The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 604, 9 April 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1878.

Sir .Tony Coode and party will arrive in Oamaru to-morrow evening. It will be "ratifying to secure the opinion of so competent an authority on our harbour works, so far as they have been formed, and to receive counsel in regard to tuuir completion. The formation of a harbour is a very serious undertaking for a young conimunitv such as that of Oamaru. 'lhe whole scheme might prove abortive in consequence of what would be considered by the incompetent a matter of the smallest significance. On some question of detail, which only «raat experience m the construction of harbours would teach an engineer to appreciate, might depend the -success or otherwise of the Oamaru Harbour Board's undertaking. So far. the work appears to be everything that could be desired : but it is yet incomplete, and it would be supererogation to point how easy a matter it is to make a blunder by which a heap of money may be sank in the sea with nothing to show for it. Perhaps Sir John Cooof. will bo able to throwout some useful hints which may prevent loss of time and waste of money. We by no means think it probable that he will dissent from what has been done already towards the construction of the harbour, for, judging by appearances, there is no reason whv the Board should not feel proud of the issue so far of its labours ; but there arc two special reasons why Sir Jons Coode should be consulted. One is that the Board might receive encouragement and counsel, and the other, that the opinion of so eminent an authority, which can scarcely be otherwise than satisfactory, would tend to create confidence in owners and masters of vessels in our harbour, and for ever silence the jeers of those who are unnecessarily and foolishly jealous of our success.