The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1901. THE HARBOUR QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 233, 14 October 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1901. THE HARBOUR QUESTION.

■ : ♦ It is to be hoped that the Harbour Board will take advantage of the presence of Mr. Napier Bell, the eminent marine engineer, in New Plymouth, to report on the whole question of harbour improvements. We understand his mission is principally to report on the sand question, particularly regarding the effect of an openiDg at the root of the breakwater. But the sand difficulty is one of the least of the Harbour Board's troubles now. It has been proved beyond question that the dredge " Thomas King " is quite able to deal effectively with the sand, and that with a larger dredge the Band question would not give the Board any concern. The real question that is of the utmost importance is the completion of the harbour scheme so as to give accommodation and complete shelter for the inct easing number cf vessels trad-i ing to the port, Trese vessels are not, only increasing in number, but what is even more pleasing, in size too. What is waotsd is the adoption of a schema whijh can be carried forward yeirly with the funds available, and will keep a little ahead of the requirements and result in a complete harbour. There is every reason to believe.tbat this can be done without recourse to a loan, and if this is so it would be a great relief to settlers throughout Taranaki to be assured of it-, because many of them live in daily dread of an increased liability for harbour extension being sprung upon them. Conditions have changed a good deal since Sir John Coode made hii report, and if Mr. Marchant'a views received tbe approval of Mr, Napier Bell, it would inspire confidence in the future of the harbour throughout Taranaki, The regularity with which the harbour is bnng worked and the rapidly increasing size qf tbe steamers is already having its effect. Speaking at the harbour meeting at Opunake, reported elsewhere, Mr. 1 Moore expressed tbe opinion that there [would be great difficulty in getting money for harbour works at Opunake as, he said, " tbe feeling was growing stronger in favour of New Plymonth." This must be so as no one can shut his| eyes' to the fact that nowhere else ; n Taranaki, no matter how much money is spent, is it possible t) hope to bring direct steamers alongside tbe wharf. According to Mr. Mavcbant, this can be done for a comparatively small sum ; one which, if spread over a number of years, would appear to be almost within the ordicary revenue of the Board. In any case it would be a mistake when Mr. Napifr Bell is here not to take the fullest possible advantage of bia vigit.