MALIGNED WESTPORT

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1670, 9 February 1906, Page 2

MALIGNED WESTPORT

MR COLVIN’S REPLY. (Per Pifess. Association.) ; Westport, last night

Speaking at a social tonderod to a gentleman leaving Westport to-day, Mr Colvin, referred in a very pointed speech to the vast improvements which had occurrod at Westport through the

harbor works. He quoted the strides the port had made, aDd ssated that authentic cfliaial records showed that an output of 2000 tom of coal per week oould be dealt with at Westport with the present equipment ; in fact Westport could at the piosent time easily deal with the oombined trade of both Westport and Greymoutb, and he strongly deproeated Westport beiDg bracketed by Mr Guinness, M.H R-, as unsuccessful harbor works, as impliod by a recent Press Association telegram from Greymoutb. Mr Colvin

quoted the Board’s engineer, who is of high standing, os etiting recently beforo the Kt, Hon. the Premier that within the next two or threo years the port of Westport would be able to deal whh bottoms oarrying 9000 toDs of cargo, and vory soon a permanent depth would bo csttbliehod of 26ft on the bar and in the river, thus allowing voseo's of 24ft draught to work Westport with absolute safety. Mr Colville also referred to the splendid financial condition of the Westport Harbor Board, and said that all futuro improvements oould bo done without borrowing one single penny, thus showing the highly reproductive nature of the harbor woiks already constructed.