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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1887, 24 August 1874, Page 2

The report of Mr Moriarty, C.E., as to the best means of improving the bar and harbor of Greymouth. was received yesterday, and a number of copies of the report was distributed in town. Tn other columns will be found the report, which we have no doubt will be read with interest, and which must give the utmost satisfaction to every one who has any interest in Greymouth or the . Grey Valley, as it has set at rest any doubt that may have existed as to Greymouth becoming a great coal exporting place, and proves that at a comparatively trifling expenditure we can shortly bear the same relationship to New Zealand that Newcastle bears to Sydney, Melbourne, and other towns in the Australian Colonies. Mr Moriarty seems to have taken great care and bestowed much attention in drawing his plan and writing his report; and ultimately has come to the conclusion that by the expenditure of £100,000 we can have vessels to lay at our wharf drawing from 15ft to 16ffc of water, and consequently of 500 to 1000 tons. This is all we require, and what we trust shall be provided. Notwithstanding all that has been said about engaging the services of Mr Moriarty for this work, we are of opinion that the Borough Council acted wisely, and the next step we should imagine will be for the Council to forward without delay the plan and report to the Premier of New Zealand, to be inspected by the Colonial Engineers, arid after altering and amending it to their satisfaction, we should memorialise, nut only for the future development of the resources of this district, hut in the interest of New Zealand, that the General Government should carry out this work. The two mines already open would be enabled 10 export 200,000 tons of coal annually, even if a small duty per ton placed on coal exported, together with general tonnage and wharfage rates collected, would not only pay good intpv«»ton tho monojr aavancecf, "But would in a few years pay off the original capital.

How the £100,000 is to be raised, by whnm spent, what security is to be given, and from what source the sinking funds are to come, so loug as the Borough Council is obstructive to the harbor dues passing out of their hands to a Harbor Trust, .we are at a loss to imagine. Perhaps the General Government will take the matter in hand before the present session is over, and by some simple financial arrangement make Greymouth the coal port it ought to be.