SOUTHLAND’S PORT

Southland Times, Issue 22378, 18 July 1934, Page 4

SOUTHLAND’S PORT

ACTIVITIES AT BLUFF INCREASED TRADE SHOWN. The “Official Shippers’ Guide,” issued by the great Japanese line, the Osaka Shosen Kaisha, contains a very regrettable omission. Only two New Zealand ports are mentioned and Bluff is not one of them. This fault must surely be due to an oversight, for Southland’s port, due to its position, is really one of the most interesting harbours in New Zealand. Bluff, picturesque, not only for the wild rugged beauty bestowed by nature, but also for the colourful life that moves back and forth across its waters, is a changing panorama of ships small and large—liners from overseas, coastal vessels, an odd sailing ship, freighters laden with cheese and mutton that spell our wealth, and ever threading their way in and out the oyster craft, the activities of which are very infrequently chronicled. There is a chance to-day for someone who knows; someone whose pen is dipped in sea water and whose mind is filled with information gleaned from Keble Chatterton, Basil Lubbock, Carl Cutler and old stories culled from Invercargill newspaper files and McNab’s “Murihiku,” to make a name for himself in the world of books. Surely there must be a man or a woman who can write a romantic reconstruction novel which shall present an animated and thrilling picture of what Bluff and the people who mattered there were like 50 years ago. Alexander Laing in the “Sea Witch” did this for New York. Is there not an Alexander Laing in Southland?

In the meantime, though, Bluff is steadily being further developed and improved. The chairman of the Bluff Harbour Board, Mr W. A. Ott, told a Southland Times reporter yesterday that in order to meet the requirements of present and future shipping trade, the board was giving consideration to a proposal which would provide for either a reconstruction of present overseas berthage or a new construction of wharves of the pier type to provide adequate accommodation for the present and the immediate future. He added that provision would also be made for extensions to handle the volume of shipping required to serve the needs of the ever-growing province of Southland.

It is interesting to note that the business passing through Bluff has shown a steady rate of increase, but has not come up to the volume that might be expected from a district like Southland which has shown a phenomenal growth in production of primary produce and in the manufacture of exportable goods. It is felt by the board that a considerable amount of business which should be passing through the port is entering and leaving the port’s district through other channels. An important fact in connection with Bluff is that the charges levied by the board on goods imported and exported and on vessels are low compared with other harbour boards in New Zealand. These charges can only be kept , down when the volume of trade and shipping assures the board of receiving sufficient revenue to meet the exnenditurc. The largest cargo vessels in the New Zealand trade can be well accommodated at Bluff. Ships like the three “Rangi’s” owned by the New Zealand Shipping Company, and the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s Akaroa are regular callers. Shippers state that the rate of handling cargo compares more than favourably with other New Zealand ports. And the volume of shipping is ever increasing.. Statistics show that for eight months in this year .393 vessels have been worked as against 286 for the same period last year. A definite effort is now being made to encourage importers and exporters to trade through their home port. Tire appointment of Mr A. L. Adamson to the position of business agent with the idea of interesting the people of Southland i - Bluff should bring good results both to the r rt and the ->rovince. Bluff has a future; there can be no doubt about fiat. Apart from the .value of the port as a trading centre, it definitely has a value as a holiday resort. In the summer, sea and sunshine, fragrant bush all call to the holiday-seeker, and this is a ball that is readily answered by the not-so-young, the old and the very vounff.