UP-RIVER NAVIGATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5488, 5 December 1884, Page 2

UP-RIVER NAVIGATION.

The meeting called by Mr Willis for last evening, to consider tho advisability of taking steps to promote stoam communication up tho Wangauui River, was largely attended. It was found that Mr Jackson's room was not large enough and an adjournment had to be made to tho sale yards. Some little doluy was caused by att mpts to get the gas to burn, and it was about quarter to nine when the Mayor took the chair, or rather tho pulpit. His Worship irmde a few remarks as to the objects of the meeting, and then called on the convener, Mr A. D. Willis, to state his views to thoxe present. Mr Willis, after referring to the fact that the attendance was larger than he had anticipate!, went on to say tbat they were all aware of the importance of opening the river, and he had all along expressed the belief that this was the all-important question to Wanganui. Of course, Wanganui participated to a certain extent in tho trade .of tho country districts surron ding it, but still a largo portion of it was taken by smaller settlements, whose trade was done direct with Wellington, and tho only advantage Wanganui derived was the fact that the goods were brought here by steamer. His reasons for calling the meeting were that he had had a conversation with the member for Wanganui, and Mr Ballance had said that now was the time for the people of Wanganui to put their shoulders to the wheel, and show that they were anxious to assist in opening up steam communication if the Government did anything towards opening up the river. It was not necessary for them to discuss just now the advisability of forming a company to run a steamer, but he would point out some of the advantages that would accrue if there were a steamer. The Native Minister had subsidised to the extent of £75 an avrangement for taking mails to Jerusalem by canoes, and he (Mr Willis) had no doubt tbat a steamer would not only get t- at subsidy, but perhaps double the amount if regular communication were opened up. This would be one source of income. Then the Government had expressed their intention of commencing the Central Line of Railway at various points, in order to hare it opened in three years, and for the purpose of making roads to these points £87,000 had been placed on the estimates. Field's track and the Wauganui River were both spoken of in Mr Rochfort's report as roads suitable for carrying oontractors' materials to these places. If a steamer were placed on the river, the Government would be likely to spend perhaps £10,000 or £15,000 in assisting to clear the river of any great engineering difficulties there might be. He believed that one hundred miles was the distance it waß proposed to go by river, and from thence the Government would probably make roads direct to the spots where they proposed to commence the work. If the steamer were on the river they would not only get the subsidy for mails, but there would be the traffic caused by a large number of men (probably some four or five hundred men) required on the works, and the whole of this trade would concentrate in Wanganui Besides these sources of income, they must remember that a steamer .once started would create a trade, and he believed tbat the up river settlers, natives and others would avail themselves of the services of the boat, and not only travel backwards and forwards, but send their produce by it. He might be put down as over sanguine on this matter, but he believed that if the Wanganui people did not turn their heads to this subject, it would serve them right if the present depression continued; They would show that they were not altogether dead, but that they had a little of the old spirit left. He did not ask them to form a company at once, he thought rather that everything should be done in a business-like manner. The Native Minister would return on Saturday, and he (Mr Willis) proposed that a committee Bhould be appointed to wait on the Hon. Mr Ballance, and ask him what the Government would do in the event of a steamboat company being started. This was the proper method to adopt, and the reply would largely guide them as to what steps should be taken.- As to engineering difficulties, from what he could learn, they were not insuperable, and would not cost an enormous sum of money to get rid of, Mr Rochfort was, he believed, favorable to the river, and on his return he would give a full report as to the capabilities of the river. It was now a question of pushing on the matter, although he (Mr Willis) did not want anything done too hastily. He concluded by moving, " That with a view of drawing attention to the opening up of the upper portion of the Wanganui River by means of steam communication, a committee be formed for the purpose of interviewing the Hon. J. Ballance, and ascertaining what support the project would be likely to receive from the Government;

Mr G. Beaven seconded the resolution. Mr D. Bell asked whether anydne present could say anything of any probability of firewood or coal traffic from up the river.

Mr Drew thought that there could be no harm in a deputation seeing Mr Ballance on this matter.

Mr Manson bad noticed an article in the papers that that there were 60 rapids between here and Utapu. He thought there were not more than one dozen places that would require shifting to enable a steamer drawing 2 feet to go up. He believed nearly all the way up the river the rapids were composed of drift wood, although in some places there were boulders. He did not think it would be necessary to go as far as Utapu; Pipiriki, a distance of 70 miles, would, he thought, be far enough up, as a road through level country could be made from there to connect with the railway line. He thought the plan was feasible, and sup* ported the motion. Mr Young said that as Mr Roehfort was to report on the engineering difficulties, he would not like to say much. There were said to be 60 rapids, but that did not mean that they were insuperable obsticles. There •were one or two bad ones -which would notreqvire a large amount of money to remove. It was not the magnitude of any particular rapid that created the difficulty but the number of them. The late party had seen the river at a full tide, but the rapids could be' seen better at low water. He knew they were at any rate no worse than those on the West Coast, where the whole trade was carried on by traffic boats, at a cost of about £10 or £12 per ton for a distance of about 50 miles. There was much rough land, but a good deal of it that could be used for stock purposes, and in time much of it could be used for fruit growing. The great difficulty was want of road. The Mayor, in putting the resolution, said he was glad it had taken that shape, because the meeting were bound to nothing more than appointing a deputation. He thought that if it waa necessary that the line should be taken through in three years, (though he doubted if itoould be) then it was absolutely necessary that some steps should be taken to have roads made. If the engineer, Mr Rochfort, reported that the river was the best line, then the river must be utilised, but at the same time if the Government proposed to do anything of the sort it was desirable that the people of Wanganui should help them, As a matter of foot all depended on Mr Rochfort'a report being favorable, and if it ws favorable there could be very little doubt that it would be opened up, and the material taken up tho river. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. The Rev. Mr Treadwell proposed as the deputation — the Mayor, Mr Willis, and Mr Freeman Jackson.

Mr D, Eyre seconded the motion, whioh was carried.

In answer to a request from Mr Drew that Mr Bassell should state his opinions of the river, that gentleman replied that he hardly thought it would be advisable to enter int > it then, as he was preparing a report for the Harbor Board,

The Rev. Mr Treadwell suggested that the same committee should be empowered to make enquiry as to the probable expense of a boat, and the probable cost of clearing the river and making it navigable for a boat. He moved abcordingly. Mr Hassell said the cost of opening up the river was more a matter for the Government, but the other matter was one more for Wanganui. It would be well to ascertain what would be the best kind of steamer to put oh the river. Mr Young and himself would be glad to go on the committee for the purpose of making such enquiries as to cost. The mover asked that the names of Messrs Young and HaweU be added to the com.

mitteo, and he also withdrew the portion of the motion alluding to the cost of clearing the river. Mr P. Bell seconded tho motion.

Mr G. Beaven thought that as the Government were largely interested, there would be uo dt übfc at all that tho Government would put several boats on the river, it would be to their interest to do bo, because the cost would he less than the intereet on the money which would be lost if the railway were commenced at each end, and the money sunk in these worka forced to be idle for some time.

The motion was put and carried, and with a vote of thanks to tho chairman, the promoter of the meeting, and Mr F. R. Jackson, the meeting closed.