Taranaki Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1908. A HAWERA GRIEVANCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13637, 16 April 1908, Page 4

Taranaki Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1908. A HAWERA GRIEVANCE.

The Hawera Star, in an editorial, comments upon the delay that oocurs in getting goods imported through New Plymouth to Hawera despatched promptly. Our contemporary correctly diagnoses the cause of the delay as the lack of accommodation at the

goods shed here, and suggests united action throughout the province, to secure- a, remedy. The idea is an excellent one, but we cannot help /remarking that it is a striking commentary on the frequent assertions made on the other side of tho mountain that the breakwater is absolutely of ji(s/use to that part* of Taranaki to find complaints made as to the inconvenience caused to southern consignees by delay at tbJis end. The fact is that people very often fail tp recognise the value of a convenience until it fails them temporarily, and we may perhaps be Excused for improving the occasion by pointing Out that the Union Steam Ship Company has intimated a desire' for berthage accommodation at Moturoa for larger steamers than now "use the port in order to enable it to keep pace with' the rapidly growing trade. The Harbour Board is doing its best to improve the accommodation^ but its resources are small and are mainly devoted to increasing the shelter afforded by the breakwater. The question of providing deeper water must be left until a new loan is available, for the double purpose of lengthening the wharf and for dredging. The present dredge is a most useful little vessel, but it has its limitations; it suffices, as-long as its efficiency is maintained, to prevent the sand from encroaching, but it is not powerful enough to permanently deepen the sheltered water or even the berths, while it may break down at any moment. Should anything^ serious, happen to it the result Would be the speedy shoaling of the harbour, so that instead of larger vessels being able to use the port the Corinna would meet with inconvenience in working it. This is a matter whoso [importance does not appear to be

i fully appreciated. So long as all goes well the present accommodation is just barely adequate, but the Board cannot increase the accommodation as fast as the grpwing trade necessitates, while it is not in a position to meet such an emergency as a serious breakdown of the dredge. Those are the reasons wliy a new loan is so necessary. . The fact thai Hawera consignees are complaining of delay here proves that the harbour is of some seryice to them already; if the accommodation were greater it wotlld be of very inu&li more service. A oase in point may be furnished by quoting the growing demand in Taranaki for artificial fertilisers, such as basic slag and Japanese fertilisers, which were largely used last year. With better accommodation at Moturoa the farmers of Taranaki would be placed on the same footing as those served say by Wellington harbour as regards freights, instead of having to pay a coastal freight. It is now practically impossible .to get a cheap freight irom Sydney, and there is a considerable saving to be made in this direction. But it will be obvious to anyone who chooses to think the question out that there is much to be gained by making this a deep-sea harbour such, as Timaru is, with freights from foreign ports the same as Timaru has secured by giving accommodation for largo steamers.