South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2548, 21 May 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1881.

An interesting discussion took place at the Oamaru Harbor Board meeting hold early in the week, when the question of expenditure and probable revenue was brought under review. The subject should be interesting to the people of Tirnaru, who are almost similarly situated as their fellow colonists in Oamaru. Mr Aitken, the gentleman who brought the matter forward, took a somewhat gloomy view of the financial prospects of the Board. Ho estimates the not revenue at £9527, and the interest and sinking fund at £12,825, leaving a deficit of £B3OO to be met by taxation. Now, the latter amount is not by any means large for ncomparitivcly populous town like Oamaru and an extensive district to pay yearly for the convenience of a good harbor. Mr Aitken is of opinion that when the reclamation is in a position to be let the deficiency will be considerably reduced, probably by one half, and other expedients may be found to make both ends meet. Alluding to the quantity of grain available for export, he does not believe that the amount of produce is likely to assume much larger proportions. He calculates the relative quantity of land under cultivation at one-fourth of the total area, and assumes that there is not any quantity of payable, ploughable tussock yet to be broken up in the district. With regard to Oamaru becoming a harbor of refuge, there is little prospect, of its being such in Mr Aitkcn’s opinion. He does not think that any prudent shipmaster is at all likely to run his vessel on to lee shore into three fathoms of water with the uncertainty of making or getting through a 400 feet opening. The main purposes of a harbor at Oamaru are an outlet for the produce of the district and an inlet for seaborne goods from other parts. The question of refuge for ships in distress is more of colonial than local concern —though that aspect of the question has been rarely overlooked when votes were required in Parliament, A proposition had been moved by Mr Aitken, having reference to the formation of the harbor and the extension of the breakwater. His plan would give forty-eight acres of clear water. In contrasting the area afforded for shipping accommodation with other places, with the object of showing the business that might be transacted, some interesting statistics were given. The Cape of Good Hope had sixteen acres of docks, and the business was about 200,000 tons each way per annum. Aberdeen, with a population of 90,000, had only thirty acres. No returns were furnished of the tonnage, but it may be assumed that it greatly exceeds that which Oamaru is likely to require for a long time to come. Whitehaven, in the north of England, with a population of about 19,000, has a similar harbor to Oamaru, the size being sixty acres, and does a business of 300,000 tons annually. Now, thelast is hardly a fair comparison. The trade of Whitehaven consists almost entirely of the export of coal. The inward cargo may be said to be nil. Coal is an article which can be stowed with far greater celerity than grain, and there is no waiting for freight. Vessels have the utmost despatch. A couple of days would suffice to load a large ship. However, we do not purpose giving an opinion on the required size of the Oamaru Harbor. The object is to acquaint our readers with the doings of our neighbors to the South. A member of the Harbor Board pointed out that Mr Aitken did not take into consideration that Oamaru might be connected with the interior at no distant date, and also that it might reasonably be expected that when the frozen meat trade was fully developed they would have regular monthly visits from steamers and vessels of considerably greater tonnage. The same member was of opinion that there was sufficient public spirit in the district to induce the people to submit to any reasonable taxation which might be necessary to make up any deficiency between revenue and expenditure. Mr Shrimski was of a different opinion. The people would not stand any more rates or taxes, unless they were confined to the “district outside the town.” It is safe to assume that the district would object to such a partial application of thetaxing powers of the Harbor Board, even supposing that body had power to exempt a particular locality from taxation. We will leave the subject with the remark that there is an impression abroad that the Oamaru harbor will be neither big enough nor deep enough. Now that the people of the district have got their hand to the plough, they should not pause till they have secured to Oamaru a harbor which would bo likely to meet the requirements of the place for many years to come.

About March 20 last there arrived in New Zealand a message from Baron Reuter stating that there had been a riot on St. Patrick’s Day at Aldershott, the great camping ground of the British army. A drunken soldier was stated to be the cause of the disturbance. People were at a loss to know why such a trivial affair should bo cabled to the Australian and New Zealand colonics, and there was a widespread feeling that something had been kept back, in fact, that there had been an attempt at mutiny amongst the Hibernian soldiers of Her Britannic Majesty. It appears now that it was a trivial affair. What with the alleged attempt to blow jp Windsor Castle, the premeditated attack on Chester Castle, and the thousand and one schemes which the Fenians and Land Leaguers were hatching for the disruption of the Empire, it is no wonder that Baron Reuter lost his head, and that it was feared the “ drunken Irish soldier,” as ihe cable message graphically termed him, had thousands

of trained compatriots at his back who were ready to swoop down on London. By the last mail we are in receipt of a full account of the affair, which, according to an English paper, was ns follows :—“ A number of men of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment were drinking together in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, when they rushed into the street brandishing sticks and shouting National cries. They were soon joined by other Irishmen, and when the provost’s guard interfered the rioters beat them savagely. Information being conveyed to camp by the mounted police, the assembly was sounded, and a number of armed men from several infantry regiments charged the rioters, many of whom were apprehended, some being more or less wounded by bayonet trusts.’’ It was too bad of the Baron to frighten loyal subjects at the Antipodes by snch an alarming message. Who knows here but that the two “ great generals of the day,” Sir Garnet Wolseley and Sir Frederick Roberts (they are both Irishmen) might hare been at the bead of the movement. Who ever heard of a son of Erin, and especially one who wore the Queen’s uniform, getting drunk on St. Patrick’s Day ? Consideration for the feelings of a highly sensitive people, should have prevented the Baron making the fact known over the wide world.