Hawke's Bay Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1867. A BREAKWATER FOR HAWKE’S BAY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 484, 13 June 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1867. A BREAKWATER FOR HAWKE’S BAY.

rUBLISHED IVIBT MO.NiJil AND TUDfcSDAT. “ Nullius addict us jurare in verba magistri,"

Amongst the advantages promised to the Port of Napier from the construction of a breakwater from the Biuff, running in a northerly direction into deep we may indie He some that are of a colonial, rather than a local character, as well as those that oi-ere immediately affect the district itself. First among these is the harbor of refuge that would be brought into existence by the work, —a harbor second to none in the Colony as regards its capabilities, and for which the noble Bay oilers unexampled facilities ; —one. too, which for accessibility in the roughest weather, and freedom from danger in its approach, will stand without a rival. Further, sucii a harbor has almost become an actual uecessi y fur the Colony, and us construction in this view becomes as much a Colonial us a Provincial work. But leaving tins view of the matter for die present, and directing our attention to our own necessities, it becomes more and more apparent that if we would save the Spit limn ultimate destruction, and the inner harbor from :iiilng up and becoming worthless, —it

we v.ouM avoid the recurrence of the ctitA-t- ;"; ’• ._-s wo have of Into expe : i”iKvd from ll >nds, —a breakwater ia .he »iiuatLn indicated seems to be bat the means we have at (•••tiniand for averting these calamito-s. hut, apart from these negative a;guinea s in favor of the work, tliere are positive arguments of even still greater weight; .ml i. ise are to Le found in the accession ut trade and commerce which would accrue to the port from the : -nuatiuu of an outer harbor, where vessels of all tonnages could lie in perfect safety, and by which all the ■ •sisadvaut ges under which our roadstead labors would be removed. Li fart, it is quite safe to predict for Napier—in tne event of the accomplishment of the work —the p> sition of a leading port of the Colony.

It is between the two alternative? above indicated that the Port of Napier now really lies. At present every heavy southerly gale effects the demolition of large masses of the Bluff’, exposing the Spit and the mouth of the harbor more and more to the effects of the heavy sea, —carrying away immense quantities of the shingle, anc. destroying valuable areas of land it. the neighborhood of the heads, —heap ing up the bar, silting up the harbor, destroying the already iiudted capabilities of the port, and preventing the tree egress of flood water, —occasioning incalculable damage to the country settlers. The breakwater constructed, we have the Spit preserved, the inner harbor freed from the action of the sea, cleansing itself, sweeping I away its bar, and giving free egress ito as much water as could accumulate i ilhere; in addition to the splendid I acquisition of an outer harbor, which ! might be made ail that could be desired for the whole mercantile am; steam services of the Colony. V>\ shaxi tleicr the important consideration of ways ami means till a future occasion.