The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1882. CURRENT NOTES. THE WHARF.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 608, 12 May 1882, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1882. CURRENT NOTES. THE WHARF.

Tkr following letter has been received by the Borough Council from the Lytteltin Harbor Board :—

" Harbor Board Office. " Christehiirch; May 2. 1882,

'•Sir, —I am directed by tlio Chairman 1o acknowledge the receipt of your letter of tho 20th insf., asking for the temporary line of tin; dredge and one barge to dredge a channel from the Akaron jetty some four chains long by a chain in width, and in reply to state that the Chairman regrets tlint lie is unable to accede to your application as our dredge and barges are fully employed, nnd will be for some considerable time yet. —Yours, etc.,

" i}. II Williams, '• Secretary and Treasurer."

Jfc appear", therefore, that there is no chance of the Lyttelton dredge or barges coming here, and tliis is in our opinion no great misfortune, for the expense would have been too great for the result to be o tuined. The work, however, might bo done just as well if the Council wore less ambitious. There is n vessel called the Mina Belle, used by the Lyttelton Harbor Board for dredging ■alongside the wharves, and this, we have good authority for stating, would probably be placed at the Council's Service if she were asked for. She is not a handsome vessel, but she is properly fitted to do the work required, and the cost would not be large. The sole expense would be towing her from iind to Lyttelton, and paying for the wear and tear of the dredging apparatus, and of course for labor.

This course therefore appears to be the best it' the system of dredging i« adopted at nil, but wo do not think much of any work of such a temporary character. We understand the present idea is to put by year by year the earnings of the wharf and eventually use the accumulated revenue to build another or take this into deeper water. Now, we beli'jvii this is beginning at the wrong cud of he stick. The interest aii'l sinking fund per thocis' nd pounds fora reasonable term of years is say £70 per annum. Why net then borrow the necessary in ney and extend the wharf into deep water at once and so reap an immediate benefit and avoid the squandering of money in petty repairs ? The scale of dunrf just inaugurated should yi -Id some £140 a yenr now, and this would allow for £2000 being expended, und the present balance in the bank could be utilised for current expenses till the revenue increased, whica it is as certain to do, if a policy of progress is adopted, as it is certain not to, if the present system of tinkering and stagnation continues.

We are told, however, that it is probable that for £1000 the wharf can be extended into deep water and such being the case the problem seems easier to solve. If we want to attract vessels to our port we mu*t provide proper accommodation for them. If we want to get the warm support of the public we must provide accommodation for them also. We have the moans at hand and if we do not take the necessary steps we are not only foolish but absolutely culpable in trying to retard the advancement of tli' , district through our short sighted policy. It would be far better for every one to pay even 10 per cent more wharf ige dues, which we affirm is unnecessary altogether, and have a good wharf running out into deep water, than to allow the apology that at present exists to continue in an unsatisfactory state, whilst petty annual sums are being laid up to provide for a more worthy successor.