttelton was a natural harbour, and as such possessed inherent advantages over an artificial port. It was necessary, however, not only m the interests of the district immediately surrounding the port, but also m the interests of the much larger area which was served by the port, that a great deal of artificial work should be done to improve the accommodation, etc. At present a great deal of money was being expended at Lyttelton on harbour improvements, which must greatly add to the capacity of that port, aud render it still more suitable as an outlet for Ashburton's great volume of exported produce. With a natuial harbour, however, the additional expenses of improvement, etc., were so slight m comparison with the coat of forming an artificial one, that port charges must necessarily be much ligEter than m the case of an artificial harbour, such as Timaru, The Timaru people were making great efforts to make their harbour popular by providing cheap faoilitie3 for its use by exporters and importers, and it was necessary for the Lyttelton Harbour Board to grasp the fact that they had a strong competitor. As regards the points of advantage possessed by Lyttelton over its southern rival, the first and greatest, as he had already stated, was the fact that it possessed a natural harbour. In regard to the relative merits of the two ports m the' matter of harbour rates and charges, Mr Laurenson would, by means of figures he had prepared, convince them that Lyfctelton was the port for Ashburton, It was a very funny thing, that Ashburton should ask for representation on the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and when this was granted immediately conclude that Timaru was the best port. The people of Ashburton, of course, wanted the cheapest port for the export of their products. They were probably aware that the size of steamers was increasing year by year, necessitating a great expenditure on the pure of Harbour Boards to provide the necessary accommodation for these leviathans, and this expenditure had been made by the Lyttelton Harbour Board. The Mayor of Ashburton was a very good Mayor, and as the representative of the Borough on the Harbour Board might be depended upon, to do his very best m the interests bf Aahburton. He hoped that m any caBO they would elect a representative to the Board who was a real live man. He himself had had occasion to give the Board some hard hits, and if they did not improve their methods and waste less money on useless and extravagant schemes, he would have to give them some more hard knocks. The rates were increasing, and unless the' Board's funds were more economically and wisely expended, they would soon be too high. If ABhburton sent a good, energetic man to the Board, he could do excellent work m checking the present tendency towards extravagance and mismanagement. The harbour of Lyttelton, being a natural one, was alwaya safe, and access could be obtained at any time of the day. He thought that a point which Timaru could not compete with. The best outlet for the products of this district was not Timaru; it was Lyttelton. Ship 3 only called at Timaru now and then, but at Lyttelton a ship could be unloaded or loaded at any time. He hoped that the energy of the people of Timaru would bring about the success they desired; but it was not necessary to that success that business should be diverted from Lyttelton. He again urged that a really live, energetic man be sent to represent Ashburton Borough on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. Mr G-. Laurenson, M.H.8.., (who was received- with applause) said he was not altogether a stranger to the Ashburton people. He had been m Ashburton once or twice lately for some little " scrapping" matches. He felt that Lyttelton at present stood m the position of a rejected lover.—(Laughter). Timaru and Ashburton, like rival suitors, were making advances to Ashburton; but Ashburton must remember that she was already " engaged " to Lyttelton. It was unwise for man or maiden to have "two strings to their bow," and he would endeavour to show them.: by the use of solid fact 3 and figures, that " Codlin was the friend, not I Short," and the Lyttelton was the best port for Ashburton. At Timaru the berthage j rate was 3d per ton, while the Harbourmaster's rate or charge was Id per ton. At Lyttelton the berthage rate was $d per ton register, which worked out at about id per tqn, and there was no Harbourmaster's rate. Mr Laurenson then went on to give a comparison of the charges at and the railage from and to the two ports, as follows:

It will be noticed that m this class of imported goods Timaru h£*s an advantage of 2s 7id pey ton qver Lyttelton.

The wharfage accommodation of Timaru was only 2,350 feet as against 9,060 feet at Lyttelton. Transhipment and re-shipment; were charged at half rates at Timaru, but were free at Lyttelfcon. . As shown by the shipping returns 10 foreign vessete visited Timaru last year as against 51 at Lyttelton. 308 vessels visited Timaru m 1903 as against 2045 at Lyttelton. Timaru Harbour Board rated at £m tha £, and if Ashburton was included m the Timaru Harbour District, it would be rated to that amount. The Lyttolton Harbour Board had no " rating powers," Mr Laurenson Baid that the ship's husband of one of the largest shipping companies m the colony told him that when only one vessel was loading at Timaru, she could get quicker despatch than at Lyttelton. If there were two vessels loading at once, the facilities for despatch were about aqual m the two ports, but where more, than two were loading at once, Lyttelton had by far the best chance of giving quick despatch. They all knew that Timaru " went on the bust" one Sunday afternoon not long ago, and ag6od deal of valuable property was destroyed, and he woujd remind his hearers that this kind of thing might happen at any time. He would take this opportunity of thanking the Mayor and people of Ashburton for the hospitality accorded the visitors from Lyttelton, and he might 3ay that if Ashburton took its next " day put" at Lyttelton, he could promise the Ashburton people the jolliest day of their lives. (Applausa). Mr J. McLachlan, M.H.R. for Ashburton, said it was an unexpected honour that he should be called upon to address an assembly of persons representative oE. districts so far apart as Lyttelton aud Ashburton. He supposed the remarks made by his friend Mr Laurenson (between whom and himself there was not the slightest enmity) referred to what had been said on the occasion of the Committee Luncheon at Timaru when the monster picnic made its visitation there. Well, it was a friendly gathering, and a very nice luncheon, and under the circumstances it was his duty to say something nice. (Laughter). He gave it to be understood, however,,that Ashburton would send its goods to the cheapest port, whether it happened to be Timaru or Ashburtou. Timaru had greatly improved of late years, and he did not entirely agree with the Mayor of Lyttelton when he said Lyttelton possessed a natural harbour. In 1861, before the construction of the artificial mole, he remembered that Lyttelton was not always a safe harbour by any means for vessels lying out m the' stream. If Lyttelton wished to retain Ashbnrton's trade, the railway tariff would have to be altered and the tunnel charges reduced or abolished; He knew that when Ashburfcon had a representative on the Lyttelton Harbour Board the interests of Ashburton would be looked after, but unless lower railway rates were granted, the business of Ashburton must eventually go to Timaru. Lyttelton should remember that Ashburton had another sweetheart, and if Lyttelton did not behave itself, there was always Timaru left for Ashburton. There had been very little cause for complaint m the past, and he hoped there would be still less m future, now that Ashburton, as one of the largest exporting and importing districts dealing with Lyttelton, had the right of representation on the Lyttelton Harbour Board. They would havo a representative who would take an equal interest m the Board with Mr Laurenson himself. One inducement that Timaru held out, and that Lyttelton did not, was low rates, and he said now, as he said at Timaru, that ;if Timaru adhered to the " low rates " policy, it would get the trade of. Ashburton. . He would not quote figures, though he had a pocket full of statistics, but he would advise his hearers, when ■'■ they saw Mr Laurenson's figures m the newspaper report of the meeting, not to trust them too blindly, as there were sure to be all sorts of little errors and omissions m them. The Mayor of Ashburton then called for three cheers for the Mayor of Lyttelton and Mr Laurenson, which were heartily given by those present. . • ; Mr Laurenson called for three cheers for the Mayor of Ashburton. Cheers were also given for Mrs Davis and Mr J, McLachlan, M.H.B.

CEMENT (IJIPOBTED BBAND). From Lyttelton, From Timaru. s, d, s. d. Railage, por ton 1G 5 Railage U 9 Wharfage „ 0 9 Wharfage 20, Berthage „ 0 Q$ Berthage and ■ H.M. rate 0 4..£ 17 2| IT U CEMENT (CQLONU.Tj BRANDS), From IjyfcfceltQn, From Titnaru, s, d, s, d. Railage, per ton 11 3 Eailage 9H Wharfage „ 0 9 Wharfage 2 0 Berthage „ 0 0J- Berthage and H.M, rate G 4 12 01- 12 3

EJ&U&UJ* l\XJ!ia.X. Faicfield to Timaru. To Lyttelfcon. a* d. s. d. Railage, per ton 17 8 . Kailage 18 8 Wharfage „ 1 6£ Wharfage 0 8 Berthage and Harbourmaster's rate 0 4 Berthage OOJ 19 6-£ 19 4* WOOL. Ashburton to Timaru. To Lytteltom 8, d, s. d. Railage, per bale 311 Railage 4 8 Wharfage „ 10 Wharfage 0 6 Berthage and H.M. rate 0 4 Bertbage 0 0£ 5 3 5 2| Fairfield. to Timaru. To Lyttelton. s, d. • s. d. Railage, per bale 4 2 Railage 4 6 Wharfage „ 10 Wharf ago 0 6 Berthage and H,M. rate 0 4 Berthage 0 0J5 6 5 Oi aitAiN (at,l kinds). Ashburton to Timara. To Lyttelton. s, d. s, d. Riilage, ter ton 7 1 Railage 8 0 Wharfage „ 1 6 Wharfage 0 9 Perthage aud H.M. rate 0 4 Berfchage 0 0^ 8 11 8 9J IMPORTS. JRON AND HEAVY GOODS, L'ton to Ashburtou, Timaru to Ashburton. g. d. s. d. Railage, per ton. 21 1 Railage ,16 11 Wharfage „ 0 9 Wharfage 2 0 Berthage „ OQh Berthage and HM. rate C 4 21 10i 19 3

COAT, (IMPORTED). Prom Lyttelton. From Timara. s. d. s. d. Railage, per toa 11 1 Railage 10 0 Wharfage „ 0 8 Wharfage 2 0 Berthage „ 0 0& Borthage and H.M, rate 0 4, 11 0£ t \l2 4 coAii (new zba!lahd), From Lyttelton. From Timara. 8. d. p: d. "Railage, par ton 8 9 Railage 7 11 Wharfage,, 0 8 Wharfage 2 0 Berthage „ 0 0i Berthuge and H.M. rate 0 4 9 5k 10 3 TIMBER. From Lytteltoa. From Timaru. s. d. s. d. Railage, per 1091b 2 8 Railage 2 5 Wharfage „ 0 3^ Wharfage 0 4 Berthage „ 0 OJ- Berthage and H.M. rate 0 .4 30 3 1