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Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1920, Page 4

Be prepared for the wet weather and buy a raincoat at the Melbourne, Ltd. For those who are continually out in the wet there is "nothing to equal the famous Le Roy oily canvas coats, guaranteed to keep out the water, at 09s 6dAlso in stock for both ladies and men, raincoats in popular styles and at popular prices. Don't hesitate to use Nazol very freely, especially by constant inhalation. It pcoteatt

THE PORT'S EXPANSION. J At its meeting on Friday the Harbor Board difieussed the question of providing additional wharfage at the port at the earliest possible moment to cope ivith the rapidly increasing trade, and, after a discussion which showed that members were fully alive t<j the urgency of the need, decided to authorise the engineer to prepare a report on the question. It is perfectly true, as pointed out by a member, that the expansion that is taking place in the tyade of the port makes it imperative to concentrate upon obtaining additional berthage without delay, and recent experiences prove that only too emphatically. To go on with generally developing the harbor on the present comprehensive plans is to court trouble and loss in the near future. The trade of the port has certainly exceeded anticipations, but it is obvious that the port is only in its infancy, and that before long its accommodation will be taxed beyond its capacity. Mention was made at the Board meeting that the length of time it took to unload the Japanese coal boat seriously interfered with the berthage accommodation. This is true enough, but the Railway Department has found that Moturoa, besides being the nearest port to Newcastle, is a very convenient distributing centre, and we can expect the Newcastle coal service to be a pretty regular one from now onwards. The same applies to the phosphates trade. The port is bound to be -used more frequently as the crushing plants are erected in Taranaki and neighboring districts. With the Nauru Island supplies available at a reasonable rate supplies of phosphate!) will substantially increase. The business men of Taranaki are to-day endeavoring to arrange for a regular service between the Old Country and New Plymouth, and that they will succeed in their efforts there can ibe little doubt. The congestion, and consequent inordinate delays in the transhipping of goods at Wellington, combined with the big increases in harbor charges that are about to be made there, make it all the more imperative that Taranaki should have its own direct service, and render itself independent of Wellington as far as possible. Indeed, there is no reason why the rich and populous district served by Wanganui should not join forces with Taranaki in establishing not a quarterly service, as contemplated, but a monthly one, for our neighbors, judging by the reports in recent issues of the local papers, are being penalised by Wellington in the same manner as Taranaki importers,; and no doubt they will be glad of the; opportunity of obtaining their goods at regular intervals and with greater dispatch. In any case,. a" regular overseas service may be counted on as a certainty of the near future. American liners carrying benzine are now making use of the port, and they are likely to make calls more frequently as time goes on. The meat vessels have been coming in increasing numbers, and as the local works expand so will the trade continue to expand. It Will thus be seen that we can confidently look forward to an ever increasing volume of trade, and the Harbor Board will be hard put to it to provide accommodation in time. More berthage is the need of the hour; and the Board is entirely justified in anticipating or altering the general programme of harbor improvements to provide for this. Of course, the lengthening of the breakwater is a work of a vital nature that cannot be held up for a single day, for it has to be remembered that every foot added to the structure adds to the security of the harbor. ' The Board has its difficulties, for materials are scarce and the right kind of labor is not too plentiful; but neods are pressing—very pressing, indeed—and it is well that the Board recognises the fact and U taking prompt action to meet the position that has arisen.