HARBORS AND HARBOR BOARDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5582, 18 February 1879, Page 2

HARBORS AND HARBOR BOARDS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES.

Sib, —Harbor boards and harbor works throughout the colony in general are subjects that have for some time, and during the last two sessions especially, occupied the attention of the Legislature. It appears to be as yet au open one, whether our harbors and the construction of the further necessary harbor works should be handed over to local boards or whether all harbor works should be undertaken and carried out by the General Go-' vernment as a branch of our colonial public works. Harbors with us are often the connecting links between our railways and the other parts of the colony, as well as with the outer world in general, and as such-are of the highest importance, not only to the district to which they form the outlet, but to the country at large, as tending to give the fullest facilities to our commerce, on which our prosperity and advancement will very much depend, and for which our position as a country gives us every advantage. Previous to the last two years above referred to, during which this has been the subject of special discussion in our Legislature, the importance of harbors in general, and more especially the necessity of constructing the necessary harbor works by which wo could supply ourselves with coal, for which we were then paying about £250,000 per annum, was fully recognised by the then existing Ministry. In accordance with that conviction they proposed, and the proposals were accepted by Parliament, that certain harbor works on the West Coast of the Middle Island should be at once undertaken for that purpose. Since that time certain sums of public money have been expended at Westport and Greymoutb, where an unlimited supply of coal of the best quality can be put on board ship at about 10s. per ton. The coal mines at Greymouth are so far opened up that they could supply double the quantity now imported into the colony, and would do so if the harbor were better.

This expenditure, especially at Greymouth, notwithstanding its being carried on according to the plans of our best colonial engineers, confirmed by that of Mr. Moriarty, of New South Wales, and subsequently approved of by Sir John Goode, has been condemned by many of our non-professional knowing ones, in which condemnation some of the wiseacres of Greymouth have not hesitated to join. It is, however, satisfactory to know that they are as yet false prophets, and that the harbor works at Greymouth are likely to prove a most c- mplete success. It has -been found for some months past that the works that are being constructed have had a most salutary effect in checking the erratic of the Grey Eiver, together with a considerable deepening of water on the bar, until from 8 to 32ft. of water being on the bar, I notice a statement in a telegram of the 14th inst, : —“The bar is in excellent order with 20ft, of water, and that the harbor is being otherwise very much improved, which points strongly to the most perfect success of the present plans when completed. In consequence an early supply may be expeefcedof the coal required in Wellington of a better quality and at a lower pnee than we are now paying for Newcastle coals, -thisgreat colonial work was undertaken under the auspices of the much-maligned Continuous Ministry, but, we are sorry to say, have not been carried on by the present powers

that ba with that energy that the importance of such a work, in the interest of the country at large, and especially that of the laboring classes, demands. New Zealanders are now payiilg over £20,000 per month for Newcastle coals, with a better and cheaper article lying at our doors, with the £20,000 per month kept in the colony in the bargain, to be invested in reproductive labor.—l am, &c., Greymouth.