AN ENTERPRISING PROPOSAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1507, 17 January 1901, Page 50

AN ENTERPRISING PROPOSAL.

FAST FERRY OVER COOK STRAITS. FROM TITAHI BAY TO PIC TON. One of the most original proposals put forward for some time is that of the Hen. C. H. Mills, M.H.R., who suggests connecting Titahi Bay, on the west coast of the North Island, with Picton. Titahi Bay is a place comparatively little known, but, however Mr Mills’s proposals are entertained, it is destined to be of considerable importance in the near future. The estate adjoining was placed in the market a short time back, with the result that a locality which at a comparatively recent date had upon it but one old ramslxaelite homestead to represent civilisation, is now ornamented with a commou.ous and comfortable bearding establishment and a number of substantial sea-side residences owned, and occupied at various seasons of the year, by Wellington residents who have thus early spied cut the land. The Bay it self is a delight in I spot. It is as if some sea monster had in pre-historic days, bitten out a piece of the coast line, and, being pursued, disgorged its mouthful three miles out at sea. At any rate here is the clean circular sweep in the coast line, and there stands Mana guarding the entrance to Titahi Bay, with its sandy beach lapped by the limpid waters of the Pacific. At least that is how it ap-

peared to a, “Times” reporter who saw it yesterday. -Standing on the prominence abutting the Bay, the spectator gets a splendid view of the rugged) coast-line of the South Island. Cape Koamaru juts out with a prominence and nearness which is very striking, jlg seems but a stone’s throw away. One can scarcely realise that a steamer has but to round'that point to get into the smooth waters of the! Sounds. Yet it is so. It is this fact which has appealed so strongly to Mr Mills from time to time as he has crossed the Straits. From Titahi Bay to Cape Koamaru is about eighteen miles, and from that point to Picton about- twenty miles or 38 miles in all as against 54 miles from Picton to the Wellington Wharf. “Then, why (asks.Mr Mills) should we not have a fast- ferry service from Titahi Bay to Picton, avoiding the- riotous tide rip's of the Straits, and bringing the north and south into closer touch than is possible under existing conditions?” This “Why not?” is the problem which has to be'solved. The new Minister’s attempts at solution will doubtless be watched with sympathetic interest bv a large section of people on both islands. Titahi Bay looks, on a fine day, just the sort of place a wharf might be planted down on, and quite a considerable traffic commenced straight away. But first of all engineers must be consulted to ascertain what dentil of water is available, what kind of bottom there is, and what strain the structure would have to stand.

Thetre can be no doubt that Mana. Island is well fitted to resist and protect Titahi Bay from the ocean swells which would vent their vengeance there, but there is just a question as to whether the placid waters of Titahi might not he convulsed by storms from the north and northwest which Mana by reason of her situation could not hope to resist. These, however, are questions for engineers. There is this in favour of Titahi Bay, that vessels shelter in there when they are unable to live in the straits, and ships would frequently be able t-o land passengers at the wharves when they would not be able to enter Wellington harbour. . The ouestion in this, as in most other matters, resolves itself into this: “Will it pay? Has the time arrived when a quick service to by a twenty-knot steamer will justify the enterprise? Will it pay to erect a wharf a*> Titahi Bay for the- sa&h , : of providing an alternative port in stormy weather? Is a fast service over the Straits likely to induce increased passenger traffic 0 Will travellers by the main trunk linos, when completed, prefer to branch off at Porirua- and take ship with their luggage at Titahi, or w:ll they rather run into Wellington and take ship at the Queen’s Wharf?” These and numerous other questions will have to be answered satisfactorily before any project for a habrour at Titahi Bay can be scriously entertained

It may be mentioned that Titahi is three miles from Porirua railway station and that Porirua station is twelve m£e«j from Wellington. When this is remem. beied, it will be seen that though Titahi Bay is only tliir'y-eight mih <■ from Picton, the railway journey v ii make ;t arother fifteen, or fifty-three altmethe* as compared with .fifty-four from Wellington wharf to Picton wharf. It is doubtful if a steamer could arrive at Titahi and tranship passengers on to a train which would, take them horn that place to Wellington as quickly as a fast steamer would run from Picton to a Wellington wharf. .However, these are more matters for engineering and nautical experts rather than conjecturing laymen, and it remains to be seen whether *

Mr Mills, with the assistance of the shilled officers of the Government Departments, will be able to formulate an acceptable alternative service to t'ne one with which the people of these islands are now supplied.