THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 894, 8 June 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1871.

Thk construction of the railway between the port and the Coal Mine is only one of the works necessary forthe proper develop 4 ment of the coal trade of this district. We believe that tho Government have entirely abandoned the idea — if it ever was seriously entertained — of making a harbor for shipping at Port Elizabeth. The cost of such a work would be sufficient to prevent the Colony undertaking it at the present time, and it is a doubtful question if it would answer the purpose if made. The coal trade of this district will, therefore, have to depend upon the facilities afforded by the river, and these will require to be much improved before we can hope for any very extensive export trade. The fact of the Grey River being a bar entrance has been made too much of as an obstacle to shipping. The average depth of water on the bar is quite sufficient for vessels of medium tonnage, drawing nine or ten feet, or even more, and on this depth of draught vessels are in existence and can he built that would carry three to four hundred tons of coal. The works that will be most urgently required will be sufficient and substantial wharf accommodation, and the limitation of the river to defined banks. The present protective works on the south side, useful as they are for their original purpose, and for landing places for shipping under present circumstances, will be found quite inadequate to the requirements of a large export trade in coal. And something will have to be done to the north bank of the river in order to confine the stream, and keep the navigation of the river open. We are informed, on the best engineering authority, that to make this port available for a large shipping business, it will be absolutely necessary to devise means for sweeping away the long tongue of shingle bed which stretches from below Cobden to the present fair way, and to keep the entrance in a defined and continuous position. These objects will, most probably, be best secured by the construction of an embankment on the north side from below Cobden to the mouth of the river, so a3 to restrain the northerly tendency which the Grey, like all the West Coast rivers has, and to keep a good broad navigable channel to the shipping place. Fortunately the material for such a work is haudy, and the cost of construction would not be so serious as would appear probable at first sight. The Government are made aware of the necessity for such a work, and most probably steps will be taken in association with the projected railway to provide machinery for dealirg with the question of improving the navigation. As it is almost certain that before long both sides of the river will be placed under one authority, it will be useful to consider whether it would not be wise to have the management and control of the port placed in the hands of a Board of Commissioners invested with the same powers and privileges as are enjoyed by similar bodies elsewhere. The royalty on. the coal, and the port and wharfage charges would provide a good revenue for maintaining the navigation and the necessary wharfage accommodation, and we have no doubt that a grant of money could be obtained from the public funds towards the cost of constructing the works required. Under an independent Harbor Board there would be some chance of the works being constructed with the sole object of securing their utility and safety, and uninfluenced by the petty jealousies. and partialities which have hampered the works hitherto undertaken by the Borough Council. The importance of the matter we have referred to will be perhaps the better appreciated by our Greymouth readers, when we inform them that it has already been decided that the terminus of Ihc railway is io be at Greymouth, and thai in all probability the line will jj&ss up the river on the south bank. In any case the improvement of the navigation inside the entrance will be an imperatively necessary adjunct to the railway, and as this question will no doubt be dealt with in some manner or other during the approaching session of the General Assembly, public attention should be directed to it.