Ocean or River Harbors?

Patea Mail, 15 March 1882, Page 3

Ocean or River Harbors?

Some sensible remarks in the Wanganui Herald on the general question of harbor endowments indicate a broader sympathy than had been shown previously in that quarter. But the new theory now advocated seems too great a jump at once. There is too much of the great ocean harbor, and too little of the practicable river harbor, to convince phlegmatic observers as to the genuineness of this sudden conversion. It is difficult to show that ocean harbors are a success in this colony. The conditions differ much. Oamaru is a proved success, the formation of coast being peeculiarly favorable. Timaru is a serious problem half worked out, and cannot be called a success. Taranaki ocean harbor exists only on paper ; the wall being only just far enough in deep water to permit small craft to get along in fine weather, but affording no harbor shelter for unloading in the swell of an ordinary breeze. The work is all right as . far as it goes ; but there is no prospect, within reason, of further funds being given by Government to extend the breakwater far enough to afford harbor shelter in rough weather. Without that shelter, no ship could bo held by cable to the wall while discharging cargo in rough weather. Taranaki will have got a short wall suitable for a landing stage in fine weather, and will have absorbed an enormous endowment, part of which ought to have gone to Waitara and Patea in equitable proportions. This is an instance where part of a plan is useless till the whole is complete. Time will show that the plan will so remain. It is not statesmanship to write, as Mr Ballance now does, in favor of fresh endowments adequate to : make ocean harbors. Surely if that costly folly be encouraged by leading politicians, any town near a coast can claim to have an ocean harbor run out at the colony’s expense. No; the ocean harbors are a craze which a young colony cannot afford to indulge in. Where nature favors the formation of a deep harbor, the plea may be reasonable if the cost be also reasonable. What the colony needs, and can afford to make, is harbors inside those rivers which are easily improvable ; harbors suitable for intercolonial shipping, leaving the Horae ships to those deep-water harbors which nature provides. Endowments for rivers should be claimed steadily and with enlightened determination. Just that.