HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 29 January 1907, Page 2

HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION

DEPUTATION TO MM. .1. I! CON NEW. On Monday afternoon a deputation of business people in New I'lviuoulh and the settlers surrounding, 'to the number of nearly a hundred, wailed on Air J. li. (,'imm.U at Ihe Town Hal. and asked him to reconsider his decision to retire from the New Plymouth .Harbour Buard. On the motion of Mr J. Ward, Ihe Mayor, Mr E. Duekrill, was voted to the chair. Mr Doekrill .said thai all had iva.l with regret xhc statement made at the last meeting of the Harbour Hoard by the chairman, Mr Council, to 'Die ,-f feet that that was his last meeting, as he had decided to retire. Now they had met to ask iiim to reconsider his

decision, and to point out to him the Joss Hint wojild be sustained if lie failed to accede to this request lo again occupy the seat of New Plymouth's representative. It was practically .certain, in I hat case, that lie would again be chairman of the Hoard, a position which he had oer.i pied with credit to himself and to the ail vantage of every person i„ (lie district.

Air T. S. Weston followed. Although he bail not been able to lake much pari in public life of this districthe was aide to testify to the valuable work -.(one by Air C'oimett, ami he would say that much of the recent improvement effected was due entirely to his zeal. He had had a lot of hard work, and a great deal of opposition, but had come out victorious. His work, too, was of a very important and arduous nature, and it was a great pity that he should select this'time for retiring-. Jf ho retired the district must suffer. It was unfortunate that the Harbours Act was silent on the question of the remuneration of chairmen of Boards, and he thought the Act should be amended so that the chairman, the guiding spirit of any Ha,rbour Hoard, should receive some remuneration. He trusted Mr Council would again come forward and oiler to carry out his duties as theiij, members. The work was not local, if was colonial. There was no natural harbour on this coast between the North Capo and Wellington, and if by infinite perseverance and the outlay of capital, the Hoard could make 'this harbour a good and secure one, a henetit would be conferred, not only on the district, but on (ho whole colony. J| e again asked Mr Council 'to reconsider his determination to retire. Mr 0. Samuel said he had been asked to join in urging on Ah- Connett to stand again, and if it was thought likely that failure might result from want of pressure, he could not remain silent. Air Council, he said, had been an enthusiastic member of' tnc Harbour Hoard. The speaker could look around and see many who had toiled and slaved for that harbour, but how many of them had passed awav. And the small results of the labours of so many made them all the move anxious to retain the services of Air Council, who was so thoroughly conversant witu the wants and ici|Uii-euveiiis. For many years past Mr Samuel said he had urged the importance of the harbour, being i'li-mly convinced that the wealth and prosperity of Tarannki de -ponded more on harbour cons,.ruclioii than anything else. Taianaki would never be really prosperous, and Xew Plymouth never be a big commercial centre, until there was at Aloturoa a harbour worthy of the outlet of such a district. With the limited funds at lira disposal of the Hoard, AH- Connett had done wonders in slowly and insensibly making it apparent that a harbour can be made to serve the wants of this district, it only needed a continuance of this course, with practical and economical management to win the confidence of the fellow feettiers so that they would join hands in raising the funds necessary for the settlers' own welfare. This was no idle compliment to Air Connett—it wag no compliment at all—but a public recognition of his services in the past—(hear hear)—and an expression of a sincere desire that for their sakes and the sake nf (he district he would consent to render similar services in

the future. It was impossible to estimate the importance attaching to Mr Council's reply, liefore longthere must lie a change on the Board, and something would' be done which, if it were to end. in the prosperity of the district and the furtherance of harbour construction, would need a man like Mr Council; a man to whom remuneration counted for nothing, and lo whom a knowledge of a duly done ill aiding the district counted for everything. Such a man would be needed. Mr Connett, in replying, returned Ids very •.sincere thanks for ,he very kind way in which Hie various speakers hud .-pokon of I lie little he bad been alee to do on behalf of the harbour. Few of them, perhaps, ;, ; ,d auv idea of the time he had give,, in (he harbour. It was now wi,bin three months of forty years since, he was brought ashore here, and, coming from Australia, where he had seen the line Sydney and llrisbane Whoum, he was straight way convinced of the necessity for a harbour here if there was to be progress. He was elected to the Provincial Council, and helped to put the Harbour liill through. Then, bavin" gained the eonlidenee of the people, Ire, had the honour of being elected to ihe.i first Harbour Hoard, lie sat for some' years as a member, until his departure on atrip to (he Old Countrv. On his return he was soon requisitioned to place his services at the disposal of the ratepayers, lie wailed, however till the general election, lie was defeated at one election, when the country members had declared—and they carried the day—(hat no one with any interest in New l'lymouih should bo

! returned, lie was defeated i„ <,,, 01 [ company, however. Mr N,.„ i(lu Kh ,„ bong one of those who failed to "el a seat on that occasion. ,\t the next election he was returned, and he had been on the Hoard ever siene .Comiii..

to 'the present time. Mr Connclt said tnal since April last year l;j;i f,.,, t |,. |(l be,n added to the breakwater, beside" winch L-CIBOO had been spent j„ w |,. (l r extension, and (he overdraft had |, ( ' rn reduced by i':iOO. Had the ratopavors been wise enough t„ sanction''the .Cl.io.fHlO loan, the Heard would have had .CISOO to expend in dredgim- The

rejection of the ftil had ..„ a s |,ort. sigaled policy. There were pcopi-. who said the breakwater extension should be hastened. It was goin- on fast enough. At file present rafc of progress the wall would be completed according to Air Napier JVll's scheme for a breakwater extension „[ um(t

Within six years. j| iV Marehaut's plans provided for only flOuft of extension. What was wanted badlv was a dredge to start 'dredging out a deep sea harbour. J!y this means direct boats could be at the harbour within three years. There was no need 'to wait for the completion of tin) full scheme. Mr Council;, dealing with tlie country settlers' altitude to the harbour, said that before the, breakwater was made they had to pay .CI! a ton freight on their exports of 'butter; now the charge was only £1 a ton. The Hoard iiad saved to the settlers .C2 on every ton of dairy produce sent out. Yet they growled at a farthing rate' It amounted to this: you coniil <.ive the sol Her £2 of indirect benefit, *i„,t

you must not take 2s (Id out of an other pocket. Mr Connett said he had now had ±> years' service, and thought he was now 'entitled to a spell. 'lie (lid not like Imonopoli-inSg the ~ood' 'things (laughter), but in deference to the wishes of this verv representative deputation, and to fro'requests of set tiers in allprtsof the district, he "ia.l as he had a big stake in the district reluctantly agreed to accede to their rennet. (Applause.) Mr IT. Coodaorc moved that a lieartv rote of (hanks be accorded to Mr C'oiiriett for his past services. As president «f the Tradesmen's Association, he could stale that business people cordially appreciated his work, and this representative, meeting was a I'urllicr testiuiony. The Mayor seconded ihc motion, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Connotl promised to do bis best for the ratepayers on all future occasions.