HARBOR ACCOMMODATION WANTED.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 948, 20 October 1882, Page 2

HARBOR ACCOMMODATION WANTED.

(Hawera “ Star,” October 18.) This want of a good harbor in something like close proximity to this part of, the coast is making itself severely felt. For years it has been recognised that so soon as native matters became more settled and the wave of colonisation advanced across the confiscation line, the resultant increase of trade would render absolutely necessary more efficient harbor accommodation. But,.with regret, we have.to face the fact that the facilities for getting supplies here and exporting onr produce are less now than they have been in former times. Large sums of money have been spent at New Plymouth, but figuratively and literally the expenditure has apparently been simply thrown into the sea. We cannot realise that one iota'of benefit has yet' accrued to this district from that expenditure, but we should be only too glad to throw aside all; our;objections to that scheme and support it very heartily for the future if we could but see .some prospect of the prophesies as to its failure being falsified. But hope as we may, we have very little trust. Things seem to be going on as they have been going from the first : nothing but quarrelling and bickering,.'the dismissal of one officer and the appointment of another, a definition of the functions and duties of employees to-day only to be disturbed and re-defined to-morrow. Meanwhile, the expenditure is heavy and continuous. A few yards are added -to the dimensions - of the breakwater, one month ; then comes a period of idleness, occasioned by the weather ; then a report that this, that, and the other has been washed away “ by the last storm and, finally, expenditure in repairs. This seemsAobe going on month after month, and while the loan is disappearing, the desperate character of the enterprise becomes daily more clear, and above all stands out in bold relief the absolute incompetence of those who have charge of the work. From this quarter, then, there is little good to be expected. Hope told a flattering tale about the Waitara. A loan was authorised for river improvements there. It was raised after some difficulty, and money has been duly expended of late. We were told that the works would be, a success, and: that at any rate the Waitara would always secure the continuance of regular communication with Auckland. But here again there is dissappointment. The agents of the Macgregor inform" us" that, owing to the long prevalence of S.W, winds, the river has become very tortuous, and a spit has run out inside the bar. It is not therefore deemed advisable to risk the - Maogregor coming in there until next spring, unless tides or a fresh occur to scour the channel again. The Macgregor has been a regular boat, and her withdrawal is a very serious matter, interfering asit does largely with the Auckland-West Coast trade. At Patea again there has been considerable expenditure on harbor improvements, but after the mishaps .that have lately occurred that port would appear to be about as useful at present as the Waingongoro.The insurance companies now refuse to take a risk on the Wakatu, and she is to be withdrawn from the Wellington trade. This simply means that we are -to be practically dependent on the Union Company’s steamers calling at New Plymouth (which are not always able to discharge cargo) and the port of Wanganui,-with half a dozen handlings of the goods in each case. The position is a very serious one, as every settler and householder borne down by the heavy prices already (and no doubt necessarily) charged by the storekeepers, will speedily discover. We confess that we do not quite see what ought to be. done, but action is evidently-needed.' Weave inclined to think that Patea offers the best chance for a port at this end of the Plains, and should be very glad to see the Board get such assistance as would enable it to improve the entrance to the river ; and as for the other end, we should like to see if something cannot be done at Opunako. It wa's reported some time ago that the harbor there was being surveyed. Was the result favourable or otherwise ? It would not be amiss to bring the whole subject before Major Atkinson on bis arrival, and with that object in view a powerful deputation, representing all parts of the district, might be organised. Of courfe, it would be very difficult to get any assistance, from Parliament, owing to the largo expenditure at New Plymouth out of the public purse ; but Major Atkinson destroyed all chance of stopping that expenditure, and he should use his influence to lessen as far as possible the evil consequences of his action in that respect.