PATEA HARBOR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 7854, 10 December 1903, Page 2

PATEA HARBOR.

» I The usefulness of the Patea harbor ' to Southern Taranaki was the keynote of the- remarks pf the Chairman of the Board (Mr McKenna) and of some other speakers, including the Mayor of Hawera (Mr Robbins) at Saturday's function. As already reported, Mr McKenna showed that the export of butter and cheese through the port is materially on the increase. The quantity has increased, and the tendency is for more companies in South Taranaki to send their goods through Patea. Those- who remember the trouble there was to get the Agricultural Department to 'establish a grading station r at Patea will see in this fact a complete, justification of the action oi those who took part 'in the agitation. The' official mind usually sees difficulties which disappear in practical working, and even in hie

last report Mr Kinsella, who ordinarily was a broad minded man, condemned the establishment of small grading ports. Of course much depends on what is meant bj " small grading ports." When the phrase simply means ports oi whose development there can reasonably be but little hope, the attitude of the Department is right enough. But a port which, though small, possesses potentialities oJ inexpensive development is in an entirely different category. Such was Patea when the proposal to grade there was a few years ago resisted. A ten-fold increase in three years proves this. We are also glad to see that in response to the increased efforts of the Board, aided by the natural growth of trade " in various directions on this coast, the port is being much more used for general purposes than it used to be. It was shown by Mr McKenna that the inward trade in coal and the outward trade in sheep and cattle are both expanding. One of the Hawera members (Mr Paterson) has persistently hammered away at the necessity oi encouraging these branches of trade, and we thinkthe Patea members will agree that J Hawera representatives generally , have shown their interest in popularising the port. The Chairman was also able to quote very satisfactory figures as to the work done by the Board without recourse to v any rate. Thus he showed that within the last, three or four years guide pier, wharf and sheds, grading wharf, and now the breakwater had been undertaken at a cost of j£23,000, either out of revenue, or out of loan the annual liability for . which will be met .from annual re- ': venue. Very few harbor boards can boast of" having done relatively so much without the aid of a rate. The next move projected is a 200 I feet extension of the southern ) breakwater, which it is thought may be also cone out of revenue, at an early date. The freight rate from Auckland, Christchurch, or Dunetlin to Patea (25/) was made a subject of complaint. Undoubtedly it is very high, and compared with the 10/ rate,, quoted to other ports forms a serious handicap, not only upon our imports, but also upon our exports. It may be I hoped with the acquisition of im- | proved facilities at Patea the difference will before long be less] marked, so as to give raisers of general farm produce a chance oi getting their productions into the markets of some of the larger towns, especially Auckland. The Hawera Chamber of Commerce has put forth efforts to make its influence felt in favor of this, and may be relied on at all times to assist. We cordially congratulate the Board on the- progress aud prospects of the harbor under its con- . trol, and wish it continued success.