ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 757, 13 September 1878, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OB THE EVENING MAIL,

Sir, —There is a shipping board at the Telegraph Office, and as a large business is doDe between this Port and the Australian Colonies, might I suggest the advisability of greatly conveniencing business men by chronicling arrivals of Australian steamers at the Bluff and Port Chalmers on the board.—l am, etc., Nemo. * TO THE EDITOR OP THE EVENING MAIL. Sir, —.The writer of the letter signed " Hope and Anchor," in your lrist i§sne, would, I think, display a little better judgment and discretion were he to ascertain whether or not he is correct in his premises, and sufficiently well up in his subject, before referring personally to those who have given public questions fair consideration; for, in this instance he is egregiously at fault in respeot to the position of the adaptation of the Lagoon for a dock.

True, I had something to do with the origin of the scheme that resulted in the appointment of a Commission, consisting of two gentlemen, who, I think were said to be engineers of very high standing ; their names were Dobson and Blackett. Whether they were impostors or not I cannot say, for I had no personal knowledge of them. I am inclined to think that they were what they were represented to be. They reported upon and recommended the Lagoon's dock scheme. The consequence beiug the appointment of the " Dock Trust," to proceed with the work. This they did to some extent, as evidenced by the blocks lying ready for use.

The work certainly was stopped, or rather delayed, but not because of its impracticability, but for the piu-pose of constructing protective works and then completing the dock. As to the dock scheme being condemned, it has not been before any engineer since Messrs. Dobson and Blackett reported upon it; therefore it could not have been professionally and authoritatively condemned. I would suggest to "Hope and Anchor" when he again refers personally to any one that it would be more courteous and courageous to subscribe his name.—l am, etc., J. T. Evans. Oamaru, Sept. 11.