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Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 66, 27 November 1875, Page 2

A very simple, announcement, hut one that means a. great deal, appears in another column, whereby people are invited to meet today, and take preliminary steps towards the formation of a. Harbour!loan! for this port. There can he no doubt that such a mule is necessary, even though it will swell the list of “governing bodies,” already numerous enough, in this district. Today the first stops towards formation will only he taken, hut that they will achieve the desired end there can he no doubt, and the i’atea Harbour .Board may ho deemed almost.an accomplished fact. For the necessity of such an institution there can bo no question, as a first step to making the I’atea river an actual port, and to obtaining the privileges that traders arc outillcd to therefrom. Borne lime ago provision was made to endow a Hoard of this descrimtion, and Major Atkinson, on his recent visit, confirmed the promises of thopasl. The reserves appropriated to the .Board are P.M) acres adjoining the town boundary, between the (own and the river, the whole of Hi’ foreshore to the bridge on the town side, and Hie island in the swamp across the river. Other reserves are pnanisi d, hut not defined ; those mentioned will he gazetted at once, on the Board being formed. 'The mode of procedure is, wo believe, to petition the (Superintendent, who recommends that the prayer he granted, and the General Government grant it accordingly, and authorise the Board’s constitution. This will, however, no doubt, lie pointed out by the promoters of Humecting, which, it is to he Imped, will he well attemle I. r J lie navigation of the river is above all things a matter of Hie deepest interest to the people of Patea, and such a body as is proposed will have as its peculiar function, the special conservation and improvement of the port. At the same time it is ridiculous to supjjose that the reserves so far appropriated, or any other that may he, will furnish funds to do what is necessary at once. Lfc should be distinctly understood that the new Board will gladly and willingly undertake conservation after ihu port is once made good—a task that, specially devolves on the General Government. Jt will take some thousands to make the port what it should he, ami a stun of money like that is not at all likley to he realised from reserves alone. Let those who are worthily exerting themselves towards Hie formation of this Harbour Trust or Board, hear that in mind and not go in for half measures, or b eontm.i J with a penny hum in lieu of a fnur-potmd loaf. Again, with respect io the Patea being declared a port of entry. This is a matter of the gravest importance to traders,- who in r-nch c,im- could import dutiable goods in jpianlitv, and take them out of bond as needed. Aow they have to pay full duty, before importing them, this in many eases amounting to as much or more than Hu-original cost. This places the people on the district on a very unfair fooling, and compels double ILigdit and charges on a vaiicty of goods.

'There is no trouble in tins if the Gos'cmmeiit think fit to gnmt it, a mere Gazette notice compelling all that is required. As to the additional expense, it need only be trilling, for there are plenty of half-employed Government ollicers about in this township who could act as collectors, and it would not bo at all necessary to. station an additional official here to perform the light duty of the port. This lias been done repeatedly before in this colony, and might be again, in Charleston, on the WestCoast of the South island, a sergeant of police for some time acted as Custom House officer; at Okarilo, Air Ti/.ard for many years most satisfactorily discharged the combined duties of Goldfields Warden, Resident .Magistrate, and Customs collector, and what has been done before elsewhere can surely be done here, if the Government will permit it. There cannot ho any possible loss to the revenue, nor expense to the. the colony, whilst business men here will be greatly convouieiiced. and trade promoted by the wished for boon. This is a question that the Harbor Hoard, when formed, should never let rest till achieved, and we have every confidence that such will bo the ease. Taking it altogether, wo can .see nothing hut good

that is likely to arise- from the creation of the new body, and we earnestly hope that it may be ushered into existence as speedily as possible. There are good ami energetic men interested iu it, who \ve have no doubt-will satisfactorily carry out the object they have in view. Much more might be said on the advantages that a Hoard will bring, but it will be lime, enough to enter into details when it- is fairly launched.