WAITARA HARBOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1915, Page 4

WAITARA HARBOR.

To-day the ratepayers in tlio Waitai'a harbor district will 'bo asked to vote the proposal of the Jioard to borrow .£13,C00, mainly tor the purchase of a dredge. The river, like most other rivers in New Zealand, silts up to ai more or less extent, and in th« summer and autumn, when the river is must required, it is diflicult, if not impossible, for boats to work the port. A wnall dredge, costing about ,£BSOO, will, according to tlte 'Board's engineer, ke?p the river open. We believe it is sound business for the ratepayers to invest in the dredg.' and keep open the port, which lias proved ail important factor in the development and prosperity of the district. The good folk of IVaitara have regarded the policy pursued by the. Sew Plymouth Harbor Board -with no friendly eye, fearing that 'behind it was an idea to crush AVaifcara's port, but it is quite a mistaken notion. The utility of the river port must lie generally recognised, as must the fact that what is of advantage to one ipart of the province, must (benefit the whole. Xmv Plymouth takes up no dog-in-the-manger attitude towards Waitara, hut wishes it well in its efforts to improve its facilities. The Board's present proposals should commend themselves to ratepayers. The ataoimt of the liability is very small, namely, hut one-eighth of a penny in the pound, or 10s 3d per £IOOO valuation in the country and a farthing in the pound, or '2is Id per £ 100 in the horough. The capital value of the county is £1,050,138, and of the borough £103,520. The rate of interest is limited by statute to not more than 5 per cent., with '/» P* v r (Ml. sinking fund. The Jioard has by strict economy and careful finance, accumulated a sum of £SOOO. whilst its surplus revenue last year was just on .€ISOO. Air. Howarth, the Hoard's consulting engineer, estimates the cost of working and upkeep of the dredge at £I2OO per annum. The Board has no visions of n deep-sea harbor, but consider* it absolutely necessary to improve the depth of water so that- the small coasters and lighters my work at practically any state of the .tide, thus facilitating the despatch of produce. 35y the district "backing up tho (Board and sanctioning the loan it is hut studying its own interests.