ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSALS.

Northern Advocate, 7 August 1919, Page 3

ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSALS.

KIOREROA-WHANGAREI

SCHEME,

Some of the many advantages and possibilities that this scheme offers ar e the following:—

(1) That the railway wharf, being under the control of the board, would immediately return in revenue more than sufficient to pay interest on cost and working expenses.

(2) That the board, having control of wharves and shipping, and having provided adequate depth of water and convenient loading and discharging would be in a position to insist on reasonable freightage being charged on goods carried between here and Auckland.

(3.) That Kioreroa would be connected with Whangarei town by a 2-chain-wide road, specially designed for heavy motor traffic.

(4) That the people would immediately be in a position to demand a 4-hour daylight passenger service be-

tween Auckland and Kioreroa, with a 20-knot vessel designed for passenger traffic only. It may be mentioned that each periodical increas c of half-a-crown on the fares with the existing service would pay interest, etc., on a sum of about £60,000

(5) That travellers and the public generally could get alongside the shipping independent of the restrictions which prevail at present.

(6) That the storage shed, being fire and rat-proof, would provide accommodation for the storage of farmers' produce awaiting- shipment (say) to the South, where there is a keen demand for early Northerngrown stuff.

(7) That Kioreroa as a port for coastal shipping is destined to become an important distributing point, serving by railway the districts of Hikurangi, Waipu, Waikiekie, and possibly a great port : on of the Northern Wairoa.

MARSDEN POINT SCHEME

This would provide for direct import and export trade independent of the Port of Auckland.

Fully 75 per cent, of the cargo now carried between here and Auckland is neither produced no r consumed in that town, but either comes from or goes to the overseas markets.

With the' establishment of direct trade this'community would not only save the cost of the present freights and th e handling in Auckland, but would also get the benefit of the huge profits now made by the Auckland wholesale houses and middlemen.

Although Marsden Point now has the advantages of deep water, it will be necessary before any permanent works are definitely decided upon to consider whether or not Kioreroa should be made the main port. KIOREROA-WHANGAREI PROPOSALS. The proposal is to provide a depth at low water of 18 to 20 feet right up from the lower harbour to Kioreroa, and to construct at this place a large swinging; basin, a wharf in concrete 500 feet long, and a concrete shed of 9000 square feet. The river from Kioreroa to Whangarei to be deep-, ened and swinging basin made opposite the town wharf. The excavated material from the dredge to be used in reclamation work. The estimated cost of the above work, including two dredges, barges, and necessary gear, is £87,000. Interest and sinking fund on this amount at 6 per cent, would be £5220 per annum. MARSDEN POINT PROPOSAL. This provides for wharf in concrete 500 feet long by 60 feet wide with stone groyne, embankment and storage shed of 7500 squar e feet, railway connections outside control of Railway Department, and acquirement of lands.

The estimated cost is £47,000; interest, etc, on this amount, would be £2820, this work being undertaken conditionally on freezing works being erected there.

(8) That the deepening of the river and the works proposed at the town wharf would provide for increased tonnage, thereby cheapening the freights, and would also permit of visiting launches and yachts lying at anchor in the basin, which now, through lack of accommodation, are compelled to proceed to Russell and othe r northern townships.

(9) That when the proposed works were completed ther e would be an efficient dredging plant paid for, and available for other improvement Works. (10) That with the river from Kioreroa to Whangarei dredged and the flats on each side reclaimed as provided for on Mr Blair Mason's plan, with railway sidings and wharf accommodation extending along the banks, there would be made available for certain industrial works sites with advantages not to be found elsewhere in th e Dominion. The inducement offered for the establishment of industries would be as follows:—Level sites on cheap rental, with navigable water; railway and road connection; cheap coal for generation of power; good drainage; good water and light from the borough supply, and in close proximity to an established town whence labour could be drawn.

When one is conversant with the resources of the district and studies the railway system now converging at Kioreroa the possibility of the following industries springing into existence becomes apparent:— A central butter factory. A central co-operative or proprietory fruit-packing and jam factory. Leather works. ' Woollen mills. Wool-cleaning and fellmongery. Soap manufactory. Flax mill. Timber mill. Fish-curing and canning works. Boat-building, with slips fo r over--1 aaiing vessels. L'epots for vatfious iommo lilies, etc. 11) That the increased values which would accrue to the lands at Kioreroa and along the river front could not be pocketed by private individuals, but being vested in the Harbour Board would enrich the community a? a whole.