The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 19. THE NEW HARBOR PLANS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 121, 19 June 1909, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 19. THE NEW HARBOR PLANS.

Although, from the rashly exaggerated nature of the criticism to wnich the Harbor Board has been subjected by our local contemporary on account of the adoption of radically improved harbor plans, members were scarcely called upon to justify their action; yet sonic, at least, of them have declined to allow the statements to go unanswered. Al yesterday's meeting of the Board the consulting engineer, Mr. Marchaiii, ~

iterated the reasons that bad actuated him in recommending the Hoard to accept the new plans. The greater portion of the information in his communication is already well understood, but'in one particular, it seems to us, Mr. Marchant lias greatly emphasised his full acceptance of the advantages of the short wharf scheme. Not only does Mr. Marchant fully endorse Captain Bone's fatal objections to the exposed wharf extension, but lie points out that " the proper thing to do would lie to leave the existing wharf alone and build

a new one, to the eastward, lor uic use of the largest vessels.'' This can only nivim that Air. Jlarchant thoroughly appreciates the necessity of inshprt berthing, for a' wharf such as Ire recognises as the best would be a shorl one built out from tile shore and paral lei with the existing wharf and aiioul 31)0 feet distant from it. With this we I entirely agree, but tile funds not being available, the only sensible alternative was that which the Board adopted, to strengthen the existing wliarf, widen it to meet all possible demands on It, and provide, on its eastern side a commodious berth for ocean-going steamers. As the trade of the port increases and demands further accommodation for deepsea vessels, the erection of a special wharf to the eastward, mentioned by Air. Jlarciiant, can be undertaken. Uegarding the dredging bogey raised l>v our contemporary, the emphatic assurances given by the engineer and Board members yesterday ; should be sufficient answer. Assuming that a reef of solid rock does exist at the base of tile wjharf —we are convinced it is iiou-exisLciit—-the carrying out of tile flew plans would be in no way retarded, for, as Air. Alarchant points out, "it is proposed to dredge inshore only as fiir as is necessary to easily berth a large steamer, and not to excavate solid rock and boulders on the beach as some have imagined." But, as we have already stated, then' is reliable data that no sucn reei as our contemporary "discovered" does exist,and if a further 3Uft. berth is required shoreward of the first one, it can be provided without difficult}'. To the per sonal aspect of the Board members' reply, to criticism* we need not refer, but

we cannot pass without mention the fact that the reckless statements made by a usually reliable' organ have had the .effect of reviving the old and almost forgotten feelings of scepticism and hostility to the harbor, Such a result is to be deplored; but how could it be otherwise i What other view could country .ratepayers—who are not ill a position to know all the fads or, to realise their purport—lake when toid that all the promises made them only a few -months ago already cannot ue realised, that the harbor will not be ready to accommodate Hoine-gong vessels for live years! The doubt unwarrantably raised can now only be dispelled by the actual proof of its nonexistence—but the process of dispelling the doubt will occupy the two or two-and-a-half years required to complet' the harbor. Were tile only result of such rash criticism confined to a sentimental distrust by country ratepayers of the harbor, it would not be so bad, because the lost confidence will certainly return on the completion of th'e harbor in two years' time. But already it is apparent that the harbor, New Plymouth and the province generally might su/lVr material loss through a possible setback to the proposed freezing works scheme. What, country settlers ask, is the use of going oil with the scheme if the benefit of direct loading is not to be available for five years? 'Unless, therefore, our contemporary is still unconvinced regarding the absolute incorrectness of his attitude, he should at once justify it by -reasoning anil evidence other than that of mere assumption, intake steps to undo the harm he has, unwittingly perhaps, occasioned.