The Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 561, 18 February 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1878.

Tuere is a Harb.mr Bo:trd at Moeraki. This announcement may somewhat surprise most people, who would maintain that there was little or no necessity for such an institution, seeing that the railway runs close to the port ; but they know nothing about it. Moreover, the paraphernalia of the Moeraki Harbour Board is extensive, and on a somewhat grand scale. Instead of—in the language of the card-player—bringing into requisition the services of a little boy to do a man's work, they have several men to j perform a little boy's work. But this is not the only peculiarity of. the Moeraki I Harbour Board, which is composed of j the following names :—Messrs. Donald- i son (chairman), Findlay, M'Kereow, Bremnek, J. Ccllen, Riddle, and 3lfKcorr. These are the gentlemen who [

have the honor of conducting the affairs of the important shipping port of Moeraki, and we have little doubt that they feel as nervous over their trust as does Mr. Tewsley with the whole responsibility of the Dun"d ; n Harbour Board upon his shoulders. Thi-v are. "-.owever, well Tip to their business, miliars very satisfactorily the duties which devolve upon them. Meetings are held regularly, at which everything is conducted in the fashion of the Dunedin Board, with the exception that they do not aim at such high game. It is not a question with them as to where a dock shall be placed, and they are not split up into factions for the purpose of carrying pet schemes which involve the acquirement or loss of some thousands of pounds to certain of their members. No : let this not be thought of for one instant. The Moeraki Board is only a humble body, and has not yet quite arrived at the chick stage ; but they are very amiable to one another, and seem to possess a perfect understanding as to how things should be managed. The Board met on the first "Wednesday of this month, and appointed a Mr. Mer<:ek — who a month previously had been elected to the position of Wharf Manager—to the post of Hari-our Master, with the intention that lie should till both offices. They felt it to bo their duty to make this alteration iu theii' arrangements because they had passed a bye-«av/ which had been ratitied by the Government, to the effect that the duties of Harbour Master and Wharf Manager should be performed by one man. Capt. Lium.u— who is acting as Harbour Master in the meantime—has been in the service of the i Governmciit for twelve years, and for five years held u responsible position in connection with Tort OhiiJ.-.'fers. Capt. Lir.CLE offered to undertake the duties of Wharf Manager in addition to those of Harbourmaster without increase of salary, but his oUVr w.\s refused, and Messrs. Doxaliwox, M'KiittKOw, aud I;k;:m.n-kk (who voted because "this byo-iiiw-» must be adhered to") decided that Mr. Mekckk was the man for the double position. We suppose it is all right ; but the question very naturally suggests itself, was not Capt. Liddle! an wall qualified to undertake the responsible pr.sic;..>; ;4 Wharf | Manager as Mr. Mkkcbk i» to lilt th.it oi \ Harbour Master. We suppose not ; but it strikes us that he ought to be. A few pirttculars im to the antecedents of the gentleman «pon whom it is sought by the Board to confer iii« uuerous position of Harbour Master maynot be uninteresting, a3 they will evidence iliat iua future Harbour Master for Port Moeraki is another of the numerous instances of how men of small pretensions may climb the lii.ider of fame. Scarcely a month

a"i> In- waa i grocer's assistant —not in a lari_'e city in a preioiitiojis establishment, where might be seen arra.ys;i in the

window choti-chou. wiliest loaf sugiiV', preferred fruits, and every delicacy that money can put'chase : no, but in a humble country store in a j?om«;ta j-illage called Hampden, kept by Mr. JjitijjfSEß, a gentleman well-known in these pai-ts, and a member of the Moeraki Harbor Board. There never was a more faithful servant than Mr. Mercer. Whether he was entrusted to collect bacon, butter and eggs from in* surrounding farmers, or has selling candles, coap, or penny sticks of sugar candy in the siore, he performed hia duties with an earnestness and a precision—and we might almost ! say science—that attracted the attention of ! certain members of the Moeraki Harbour Board. Mr. Bkemnek was not selfish, and was willing to make a personal sacrifice in ! order to serve the interests of the Board, ' the happy thought having struck smiie i of its members thai Mr. Mekcek would ■ be the iiiiiJi to push ahead the interests ii.f the Moeraki Harbour. It must not I be thought that Mr, Bkemnek voted for [ Mr. Mf.kcek's appointment because he j wished to rid himself of him—that would | be unjust, but because the bye-law reI ferring to the two positions being held ! by one- man, although it was passed by a minority of the Board of which he was one, must be earned out. Had it been otherwise, we presume that he wouid have voted for Captain Liii»#i,E as an old and tried servant, held in respect by all who knew him. We scarcely see the logic of Mr. Breiixer's argument, but we are bound to appreciate that gentle- | man's motives. Not having the pleasure i of the acquaintance of the gentleman j who has vaulted the counter for the last time to make a shine in the world ; who ! has risen above the region of smoked pig ; and potted butter to tahs his stand with i navh'ators. We would have scarcely [ thought it possible that such a tiling i could occur: but the fact stares us in ; the face, and we are bound to accept it I as one of those extraordinary events I we often read about but seldom see. \\ e ; hope, should these appointments be confirmed, that Mr. Mercer's superiors—- ■ if he has any—will not be too exacting. and that captains of the numerous and capacious vessels that visit Port Moeraki will overlook any land-lubberish proclivities which may occasionally show themselves on Mr. Mercer's accession to his new office. If the new Harbour Master should forget himself whilst piloting a vessel, and, imagining himself once more surrounded by boxes of matches, shirts, trousers, coats, lolliea, red herrings, j butter, soap, and such like, and should say, ''What next for you marin >" in-1

stead of " Port your helm," and should J land the vessel on a boulder bank, we hope that the skipper will look pleasant and say nothing, because they cannot expect a " fellah " to learn navigation in a minute. But there is one difficulty in the way of the appointment. The Government some time ago desired the Board to assume all the responsibility in connection with the Harbour Master, but the Board refused to do this. Since their refusal the bye-law has been passed to the effect that the functions of the Harbour Master and Wharf Manager are to be performed by one person. Who will now pay the Wharf-managing Harbour Master, if the Government agree to the appointment! Perhaps the Board, having made the appointment will, however, see its way out of this little diflicultv.