A LOCAL STEAMER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13483, 24 July 1907, Page 3

A LOCAL STEAMER.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — With reference to your leading article last evening on the subject of a stoamer service from New Plymouth to Opunake, and suggesting a locallyowned vessel should do this trade, I would like to mention one or two more possibilities if a small shipping company Avere started here. There is the Mokau, a lot of country at the head of which is rapidly being settled, the settlers, of course, having to get the necessaries of life in and send their produce out. What is wanted is a small steamer to run from the breakwater to Mokau — oven perhaps as far as the mines — and a launch on the river to connect with said steamer, and when one or two bad rapids are snagged it will be possible to take a launch up as far as Totor.o. It will thus be seen that New Plymouth should have this trade, which is now being done by way of Auckland, via Te Kuiti. It costs tke settlers round about the Upper Mokau from £8 to £9 per Lon to get their stuff carted and packed from Te Kuiti, whereas it is reckoned that when the river is opened for launch traffic in its higher reaches goods could bo sent from the breakwater to Toroto for, say, £3 per ton. This is obviously worthy of consideration. Again, there is Tongaporulu, with its back country being also rapidly settled, and when the main road from there, to Mangaroa is made passable for dray traffic Tongaporntu must become a port to serve the back district. At present settlers have to cart their stuff from Waitara, a long distance, to sajr nothing of having to negotiate Mount Messenger; but if a small vessel were to run from the breakwater to Tongaporutu, settlers could be supplied more cheaply and expeditiously. It certainly behoves the New Plymouth merchants' to make a bid for <the trade of tljis back country. Then again, there is Awakino, which can be worked by a s^mall vessel. Of course, at first there would be no great, profits from these places, but things would be bound to improve as these districts arc rapidly going ahead, and the settlers would naturally support the cheapest and quickest means of getting their goods in and sending their produce to market; and there is no doubt ihjat this can best be achieved by working" these river ports. On the return journey f/om these places a vessel could bringN)ut the butter to the Freezing Works at Itfoturoa, and the wool to the local market or for transhipment at tbb breakwater. About two years ago an old skipper, who, has had long experience on this coast and knows these places well, tried to interest a fow of our merchants in this Mo-kau-Totoro scheme, but cliey then thought it would not pay. Perhaps now they will see things, in a different light, and make an effort \o gater for and carry out the trade wljich should rightly belong to New Plyjno'uth. If any gentlemen feel sufficiently interested to go go further into this matter, I shall be pleased to give them the address of this old skipper I have alluded to, who could give them valuable information. — I am, etc., ' . OLD CO-ASTER.