The Heads Wharf.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6363, 8 November 1887, Page 2

The Heads Wharf.

At tho Harbour Board meoting yesterday a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, consisting of Messrs Cummins, Tilly, Hatrick, and John Stevenson, waited on tho Board relative to the proposal to incroaso the shipping accommodation. Mr Cummins, after introducing tho deputation and stating its business, said it was well known in town that vessels ablo to get over the bar wero not able to get up to the town, and that a probable sale of two millionfeetof timber had been lostto Wanganui simply because of the difficulty experienced in getting larger vessels to the wharf,. Noticing the urgent necessity for doing something, the Chamber of Commerce had instructed a deputation to proceed to the Heads and see if it was practicable to extend the accommodation there. They were accompanied by the harbourmaster and pilot. Tho latter showed them the soundings near the reef, and they found that these had altered considerably since Barr's plan was taken some three or four years ago. The committee were of opinion that it would be quite practicable to extend the wharf accommodation at a comparatively trifling expense. They thought that by carrying out the wharf some 80 feet from the bar ond of the present wharf, at an angle of 40 degrees, they could ensure a depth of 14 feet kt low tides. Mr Cummins here read an extract from a report given the Chamber signed by the captains of four steamers trading hero, in ■which they spoke strongly of the advantages to be gained by this system. The deputation considered it would be possible to get in a vessel drawing 14 feet of water, and that with a small cost.

In answer to a question from Mr Borlasc, Mr Cummins said they had not gone into the cost, not considering that it came within their province.

Mr Hatrick followed, and Baid that their reason for moving in the matter was the disadvantages which the port continually laboured under, and the loss whioh the district sustained on account of larger vessels not being able to get in. He found, since he had brought the matter before the Chamber, that there wero numbers in town who were alive to the importance of doing something at tho Heads. He could state that lately ho had been endeavouring to get timber vessels here to load, but found it impossible to get them to come at rates that would pay. Mr Hatrick here explained the difference in carrying capacity of vessels drawing 10ft 6in and 12ft lor 12ft 6in respectively. In the first case it meant 200 or 250 tons (dead weight), or 150 OOOft of timbor, and in tho second SQO or 600 tons (deadweight), and 400,000ft of timber. It was easily seen therefore that with the larger vessels freights were considerably lower, and this made all the difference in the timber trade. Vessels now that could cross the bar could not get up the river, and he himself had a vessel on tho way from Newcastle, drawing 10ft 6in, which might possibly bo neaped on the flats. If she was, and tho owner lost a week or so here, she would probably not come back again. With a wharf at the Heads, howovor, a 12ft 6iu boat could get in and go away again without difficulty, and they could then send away timber at tho same rates that boats were chartered at from Kaipara. (Mr Hatrick read a extract from one of the largest shipping firms in New Zealand, to the effect that as only comparatively small vessels could load at Wanganui, it paid better to take timber at 3s 6d per hundred from Kaipara than at 4s 6d from Wanganui.) He could definitely state that an order worth £6000 was lost to tho district lately because of these difficulties, and he was confident that with increased accommodation at the Heads, a large revenue would accrue at onco.

Mr Gummina mentioned that a wharf at the Heads would be a great advantage to cattle steamers. A feii questions having put and answered, tho deputation retired. At a later stage of tho Board's proceedings, the matter was brought up again for discussion. The Mayor suggested, as it was important to get figures they could rely on, that they should appoint a committee to make thorough enquiries. They lad conflicting evidence in the monthly reports placed before them at that meeting, the harbourmaster stating that there was 13ft 6in on the flats, and yet the pilot only reported 12ft on the bar at spring tides. Mr Thatcher considered the deputation a practical ono. There was no doubt that a very large order for timber had had to bo refused because facili ties were not provided for larger vessels. It did not matter what depth they had given on the flats, if the channel over them was not practicable vessels could not use it: He might say that a boat drawing 12ft could get in over the bar, whereas only 9ft boats could regularly get over the flats. Ho had previously pointed out that it was necessary that it should be definitely Btated whero the expenditure under the Bill was to bo made, so as to secure public support. If it was intended to limit the expenditure to tho breakwater, ho was sure that they would secure increased depth, and increased depth ■would necessitate increased shipping accommodation. The question now was whether they -would work with the Heads Railway in trying to Bccure this wharf acv >• nnodalion.

Mr Poison isked that some schome should be put forwaid. Their previous relations with the Heads Railway Company had not been of a very profitable character. He thought it would be best to move for a committee of enquiry. Mr Poison alluded to the argument that the wharf, by allowing larger Bteamers to come in, would be of benefit to cattle-dealers, and said he did not agree with it. He thought cattle-dealers would say that the small boats suited thorn bettor, as larger boats would mean flooding tho markets with Btock.

Mr Davey maintained that it would be of great advantage to shippers to have largor cattle boats. They would send cattlo to Wellington by steamer if better boats wero running Those who had been ongaged in tho cattle trade for years knew well that tho present boats wore unsuitable from thoir want of accommodation.

Mr Spurdlo seconded the proposal to have a committee on the matter. Ho fully agreed with the wishes of tho deputation, and hoped thoy would be ablo to carry out tho idea. Mr Thatcher proposed that the committeo consist of the whole Board, to meet next Monday, but this was not seconded, and Mr Poison proposed that a committee consist of Messrs Thatcher, Laird, Spurdle, Willis, and the mover to verify the statements made by tho Chamber of Commerce deputation, and to procure data as to the cost, etc. of the proposed wharf. This was carried.