The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 199, 7 March 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1877.

The first mooting of the Hatoa Harbour Board -was held on Friday, the 3rd instant, when some very useful work was performed. The Hoard may he congratulated on having commenced in a husiimss-like way. Mr Sherwood was elected chairman, and from the great interest always taken in the matter of river improvement by that gentleman, and the /.cal with Avhieli lie applies himself to any public business he may take in hand, the appointment may be considered as at least judicious. Jt requires someone at the helm who will push ahead and remove such obstacles as may present themselves. It will have, been seen from the resolutions passed at the first nr.oting, that a very substantial sum is due to the Hoard on account of Harbour endowments already sold. The necessary steps lor getting the money placed in a local Hank to the credit of the Hoard were taken. A committee was also appointed to examine into and report on reserves mentioned in the second schedule of the Harbour Act—a proper ami very necessary step to taler. It can bo estimated to a nicety wild sum will accrue to the Hoard from tiiG reserves already sold, and when the committee just referred to lias reported, the Hoard will know approximately the full value of Harbour endowments, ami will bo enabled to Avork according to its means. It will not, of course, he Aviso to hurry the sale o! town lauds set aside for Harbour purposes. It would better in most eases to lease, it anything like good offers Avero made. It Avould probably pay best to hold Avell-situatod town lots until the first portion of the proposed Harbour Avorks were avcil in hand, when a fair idea of the A’alne of the Avork Arhen completed' could be formed. If favourable, very high prices Avould be obtained for the land. Even should the first portion of the proposed Avorks prove less cflectivo than the Chief Engineer anticipates ; still, there Avould certainly he considerable improvement in the facilities afforded to .shipping, which together Avith the natural increase of population and additions to the toAvn and district In the shape of ncAV-comors, Avould give an increased A'nlue to the land, Aviiich the Hoard could afford to Avait for. More than half the money required for the first portion of the Avork recommended to ho done by the Chief Engineer of the Colony is, or shortly Avill be, placed to the credit of the, Hoard. There is, therefore, nothing to hinder the immediate commencement of the Avork. An engineer Avill require to be engaged to get out specifications and Avorking plans, and to act as superintendent during the progress of the work. No time should be lost in engaging the services of a competent engineer. That is really the next important stop to take, ns a preliminary to tenders being called. With such valuable reserves as have been set aside, there can be no difficulty in raising the small sum required for the construction of the eastern groin, and Avhieli, it is calculated, Avith the removal of ell Avoirs up the river, Avill maintain :i depth of water of not less than eight feet on the bar, under the most unfavorable conditions. We do not anticipate much difficulty Avould be met Avitli as regards raising money, even if the Hoard determined to enter at once on the larger work proposed by Mr Carruthers. Ample borroAvmg powers are contained in the Act, which could he availed of. The smaller work will, howov?r, bo sufficient for the present. The benefits likely to accrue to the county, ami more particularly to Carlyle, from the carrying out of the proposed river Improvemts, Avill bo very great. The sooner a start is made the better. We arc in no way inclined to find fault Avith the Hoard, as avc arc of opinion that much useful business was transacted at the first meeting. In addition to the results, as seen in resolutions passed, a number of matters of importance Averc talked over and partly arranged, the usefulness of Avhieh avIII be seen at future meetings. It Avas satisfactory to observe the unanimity of opinion slioavu at the meeting as to the necessity for prompt action. All old residents in the district arc fully aware of the able manner in which Mr Carruthers detailed in Ids report the advantage to the district Aviiich would arise from improved river navigation. As there have been considerable additions to the population since the report whs first made public, wo Avill endeavour in our next issue to rc-pub-lish it, so that all may see the importance of the Avork, and may ho induced to encourage the Harbour Hoard to push ahead.