CORRESPONDENCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3750, 23 July 1883, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE HARBOUR BOARD

[To the Editor of the Daily Tkleghawi.] Sir, —I think the action of the Napier Harbour Board in connection with Mr Culcheth's plan for a harbour at Napier was far too hasty, and greatly to be deplored, considering the importance of the subject. What does the Harbour Board know about the plan; it may happen that when the Board receives the details of the scheme they will find thoy know very little indeed. Already Mr Culcheth has telegraphed re. the omission of a bouldor bank at the Bluff, and indirectly wo hear of a groin to bo carried out 2000 feet, which, as was obsorvod by tho Daily Teleuiupit, would form a good breakwater of itself. Tlio conclusions to be drawn from tho hastiness displayed by the Board are—either that thoy were carried away by a feeling of disappointment and acted on tho t-pur of the moment, or that thoy arc determined to have a breakwater at the Bluff, or in the vicinity of the Bluff and nowhere else. If the former then it were a pity, as it involves the loss of a year for parliamen-

tary business ;if tho latter (which in my opinion is tho cause) then why go to all this trouble and loss of tiuio and money in employing English judges? Why not tell tell them at once the kind of breakwater wanted, tho situation, and depth of water expected? I think, Sir, Mr Culcheth's scheme may be a very good one and suited to Napier, as once tho course of the sliinglo is stopped one of the chief obstacles to the bar is removed, and I believe the recommendation to build a triangle betwoen tho present breastworks is to get the silt from the river carried down the channels and out v

to sea. Then, again, twenty feet of water at low tide is equivalent to about twentyfour feet at high tide, and would float tho largest vessels coming to Now Zealand for many years. At Port Chalmors a vessel drawing 18ft of water is in danger of bumping- on tho bar, and at Timaru, where they have spent over £100,000, they have still to extend the breakwater to make it suitable. At all events the scheme recommended by tho engineers at Homo has ouo strong recommendation—it is cheap. I hope, Sir, the English judges won't feel insulted and refuse to havo .anything; more to do with the Napier Harbor Board, after having their decision treated with contempt in the manner in which it has been. Hoping you will find room for these few lines.—l am, &c,

Iron Pot,

Napier, July 23, ISSo