HARBORS AND DOCKS.

Evening Star, Issue 4121, 12 May 1876, Page 3

HARBORS AND DOCKS.

To the Editor. Sib, —With your permission, after reading your last evening's issue, I will say a few words in reference to your leading article. In my opinion, you have pointed out very clearly the necessity of making railways throughout the country, instead of the ordinary expensive dray roads, and at the same time shown the immense saving besides the facilities effected thereby in conveying produce to the best available market as speedily as nossible; also, the great boon to interior

farmers, in order to keep pace with their neighbors. Your contemporary, the 'Times,' was rather amusing in its comment on harbor improvements this week. It seems to me that the people have water on the brain all over the island ; at any rate, they are harbor mad, as every nook and corner must have its dock and harbor at once. This is going too far and will become a farce, and as pointed out by your correspondent 'Waterman,' is nothing less than a clap-trap legislation to suit the proclivities of* the individual creature in power for the time being. As to our own harbor, Otago, to a man, ought to be interested in seeing it imE roved as much as possible. But to have a arbor of refuge to suit every little fishing village along the coast ib perfect madness. "What is the use of railways from one end of the country to the other ? In fact they would never pay. However, to raise a million of money for the Dunedin harbor is nothing short of a gigantic fraud on the poor, ratepayers in order to satisfy a few ambitieuß merchants in Dunedin. But what about the Bluff, "which is the Alpha and the Omega for our oceanic mail steamers?" Dunedin folk, in my opinion, ought to be as much interested in the Bluff harbor as the people of Invercargill in the Lake districts,

and as pointed out by "Waterman" it was a good thing that some true representatives of the people were present at the harbor meeting who could not be misled to plunge into business at once, "like some," without first seeing their way to get out of it with credit and clean hands. Yes, past experience has taught those gentlemen to be aware of evil-does and hasty legislation at the ex-

pense of others, and no doubt but that they have the thanks of the committee for their conduct, as works of such magnitude should be considered carefully even before calling for tenders as to its probable cost. The past ought to teach people a good lesson, and I am sure the people paid for it whether edified or not. Your contemporary, in an able article a few days ago, pointed out that our public works have not only been muddled but tampered with. -No one can deny it: and I believe the last extension to the Rattray street wharf is the only exception. However anxious we are to see our ocean steamers

and ships coming up to our very doors, we ought to be very cautious and canny in the matter—• ' twice bitten," " once shy." The public in general, with the exception of our Port friends, would be glad to see it. Yes it will be a bad day for the Port folk to see those ships sliding along. All the flags and the waving of hankerchiefs on board would not solace their drooping spirits for the loss sustained.—l am, &c, Harbor. Dunedin, May 11.