FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 128, 1 June 1935, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FEOM " THE POST "

A DOCK WANTED

"It is to be regretted that the wellmeant motion in reference to the adoption of preliminary steps towards the construction pf a dock met with such an unsympathetic reception at yesterday's meeting of the Harbour Board," remarks "The Post" of this date fifty years ago. "The -subject deserved to be much more carefully considered than it was and in a somewhat different spirit. The subject was treated in a freezing manner by a majority of members, who seemed to think that either a dock was not required, or that, if required, it was entirely beyond the compass of the board's attainment. We have so often urged the absolute necessity for a dock, in order that Wellington may attain its proper position as a maritime centre, that we need not repeat ourselves.- It must surely be apparent to everyone that if docks are necessary in Auckland, Lyttelton, and Otago, Wellington, although far and away the best natural harbour of the lot, is at a most serious disadvantage in not being equally well provided in '^Ms respect. The question is really 'one of ways and means, and members of the Harbour Board appear rather afraid of' grappling with the financial difficulty. If they would do so boldly, we believe that the difficulty would be found far from insuperable. There is no doubt that a dock of any required dimensions could be easily and cheaply built at Kaiwarra, in Evans Bay, or within the lines of the Te Aro foreshore grant. It is stated that the construction of a large dock has recently been undertaken at Adelaide by a public company, formed in England. Whether any local guarantee, has been given, we do not know, but. our Harbour Board should find out all the facts and see whether a similar work might not be accomplished here. Probably foreign capitalists could be induced to invest in the speculation if a smaj» local guarantee, which surely the Harbour Board could afford to give, were promised. It is at least the duty of the board to face the question as soon as possible, and to use every effort to supply Wellington with a dock,; which it must have to hold rank as a firstclass port." TRADE WITH THE ISLANDS. "The arrival here of the steamer Janet Nicoll to commence her contract with the New Zealand Government for a regular service with the South Sea Islands is an important event. It is well known that Sir Julius VogeJ has long taken a most intense interest in the development of commercial intercourse between this colony and the Islands. He has twice tried unsuccessfully to induce Parliament to enter into a vast trading scheme, but he did last session induce it to sanction a moderate expenditure in establishing trading relations of a regular character by subsidising a steamer on the line. As explained in a circular letter from Sir Julius Vogel, sent to various chambers of commerce, the establishment of the service between New Zealand and Tonga, Samoa, and Tahiti, is with1 the express object of fostering and extending the trade of New Zealand with these,islands. The service will be once every two months, the steamer having fair passenger accommodation in addition to her large cargo space. She will be required to remain at each port a maximum time for the shipping and landing of cargo, and the freights on livestock and New Zealand produce are to be fixed at such rates as, while giving the contractors a fair return, should directly encourage the shipment of produce. The effect of the experiment now being made will be watched with the greatest interest. The beginning is a comparatively small one, but it opens up great possibilities, and may produce most important results."' PETONE WOOLLEN MILLS. "We are glad to see that the Wellington Woollen Company is calling for tenders for the erection of the factory buildings at Petone, the construction of boilers and engines, and the necessary shafting. It is expected that by the time the necessary machinery ordered from England arrives, the building will be ready for its reception, and that the company will be fairly at work early in next year." CABLE CHANGES. "Recently the Cable Company applied to the New Zealand and New South Wales Governments to renew the cable subsidy for ten years, and the New Zealand Government, which is now corresponding with that of New South Wales on the subject, has expressed an opinion that the subsidy should not be continued. It is held that, the line being finished, those who use it ought to pay for it, and that it is undesirable to accede to the request of the Cable Company. With regard to the application of the Victorian Government that the New Zealand land rates for messages from Australia should be reduced to 5d for ten words, the New Zealand Government has declined to comply with the request, as it does not see why it should give any preference to messages from abroad over those within the colony. At the present tune the cable rates between this and the neighbouring colonies are, as a matter of fact, altogether too high. They are, indeed, almost prohibitive. An immense increase in bus iness would result if the charges were lowered, and we hope that the agitation now commenced in Christchurch for a revision of the cable tariff will be successful, and that special Press rates will be among the concessions obtained."