The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 316, 27 April 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1878.

Tri" contract for first portion of Pa tea Breakwater, was signed by Mr Dickson on TVesuay overling, as announced in l si i;-nn\ The same night, orrangern. uts by the contractor, for ... .•'•ijcr.k.u n f scorn, dwelling for workmen, st.abh Sj mm ol'ice, near the.site of mm 'd breakwater. Other orders to i.-.h-anon in lawn were given,, all which , A-Aed unitiou on the part of the , .r-m.-v to set to work without the ... m o 'ssible delay. Queen’s Birthday : v ; i. 'day) was named' by Mr Dickson a; vie day on which he would be prepared to iay the foundation stone. The event will be one of the most notable ot any which have as yet arisen, ns initiating a new order of things in these parts.

Hsw will iii'bo viewed b J the general public—will 'they rise to the .occasion, and enthuse? We are decidedly ,ol opinion that there should be but one; feeling throughout the County—that of jnbilancy. Such an event as the laving of the foundation stone of so important a work, should be duly celebrated. The work itself, is certainly in the nature of an experiment. It is, however, an experiment about which no serious doubts are entertained. Engineers, and practical men of all degrees of ability, masters of suntil craft and other sea-going men, are of the one opinion—that the proposed work will materially improve the navigation of the Palea Hive’-, vender communication with other ports at nearly all linn's certain, and that the carrying out of the whole plan will give harbour accommodation and a depth of water, which, in comparison-to the cost, will lie surprising, and much beyond present requirements.* A contemporary oip,-the East .Coast, lately refhrred to the Patea Breakwater as the most practicable iof any of the sma‘l harbor schemes which had been before. the : , Assembly. ■hAYe understand that ; Mr'-i)iekson, on, arrival at Carlyle, had serious intentions of tin-owing up the contract, and forfeiting deposit, unless extensive concessions in plans and specifications, were made by the Harbor Board, but that on making himself practically acquainted with the nature of the work, he became favorably impressed with the scheme, and satislied rather than otherwise with his contract. The Harbor Board was called together specially; to consider the rather serious modifications which the contractor had expressed, intention of submitting, but which, in the interval of his arrival on Saturday to the time of the Board meeting ou Tuesday afternoon, had dwindled down to such infinitesimally small proportions, that there was ready nothing of importance for the Board to consider. The few points submitted, were all provided for in the plans, or could have been decided by the Engineer and Chairman of the Board. This further indication of confidence by a gentleman who has had the carrying out of numerous large undertakings, more or less experimental in nature, should tend to give confidence to doleful ones—granting that it were possible to find

such within the -County. Considering that the Harbor Board has only been in existence for thirteen months, and that members were almost powerless to act, until the Amended Harbor Bill of last session became law, the progress has been great. Patea is ahead of all the other harbor seeking places. Yet after all, what has been accomplished is but the beginning. Very much has yet to be achieved before the scheme can bo pronounced complete, or before the Board can be considered to be on a thoroughly good working footing. Our Representative in the Assembly was so fearful of asking on behalf of Patea to the extent asked for by oilier Members entrusted with Harbor Bills, that it will be necessary to seek further powers at the hands of the Legislature. Borrowing powers, without which the hands of the Board arc in a measure tied, will have to be obtained. Had that power been granted last session, it is questionable if the House would again Have been troubled on behalf of Patea Harbour, though it might have been brought under notice by way of example of creditable progress made under extremely limited powers. The Harbour Board has proved itself earnest in working to the full extent of its powers. Unless Parliament view farther applications for land or authority to raise money favorably, it is questionable if the Board will not have to venture beyond authorized powers. There can be no question but that the work so well begun must proceed. The harbor project is backed by the most fertile of New Zealand land, a very large proportion of which is Crown or native land, blocks of the former of which are gradually being placed in the market, while native owners are daily having their eyes opened to the advantages of encouraging European settlement. The district is such, as to warrant a very large outlay in harbor works. A modest sum will meet present and possible future requirements for years to come. The Harbor Board, ably led by its indefatigable Chairman, has done much. The public must now do their part, and so strengthen the bands of the members of the Board that Govern-' meat may be induced to look favorably on application for powers which have yet to be obtained, and through whoso recommendation the Legislature will be ibduced to acceed. This can best be ■•done, by the people of Patea showing .confidence in the Harbor Board, and in the projected work. They must enthuse. What better day and way than when the foundation stone is laid.