HARBOR AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Patea Mail, 21 June 1881, Page 3

HARBOR AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

A ratepayer writing to the evening journal at New Plymouth contrasted the expenditure and work done at Oamaru and Timaru, an account of which was lately given in the Mail, and stated that the New Plymouth Harbor Board had already spent £105,000 with nothing but an expensive plant and an equally expensive jetty and engineer as a set-off. The Chairman of the Harbor Board replied—“ The loan of £200,000 realised in round numbers £185,000 and the Board has now in hand, in cash and securities, £124,000, besides a quantity of material paid for, apart from plant, which will form part of the breakwater itself, or be used in its construction. The Sinking Fund Commissioners have permanently redeemed £2,000 of the Board’s bonds, and have on hand, and bearing interest, £28,000 to pay interest and sinking fund on the loan. All land fund accruing, and all sums received as interest on the Board’s securities, and otherwise, go to swell the amount. No rate, in my opinion, will require to be imposed for five years at least. ’ “ Ratepayer ” returns to the charge and says: —What I did say, and still adhere to, is that the Board has laid out £105,000 cash, and what I pointed out in my former letter I wish to do the same in this—that Oamaru for the same amount has got what we have been hoping for for years—a harbor. The whole thing lies in a nutshell. Had we have had a thoroughly practical contractors’ engineer, as recommended by Mrssrs Kelly and Weston, instead of engaging colonial engineers, we would have been differently situated. Had we taken Oamaru or Timaru as an example to go by we should by this time have had small vessels, at any rate, lying alongside. Timaru has done this in two years and six months. Why could not Taranaki have done the same ?

NATIVE SUCCESSION. A i/iil Tins alone been introduced by the Hon Mr Whitaker, in the Legislative Council. The purpose of the proposed Act is to extend the jurisdiction of the Native Land Court in the estate of deceased natives. It is provided that in case any native has died, or shall die, posssessed of any native land or of any hereditaments held in severalty or as tenant in common without having made a valid disposition thereof, the Native Land Court may, on the application of any native claiming to be interested therein, inquire and ascertain who ought to succeed to such lands and hereditaments. In respect to native land the Court will be guided by native custom, and in respect of hereditaments the Court shall assume that marriages according to native custom and usage are valid, and shall then be guided in the laws of New Zealand. As to property left by formal wills made by natives the Court shall make order as nearly as possible in accordance with the testator’s intended disposition of property, and shall issue certificate of judgment showing who ought to succeed. Such certificate to have the same force and effect in favor of the successor as if the deceased native owner whose property is dealt with had made a valid will. A similar procedure to be adopted in regard to personalty left by an intestate native, the certificates issued to operate as letters of administration granted to the person named therein.