Welcoming the Rakaia's Officers.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9592, 26 July 1907, Page 4

Welcoming the Rakaia's Officers.

After the Rakaia Irad been beTthe<l at the new "wharf yesterday afternoon, the members of the Harbor IJoard went aboard the vessel arid officially welcomed the olrieers to Oamaru, they having brought in the pioneer vessel of the New Zealand Shipping Company's oceangoing licet- to visit the port. There were present : Messrs G. Brownlee (chairman), Miiligan, Monson. Mackay, Lane, .Marshall, Williams, and Wylio; Captain Vine, Captain Bono (the Company's marine superintendent), and Mr G. B. Bullock (DunediTt manager). The vdsitors wore hospitably entertained in the ship's saloon, where .Mr Brownloo formally welcomed the officers, anil express ed the pleasure of the Board that they had teeri enabled to, bring in the Rakaia with such apparent ease. He spoke at some length on the future of the port, and harbor matters generally. Mr R. \V. Monson followed in a similar strain. At the present Xorth Ota go was experiencing a very bad season, and their export trade, was therefore not nearly equal to what it, was in other years. Otter members of the Board also spoke briefly. Captain Vine cordially thanked them for their kind expressions of feeling. As a youth, 22 years ago, he had visited Oamaru in one of the first large sailing ships to call at the port, and it therefore gave him particular pleasure to be in charge of the second largest steamer to come to the port after it had been prepared for their accommodation. He congratulated'the Board upon the improvements that bad been effected, and hoped that he would have many more visits to the port in future. Mr Bullock said he was glad to see the ease with which the ship had been berthed beside the wharf. They bad first-class accommodation in the barter, though, the depth was rather less tlia/n it should bo. Yot for years his Company had worked Tima.ru on a- draught similar to that in the Oamaru haTbor, and they could make them the same visits here if necessary. But thoy required more swinging tooiii inside the harbor. It was difficult to swing a vessel round in the limited space within the basin, even on a calm day: such a proceeding would be simply impossible if a strong wind was blowing. Mr Williams bad spoken of landing goods at Oamaru, but that was a bird of another color. In loading goods in ]/ondom they could not take goods consigned direct to the smaller ports unless there was a, sufficient quantity to make the vessel's journey to t hat port worth wliile. ] low-ever, so long as they could get a sufficiently large cargo, they would bring the goods from lyondou or other places direct to Oamaru. Speaking on behalf of bis Company, ho could assure them that it would be one of his greatest- pleasures to send' ships to Oamaru as often as direct shipment was required. Look to the matter of dredging, give them deeper water and more room, ami they would lining ships to Oamaru as often as they were required. Mr Brownlee, with reference to Mr Bullocks dredging recommendations, said that the Board's policy was more dredging—deeper dredging. The ratepayers, he thought, were prepared to make provision for another loan, and it was the intention of the Board, if the loan was actually floated, to obtain a new and thoroughly up-to-date dredge, and make the port a suitable one for the larger class of ocean-going ships. Captain Bone briefly retinoid thanks for the cordial welcome extended to them. He wished to impress upon me Board the,fact that thoy need spond no more money in wharfage accommodation, which was now suitable for any shipping they might have for vears to come. They should six'iid everv farthing in dredging, in deepening the barter and [riving shi"- more room. Mr Wylio asked what would be the minimum import cargo which would make it worth a vessel's while to call at Oainarn. Mr Lane remarked that there hai'J teen some talk amongst the importers of the town of having their consignments put together in London, so that they might arrange for a. vessel to make a special journey to Oamaru with them when in New Zealand.

Captain Bone could mot say. Let his Company know the i|iiantity of carg> they suggested bringing to Oaniuru ami they could then get' a definite answer. Mr Bullock said tin- Hainan. Ilarlnr Board had hat) one of the hardest rows to hoe of any ]iublie body in New Zealand : owing to the tremendous natural diflicultips to 1)0 overcome in. making the port one suitable for lame ships, and the laek of funds, the Board hod had a hard titvujigle to attain the end they de,~irod—the formation of a suitable port. That their scheme had Ixmmi successfully carried out. and large sliips were actually visiting the harhov. must l>c sources of sat.isfact.<in to the Hoard, and he congratulated them on the accommodation they had provided in the port. Ho thought, however, _th.it- tho action of the Government in maintaining the differential tariff between (lamarii and Dimedin was acting detrimentally on the trade of the port, and he urged the people of the town to take steps to have this condition, of affairs altered. He recommended the Board to continue Us progressive poiicv; it only required more dredging to make the port suitable for any class of cargo-carrying 6hips. After some further interest ins conversation regarding the trade of the port, arm its shipping facilities, the inein!«?rs of the Board thanked the officers and withdrew.