WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1903. AN EXAMPLE FOR TARANAKI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12244, 29 April 1903, Page 4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1903. AN EXAMPLE FOR TARANAKI.

A striking object lesson( for the people of Taranaki is afforded in the action the Timaru people are taking to provide themselves with direct shipping communication with the markets of the world. The produce of the district of which Timaru is the outlet is not so very much greater than that of Taranaki, yet, though there is accommodation there already for two fairly large steamers, it is found to be insufficient and steps are to be taken at once to provide additional Tberthage^. Timaru has already spent far more upon its harbour than Taranaki has, but it finds that the demands of the growing trade necessitate still further expenditure ; the district pays a farthing rate and there was talk of increasing it this year, though it was found that the to , , , ordinary revenue was growing, sufficiently to meet the additional charges. Timaru is very little larger than New Plymouth and the district, served has no greater population than that of the district which might be served by this port. Why then should Taranaki hesitate to secure the advantages of direct trade which the Timaru people are securing for themselves ? The possibilities are as great here as there. Greater indeed, for Timaru has Lyttelton draining the country within less than fifty miles to the north and Oamaru even less than that to the south, while here we have no other harbour providing accommodation for direct shipping on the whole west coast of the North Island, and if such accommodation existed at Moturoa the trade of the country for 100 miles north and south and many miles inland would be served by it. The area of Taranaki proper is nearly two and half million acres, * nearly alt* of which is suitable for settlement and may be classed as good land. Taking out ! reserves, roads, and parts not available for producing wealth,

there is stiU iully two nniuons ol , acres. Upon this area a port gi\ - ing accommodation for direct shipping- would place an average added value of £i per acre. Bxit il we place it at only ten shillings per acre we get an increased value ol ,£1,000,000 for an outlay of ,£150,000 at Moluroa. Or to look at it in another way, for an annual additional cost of ,£6OOO (four per cent on ,£150,000) there would be a saving of at least five shillings a ton on a trade of 50,000 tons, at a low estimate, equal to ,£12,000 a year. Beyoud that, the provision of such accommodation j would speedily double the trade of the port and the benefit to the district would become proportionately greater every year. It is a matter which concerns the country people even more than the cown, for it is the country people who produce the butter, cheese, wool, meat, and . other fruits of the soil for export, and they are also the largest consumers of imported goods. In the Auckland district the country people are evincing a lively interest in the Auckland harbour, and a ■ discussion t/ook place on the matter ,te,t the conference of the Auckland ; Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union the other day. Mr Massey urged that the country people were just as much interested in the proper 'management ;of a>. h.arb;our board as the townspeople were, and eventually a resolution was passing affirming that the country districts were entitled to more representation on the Board. This is a question which has already been mooted in this district, but lack of interest on the part, of the farmers has allowed it to drop. There is, however, every indication that the farming community will . in the near future take a more active interest in the harbour with the view of forcing on an extension so as to give them direct trade, and then, no doubt, the question of representation will be gone i into. Before anything is .done, however, the farmers, through their Unions, must show that they desire to take a more active interest in the harbour.

; Mr W. H. Skinner informs us that the Scenery Preservation Society has had the guide ropes on Paritutu repaired, and that they are now quite safe. One or two members of the Ambul1 ance Brigade will be at the racecourse spates to-morrow during the running match, and will receive any donation which the public may see fit to con- . (tribute to such a worthy object. The following dates have been booked at the Theatre Royal, New Plymouth ' — Stecle-Payiic Company, 18th and 19th May ; Mr George, Musgrove's Sweet Nell Company, sth and 6tb June. The newest shapes and colourings -in ladies 1 ' jackets and paletots being the second shipment of these goods have just been opened by Mr W. Hughes, of Devon-street, who directs the attention of buyers to his a lvertit»»:iiicat on the front page of this issue. The barometer, which fell a little in the South yesterday, had recovered by this morning, and is now very uniform all over the colony, the variation being from 30.30 in. in the South to 30.55 in. at Napier. Light winds, smooth seas, and warm weather were general. Teachers and candidates wishing to outer for the examinations of ib-ji b-j Associated Board of the Koval Aitoemy and Royal College of Music are «cmuidcd that the Ist of Vlay is the I; st day for receiving ontruj*. JUr F. W. Richmond is the local jvpresi'ii dative, and if he should be ji'.jsoit Mr Fl. A. Lennon has kindly consented to receive fees and entries. The local manager of the Union S.S. Company is advised that the Rotomahana, leaving Wellington for Lyttelton on Friday, will be delayed till 9 p.m., so 'that any pa^stjougors tiw elling by Friday's train hence will connect. The South -!oa Islan Is excursion arranged for July this yt>tr has been abandoned in cons-jquftnee oi the Waikare being reqtiicod in i«ie it Jcrcolonial trade. Considerable interest is being taken in the running match, Wilson v. Capel, which will take place in the Recreation Grounds at 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. Both .men are stated to be in good condition and are well supported. Should, the weathqr keep /fine 1 ?hgrV"yv^ll KB 'a ,Jar&e' attendance, ( and it is anticipated by ith.os}f r 'm the ,)uiow," that the .distance (one mile) , will ,be cut out in record time for. the 1 local grounds. r r ; The Warrimoo which left Wellington on Saturday afternpoh for FVdno'y <siroet, tool?; "^iie following cargo :— £';.-om 1 Wellington— 2oo, ; 'boxes hutter, „ 138 sacks fungus, 3. bales K.nguq, 4 bcxes 1 boxes meats, 3 casks marrow, 11 ; casks tallow, .39 cases iifh, 1 l-O rapes ' .corned beef, 24 :: ¥ :*ses cheese. From Now Plymouth— ijOO Lokos butter, 82 sacks hides, 300 \.vh:s 5 e&ses bams, From Picton — 20 sacks v&«s From .Nelson— l3o bales Jk.}.^. Fivvn Lyitdton — 230 sacks oats, K'»2 sacks poi.'^toes, 2 horses, 2 sulkies, bY t-acks grass seed, 50 sacks peas, 58 oases ch^ose, 1 cask pelts. From Dunedin — 43 sacks oats, 12 bags hides, 50 druinsi oil, 36 kegs driers, 9 casks pelts, 1 truss leather, 1 bale horsehair, 1 box fish, 146 kegs paint. From Bluff — 475 sacks oats, 160 cases milk, 60 cases cheese, 1M bales flax, 1 box fish. Delightful wear for winter, no shrinking feeling or clamminess, absorbs the perspiration, but still remains soft, porous, and elastic. This is all claimed for tho celebrated C.B. Unj derwear. W. Morey and Son hold a ' utock of these well known goods, in- ] 1 hiding ladies' and children's ve^t , combinations, Spencers' bloomers, etc, ' . to which they invite inspection.* 1

I A mertiny ot' ratepayers was held in I the Kyinonl Road School on Monday .Board evening to consider the action of the Board hi regard to the spending of the loan and subsidy granted by the Government. Mr "W . Stanley whs elected to the chair. The meeting was unanimous in condemning the Hum rial being placed on the road at I present, and a deputation was formed to wait on the Government Engineer to place th<- \ iews of the meeting before him. Our attention has been calle 1 by Mr W. F. Gordon to a passage in Sir G. Whitinore' ■. book on the last Maori Maori War, which we think should be corrected by those who have copies of the book. On page 192 the author, speaking of Te Kooti, says he got from the Government a gift of a house and section at Kihikihi, where he peacefully ended his career, etc. This must be a curious slip of the pen, as it was Rewi for whom the Government built the house at Kihikihi and who Glided his days there, Te Kooti having died at Ohiwa, in the' Bay of Plenty j ten years ago. 1• • i It you wish to improve .ypur under., standings wear, A.B.C. , Boots , and Shoes.*