OAMARU BREAKWATER.

Evening Star, Issue 4147, 12 June 1876, Page 2

OAMARU BREAKWATER.

‘ This monung a deputation from the Oamam Harbor Board, -oonsistingcf - Messra Stpwaid, M.P.C., T.. Meek, 'and Forester (seihetary), waited upon the Shperintendent on a matter of considerable importance. Mr Steward said the Board proposed, during the ensuing session of the General Assembly, to get introduced a-measure ,to mcrease their borrowing :pow«w, and at, tilC same time to grant them an eudowment of ‘land on which to raise the money. . They had an idea of the situation of some suitable land contiguous to, and' in fact in the district itself. The Board had already powers enabling them to botrCtr. L 100,006, of which amount they had raised L35,00Q; but they fonhd that to complete the wofks.inponnectipn'withthebreskwaterinanefficientnmimer a much large; sum than tkeX6s,ooo remaining would be required..? The Board, therefore, desired to. get borrowing powers to the extent of an additional iL150,000, letting the L 65,000, not yet raised, lapse j and they asked his Honor’s assistance to the proposed Bill on itS'lhtroduction by tbeir local member of tiie House bf Representatives. Hie Honor said the fact wab then that tije’ -Board thought it yould be bettor/able raise the money required •if they had a landed endownent in addition to , their present property. What was the income.of the Boam? ■

Mr Steward said it was fully L 7.600 net per annum; and on the completion of additional shipping facilities they could < reckon on a farther L 2,500 per annum. His Honor assured the deputation that he took a great deal of interest in the Oainaru Breakwater—hh believed in it, as the means of forming a splendid harbor. But the idea of a land endowment opened up a very wide question, though at the same time he con-., sidered Hie Qoyehunent wohld bp perfectly, justified i% setting apart, land; as endowments for work< of this Kind. As a member of the House ofßepresentatives the Bill for. giving the Board fresh borrowing powersjdf necessary, would have his support. > He looked, upon this as on exceptional base, otherwise in the oVent of the Board', getting what it wanted there was no knowing where the thing would end - every little harbor, in the Province would be asking for the same. The Bluff Harbor, required,, .extended wharfage, bat that was work which should be paid for out of revenue ; wheriaainthe case of Oamaru the revenue aot ‘be sufficient, and a loan , must behadreoaurse to.; '' • • ■ •. V

Mr Meek said the Waitaki diqttfch raised fully one half of fcbe ceteal produce ooltegO. This wtnyd to a graat extent jfind xts way to the sea, and if thelshippiug 'fao&tiee at Damara wen carried out ft would save

tforW on, th» General Assembly woimTtetrttSimoe'Bgainßfc granting fresh borrowing powers. Mr Steward said the Board would not have occasion to expend the whole L 150,000 at once, but their idea was fo bwmwover on the London Stock Exchange. „yr His Honor said there had peed rome Stiff galea of late, and asked if the heavy weather hid'mdß'Mydmmwssimrpn' Mr Meek it had hot the slightest. -In addition, some -six or seven 'craft, including a | mobred to the wharfinfperfectsafety, trale [ships in the roads had to put toeei.-' i Mr remarkeo, in (order -tn wtoir the stabihty of - the’. breakwater, that they ihadworkingtm it thelorgest ithe world (save one at GslcnVlia), and thia [worked with perfect wherei^ • ithere had been a deflection of only jinch, it would not have been nble -to}nm.‘, : f Hir Honort in /mnoltnoom«tibntim iguppofled the deputation had tqf^u endowment, of meHi could not deal with Mr Steward Said the dephtatibn aaqfel tonne referredtopastbral - q.