HARBOR IMPROVEMENT.

Patea Mail, 18 October 1882, Page 2

HARBOR IMPROVEMENT.

A large and influential meeting of gentlemen was held in Mr W. Dale’s warehouse at half-past 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, to take into consideration the present state of affairs in connection with the harbor. His Worship the Mayor was voted to the chair. Mr Tennent, speaking on behalf of the Slopping Company, said that as ttie Insurance Companies had declined to issue any further policies it was decided te call this meeting. He was sure they were all interested in the success of the Company, bnt something must be done, for the Directors could not see their way to risk the loss of a boat worth four or five thousand pounds. The question was whether the people would agree to rate themselves for harbor works, for unless there was some improvement the Company would not be able to carry on any longer. Mr Taplin thought that until the Harbour Board was reconstituted there was no use their doing anything* At present the majority of the Board were country members, and they would not consent to rate themselves. The townspeople were quite willing to be rated for harbour improvement, and the proper thing for the Board to do would be to resign and allow them to have control. Either that would have to be dons or the Borough Council would have to take over the Harbor altogether and do the work. (Hoar, hoar.) Mr R. A. Adams, as a member of the Board, agreed that the best course to pursue would bo to ask the members to resign. All they could do was to ruin Palea, or at any rate to assist in ruining it. Owing to the high charges the country people had made arrangements to get their goods by way of Waitara. It was far cheaper for them to do so, and he himself could get goods from Auckland cheaper than he could from Wellington. The increased dues'in his opinion were unnecessary, as the present revenue of the Board was sufficient to meet their requirements. They should be unanimous in asking the Board \o resign. Alluding to the recent mishaps, he said he did not think the river was altogether to blame. The Shipping Company went blindly into the speculation of purchasing the Wakatu. She was not adapted to the trade, and that was tire cause of them being in their present position. He thought the Patea would be running now if the Wakatu had not been bought. Auckland traders were carrying the goods for Waitara and the Plains, and they would do so for Patea, As regards the outlying districts this port was closed, and the cost of bringing goods via Wanganui was altogether too heavy to sustain a trade. He hoped they would pass a resolution asking the Board to resign.

Mr R. Horner would be quite ready to resign and he had no doubt the other members of the Board would be ready too. But if they did so they would be no better off; they would be in the same fix. If the town wished to take over the management, a new Act would be required and that would be a matter of time. As regards last year’s scheme, he was sure six out of seven would have gone in for it if it could have been shown where the money was to come from. They had endeavored to do their best but they had had no money. To borrow money they must have some basis, and if they would find that, the Board would be cpiite willing to go in and carry it through. They had had no tools to work with; give them the tools and they would soon see that the Board would use them. With regard to what had fallen from Mr Adams about the steamer, he thought that there was a good deal of blame laid on the port which should rest in another quarter. It had been Slid that the country members bad it all their own way on the Board, but he considered that the town members had a majority. Mr Mace asked whether the Act under which they borrowed £IO,OOO could not be repealed and a greater sum borrowed.. He thought that the security was of considerably greater value than the amount borrowed, and if they could get even £5,000 a very great deal could be done. Material was so cheap now as compared with the time when the former contract was taken, that for £5,000 the same work could be done on this side as cost £IO,OOO on Ihe other side. Concrete could be made at half the cost that it was formerly. The works on this side might be of a different kind to the former. He thought, that piles might be used in place of concrete blocks, and the spaces filled in with rubble and concrete. They should, however, secure the services of a thoroughly practical engineer, such as Messrs Barr and Oliver, of Dunedin, or the gentleman who had charge of the Timaru Works.

Mr Adams remarked that of course the the £IO,OOO could bo repaid, but they would x’cquire another Act to enable them to do so. Mr Toimcnfc said that lie bad a motion to propose. It was “ That the ratepayers of the County be again asked if they are willing to submit to a rate for Harbor purposes, and if not, whether they are willing to allow the Borough to take over the Harbour liabilities and assets, and become the governing body.” Ho thought that it was quite evident that some effort should bo made, or they would become a village like Wavorlcy, instead of what they wanted, and ought to bo a large town. The townspeople saw the advantage of the Harbor, if the country people did not. Improvement in the Harbour would moan more vessels, more trade, and an increase in revenue. But before they wont to Government to ask for an alteration in the eonsthntion of the Board they should got (ho opinion of the district. If (bo country definitely declined to be rated then go to (bo Government, and ask them to consent to a new Harbour Bill vesting all the power, in (bo Borough. Mr Adams’ proposal that (bo Board should bo asked to resign would not help them at all, because (lie settlors would probably return the same men. They bad no moans of knowing if the country people still declined to bo rated, but if they did, (bon (lie townspeople who wore willing, should look after their own interests. Ho considered that, (be remarks on the Shipping Company were undeserved. The fact was simply that two steamers wero running to the port, that the Company bought the second boat, and thou bad the misfortune to lose their other one. lie did not consider that to be a subject for censure. The motion was seconded by MrTaplin. Mr I lamer! on asked what was tho income and probable value of tho assets of (be Board. Mr Adams said that the income was now a mere nothing. Compared with what it was mow, the wharfage last year was nearly double. They should have a Bill reconstituting (he Board, mid then they should ask tho Country if they were willing to bo rated. Mi Gibson moved as an amendment “ That no action bo taken re referring the question to the ratepayers of (he Harbor district until after the next election of the Harbor Board.” He remarked that they bad the result of the former meetings in their minds, and contended that it would bo folly to go to the country again.

They had no fresh gronnd to go upon and they might expect the same result. Those meetings had created a bitter feeling between the town and country, and it would be foil} 7 to repeat the dose. (Hear.) The matter was not put before the country in the way it should have been. The area of the district, value and amount of the land still unoccupied were not. placed before them ; neither were the amount of money required nor the proposed expenditure. The rate was proposed to bo one shilling for tbo town and sixpence for the country ; but there were no figures to show that oven that was required. If the Board liad placed the matter before the ratepayers in a proper light, he thought the result might have been different. He considered tire best tiring they could do was to wait till the next election in February. The ratepayers throughout the district, which he presumed still included Hawera, would then have an opportunity to return men in favor of improvements. They wanted a body of men who would carry out the work with spirit ; at present there was none. They should take the suggestion of Mr Mace, and see if some cheaper design could not be carried out. No doubt the work designed by the Engineer was a lasting one ; but they might be content with something less solid, hut quite as useful and less expensive. The place was not nearly so suitable for vessels as it had been before the stone was put in the river. They had a greater depth of water, but the entrance was not so safe. Vessels drawing eight feet used to come in in safety ; now they could not get one in drawing five feet. There was an increase in the depth of water ; but it was so confined that the steamer could not work. What they wanted was a breakwater on this side, extending as far out as tiie work on the other side. Then a steamer, when within the walls, would be in perfect safety. Having settled upon that they could ask the ratepayers to borrow such an amout as would make the river safe. Mr Adams seconded the amendment. Mr Mace would like to draw the attention of the Harbour Board to the embankment now being' made across (he flat. It would exclude some thousands of tons of water, and the only opening was a little bridge which would soon fill up. He thought the Board might very well draw the attention of the Government to the matter. Mr Tennent said that if the Shipping Company had to.wait till the elections in February, it would be a poor look-out for the trade. If the motion were carried ho could not see why the country people should bo-offended. There could be no harm in asking them to allow ns to take over the harbour if they did not wish to be rated themselves. Mr Dale had not intended to have spoken on the subject at all. He came there as a listener to hear the details of any scheme that might be laid before them. What he would like to have heard also would have been some information from the Chairman regarding the Board’s revenue and outlay, and the financial position of the Board generally. He was not altogether in favour of the Borough taking over the Harbour. The district had been curtailed, and lie did not think there would be the same amount of opposition as there had been formerly, provided that it could be shown that the works would be the means of giving safety to the vessels. Settlers would benefit by the improvement quite as much as the townspeople. As long as the Hawera people got their goods by this way, Patea received a benefit, but when once the railway was opened we should not reap much profit, neither would it make much difference to Hawera goods. He would like to know 'what the assets and revenue of the Board were, and what probability there was of anyone lending them an additional £IO,OOO. Mr Coutts would support the amendment, for the reason that it was no use going to the Country ratepayers at the present time. It was quite useless, as he felt assured that they would receive the same answer as the}' previously did. Speaking as a ratepayer he sympathised with the Shipping Company. At the same time he fell in with the remarks of Mr Adams with regard to the Company running the Wakatu, knowing she was not a suitable boat. She had met with several disasters, and they knew the consequence. They should, however, look forward with confidence to the new boat now building, which he hoped would be suitable for tbe trade. The Board’s takings for the first nine months in the year had averaged £56 per month ; and although for the past fortnight they had been nil, yet that did not condemn the whole. The assets of the Board were about £6OOO ; the revenue £7OO, and the expenditure £520, leaving a balance of £IBO to the good. He recommended the increase in the Board’s rate of Is in the ton because it would be the means of adding £4OO per year to their income ; and that, together with the balance of £IBO, almost enabled them to see their way to go to the Government and ask them for a loan to consolidate their present loan, as the Board could have shown them that they had security. There had been a good deal said about engineering difficulties, hut in his opinion the money was the first thing to be looked at. Every member of that Board would resign if they saw any prospect of the work being carried on. If £IO,OOO or £15,000 could be raised, they would clear out at once. It was simply a question of ways and means, and nothing else. But ho was quite sure the country people would not consent to be rated. He bad been told that if a certain other person had gone through (he district ho would have talked them into it. He (the speaker) was quite willing that the gentleman should try, as he had had enough of it himself. The Mayor would bo (ho proper person to place the matter before the country. Mr Adams thought they might return members favorable to the scheme, then it would be time enough to proceed with the bill if required. There had been a great bungle on the part of the Board in leasing the land. They ought to have had an Act to soil it, and that would have given them money to continue the work. They were deriving less revenue under the increased dues than they were before. It was tbe chairman’s idea, about the only idea ho over knew him to have at the Board, and he worked it.

Tho Mayor considered that at the meetings hold in the country, the matter had been put before the ratepayers in such a way ns to absolutely court defeat. However, the question narrowed itself down to this: whether the Wakatu should bo knocked oil and the port should be closed or not. He was inclined to take a more hopeful view of things than had been done by a previous speaker. Tire river was better now than it had been before the works began, and as to the loss of the Patea, that boat was simply thrown away. If the river was worse after the expenditure, then it was ridiculous to go on with the work. He did not think there was any need to consult local engineers. Their engineer was Sir John Coode, a gentleman of wide-world reputation, and they should refer to him. He saw with

pleasure that there was at last a chance of a little unity of action, and he would tell them that he had been getting up a, scheme for harbor works, together with the plans, and ways and means to go on with the object. (Applause.) It had not been the work of half an hour, but of months of consideration ; and he was of opinion that they had within the borough the means for constructing a considerable portion of the work without asking the assistance of the country. The expenditure would bs a large one, but ho assured them that the next move would rest with the Borough of Patea, and that they need not go outeide for one sixpence. At the outset, if the B»rough were willing to devise means and carry measures to prosecute the work, the settlers would cheerfully agree to be rated when it could be shown that an improvement had been effected. If the motion were carried, ho as Mayor would respectfully decline to be the medium for stumping the country. It would be far better to dismiss that idea at once and consider about taking over the Harbor themselves. The scheme to which he referred was almost complete. In the ordinary course the plans would have been ready in two months, but as tuis meeting had been held he would guarantee to have them’ ready in three weeks. The scheme would include ways and means, for without that any proposal would fall to the ground. One word about the £IO,OOO Borough loan. The Borough was justified in spending its own money. They had done their share in a general way, and he thought they had a right to have their principal streets made and drained for the health of the j town. With regard to the work he proposed at the Heads, it would take the form of a guide pier placed at such an angle as not to receive the full force of the sea, but it would have to be substantial. 'They had within the borough a source of revenue in itself sufficient to carry out a modified plan of Sir John Coode’s. He was not anxious to thrust his scheme down their throats. He had waited to see if anybody came forward with a practical proposal ; but there had been none, and if anybody brought one out he would give it his cordial support. He should offer himself as a member of the Harbour Board ou condition that the works were of an expensive character. If only £5 000 had to be spent he would rather decline. Until the re-election of the Harbor Board the matter had better be left in abeyance. He should support tbe amendment as best under the circumstances. Mr Mace contended that £5,000 would do good, although he would not object to £IO,OOO. The previous contractors did very well, and work was cheaper now. The Mayor considered that the previous contract had been well and cheaply done. Mr Mace would guarantee to do it for half the price. Mr Contts was of opinion that the work had been very successfully carried out, as it gave a depth of 12 feet on the bar. Every shilling of that expenditure had been very successful. Mr Gibson admitted the water had been deepened, but for want of further work the place was rendered unsafe. What they wanted to know was the entire cost of the breakwater on this side, and what it would coat to make it useful and safe. Mr Williams moved the adjournment of the meeting. They had heard that a scheme was being prepared, and he thought a committee should be appointed to assist the Mayor in bringing it forward. The Mayor put Mr Gibson’s amendment and there voted —For 7, against 8. Amendment lost. Mr Williams continued. He thought the meeting should adjourn for three months . when they would have something tangible to go upon. He had every confidence that the Mayor would bring forward a workable scheme. He proposed Messrs Taplin, Tennent, Adams, and Cowern as the committee to assist the Mayor. Mr Adams did not think they should interfere with the Mayor’s scheme. He had borne all the abuse, and he should have all the credit. Mr Tennent wished to withdraw for similar reasons. Mr Taplin agreed with Mr Tennent that a committee would be of very little use. They would only be taking part of the honor due to the Mayor, as this scheme would come before the public as the scheme of the committes. He did not think that any of them had any practical knowledge whereas Mr Sherwood had. All the work that had been done had been done well, and if the Government had not changed, the other work would have been done now. That part referring to the committee was withdrawn, and the amendment stood “ that the meeting adjourn for three weeks to allow time to prepare a scheme.” Mr Coutts would second that. The Mayor should have power to advertise a public • meeting to consider the scheme. They had had two other schemes before them lately which were utterly ridiculous, and if Mr Sherwood's was practicable, he would give it his hearty support. The Mayor said he did not intend to bring it before the public. He intended to lay it before a meeting like that one, and allow them either to condemn it or bring it out themselves. Mr Barton asked if the Mayor could name the exact day to which the meeting could be adjourned. . The Mayor would almost promise that day three weeks. It depended upon the gentleman who was preparing the plans. The amendment was then put and carried. Mr Tennent moved “That Major Atkinson be asked to meet his constituents at an early date, and that a committee consisting of the Mayor, Messrs Gibson, Taplin, Adams, and the mover, be appointed to wait upon him and see what support the Government will give towards improving the river, and whether they would support the reconstruction of the Harbour Board.” He thought that when the very existence of the town depended upon the river improvement they had a right to know what their member was prepared to do to assist them. As an argument they could point out that the Government had constructed an expensive wharf, and unless something were done to open the river, it was so much money thrown away. Mr Mace seconded the motion which was carried unanimously, it being understood that a should be forwarded to Major Atkinson. Mr Taplin said a few words expressive of sympathy with the Shipping Company, to which Mr Tennent replied, and the meeting, which was attended by about 30 gentlemen, and was a thoioughly representative one,then adjourned.