IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR.

Evening Star, Issue 3281, 26 August 1873, Page 3

IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR.

To the Editor. 8.1 u, —Your able leader of Saturday is calculated to do much good by drawing attention to the very great necessity for & thorough survey of the Bay being at once effected, in order thtyt and cors about the deepening of it may be settled upon a reliable basis. . It is highly desirable that no time should be lost m commencing this important work, because the drainage of the City cannot much longer be delayed; and if Mr Balfour’s scheme is found practicable, the two can go on hand in hand. Could we manage to bring oar largest Home vessels up to Dunedin, the advantages that would accrue to this Province could scarcely be over-estimated. This is a critical time in the history of this Province, because unless we make great exertions to keep the lead, the neighboring Province of Canterbury will soon far outstrip us. Had we our harbor deepened and a line of steam vessels direct from Home, we would appal our rivals and astonish even ourselves. Our merchants, by regularly obtaining their goods in about fifty days’ time, would have enormous advantages over other competitors in supplying the New Zealand markets with all classes of goods. Our farmers and squatters could export their produce at the least expense. Otago would be brou.ht nearer Home by the shortening of the voyage ; so that the greatest obstacle to our obtaining suitable immigrants in sufficient numbers would bs done away with. By having suitable docks for the repairing of vessels, a large number of mechanics could be kept constantly employed. If large vessels could discharge their cargoes tt Dunedin, property would be immensely enhanced in value, Dunedin would then be emphatically the commercial capital of ’few Zealand. If the Province of Napier thinks itself justified in providing a harbor at a cost of L 250,000, a fortiori would the Province of Otago at a cost of even L 500.000. I sincerely hope this matter will not be allowed to drop until something decisive Las been done.—l am, &c., David K. Hay. Princes street, August 2c.