Taranaki herald. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1907. OPUNAKE TRADE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13481, 22 July 1907, Page 4

Taranaki herald. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1907. OPUNAKE TRADE.

There is some talk among Opunake tradesmen, according to the local paper, of endeavouring to secure a regular steamer service between Moturoa and the Opun-

ake bay. If the idea is seriously entertained we have no' doubt that it will receive warm support in New Plymouth,, because by that means the people of the Opunake district will be able to obtain a direct return for the rate they have to pay for the harbour here, and it will also serve to demonstrate the value of the harbour and the necessity for extending it sufficiently to give accommodation for large ocean liners. Opunake has always been at a disadvantage in the matter of communication with the outside world. Twentyifive miles from the railway, it has had conflicting interests to contend against in the matter of giving.it connection with the railway system, Hawera, Eltham, and Stratford all endeavouring to be made the .connecting point,, so that it is perhaps not to be wondered at that' nothing is done even x o determine tte route. Then the main roads ; to Hawera, Eltham, arid New Plymouth are drawing .trade awas from Qpunake, instead of centralising it in that town, with the result, that it is the business centre of only a small area of country* Wet e more use made of the bay as a. port the town would be able to command a much larger trade, but the uncertainty, irregularity, and< infrequency rif the steamer service has militated against that. In, certain states of , the weather it is almost impossible for the small vessels engaged in the coastal trade to ent sr the bay, so that it sometimes happens that the steamer passes by witliput communicating on lI3V way south, falling perhaps two or three days later on her return north. Another disturbing feature,.* which makea for irregularity, is- that the steamers are sometimes delayed .through stress of Weather. at the bar harbours «»f Wangdnui and Onehunga. The uncertainty of the service is not only inconvenient for the tradespeople of. Opunake, but it makes %t costly also, and any service which promises to bring relief is likely to be heartily supported. The most, effective relief can be given from New Plymouth. A?l that is required is a locally-owned steamer and shedding accommodation on the wharf at Moturoa to give a frequent service with Opunake and as regular as the weather will permit. Opunake is thirty-two miles from Moturoa by sea, or about four hours' steaming for a small steamer, so that a trro there and back would be only a day's work, giving a few houis for discharging merchandise and flax, wool, and whatever the district had to export. Given shedding accommodation on the wharf at Moturoa, which we hope before long will be an accomplished fact, New Plymouth merchants would even now be able to, compete with Auckland and Wellington in tta Opunake trade, to the advantage of the latter. When liners

trade here the advantage r "\vill !*e very much greater. The project < f a locally-owned' .steamer should .'onimend itself to. the traders of N>w Plymouth, yfojißot only wiljl it place them in a better position than at present to~ da -business with Opimake, l)ut within, thirtyjfive niil^s is $ie - Moktau River., where a growing biisinefis may U> done. Seven ty-two miles away is> Kawhuv, and «nly a little "f itrthet* is llaglan, both of w^i^h port^ will very spon be .-doing a large .trade for the settlers in- the counitry at their back. Both arc ha n dip capped by .heavy charges from Auckland^ and -'there- i& a -chahc^ for New Plymdtith- to do at^leasj; a part pf .their trade. The .dairy produce they export to be : seni to Auckland-, -tTitetide'+o/Wellinfff ton by wayt" 6\lVJ[q|uipa.Jljfc .^ould be infinitely. V better .and miicd} cheaper for the iridttstrj^, which is only just, .pjpin^ne^giug { iii . N thos'4 districts, M J&e, putter .i could- ..l>e brought direct* io the freezing works here. Il.N.ew Plymputli is to become a^usiness /ceftire &i importance our t*ad^ : ttiust -be *tliv§ to i. their dppiorttinrtiek'. "H^fe, .It appears to. .usJis.^jg'Qod one* . The beginning may be small, ans the difficulties gtefyi&r, than the profits, but if a chann.eliifi'onceopened, and kept openj irade wiH; flow along it in Lah fever-increasing volume