THE HARBOR QUESTION.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), 22 December 1883, Page 4

THE HARBOR QUESTION.

[To the Editoji of the Daily Teleouai'Jl.] Sir,—ln a local yesterday you expressed your disapproval of my riding' to Waitangi ■with Messrs Goodall and Sauuders, and you have referred to me as a greater draw back to a harbor for Napier than the travailing shingle. 1 rode with Mr Goodall to W'aiiangi to point out the important changes that liavo taken place on tlio coast lino during tho lust twenty-four years, in particular tho great encroachment near tho mouth of tho Ngaruroro, where the foundation of the chimney stack of the old mission building is now to bo seen in the riverbed, while an enormous shingle bank lias been thrown up between the river and tho sea. Only old residents are familiar with that locality, and not many of these even have become ttwiiroof these remarkable changes, as the river mouth is half a mile away from the road, and one has to pass through private property. Now, Sir, please tell me, what is there in this ride of ours to " cause no little comment." Further on you say _" Mr Weber is one who has pinned his faith in tho present abortive works, and lias repeatedly expressed his opinion that a harbor is impossible in Napier." You aro misinformed, Sir, about my having expressed such a foolish opinion _ that nature has given to Napier in its eatuury great facilities for a harbor, and I have pinned my faith upon tlip extension of the present woiks, and I ma leased lo find myself in this instance jn such respectable company as that of Sir John Ooodo, Sir John Huwkshaw, and Mr Abernethy, i)ui lending marine engineers of Great Britain, in addition to Mr Carmthers and a host of tho principal colonial engineers. Our Governor told tho Harbor Bourd that they have placed themselves into tho safest hands by appointing Sir John Hawkshaw mid Mr Abernethy as referees for the harbor deigns; but, disregarding this advice, they hnvo thrown aside Mr Culcheth's plan in the nq.jne manner as Sir John Coode's plan had been shelved, simply because it did not provide a breakwater, but was based upon our estuary in the extension of the present works. Nothing will do for us but a breakwater like Timaru. If the Tirnaru works had proved n success —that is, if after a year or two from their completion the shingle has not materially gained upon them, and the opposing engineers had been proved in error-the advocates for similar works hero would have fair standing ground, but at present these works aro only on their trial, not even finished. That they are not looked on as a /jucceßS in may quarters is evident from the proceedings of the Timaru Harbor Board of the 13th instant. These proceedings •were reported by a lengthy United Press Association telegram of tho Mth instant, but for which I'have searched in vain m tho Daily Telkoiui>h, It states that a letter was read from the agent of _ tho Equitable Insurance Association that it_ is reported tlnit tho shingle lms niltcd up inaide of tho breastwork, and that there is now less water than formerly ; that there is so much haste in loading, that tho cargo is improperly stowed, and the vessels are consequently made unseawortby. Tho last vessel for the United Kingdom, when loucled inside the breakwater, is reported to have had only six inches of water under her keel. Tho agent for Duucdin asked for .definite on the subject. The Harbor Master's report states, "There docs not appear to be any alteration in the depth ef water. The last vessel for the United Kingdom was the Trauvo ; she drew 17 feet under her. The captain, who was part .owner, took soundings frequently, was thoroughly satisfied, and hoped ho could come again." At the same meeting it was decided to order a (50-ton steel lighter from home. The reported, silting- up and the hurried loading may l>e unfounded, tmfc the very report shows that the question is not yet settled in the public wind tho frequent soundings taken by the captain of tho Tranvo leaves no doubt that he was noticing changes in tho bottom, and he consequently felt uneasy, as ..captains in a safe port are not in the habit of taking frequent soundings. Add to the captain's anxiety the order by the Harbor Board of a GO-ton lighter, and wo must oomo to the conclusion that the Timaru works,—to express it mildly- cannot yet be pronounced tm n success, and that even the Harbor Board have their doubts upon that point. Until the Timaru works are proved a succos.s, and the opposing engineers aro shown in error, I shall continue to follow tho lead of Messrs Curruthera, Coode, Hawkcshiiw, etc, and pin my faith upon tho oxtension of the present works. lam sorry that in following this course I have to differ with so many of ,jny Napier friends, but I have little doubt that ere long it will be proved that after all I am not "a worse drawback to n harbor for Napier than tho travelling shingle,"—l am, &c., CjIAItLES WeJJEK. ITapier, December 20, 18#3.