A STEAM-TUG FOR THE GREY.

Grey River Argus, Issue 118, 13 October 1866, Page 2

A STEAM-TUG FOR THE GREY.

(To the Editor of the Grey Eiver Argus.) Sik — It must be admitted on all hands that the port of Greymouth lias from the very first, but more particularly so within the last two months, been subject to very great inconvenience, and no little loss, from the want of a steam-tug. Having at last been deprived altogether of the precarious assistance of a stray one from Hokitika — benevolently supplied to us when not wanted there — the instinct of self-preservation has aroused us to the attempt to supply our own wants. There are never wanting, however, in any community individuals who, sometimes for interested motives, and sometimes from that spirit of opposition felt by many to any project winch they may not have had the merit of organising, oppose every scheme however beneficial or useful its object. It is alleged by these cavillers that a steam-tug cannot pt.y. Now, I ask, are "suitable" tugs not paying on the West Coast ? If not, why are they retained there ? After long service and some mishaps, the owners of the Bruce found it necessary to send her round to Dunedin for repairs. She had been overhauled, altered, and improved, at a cost altogether, it is said, of more than L2OOO, and she has returned again to a place which has derived great benefit from her services, but where (we are told by those who assume • to know better than her owners) she cannot properly pay. We see the same thing in the case of the Lioness. But I am perhaps wrong in saying this, for it is possible it may have been decided that after her repairs she shall not return to employment, which could only add to the loss already sustained in it ! As to the Challenge, we owe her presence in these waters, no doubt, principally to the philanthrophy of her owners. But even if it were a fact that the half dozen steamers stationed at Hokitika do not pay, surely it would be no proof that one at the Grey should not be directly remunerative. If we do not get a tug of our own, we shall be without the reliable services of a suitable one altogether. But if we do get one we are threatened with a ruinous competition ; that is, I suj>pose, we are not to be allowed to interfere with vested intere. The few objectors to the proposed company are no friends to Greymouth — they are pretty well knoAvn to be acting under Hokitika influence. The last few days have furnished an- , other striking proof of the want of a tug, Half a dozen vessels arrived and anchored off the port ; there was no tug to bring them in. By a lucky slant they all, with one exception, sailed in, and are now discharging^ Now, but for this fortunate change of "wind, the whole of them would, like the Harriet, have been convpeiled to put to sea again, and when they would have reached the wharf here it is impossible even to conjecture. But in all instances vessels, are not at liberty to sail

in. Guarantees are sometimes given that they shall only cross the bar in tow of a steamer. It is taken for granted that where a tug is a necessity we are not destitute of one. The formation of a Steam-tug Company may now be regarded as "un fait accompli" ; the amount already subscribed for the purpose, and the names- of the Provisional Directors are a guarantee for this. All who have an interest in the place, and who entertain a genuine wish for its permanent prosperity, will supplement the exertions of the directors by becoming shareholders. In conclusion, one thing must be borne jin mmd — we are forced to become steamtug owners, neither solely nor principally as a speculation, but to preserve to us our trade, to keep up our population, and to maintain regular communication with the neighboring New Zealand ports and Australia. I am, &c, Progress. Greymouth, 11th Oct.