After a century of comparative idleness, the port of Onehunga is once more taking an important place in New Zealand trade and shipping circles. More than a quarter of a million tons of cargo passed through the port last year, compared with a total of 42,000 tons in 1951. The coasters which discharge and load goods at Onehunga ply mainly with (Ed. - remainder of sentence omitted). Attractive Run Although they can carry only relatively small cargoes of about 1000 tons, their run is attractive and economic, partly because the sea distance from Onehunga to Wellington and ports further south is more than 200 miles shorter than the route from Auckland. This is one of the main reasons for the Port of Onehunga being the largest coastal port in New Zealand. The port itself has been in existence for about 150 years. From about 1844, when it was made a naval station, until 1863, it was the major port in New Zealand. During the Maori Wars, the port became the stepping-off point for troops fighting in the Waikato. Boats left from Onehunga to travel up the Waikato River. In 1863, disaster struck: The frigate "Orpheus" foundered on the bar at the entrance to the Manukau Harbour. Of a total complement of 259, 189 lives were lost. This resulted in the main port being shifted to the Waitemata Harbour, and for many years afterwards the port of Onehunga gradually lost trade. In 1911, the port, which had until then been run by the Marine Department, was taken over by the Auckland Harbour Board. However, the board did so reluctantly, and in fact had to be offered an inducement of an endowment

of nearly 2000 acres of land. This included what is now known as the Lynfield Estate and also about 1100 acres at Whatipu. In 1926, the existing timber wharf was replace in reinforced concrete, but with the growth of road and rail links, passenger traffic dwindled. When in the 1930s trade dwindled to 40,000 tons a year, it was feared the port would be finished. However, the post-war establishment of factories in the adjacent area encouraged more trade, and by 1956 cargo had doubled to 90,000 tons compared to 1950. Shed Capacity By 1957 the capacity of the cargo sheds had been doubled and the wharf widened. Further work began in 1963 on a bulk cement berth and a reinforced concrete wharf extension. This has doubled general berth space to 800 feet, and also provided a new cargo shed, gear stores, garage and a two-storey building for shipping offices and Harbour Board staff. The increase of shipping in recent years has raised certain problems, including the need for a higher standard of navigation aids. All gas beacons are being replaced with electric ones and the channel buoys - and there are more than 40 major ones - are being continually reconditioned and replaced. 13 Shipwrecks The bar at the mouth of the harbour, on which 13 ships have been wrecked, is no longer regarded as a danger, although it is still not crossed at night. Modern methods, including regular surveys and radio-telephone, have helped to eliminate most of the danger in navigating the bar. The future of the Port of Onehunga seems reasonably bright, with talk of the building of a canal between the Waitemata and Manukau harbours, a steel mill to be built on a river arm of the Manukau, and the Onehunga area being part of projected motorway development.