OUR HARBOR.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 611, 23 May 1882, Page 2

OUR HARBOR.

We are not ol those who delight in the misfortunes of others. Far be it from us to draw an inference from the fact of the late wrecks at Timaru that this harbor should bo opened, for we think th.-ii. tbe fact of the breakwater standing the seas so well shows that, however much shipowners a'td marine insurance offices may dread the place just now, the time is not far distant when ships of great tonnage will lie safely under the protection of those huge concrete blocks, that have now shown so well that ihey are capable of resisting the fury of the waves when the sea is in its roughest mood. That before long Timaru may be a safe port for vessels of any tonnage is our sincere wish, and we have such faith in tlie energy of the fiouth bury settles s, that we do not for a mod mentdoubt such will be tho case

But though we think this, yet we cannot help regretting that this magnificent harbor with all its vast capabilities, with water enough to float the navies ol the world, without any dredging, should be comparatively idle, and we hope the day is not far distant when it will, at any rate, present as busy an appearance a« it did in the far past, before the first four ships had cast their anchors in Lyttelton waters, when a dozen whalers were often anchored here.

It is an undoubted fact that our harbor is comparatively useless till it is connected by railway with the plains. If the Peninsula were a grain producing country that bulky export would of couiWnecessitate great carrying power, but the acre of ground that would grow 50 bushels of wheat does not produce many lbs of cheese, and so the produce of the land goes into a very small space. No doubt we send away a large quantity of grass seed, but this is sent to so many different places that it would be useless to endeavor to put it aboard one vessel. It is therefore from the plains that spread away from Lake Ellesmere to the Rakaia, and from the basin of the lake itself and the valleys that border it, that*we must look for any exports. There is no doubt that Lyttelton is now fully equal to the task of sending away nearly the whole produce of this provincial district. Thanks to a Harbor Board that has since its establishment consisted of some of the most able men in New Zealand, who have made it their study to make it the first port in the Colony, the appliances are truly magnificent, and would be a credit to any country in the world, but we still argue the time is not so far distant when another port will be required. The railways into the interior are fast opening up vast mineral deposits, our beef and mutton will soon be a regular article of export to England, and the grain export will not fall off for many years to come, for even when the new country is exhausted, grass paddocks must be broken up after a year or two. We may take it for granted, therefore, that our exports will largely increase for many years to come. Now, suppose things remain as at present, and that by an earthquake, or falling in of the rock, traffic were stopped even for a day or two. In such a case tbe delay would be most disastrous, and for that reason we argue it is the duty of the Government to provide, if possible, an additional port, to relieve the main channel at times of great pressure, and to be an outlet in case of a block in the tunnel.

We firmly believe that if the railway were through to Akaroa, the large passenger traffic which would be certain to ensue would make the line a fairly profitable one, apart altogether from export trade ; and we think that now the line has been carried so far, and there is a chance of the railways in other districts being extended, we should leave no stone unturned to impress upon the Government that amongst those lines tbat are surveyed, but not completed, there are few that could be finished with greater advantage to the revenue and the country at large than the Little River aud Akaroa Railway.