WELLINGTON'S WHARF ACCOMMODATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8, 9 January 1908, Page 7

WELLINGTON'S WHARF ACCOMMODATION.

IfECESSiTY FOR EXTENSION". (By Telegraph-—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. ,__ agitation is in progress for increa.e'd wharf and shed ac-c-ommodation, aD d the matter of providing sam.2 is to come up for consideration by the Harbour Board a*; its monthly meeting tomorrow afternoon. At the present time "t_e Harbour Board has contracts let for oi which the graving dock ab--EOTbs over flOti-000. :j !; <! the King's Wharf £79.5 W. There is good reason to suspect that the extensive wharf huildiaa scheme entered into by the Auckland Harbour Bu-ar,! has bad the effect of stirrimY the Wellington peop:.? into action, they having no desire to play seco_.-l fiddle in the matter of wharf accommodation to their Northern rival.-. The opinion of the president of the Chamber of Comm-rce (-Mr. J. fi. Harkness) is that Wellington is practically four years : behind the requirements of the c-oaimerce of the Dominion. "We'in Wellington." | said Mr. Harkness. ''are In the habit of j nattering ourselves that we have made a big expenditure in connection with our j ' wharf accommodation. There is no doubt that'we have spent large suras in giving J effect to this principle, but as a matter or j fact'the wharves to-day ar.? much behind i our requirements. If Wellington is to ! hold the premier position in the Dominion j as the.leading port, especially for the i transhipment of goods imported, it is essential that not only should we have the best facilities for handling the goods, but ample provision should be made in the sheds to expedite their transhipment and delivery-" Mr Harkness is strongly of opinion that with the opening of 1 h.2 2Jain Trunk railway the business of the ! port of Wellington is going to increase j to such an extent and so rapidly that i it will really necessitate the Glasgow and j Queen's Wharves being utilised for load- j jner out produce. At present Wellington , js limited to the Glasgow Wharf for this j '.particular purpose, and at*TT_s season of j the year it not infrequently happens that I three cr four outgoing ocean steamers j are waiting to load at the same time, j Mr. Harkness is one of many who think I that ample wharfage should take priority over the matter of the new dock. The I wharyes they regard as an absolute necessity, the dock a luxury which can be j delayed without detriment to the port as i