WHANGAREI PORT.

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1919, Page 2

WHANGAREI PORT.

INTERVIEW WITH SHIPPING MEN. CHEAT POSSIBILITIES AHEAD. ENCOURAGEMENT FOR HARBOUR BOARD. A.i informal meeting took place in oh** Harbour Board's office this mo filing between several members of the "Whangarei- Chamber oi' Commerce, ii arbour Board and visiting representatives of overseas shipping com panics. Those present were; Capt. Maxwell (Superintendent Shaw Savill and Albion Co.), Capt. Bone (Superintendent New Zealand Shipping C 0..) ; Messrs J. D. McKenzie, D. A. McLean (Harbour Board), A. F. Thomson, L. J. McCormick, and A. McLeod (Chamber of Commerce). The chair was occupied by Mr'J. D. McKenzie and in the course of a few opening remarks he extended a hearty welcome to the shipping representatives. He explained that the meeting had been arranged for the purpose of explaining to Captains Maxwell and Bone the advantages of Whangarei as a harbour r md he emphasised the point that notwithstanding the fact that nothing had practically been done to the port for 70 years it was still one of the best and safest in New Zealand. For a certain distance in, it was the deepest harbour in the Dominion—no bar existed, it was well-lighted and the lower-portion had been re-surveyed. Apart from that phase, however, he desired to impress upon the shipping representatives the fact that Whangarei was the natural centre for a very large area of the Northern Peninsula. Roads and railways from all diree tions converged on Whangarei and the possibilities of development were so great that they desired to bring them personally under the notice of those interested in shipping and production. He understood that Captains Maxwell and Bone were looking at the various harbours of New Zealand, and he would like them to see Whangarei. Captain Maxwell, however, was no stranger—he was practically the discoverer of Whangarei as a port and was responsible for the visit of the first large ship to the freezing works at the Heads. EMPHATIC REPUDIATION. Mr A. F. Thomson, President of the Chamber of Commerce, agreed that Whangarei had a really good harbour, but pointed out that it could be considerably improved. They were endeavouring to get a Bill through Parliament to enable improvements to be undertaken but they were "up against a dead end" in the Borough Council. Some time ago they had held a conference of local bodies md representative institutions from all parts of the district and almost unanimous support was given. The Borough Council was the only dissen tient. He desired to disabuse Jh<i minds of the shipping representatives of the possible impression that Whangarei people were against improvement. So far from that being the case he held that nine-tenths of the public were in favour of the development. The opposition of the council was not representative of the wishes of the burgesses. They were practically all willing for improve ment though he did not propose to say just how those improvements were to be effected. Touching upon the question of freezing works he declared that in his opinion the works should be established on Whangarei harbour and not at Otiria. Many other opinions were the same. He sincerely hoped that the visitors would not go away with the impression that the objection raised by the borough was in any way representative of the people.

Mr S. J. McCormick impressed upon Captains Maxwell and Bone the fact that shipping to Whangarei would touch a large extent of productive country. The port was a good and safe one and only needed development, and if it had been situated south instead of north of Auckland that development would have come long ago. Production in this part of the Dominion was largely increasing and he declared that no place in New Zealand had so many resources such as coal, lime, cement, flax, wool, but ter, cheese providing export. He considered Whangarei had a very happy future and with an improved harbour and recognition as a port of entry, we should bo found to compare more than favourably in our volume of trade with other ports in the Dominion.

Mr A. MeLeod (Chamber of Commerce) said he attended merely to give his" moral support to fhe movement. He felt sure the country was available to feed the port. A SPEEDY SOLUTION. Mr Fraser, the Board's engineer, said he had placed before the -shipping representatives yesterday the proposal to erect a deep sea wharf in connection with freezing works at Marsden Point and he had also laid before them an alternative proposal suggesting Kioerora as the site for freezing works with Onerahi as the port for ocean liners. He pointed out that according fOfcthe chart there existed a length of about two mile.? with 18 to 20 feet low water springtides between the Heads and Onerahi. At Onerahi wharf there was sufficient depth and width for an ocean liner to lie and swing round at low water. A vessel drawing 24 feet could come up now on full tide with two feet clear under her bottom and with very little dredging the harbour to Onorahi could be worked at half tide. Frozen produce could be expeditiously railed or lightered from Kioreroa to the Onerahi wharf and later on as trade grew the channel from Onerahi could be deepened to Kioreroa sufficiently to bring liners right up. The Hargour Board before deciding on any proposal not only required to satisfy the producers of the district but also would require the opinion and advice of the shipping companies.