The River.

Manawatu Herald, 24 March 1903, Page 2

The River.

* . In our last article we desired that the Borough Council should take up the question of getting “ The New Zealand Pilot ” made up to date and correct, which we believe the Council, which has displayed commendable interest in the town, will do. When communicating with the Marino Department the Council will probably bring up the question of leading lights for vessels coming into and up the river a portion of the way. This matter has frequently been spoken of by the captains of vessels trading here, and as they could often save a tide by entering late in the evening or at night were these lights established, it appears only fair that they should be so erected. The cost would he small and the gain to trade considerable. Wo regretted so Uttlo interest bay-

ing been shown in the river since the Harbour Board was abolished, but we did not make it clear that we were not desirous of seeing another Board established, as we see nothing would be gained by so doing if the Borough Council would urge the necessary improvements being carried out by the Department. A Board would not have funds to do much practical work were it formed, and would be placed in much the same position as the Borough Council is now, that of bringing facts before the Department and urging improvements. If this is so we are better contented to have the river dealt with by those we know than trust to those we do not know. In our public business we desire to secure our best men, and wo should bo careful of forming too many bodies and tiring them out or of getting them diluted by men with more time and perhaps less business instincts.