WANGANUI

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 313, 17 April 1878, Page 2

WANGANUI

(from our own correspondent.)

Extensive tenders are now out in connection with the Harbour Board, and I think all will admit not any too soon. While I write the St. Kilda is making strenuous but ineffectual efforts, assisted by the Wallabi, to get off that confounded sandbank, near the Old Man Snag, and which has been the beLe nolr of the skippers of our trading steamers for a long time past. At neap tides it is a caution. The delay, loss, expenses, and anathemas; loud and deep, that have been caused through that sandbank, would, in the aggregate, astonish the world. Captain Harvey now and again feels where it is with the keel of the Manawalu, and just stays long enough to exchange compliments, and then says “ good-bye.” Captain Doile, of the Stormbird, pays more lengthened visits, and Captain Flowerday, of the St. Kilda, generally times his visit to Wanganui, so as to arrive and leave again at spring tides, though iu this case he has not been so fortunate, el bmo illae lachrymae. Jolly old Leys, of the Wallabi, sometimes has a rest for a tide or so, but Hot long enough to disturb the jovial equanimity of bis temper. The fust and favourite Clyde knows not the spot by practical experience. But joking aside, that sandbank is a terrible drawback to the navigation of this river. And I sincerely hope that the days of its continuing to exist are numbered. They speak of expending £70,000. It wiR take all that to assist the river to do fur Itself what is required. And the Castle Cliff, too, at the Heads, is waxing smaller by degrees and beautifully less, and the Harbour Master thinks that a softer stratum has now been reached that will disappear before the combined action of the sea and wind at a still more rapid rate. This is more alarming than is generally admitted, and many arc awaiting anxiously the professional opinion of Sir John Goode upon that and other matters connected with our river. An opinion was given years ago, which every day since has assisted to confirm, with regard to the urgent necessity which existed for protective works for the Castle Cliff, and when it is gone—perished in the sea—then people will wonder what they were thinking about not to have taken prompter measures when such were so" indispensable to the maintenance of a safe and permanent mouth to the river. But enough of our Harbour Board. One thing more. It and the Borough Council have settled differences anent the signal station, and the movements of vessels at the Heads and at sea are duly repeated at the signal station at Campbeltown. A special to the Herald says that Sherwood is again elected to the responsible position of chairman of your Harbour Board. As Dominie Sampson would have said “ prodigious.” There is a deuce of a row between the late valuator for the Waitotara Highway Board; and the secretary of the Wangaehu Board. Though it is not Board matters as between the two bodies which is casus belli. In a court case, over a disputed valuation, when the valuer’s appointment was cancelled, Mr Lifiiton said he was prepared to give a certain price per acre for a certain property belonging to the valuer, and which it was" alleged had beer, under-rated. The valuer closed with him; and now both affirm equally pointedly that the other has not carried out his share of the bargain. There has been a of letters (advts) in the papers emanating from each, arid in which each relieves his surcharged feelings by saying “You’re another,” to their hearts’ content; while readers city “ hold enough. I ighf _ your battles, and indulge your personalities in some other convincing manner. We are satiated.” It seems* a case of The pot upbraiding the kettle for having the misfortune to be black. And this is all about the war, and what they blackguard each other for. The Education Board has had its first

preliminary meeting, and judging by the published report of the proceeding, they do not mean to let the grass ’grow under their feet. They are now advertising for teachers for various closed schools, among which I think is -a master at Normanby, and a mistress for Waverley. Mr W. If. Watt is appointed chairman. There was a futile move on the Board to nominate Bryce, but it burst, up prematurely. Neither lie nor Dulliie voted. A case of sour grapes, I presume. Mr Watt should make a good chairman ; at least he will be one with whom the other members will be able to exchange courtesies. I was told that one of the Wanganui County Council contracts on the Great North Western Road was not being properly carried out. My informant said he did not believe the Foreman of Works would pass the work as he is proverbially unyielding on matters of this kind.