PORT DEVELOPMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 10

PORT DEVELOPMENT.

WHANGAREI'S AMBITION. BUNKERING OF PHOSPHATE SHIPS. PROGRESS REPORTED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. The Wliangarei Harbour Board this morning adopted the report of a committee regarding its conference with Mr. A. F. the New Zealand representative on the British Phosphate Commission. The committee advocated the suit ability of Whaugarei Harbour for bunkering purposes for ships engaged in the Nauru and Ocean Island trade. At .present all the ships go south to Westport for coal. Mr. Ellis had declared that the commissioners were anxious to keep freighting costs as low as possible, and were concerned with the question of coaling vessels. He agreed that the majority of vessels which came to New Zealand could coal at Wliangarei more economically, if facilities were available. The manufacture of fertilisers at Nauru was not feasible. The treatment of phosphates would always be given at some port 111 the Dominion, which would also have the trade in provisions for about 1600 workers, mostly Chinese, on the islands. This tiade involved larce quantities of pork, sheep, pigs and other stores, and also coal for use at the works there. Mr. Ellis, the committee reported, expressed the opinion that Kioreroa was an ideal situation from the industrial point of view. It was necessary, however, to provide a modern coaling plant Mr. Ellis approved the board's proposa that an engineer should ascertain tlu manner of handling shipping at West-I port. At a later date, it was reported, board members interviewed the Prime Minister and submitted the suggestion that Oneralii wharf might be utilised for coaling overseas vessels during the period 1 ' in which provision was being made at Kipreroa. Mr. Coates had agreed that a Government officer should visit Wliangarei to investigate. He had also said that the services of a Government engineer would be made available in an advisory capacity regarding the general development.of the harbour. When adopting the report, members ur«ed the avoidance of delay in the visit of °a Government engineer, especially as the Railways Board had offered to accept £3000 for the outer 620 feet of railway wharf at Onerahi. >The board is xmaMe to accept or reject the offer until after the receipt of approval by the Government engineer of the general de\elopmcnt scheme.