The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1874
Amongst the movements now under censideration is that of harbor improvements in Auckland, respecting which a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce of that port waited upon Mr Vogel on the 21st of last month. Though bearing more immediately upon the interests of Auckland, the proceedings at that deputation are of consequence to New Zealand as a Colony, and especially to us in Dunedin, now that the improvement of our own harbor is under consideration. In a short time, the report of the sub-com-mittee appointed to inquire into the .question of improving the navigation between Dunedin and Port Chalmers, or of providing deep water dock accommodation, will be made public. We do not doubt that every pains has been taken to ascertain the feasibility of the project I as to its desirability none in Dunedin will doubt. But assuming that it is decided to take steps to proceed with the work, the machinery by which it is to be accomplished will have to be decided upon. Is it to be remitted to a Harbor Trust’ endowed with means, or power to raise means, to carry out such plans as they may decide upon ; or is the plan to be first determined upon and afterwards a Trust appointed to cany it out; or shall the work be done by the Provincial Government; or by a company interested in the profits of such an undertaking? We assume that it is obviously necessary that by one or other of those means it will be carried out, and, perhaps, most persons would Without hesitation, pronounce in favor of the first arrangement. In theory it is sound, for it is presumed that only men will be placed on the Board or Trust, capable of uuderstaodiDg tj#,
value of certain engineering propositions, and that there must be one that offers such advantages beyond the rest, as to secure unanimous acquiescence in its favor. This view is not borne out by Auckland experience. The question under consideration there is the construction of a Graving Dock, the site of which was at one time approved by the Governor. But since that sanction was obtained a difference of opinion has arisen, on what particular point we do
not know, for we gather our information from the report of proceedings at the deputation. Mr Yon Der Hyde, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, after showing the necessity for constructing a dock capable of receiving the largest of the mail steamers and ships of war visiting the port or likely to do so, said that the Harbor Board, consisting of thirteen or fourteen members, was nearly equally divided in
opinion as to the site that should be chosen ; and that unless the Government interferes, at least so far as to make thorough engineering investigation into the matter, and by withdrawing permission to proceed until that is done, the danger is that the funds at command of the Harbor Trust will be frittered away without sufficient accommodation being obtained. Whether this expression of opinion by the Chamber of Commerce is justified, or whether or not other interests are behind that places them in antagonism, to the Harbor Board, it is .impossible for us to say; nor do we know that it matters beyond affording to us in Dunedin an illustration of the difficulties to be overcome in the management of works of this description. There is so much good sense in Mr Yogel’s reply, and it hears so imme-
diately upon the questions that will have to come under cousideration in connection with our own proposed Harbor improvements, that we are induced to print the following extract, leaving the consideration of executive machinery to, the future :
As an Auckland member I had an, immense deal of-trouble in getting the Act which you refer to through Parliament, assisted by Mr Whitaker, various compromises were made, and I was in hopes that the Harbor Board was launched upon conditions that would have made it one of the wealthiest corporations of the kind in the whole of these Colonies. It obtained large endowments, the power of levying rates for unlimited wharfage construction, and so on, and should therefore have been made a verv wealthy corporation. If for the purpose of carrying out its legitimate objects it had even wanted more money, I do not suppose there would have been any difficulty in procuring it. The Act was framed with a view of placing the Harbor Board in a very powerful position. It is very unfortunate that it is not in such a position; no Board can be powerful that works with a majority of one. In respect to the specific question which you put, I do not express any opinion as to the eligibility of the proposed site. All I can pay is that I hope the Harbor Board mean to construct a- very large dock, and one that will be amply sufficient for all requirements, in whatever position it may be. As to whether the site adopted by the Board is suitable or not is a question for professional men, and I have no means of knowing how far professional feelings have Jjepn expressed. But it seems to me that it would be better, instead of asking the Governor to withhold his approval, to request him to satisfy himself by thorough investigation before giving his approval. I have no means of knowing that the proposed site is not an eligible one, but I quite agree that the Investigation which is required of the Government should not be a nominal one, but thoroughly exhaustive. I say, in justice to our own engineers, that we haye ggvpral men in the country quite capable of dealing wM this matter, and whose professional reputation, funities them to take just as high a stand as the gentleman who Was engaged from Sydney. We are fortunate in having very able men as engineers, and; therefore, I think we shall have no difficulty in forming an opinion. We shall not be overawed in the matter by the halo of reputa-
tion which surrounds the engineer who was brought over from Australia. But lam far from expressing an opinion that he may not be right, and that the proposed site isi not the best. The position now is that the Government have approved of that site for a small dock vhiflb the Board proposed to construct; Ido not say it will not be desirable to construct a small one M well as a large one, and when we wore asked to approve of a site for a small one we did so. I understand the question is now raised as to whether that approval does not cover approval of the present plan for a large dock. Now, the condition is, “the site shall be approved by the Governor, and also the plans and specifications.” If the Harbor Board were so ill-advised as to say, “You approved of the site, and, therefore, you are precluded from reconsidering it in connection with a dock of a different kind,” we could meet them with the 4th sub-section of the Act, which provides that we shall approve of the plans and _ specifications. In fact the approval or the site is nothing except in connection with the plans and spoliations, so I do not doubt that the question ivill come thoroughly hefor the Government again, si>d I think I can assure you that it will receive very careful attention. lam not, however, at all in a position to say what will ;be the result. It is a matter upon vhich we will get the best advice we can ; .and in.any memorial you are sending to the Governor I think it jdh be much better v. ask / or co ? 8 /dcration rather than to indicate what the decision should he, nnjess ypq have grounds for doing so.
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Evening Star, Issue 3455, 19 March 1874, Page 2
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1,317The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1874 Evening Star, Issue 3455, 19 March 1874, Page 2
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