The Weekly times. “Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri." MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1867. A BREAKWATER FOR HAWKE'S BAY.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 22, 17 June 1867, Page 140

The Weekly times. “ Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri." MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1867. A BREAKWATER FOR HAWKE'S BAY.

Amongst tbe advantages promised to the Port of Napier from the construction of a breakwater from the Bluff, running in a northerly direction into deep water, we may indicate some that are of a colonial, rather than a local character, as well as those that more immediately affect the district itself. '

First among these is the harbor ob refuge that would be brought into existence by the work,-—a harbor second to none in- the .Colony, as regards its qapabiliues, and for which

the noble Bay offers unexampled facilities; —one, 1003 which for accessibility in the roughest weather,’ .and freedom from danger in its ap{®oacb, will stand without a rival 1 . Further, such a harbor has almost become an actual necessity for the Colony, and its construction in this view, becomes as* much a Colonial as a Provincial work. ;• - ■ > •

But leaving this view of the matter for th&present," and directing our attention to our own necessities, it becomes, more and more apparent that if we would save the Spit from ultimate destruction, and the inner harbor from filling up and becoming worthless, —if we would avoid the recurrence of the catastrophes we have of late experienced from floods, —a breakwater in the situation indicated seems to be but the means we have at command foraverting these calamities. But, apart from these negative arguments in favor of the work, there are positive arguments of even still greater weight and these are to be found in the accession of trade and commerce which would accrue to the port from sh-e formation of an outer harbor, whe.r& vessels of all tonnages could lie in perfect safety, and hy which all the disadvantages under which, our roadstead labors would he removed. In tact, it is quite safe to predict for Napier—in the event of the accomplishment of the work—the position of a leading port of the Culony.

It is between the tw<s alternatives 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

ihe heavy sea.—carrying away immense quantifies of the shingle, and destroying valuable area 3 of land in the neighborhood of the heads, —heaping up the bar, silting up the harbor, destroying the already limited capabilities of the port, aud preventing the free 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 away its bar, and giving free egress to as much water as could accumulate there ; in addition to. the splendid acquisition of an outer harbor, which might he made all that could he desired for the whole mercantile and steam services of the Colony. We shall defer the important consideration of ways and means till a future occasion.