THE NEW WHARVES.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 756, 22 November 1870, Page 2

THE NEW WHARVES.

[to the editor.] Sir — There is an old maxim which may be applied as well to communities struggling' against difficulties as to individuals in the same position, viz, " Help yourself and other 3 will help you." This principle is thoroughly recognised by most of the local governments of New Zealand, which as a rule distribute their available funds amongst the various Municipalities and Road Boards in proportion to the amounts raised by those bodies themselves for important public w«rks. Surely it i 3 time that this rule be applied to Givymouth. I venture to say that there is no other community in New Zealand which has had so heavy a burden in proportion to its means cast upon it, ami which has borne the burden so cheerfully as this town. But there is a point at which endurance must cease, and this point will soon be reached in our case. Ainoreglaring injustice can scarcely be imagined than that of making the inhabitants of a small town find all the money for carrying out and maintaining the works of the only port for large portions of two Provinces. Strong representations on this subject ought to be addressed to the General Government and the General Assembly. If justice is done to the town by forcing the County of "Westland and the Province of Nelson to contribute towards the cost of the harbor works, the benefit will not be confined to the pecuniary help we shall receive, for if the" general funds of the County and Province were expended on these works no doubt care would be taken that they should be permanent, and economically carried out. Such is certainly not the case at present. We go on spending all our funds and pledging our future resources on pine planks, which in a very short time will be rotten and useless, and may at any time be destroyed by tire, when a less amount expended on stone would provide substantial and indestructible works. 1 do not say tlm without due consideration, for I have gone carefully into the matter, and can affirm that a stone wharf can be constructed for 25 per cent less than we are paying for scrub and timber. As the Borough Council is contemplating a further extension of the wharf, would it not bo well for them to take this into consideration. I have no doubt that if their engineer was consulted he would agree with me as to the relative cost and durability of the two kinds of wharf. 1 am, &c, James Wylde. Groymouth, Nov. 19, 1870.J