HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1765, 1 April 1874, Page 2

HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

[to the editor.].. Sir,— Observing that the question as to providing the amount of MrMoriarty's expenses for examining and reporting on Ihe opening of this port was. lately before the Borough Council, I beg to state' some matters in reference thereto. I, together with Messrs Guinness, Corbett, and Boase, having been telegraphed to by the Progress Committee, waited as a deputation on his Honor the Superintendent of Nelson with reference to Mr Moriarty's expenses. The Superintendent entered very cordially into the matter, and, while guarding against committing his Government to the general expenditure of the work itself, said that he would be perfectly willing to share the expense of Mr Moriarty's visit with Westland, thus pledging Nelson Province to the extent of one moiely of the cost Since then, on the motion of Mr Wickes, the Westland Council has appropriated LIOO to the same purpose, thus leaving a balance of L 75 only unprovided for. B.ut if the Council's present proposal is adopted I fear that the fulfilment of the Superintendent's pledge may be indefinitely postponed, as members would no doubt bs found ready to take exception to the passing of snch vote if the payment had been previously made to MrMoriarty by the two coal companies and the Borough Council, and would be liable to be misconstrued into recompensing the expenditure of private individuals. This would have the effect of breaking faith with those bodies who so liberally stepped forward in the interests of the community to obtain the chance of so great a boon for Greymouth as the improvement of our port. • .-. • I am, &c, "..•.;•••'. • ■ Joseph Ivess. Greymouth, March 31, 1874,