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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2247, 31 May 1880, Page 2

Something serious is evidently the matter with the Colonial Marine Engineer. In a report on the Timaru Breakwater just submitted to Parliament Mr Blackett says—“ My recommendation is, to stop the building of the-breakwater at once, and afterwards to remove : ami bleak It up so as to lessen the prejudicial effect on the beach adjoining the land and railway on the north-.’’ Such a proposition might have travelled very gracefully and naturally from Sunnyside, hut Coming from a Government officer, Who is understood to ho in the frill possession of his seven senses and .other faculties, it is extremely startling. Unless Mr Blackett desired to.break the Hearts of the Timnm Harbor Board, and the majority-of .the unoffending citizens of Timaru, ho would hardly suggest the Breaking up of their darling project—the breakwater.' The contemplation of such a mad proposal is quite sufficient to raise doubts as to the mental state of the much respected Marine Engineer who lias made it. We can abide an Indian fanatic running-a-muck at. his fellow countryman, but this running-a-muck of Mr Blackett at our grandest achievement—our never to bo forgotten breakwater —is enough to try our patience. Fortunately the noble edifice is like the Egyptian pyramids, tolerably solid. Unless it gradually yields to the wash of the southern waves, it will scarcely fall before the damaging denunciation of any colonial engineer., .It is true that our Harbor Board have acted somewhat unwisely' in not paying greater attention to the advice of Sir John Goode, and relying too implicitly’ on their own good judgment, hut they’ have built, a monument which wo venture to predict will test all the available dynamite in'New Zealand, and which will certainly- not.bo allowed to succumb to the flagrant misrepresentations of Mr Blackett.