The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-11-17
Matson wants Preferences.

The Hilo wharf question was before
the harbor commissioners yesterday.
The Matson Navigation Company,
through T. H. Petrie of Castle 4
Cooke, the local representative Of the
shipping concern, stated that If the
Matson boats used the proposed gov
eminent wharf at Hilo, it would want
assurance that its boats would have a
clear berth and wharf space whenever
its vessels arrived, in order that the
schedules could be maintained. Why
the company expected this preference
right +" was not clearly explained.
This declaration came after the board
had been in session for nearly two
hours, during which time the entire
Hilo wharf matter was argued over and
over again, the commissioners prad-
tically arriving back where they start
ed, but with certain new ideas which
may help to break the deadlock.
Chairman Campbell attempted to
wiring from Mr.. Petrie some statement
as to whether or not the Matson CON-
pany would use the wharf after IL was
built, or give some assurance that they
would use it, before a nail was driven.
Mr.. Petrie finally went 80 far as to say
that they wanted a clear berth IL they
did decide to use it.
Echelon Wharf.
During the discussion Chairman
Campbell suddenly thought of q new
method by which much Of the WrAn-
Cling could be overcome. He proposed
an echelon form of wharf, merely "a
a suggestion, sogthat the upper end Of
the wharf would run about four hun.
4 AraA .mbav. kh1ra mould h., - .nr
and another four hundred feet would
form another portion of the wharf.
Another jog and another four hundred
feet. On each section rails would run
down to the jog. The upper end, it was
suggested, might be given to the Amer
lean Hawaiian line; the next would
have rails and the next its set.
Matson's Reluctance.
1t was stated during the meeting
that the request to the Matson com.
pany for a statement as to whether il
| would OF would mot use the wharf had
not been answered directly. 1t was
| stated that even without any prefer
ence right accorded it, the Hilo Rail.
road Company hardly felt like entering
into an agreement with the commission
to run its rails to the wharf, and then
have no ships except those of one line
to make use of the wharf, and neces.
Barily Of it's cars. It was stated also
that is the Hilo Railroad Company
could not effect a friendly agreement
with the shipping concerns to use the
wharf, and necessarily its cars, then
there would be little use in its enter,
ing into an agreement with the com
mission, and without such an agree
ment the commission could not build
the wharf The legislature so pro
vided that the Hilo Railroad Company
must build its track 6to" the wharf
first, or at least to agree to do so, be
fore the commission could spend dol
lar.
Cramping Hilo.
Chairman Campbell stated very posi-
lively that the various delays and oppo
sition to the Hilo Railroad Company
seeing that its way was clear TO entei
into an agreement would seriously af
feet Hilo. He stated that with the
delays granted at the request of tbs
various interests, such as the Inter
Island and Matson companies, thai
Bhonld an agreement be entered intC
in the next two or three months il
would be February at the earliest ant
March or April, probably, before 1
piece Of timber was started for Ihi
wharf site and the legislature of l9l;
would be adjourned before the wharf
was finished. The Legislature, unde
gueh circumstances would have no op
portunity 10 seq whether the wharf wa
working right, and tho additional up
propriationB necessary 70 make thl
wharf the proper length for all ship
ping Interests, would not be forth
epming.
As tho Panama Canal ia believed h
hold 3 big future for Hiio, thia losu d
Legislative favor for 1918 would aeri
ously hamper the development u thl
port ~ HE, Nhlqh - that timo vii
have ~ break water finished
Commissioner Mccarthy, even, VII
haf been opposed 10 the form of agree
mfni be tfnlaiigfly drawn ~, iiatel
yesterday IF j vas running the iill
hallFeaq ranpepy ! would uel ihinl
~ fHnplnR ~ tracks - ihe wharf 100
les I AaQ Hssufhnfo tAti the fiaamrhlI
seHpeHlef seHlf r. fhfre Wifh ftcf
ehips ann usf the ehslf I neald 80
AZ + fihrTH'as