THE TRADE OF THIS PORT.

West Coast Times, Issue 4438, 13 October 1883, Page 2

THE TRADE OF THIS PORT.

In the Dunedin Herald of the 4th inst , the following coinmuuicitioas appeared:— Sia,— Herewith please receive extract from a letter received by us from one of our coDbtitucnts in Hokitika complaining of waat of attention to tbe shipping interests of that pj.t, aod pointing out ihat such want of attention is liable to lead to a diminution of tbe trade as between Dunedin and that part of the West Coast. Knowing the interest you take ia anything affecting the comm-rce of this city, we forward you the extracts referred to so that you cau use them (without names) with a viow of furthering the interests of Hokitika and retaining its trade with Daaedin.—We are, &c , M'Leod 13hos. (Limited), Per John M. Jamtcson, Secretary. EXTRACT. As adviseJ by telegram we positively decline to receive tbe goidi via Greymouth. If you cannot se id to us direct please cancel tbe order entirely, for we must fiud other places to trade with where some sort of decent communication exists, and a probability of getting supplies ia something like reisonable time and in good order. Our port haa for a long time beeu shamefully slandered by interested monopolists, and now the mercantile community are determined io counteract it, so that trade with Dunedia will be diveited inti other channels for the future, unless a remedy is speedily found. The cnlrauce to our hatbor ii a good navigable one— even yesterday, at dead neap tide, the Murray, belougiog to tbe Anchor Line, crossed the bar outwards nearly two and a-half hours before Ligh water, whilst the Isabella AudersoD, drawing Bft. tiin. was safely berthed at th.c w barf. — The water on the bar varies at spring tides from Bfc. to 10ft. The average tides are 12ft. 13ft., and 14 t., giving ample water for light draught vessels, and we can m( st positively assert that our port it accessible for fully eleven months out of every twelve, wea her permitting. Arrangements are being made to procure a suitable tugboat for the port, and not im? probable one or two s'eamboats to protect the interest of traders in the future.