THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 4285, 20 November 1876, Page 2

THE HARBOR BOARD.

To the Editor

Snt, —Will you kindly allow me space to show the inconsistency of this body. First, they instructed their engineer to submitplans for the improvement of the harbor, which he does, after an elaborate and careful survey. Then the Board, after twelve months' study and argument, agreed to adopt them ; they were approved by the Governor in Council; and I hold that the Board are in duty bound to see those plans carried out. Might 1 point out to the amateur engineers on the Board that the scheme they now propound has been already tried in this very harbor only some five years ago, and no one knows better than Mr Reid how miserably it failed. I allude to the deepening of the short channel from Black Jack's Point to Burke's, where the dredge and patent shoot of Mr J. T. Thompson worked for months, when not only the gtuff lifted, but the bank on which it was deposited, slipped back into the channel within twelve months. I would also point out the great expense necessary to carry out those aita» teurplans. First, a travelling shoot would have tobe built to carry the silt form the dredge, an engineer would be required to work it, and sheet piloing would have to be, obtained to keep the silt baok from the'ohannel. Now

I think it a greatpity that the Boardwmnot -i see their way to try Mr Simpson's plant of reclamation oh a small scale. It can he dona for a mere as they only>want tp ht'np a temporary Unding stage. One of the prosent punts fitted with two or three waggons, an engine they have already lying idle, and let me assure the Board that thereis no novelty in the scheme. It is exactly similar to what the writer of this saw ou the Firth, of Forth thirty years the purpose of taking the trains of the Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee railway across the Firth. That railway, I believe, is still in operation. But I am afraid the present Board are not inclined to. follow any of Mr Simpson’s-plans, judging from . the manner in which they' treat him. I have been laboring under the'mistake that the Harbor Board was composed of gentlemen, but I had my eyes opened by the Press reports of last meeting. Why, sir, they would disgrace a meeting of Billingsgate fishfags. Why should they heap such abuse on their engineer, simply because they knowtheir meetings are privileged, and he has his hands tied. I say it is the rankest cowardice for any man to shelter himself behind his position and spit out his private ' spleen. If that was not the case, why not table a motion showing the incapacity of the engineer, and asking for his dismissal in a proper manner. Shame o - > j’lcli uuiuauliness, I say. It would servo these members right to adopt the suggestion of one of themselves, viz., to shave their heads and send them to Coventry for a time to learn manners. I am, &c., Dunedin, November 20. Aquabips.