THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addiclus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, 21st NOVEMBER, 1873.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1527, 21 November 1873, Page 22

THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addiclus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, 21st NOVEMBER, 1873.

Several years have passed since first we pointed out the feasability and the desirability of building a breakwater, and constructing an outer harbor for the Port of Napier, and though at that time the iilea. was regarded by some as rather Utopian in character, it has since come to be pretty generally adopted. The continuous and certain filling up of the inner harbor, and the failure of the dredging operations to effect any permanent improvement in it, were quite sufficient to show that if the port was ever to possess a harbor worthy of its | position on the East Coast of the island, and the trading depot of a vast extent of agricultural and pastoral country, it was in the bay, and not-in the Iron Pot, that the necessary works must be performed. The recent report by the jin-ginccr-in-Chief of the Colony, in which reference is made to the shingle travelling along the beach, has tended to raise a doubt in the minds of some as to the permanency or utility of the work if acomplished; but we do not think there is any reason for these fears, Not that we wou!'l cast any doubt on the fact of the shingiT travelling northward along the coast, because any person who has devoted any amount of observation to the matter must be well convinced of its truth. A residence on the Spit of several years, and frequent observation of the fact itself, leaves no room for doubt. The shingle, after being first cast up at the eastern end of the Spit, is carried along by each successive wave (which strikes the beach in an oblique direction), till it reaches the mouth of the harbor; from that point it is carried, by the rushing ebb tide from the harbor mouth, to be deposited temporarily on the bar, from which, again, it is carried on to the Western Spit to continue its progress northward. A similar process may be observed farther on in the bay, as from Waikari beach to Mohaka, where the mouths of the rivers, which always, after being stopped by the shingle, break out at the southern end, invariably shift northwards until once more stopped up by the shingle, to burst out on the occurrence of a heavy fresh again at the south. It is not, then, that we doubt the fact of the shingle travelling along the beach, but we do not believe that that would have any detrimental effect on the proposed work. We believe that if the proposed breakwater were built out into deep water, the shingle woitld never reach the Eastern Spit at all, but that so much of it as would be subject to the action of the waves would be carried at once to the Western Spit. There can be no reason to fear that it would accumulate in any quantity at the end of the breakwater, as it would there tend to diffuse itself over the bottom of the bay. It has been suggested that an opening should be left at the shore end; we think it better not to do this, but rather to allow a beach to form outside the breakwater. If it be wished to ascertain the effect of such an opening on the work, there are already data enough in existence for it. Off tho Eastern Spit, at a cable's length from the shore, the wreck of the ship Montmorency has been lying for several years; that wreck has opposed no obstruction to the travelling shingle, and the question whether it has been banked up on the seaward side could be solved in an hour's sounding. We believe that it is not the case, as, if any banking up at all took place, the whole wreck should have been buried long ago. We see no objection to the building of test groins; let some of them be constructed by all means, and as much information as possible be gained before the larger work is undertaken. What we wish to show is, the necessity of the work itself, both for tho needs of the district, and as a harbor of refuge for this coast. The work is of colonial as well as local importance, and the General Government should be forward in assisting the local authorities in its prosecution.

We received yesterday the Provincial Government Gazette, No. 38, bearing date Monday, 17th November. It contains a list of Crown Grants lying at the Land Office, ready for delivery; abstract of the Provincial receipts and expenditure for the quarter ending the 30th September ; and a return showing lands sold, &c, during the month of {September.

The Napier Harmonic Society, gave a concert in the Oddfellows' Hall last night. The late unsettled weather has greatlyretarded shearing operations, causing considerable loss to the sheepfarraers. By an arrangement entered into by the various banks in the Colony, the rate of interest has been raised this week from six to eight per cent. A valuable horse, the property of Mr W. Miller, fell over a cliff in Cooteroad, yesterday, and sustained such injuries that it had to be shot.

in the return of the Provincial expenditure during the September quarter, we observe the following item, " not specially provided for" :—" Report on proposed breakwater, £105." Sporting matters in this Province appear to be on the eve of a revival. In our columns this morning a meeting is advertized, to take place to-morrow afternoon in the Shamrock Hotel, with the object of resuscitating racing in this Province. A considerable fund, we believe, is still in the hands of the Treasurer of the late Jockey Club, and it is sought to turn it. to account. A meeting is also called for the same evening, at Mr Reynolds' hotel, Havelock, to arrange about the forthcoming races.

Rumors have been current for sonic little time past to the effect that a second newspaper was about to be established at Gisborne. From the prospectus, which appears this morning in another column, it will be seen that these rumors arc correct. The new paper is to be called the Poverty Bay Herald, will be the size of the Hawke's Bay Herald, and is to be published semi-weekly. Gisborne is undoubtedly making rapid progress; but we are doubtful whether it is yet sufficiently advanced to support two newspapers. The new paper will be under the same proprietorship as the Hawke's Bay Herald.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Tuesday, Francis Hughes, for drunkenness, was fined ss, and for furious driving was fined £2, with 3s costs. The following civil cases were heard : Turley v. Sutherland. —Claim of £l4 17s Gd. Of this sum, £6 12s was admitted, and paid into Court. The plaintiff is a surveyor, and the claim was for professional services. Both parties were represented by counsel. A good deal of evidence was taken and judgment was given for £l2 12s, with costs, £3 2s. Gracey v. Sim.— Claim of £GI for sawing and splitting timber. Plaintiff was one of a party, and the defendant disputed his right to sue on behalf of the whole. Several of the plaintiff's partners were examined, and their evidence did not agree as to the position he held. —Nonsuited, with costs £G Bs. Novthe v. Beyer.—Claim of £25. Defendant admitted liability, but said he had been disappointed in his endeavors to realize certain property. He only recpiired a few days' time. —Judgment for amount claimed, with £2 costs, one month allowed for payment. The deplorable state of the Middle road should be taken into consideration by the Provincial authorities. Since the destruction of the Patangata bridge, about a year ago, this important line has been utterly neglected, and traffic upon it has become almost impossible. The rebuilding of the bridge and repair of the road are works of pressing necessity, and should not be longer neglected. A portion of this road, not far from Havelock, close to where the celebrated ■culvert was removed, has been fenced across by another settler, who refuses to recognize the beaten track, which is not the line laid down in the map. Stoppage of traffic has resulted, and very recently a dray, in attempting to make a detour at this point, became bogged, broke down, and after being unloaded had to return. At present, on account of this obstruction, drays have to follow the Te Auto road as far as the Louisa creek, and from thenceturn off to the Middle-road. We have not heard that the Provincial Government has taken any steps to have the obstruction removed.