THE UNION COMPANY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13574, 4 December 1907, Page 2

THE UNION COMPANY.

OPERATIONS IN WELLINGTON HARBOUR. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 3. The statement that tho Union Company has bought the patent slip at Wellington is confirmed, but the price is not mentioned. The Slip Company for a number of years received a subsidy under Act of Parliament, but this lapsed some time ago. It J3 expected the Union Company will go to considerable expense in adding a wharf and improved appliances. The site is close to that portion of Evans Bay which is to [be reclaimed. The Wellington papers, are hinting that the purchase, coming just when this undertaking was decided on, foreshadows the removing of the Union Company's headquarters to Wellington. AN OBJECTION RAISED. WELLINGTON, December 4. The acquisition of the patent slip by tho Union Company was effected by the purchase -of a portion of- the shores of the harbour. The Harbour Board intended to acquire the slip if the negotiations with the Gas Company failed, and the chairman of the Board complains that the transaction with the Union Company has been carried ou£ behind the Board's back and is against the spirit of what was intended when the Provincial Government gave its assent to the construction of the slip. The chairman, Hon. T. K. Macdonald, adds — "I may say that the Harbour Board will not without a struggle submit to seeing the foreshore of Evans Bay vested in a private company, to the injury of the mosquito fleet of Wellington, without invoking an opinion of Parliament on the subject." THE HEADQUARTERS QUESTION. DUNEDIN, December 4. The Star says the people of Dunedin have no cause for serious apprehension that the Union. Company may remove its headquarters to Wellington. Mr Ritchie, one. of the directors, has twice publicly hinted that a change of headquarters is never likely to occur under Sir James Mills's management. The company has guaranteed to give £1000 a year for twenty years towards the deficiency on the new dock, which means that the company's vessels will be docked at Port Chalmers.