HAMILTON AS A PORT

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20145, 17 March 1937, Page 9

HAMILTON AS A PORT

RIVER TRAFFIC ACTIVITY. ENLARGEMENTS T 0 WHARF. GREATER STEAMER FREIGHT. With the returns from commerce rising daily and greater business sotlvity prevalent, Hamilton has become] an important transport centre in the Waikato, and while modern methods of goods conveyance are handling large volumes of the freight to this district, the pioneer service, the river steamer tramc has increased considerably during the last few months. With paddle steamers daily plying the Waikato River the present port has been found to he too small to handle the demands of a revived activity. The house Shipping Company, Limited, has. for the past two months. been engaged upon extending the wharf: and with the project within a few weeks of completion the scene at the Ferry Bank is indeed a trans—formed one. For almOst 70 years the river steamers have churned the waters of the “'uikato, their sooty smoke stacks Spurting forth dense smoke as the old-fashioned paddles revolve swiftly at the rear. Although not now as vital to the life of the community as it was once. the service siili carries heavy freight to the town and forms an import adjunct to the transport facilities. New Wharf Shed. For many years a landmark on the river bank below the traffic bridge, the shipping company‘s offices have‘ been removed further up-stream and built into the new wharf shed which is being erected adjoining the present wharf shed which has been found to be inadequate to store the extra freight being handled by the port. The old wharf shed was 60 feet long and 30 feet wide. ‘The new building will be 70 feet long when completed giving a total storage space on the wharf of almost 4000 square feet. Beyond the new wharf s‘heds the river bank has been reclaimed for a distance or about 300 feet and with piles driven over this distance extra wharnng space will 'be provided, extending around the river bend. A mechanical scoop will be employed next week to level the ground around the wharf and the reclaimed area. Two grab cranes chug continuously each day unloading gravel from barges which are drawn from lower down the river by the steamer P.S. Hawhtti. The gravel is transported from the wharf to the Fairiield bridge ‘site by motor lorry. This activity lends a busy appearance to the wharf. . . “’ithin about three weeks thenew wharflng scheme for Hamilton .will be complete. It will be a further example of the growth of Hamilton in all branches of commercial life“