The Daily News. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 10, 1903. HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 201, 10 September 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 10, 1903. HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS.

When it is considered that harbour works at New Plymouth have the shelter of the Sugailoaves the experience gained at Timiru (where the harbour works are exposed to tbe full foiceofthe long and heavy routheily rollers which b iat with tremendous force on that part of the const) may fairly be taken as a test cf the stren'g'h and stability of the proposed rubble mole. We say this because the design is that of Mr Marchant, who is supervising the construction of the mole at Timaru which has recently undergone a ptrticularly severe test and the fact that the mbble mo'e at Tma'uba'i stood that te3t so satisfactorily should be an encouragement to thosj who advocate the harbour extension here, silence the opposition of those who predict failure, and give confidence to tbe doubters. The Timsru BemU referring to the eff-ct of the late storir, says:—lt appears to us that there is a foolish disposition in certain quarters to make more of the recent heavy sea and its consequences than the circumstances warrant. That it was a heavy sea must of course be admitted, but the damage done to the plant and work on the tew rubble mole is nothing to make a song about. The seas have forced the stones composing the mole closer togethe-, and in fact have thoroughly sclid'fbd the work. By and by ii will bo advisable to raise its heigh iby a foot or two. The damage at the end is not r.f any groat magnitudo after all. A fe v hundred* of pounds willcffjct necessury repair-, aad there is not the smalls st reusou why the Harbour Board thould modify the manner in which the mole is being! cons'ructed. It would be possible t-u-e krger and locgar piles, and to make tho wotk more substantial in othtr ways, fcut there is no necessity for such a change, Some risk mus 1 ; be taken, or the expense of construction would go buyoiid all reasonable bounds. The Board and their engineer are to bo congratulated on tho Lot that the work has stood the storm test admirably. There is nothing more to be feared on that score. In tie past th" construction cf the ir.o'o Us been pushed on as rapidly as tiicuvastances permitted, and there will be the same activity in the future. It is simnly ridiculous to exaggerate the mischi-f that the heavy aeas of the last day or two have done. Why make people at a distance believe that the dam« g3 j 8 greater than it really is ? It is a rmre bagatelle in comparison with the m».gnitudeof the operations and the risk that must always acempjey such i undertakings. The work will be amply isttong enough when comp'et d, and the only point upon which there is really any room for diveignjci of opiniun is as to the kngtb to which the mole must be cariied so as to give the greatest amount of protection ftom the range. There will be t ; iß3 enough to settle that question when more progress has been made,

The prictical uxAti'iiuatioii of plumbers will be held to-day in Now Plymouth. There is a large number of entries from tne New Plymouth and Stratford classes. Mr Martin, of Wellington, one of the examiners of plumbing under tne Wellington Technical School, is the examiner, i 'The examination starts at 8 a.m. this. I morning, and continues till 12 30, resumes (.gain at 7 pin , and continues till 10 J p.m. ; Kobe street is badly in need of some attention at the hinds of the Borough Council. The metal is so thin thut it is cut right through, and is very unpleasant to pedestrians crossing the street. The Question of the H<»ur.—Liquor v. The People. Great Public Meeting, Whiteley Hall, Friday next at 8 o.m. Addresses by Mrs Atkinson, Miss Henderson, M.A., and others.—Advt. The " Argus " on Wednesday contained ;\ statemout emanating from their Wellington correspondent, to the effscfc that Judge Oonol : y's resignation was in the hands of the Government, and that the vaca-cy will bo tilled as quickly as possible. The search for the Rev. J. M. Marshall was continued on Wednesday, but without result. It will be continued today. Mr Kelsey returned to New Plymouth on Tussdsy evening after an enjoyable trip hune. His many friends Will give him a hearty welcome. Mr James McKenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, returned from Wellington by the mail train on Tuesday night. Mr J. B. Cennett, who has been as far south as Christchurch, returned by the mail train on Monday evening. Mr Webster, at present clerk to. the Kiwitea County Council, has baeti ap pointed Town Clerk of Petone out of 70 applicants.