The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1900. HARBOUR MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 191, 17 August 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1900. HARBOUR MATTERS.

If there is one thing more than another which tends .to destroy the confidence of the country settlers in the Harbour Board it is the persistence with which the members of the Board advocate and indulge in all sorts of costly experiments. We need only mention the " hole in the wall" and the sand pump as instances of what we mean. Now another scheme is being advocated, viz., the adoption of Case's system of groins - a system which bids fair, if we may judge by the results obtained by the erection of the rubble wall to Mikotahi, to bury the breakwater in sand before many years are passed. The number of duly qualified marine engineers (in their own estimation) is truly wonderful. One of the greatest stumbling blocks to success in the case of the harbour at Moturoa is the persistency with which the authorities have worked against nature. The most successful artificial harbours are those where the forces of nature have been harnessed and made to assist the efforts of the engineers, The time has come when the Harbour Board must take some action. The breakwater must be made secure, the sand pump must be made efficient or abandomd, and provision must be made < for the growing trade of the port. At the meeting of the Board to be held to-day these questions must be dealt with, The appointment of a works committee with power to attend, to matters of urgency is a necessity, and should be dealt with at once. The question of the sand pump and the making provision for the growing trade I are larger questions upon which expert' (advice should be obtained without delay. The engineer, Mr. Marchant, is a man whose opinion we have a great respect for, and we believe we are right in saying that where his advice has been taken the result has proved satisfactory. He has placed before the Board a plan for the extension of the harbour which, as one of the members remarked, looks very nice oiaizno for it. To make the proposal meet the approval of the settlers who find the money something more, however, than the approval of the Board is required. The Board would, we think, be wise to approach the Government and ask for the services of Mr, Napfei* Bell, Being thetenmnus of an important section of the New Zealand Railways, the Government are deeply concerned in the welfare of our harbour, and would, we believe, gladly comply with such a request. A report from such a recognised authority as Mr. Napier Bell, showing what is required and the cost of providing for deep sea going steamers at Moturoa, would go a long way towards securing that object and disarm a great deal of the present opposition to expenditure on the harbour. We feel satisfied if the Board could only be brought to see the wisdom of working with the Government in this matter many of the difficulties which now beset it would disappear. |