WAITARA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3464, 24 June 1880, Page 2

WAITARA.

DRIVING THE FIRST PILE OF THE WHARF.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESfcONDENT.] Tuesday was quite an eventful day at Waitara. Mr. W. Courtney held a large sale of timber in the morning, which was well attended,, and satisfactory prices obtained. In the afternoon Messrs. Bauchopc and King held a cattle sale. • A large number of beasts were yarded, but the bidding was not spirited. Mr. King remarked that sellers of stock made a great mistake in not informing the auctioneer of the stock they wished to sell previous to the day of sale, so that the same might be advertised, which was done free.of expense to the seller. Mr. Courtney endorsed Mr. King's remarks, saying that buyers did • not care to attend sales unless they were pretty sure there would be cattle there to suit them. At the conclusion of the cattle sale Mr. King disposed of a lot of trees and plants from Mr. Mitchinson's nursery. The event of the day, and one of great importance to Waitara, was the ceremony of driving the first pile of the new railway wharf, which was performed by Mrs. Thomas Bayly. About 150 persons were assembled, but on account of the wet weather no speeches were made. The noise produced by the fall of the monkey for the first time brought forth a cheer. The cheer,'however, was none of the loudest; but still it was a cheer. The work now commenced was greatly needed, for more wharf accommodation was required to 'give vessels a quicker despatch-. Other works want doing equally as much as this one, but the Board has uot funds at present to do them', A suppei' took place in the evening, at the Bridge'Hotel*-at which about forty 6at down; several gentlemen from New Plymouth being present, and sotne from Urenui. After ample justice had been done to the repast, which was served up in a manner highly creditable to-the host (Mr. W. Tutty), the. Chairman (Mr. Halse) proposed the usual loyal and patriotic toasts. , • The "Members of the Waitara. Harbour Board" was then proposed by Mr. Walsh, in a complimentary speech. Mr. Halse replied on behalf of the Board, and explained the difficulties the Board hal to contend with through want of money to work with. He compared the town of W.iitara with what it was twelve years ago, when there were neither roads nor bridges, let alone a railway ; and he considered ihcre w<is every reason to be satisfied with its progress. Mr. F. L. Webster proposed " Success to the contractor, Mr. Holmes." He said Mr. Holmes was a gentleman well acquainted with works similar to the one now in hand, and he had no doubt he would carry it out in a satisfactory manner. Mr. Olive, foreman of the works, responded on behalf of Mr. Holmes. Mr. T. BAYLY proposed " The Shipping Interest," coupled with the' name of Messrs. Webster Brothers, who had been the means of making the port more known than any other persons. He considered the Waitara, River was equal to the Wanganui River. Nine years ago he had seen the Rangatira enter the river drawing nine feet of water ; and it was the'favourable impression he received of the river that caused him to settle at Waitara. A great deal had been said about the slowness of the Board. The reason was the want of funds, and now- they were indebted to their member (Colonel Trimble) for the comparatively small amount that was being expended. He regretted much the Colonel's absence that evening. Mr. F. L. Webster in responding said he believed that the port of Waitara would be one of the most important ports on the West Coast. The work commenced that day would, he hoped, be the forerunner of greater and more important ones. Hitherto the Board had no money to work with, but they now might ■expect to derive a revenue from the reserves, port dues, &c. The folio wing figures showed the increasing importance of the port —in 1871 106 vessels, having a tonnage of 4,463 tons, had entered the river ; last year, 1879—121 vessels, 8,600 tons, had entered ; and up to the present time, of this year, the increase was proportionately greater! A few years ago it was a difficult matter to induce a vessel to come here with a load, but now there was no difficulty obtaining as many as were wanted. Alluding to the arrival at this port a short time ago of Captain Bendall, Insurance Inspector, in charge of. some railway carriages which had been taken £rom the wreck of the Forest Queen, that gentleman stated that previous to his coming j to Waitara he had been much opposed to the river, deeming it, from the accounts he had received, a dangerous bar, and had cautioned companies from taking risks on vessels trading there, but when he arrived off the bar in the Isabella, he wanted the captain to delay crossing until the morning, which, however, he did not do, and he was greatly astonished to find the vessel being towed up the river without his knowledge of having crossed any bar at all. In leaving, he expressed himself so much pleased and satisfied with the river that he said he would have no hesitation in recommending companies.to take risks on any vessels of a suitable class trading .to the port. The health of the " Captains of vessels now in the port" was proposed by Mr. B. C. Lawrence, and responded to by Captain Johnsox of the schooner Nelson. Several other toasts having been proposed, including the Harbour Master (Mr. J. Cameron), the Chairman and others, the remainder of the evening devoted to harmony. ,