VON POPULI.

Patea Mail, 26 August 1880, Page 2

VON POPULI.

Rerouting on the petition of Hawcra settlers against the New Plymouth harbor scheme, the committee of the Upper House said :—The harbor works now in course of construction at Carlyle, on the Patea river, being hold to be sufficient for the wants of the surrounding districts, the inhabitants not unreasonably complain that one-fourth of the land fund of the whole Provincial District of Taranaki should be permanently appropriated for the construction of harbor works at New Plymouth, and that in addition their lands should be made liable to heavy taxation for a work which they appear to regard as being of no local value to them.” This committee went farther than that of the Lower House, one reason being that it heard more evidence. It is notable that this committee, being free from the vested interest that prevailed with the other committee, has had the boldness to recognise and record the fact that Patea harbor is tbe natural and sufficient water-gate for the district. Now that the Patea breakwater is a proved success, the settlers along this coast will be promoting their immediate interest by assisting in carrying to completion the important work at the Patea heads. They can do this by simply uniting their voices in pressing the importance of the work upon the attention of Government. Here is Patea harbor with a loan of £IO,OOO, expended chiefly in beginning the work. There is Wanganui with power to raise £IOO,OOO on secured reserves. Yonder is New Plymouth, with statutory power to seize and throw' into the sea onefourth value of the unsold laud of Patea Comity within the old provincial district. Is Patea treated on a fair equably with ite endowed neighbours ? Why should not the West Coast settlers between Waitotara k and Ueo bo endowed eqmdly with settlers outside, for providing a harbor to get their produce taken away cheaply and their merchandise brought to their doors at low rates ? Settlers have oidy to say, with unanimous voice, that they want and will have equal treatment —ami they will ‘get it. The surest way to lower freight lor Patea harbor is to make the river accessible to larger vessels. Then will ensue competition, and freights will become easier both ways. Extend the breakwater and the rest will follow.