STEAMER HIMATANGI ARRIVES AT FOXTON

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6948, 29 June 1929, Page 7

STEAMER HIMATANGI ARRIVES AT FOXTON

A Noteworthy Event

From Our Own Correspondent

At the invitation of'the provisionin' directors of the Himatangi. .Shipping (Jo. Ltd., and tv it-li the co-operation of members of the Chamber of Commcrec, upwards of 70 people from all parts of the district were entertained at afternoon tea in the Town hall on Wednesday afternoon. The function had been arranged to celebrate the occasion of the first arrival in port of the new company's steamer Himalangi, which was due from Lyttelton direct with a large cargo of produce —the first from the south, since the unfortunate loss of the Kennedy some sever, months ago. Although flic weather conditions oil the Now Zealand coast ha.d been exceptionally stormy for the yast few days, i‘. was confidently anticipated that the steamer would arrive at Foxton on schedule time. This confidence in the vessel was fully justified--when it. was learned that the steamer bad arrived off the bar before daybreak, in a gale of wind, several hours before she was expected. As, however, the river was in flood and there was an exceptionally, heavy sea running at the Heads, it’was' realised by those connected with the management of the ship, that the crossing of tlic bar inward would be an extremely difficult and dangerous undertaking. Accordingly, at a littte before noo'n {high tide) the pilot, Captain C. S Larsen, signalled the steamer "bar dangerous" and the Himalangi immediately set a course for Kapiti Island and shelter. .

In his opening remarks, and' after reading a list of apologies for absence, the chairman (Mr. M. E. - Perreau) slated that (lie directors were extremely sorry that the vessel was not in port for the inspection to which tbo guests had been invited. However all those connected with shipping knew full well, that a steamer’s arrival and departure, was always understood'to be subject to 'circumstances permitting’, ami in this ease circumstances did not permit. That, however, was no reflection on the Himatangi as she was there waiting to enter the port, had those in authority deemed it advisable for her to do so. As it was not possible for them to V’ew the vessel that day, Mr. Perreau then called on Captain S. Holm, of Messrs Holm and Co., who arc manng ing agents of the Himatangi, to tell them a little about the steamer. Captain Holm, who bn rising to speak, was loudly applauded, said, he

did not want to talk a lot about technical details, such as winches, derricks, etc., but would give them a few interesting facts concerning the vessel. On her present trip, although not fully loaded, she was carrying 2SI tons on a draught of eight feet. This was an extremely light draught for a steamer carrying such a quantity of cargo and was, he felt sure, a record as far as Foxton was concerned.

The speaker then gave some very interesting figures concerning the great decrease in the number of coastal vessels operating on the New Zealand coast to-day, as compared with a lev? years ago. This, said Captain Holm, was due to two Jactors. Firstly, the calling at wayside ports and road--steads of the overseas vessels and second lv the competition of road and rail traffic. Neither of these causes, however, affected Foxton, because this town had a trade from southern ports which could not be touched by cither rail or motor traffic, or by overseas vessels. Personally, lie had been connected with the sea all his life and he thought that the loss of coastal trade to a country situated as New Zealand is, was a very serious matter. Ho was very ji leased to see however that Foxtou and district intended, in a practical manner to do their share towards keeping the coastal trade alive. Now that the port, was again being opened there would probably be three vessels running to Foxton —two under the managment of .Messrs. Holm and Co., and one run by another company. The chairman in humorous vein, then i -ferred to the presence of tea and the absence of toasts and said that although they were unable to honour the mast of the Himatangi Whipping Co., Ltd., in the usual manner, he would call on Mr. M> B. JBcrgin, to say a few words. Mr. JJcrgin said lie felt he must congratulate those who. were shareholders in the new company, in view of the crpcrienco of the Manawatu Whipping to., Ltd., wVh iheir steamer Kennedy they deserved great credit for their enterprise. He considered that they were a body of public-spirited citizens of the town and district and in subscribing the necessary capital to purchase the vessel, had expressed tlicit confidence in the future of the port in a most practical maimer.

Alter hearing Captain Holm mention ibo figures relating to the draught and tonnage of cargo carried by the steamer on her present trip he considered that providing the company was well controlled and received the generous support of the people of the district, the shareholders' efforts would be attended by success and that in later years they would be able to take a great pride in the fact that they were the original shareholders in the Hiniatangi Whipping Co. Ltd. M’. C. Blcnkhoru (Mayor of Levin), said he felt lie could not speak on the subject of shipping as had tho previous speakers, for ho knew very iit-tlc about it. Speaking of Levin, however, lie said that the people there realised the distinct advantage, of having an open port at Foxton and they were very glad to know that Foxton was again to be served by an cncrgetio shipping company. They all sincerely hoped that the venture would be a success and judging ;by the way Foxton seemed in the past jt'.i get what it .wanted, so in the fudure lie saw no reason why their efforts ishoul’d not be'crowned with success. Mr. J. K. Hornblow (president of the local Chamber of Commerce) was the next speaker. He said he agreed with all Mr. Bergin had said. He wished to pay a tribute to Mr. Perreau for the wonderful activity and strenuous efforts lie had made in connection with the new venture and ho wished heartily to congratulate him. on his success. Tho boat had been unable to get into port that day owing to stormy (weather and ho expressed pleasure itbat tho steamer had been kept at sea, ’rather than run the risk of having her jstrauded on the beach and then laid up in dock for weeks undergoing repairs. 'lf (be present policy of safety first was maintained;, by those managing the vessel, lie thought t-hero would bn no need to fear for the future success of the company. Mr. Hornblow stated that the successful working of the port by tho ■Himatangi would commercially benefit the whole district and iu particular

would be a boon to tho poultry fanners.

Mr. W. E. Barber (chairman of the Manawatu County council) in speaking of some of his early experiences in connection with the Manawatu district and its por!, said that when a young man he had come up to Foxton from Wellington on the little steamer Jane Douglas, and owing to his experience ou that trip, he had never been keen on going on the sea since. (Some years later he again came up to Foxton but on that occasion lie rodo along the beach on a draught horse. In t.liose days the district surrounding Foxton was reported to consist of endless swamps and sandhills and to be useless for farming purposes. However the pioneer spirit had prevailed, settlers had come into tho district and the result to-day was that with hard work, clearing and draining, some of tho best farming land in the country was situated in the Manawatu. The same spirit said Mr. Barber, prevailed to-day and was responsible even in the face of many difficulties, for the formation of the company which was named after the district where he .and his family had resided since the early days. Cioser settlement in tho Manawatu must come, he said, and with it much greater activity in shipping through the the port of Foxton. He considered that the Kennedy owing to her unsuitability for the trade, had dono far more harm to the port than anything else. With the new steamer’s affairs under the guidance of Captain Holm, ho felt that things would be much better than in the past. "I wish," said Mr. Barber, "to pay tribute to those who comprised the local committee and who wero responsible for the revival of shipping to the port. Their task in view of tho Kennedy’s trouble, had not been an easy one.”

Mr. Perreau, in thanking Mr. B'arber on behalf of the committee said that tho Palmerston North people had helped considerably by their earnest and hearty support of the project. Mr. H. B. Free, Palmerston North, spoke of the benefits that would be derived by the whole district as the re-, suit of tho steamer trade between (South Island ports and Foxton. Palmerston North, said Mr. Free, was very keenly interested in the enterprise and would support tho venture in a most substantial-manner. He felt sure that with reasonably good luck tho company would have a successful run. Mr. E. V, West, endorsed tho remarks of Mr. Free, who, said the speak-

er, was a most prominent business man in their town anrl one who was very closely in touch with the commercial life there. Mr. West said that in his opinion, Palmerston North could not develop along sound lines without using the port of Foxton, and he wished the new company every success. Mr. A. E. Kerslake, of Levin, spoke in a similar strain. He hoped that the re-opening of the port would bo permanent and that the shipping company concerned might reap its just reward. Mr. D. Christie, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, told how the chamber was largely responsible for tho start of the new shipping venture. "When the prime mover (Mr Pcrreau) had early taken the chamber into his confidence and explained the idea he had in view, he was advised to proceed and the chamber had given him every assistance. Ho said that Mr., Pcarreau had proved himself to bo a very energetic and capable organiser and was to be congratulated upon the success which had attended his efforts. Mr. It. Bryant, as a member of the Foxton Harbour board, said that the board was out to assist and encourage shipping to the port and that anything he could do to make the new company a success, ho would be only too pleased to do.