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The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1879.

ALoCAsin another cohimu based upon t!is highest; authority,.conveys the best news that has been brought to this district ever since it lias had a place in the anaels of New Zgaiand history. It is nothing less than that Milford Harbor is soon to become an accomplished fact. Many times have we been twitted with being carried away with chemirical views regarding Milford Lagoon, and as often have we expressed our firm convicion bssed upon a sound foundation, that Milford Harbour would have a name in the world, long before Titnaru ceased to be notorious for the graveyard of New Zealand seamen. fWe have often been asked where is tire money to come from to build this harbor, as often have we answered given Sir J. Cood’a report, and it favorable, and we could have shown and could still show,more than one way to find the |money even should the Government not see it to be its duty to carry out this woik as a National necessity. Seven different engineers have visited the Milford Lagoon since the time the subject was first brought before the public by Mr T. M. 11. Johnstone in Ins preliminary report upon it, all of which have expressed the same opinion as to its practability. Are all those gentlemen wrong in their ideas'? Are all these engineers carried away with chimerical views upon the subject. Intelligent men can answer for us. One argument lias often been brought up, you have no depth of water, that even is not correct, admitting that this is a fact for the sake of argument, let us just reason the matter a little. Supposing that a mole of some 600 feet were built through the shingle spit and through the surf, which would extend say 350 feet beyond this bn ihfproviding an opening of some 300 to 500 ft. wide as is intended. If that opening is made to connect directly with the large Milford creek, or rather natural canal, of nearly a mile long and some two chains wide, with high banks on one side of from ten to fifteen feet. Is it not within the range of possibility with modern appliances to deepen this canal of soft mud which will average some ten feet at high water, to an average of fifteen feet, thus making a mile of bi> Linage for any vessel occupied in . our New’ Zealand trade. [On a lats occasion when a boat was rowod into the opening made in the shingle by a flood, a depth of seventeen feet of water was found, while Ihe soundings outside the spit showed a sudden drop to leave at high water a depth, of twenty-five feet, will anv reasonable man say this is not materal to work upon to make a first class thoroughly safe well sheltered harbor, at a fifth of the money that it will taka to make a harbor at Timaru, for any sailing vessel to safely moor alongside, stowing her sails, and leaving the crew to go to rest for the night. Will any reasonable man say that a mole cannot be safely built, after the way the operation of the shingle has shown i tself at Timaru ? Will any reasonable man say the sea will wash in nil the shingle on the weather-side of this mole, lound the head and bring it back to force an entrance in through the opening that is made when ithasau open ref rcating coast of many miles to spread itself out upon? An argument is, the sea will come over the shingle spit and fill up the harbor ; the backing up of the shingle the way that has taken place at Timaru is proof positive that the shingle will accumulate on the storm side of the south mole, and thusjjflden the spit by driving the sea back. [But supposing this did not take place, by the time more berthage will be required than the amount we have named, in the canal, the harbor will have secured an importance that would warrant facing up the inside of the lagoon with sheetingpiling, and to a height that would effectively prevent any sea coming over. Another argument is that the supply of shingle will fall short, the supply of land in the Canterbury plains may fail shorten earthquake may take place, and the whole may return to oblivion ; the one is as likely as the oilier, people who talk in that way forget that New Zealand has basked in the sun thousands of years ; who is able to say how many ? Is it not a fallacious argument to laik of the shingle running short within a longer period than is given by manyfor the world itself to last? What then is to hinder Milford harbor from becoming an accomplished fact before two jmars have passed over our heads ? £True money is in short supply in New Zealand just now, but that will not prevent its being carried out, because, it is a necessity. A harbor must be provided for South Canterbury, and that immediately, or this and orher districts must go back. This leads to the question, is not Timaru in a fair way for providing that needful outlet for South Canterbury produce winch all are so anxious to see provided ? It is doubtful. Shortly after a case of shipwrecking that took place at Timaru not many months ago, when four vessels bumped upon that merciless beach, we took occasion to remark that it was a dangerous coast for any vessel to visit, and that it was a mistake for its local press to try to blame shipowners for what so often takes place in its exposed roadstead. The ‘Herald’ snubbed us unmercifully at the time for what it considered an unjust representation of the portion of open sea that it chooses to call a harbor, knowing full well that another occasion would unfortunately soon present itself which would give other critics a chance of confirming, or condemning onr observations, we let the matter rest, and have not said “ harbor ” since that took place. £The ‘ Herald,’ who notnnany weeks ago made a loud crowing over the threatened disaster at Lyttelton, and, in its usual boasting manner, about the fine roadstead and good basis for a harbor at Timaru, little thought the elements of nature would so soon reply to it. To our surprise the free remarks made by our contemporaries have more than confirmed. tho truth of what we stated, showing in tire most incontrovertible and convincing manner, the folly of the state- ■ meets made, and so often reiterated by

thri number »f the Fonrih E-tate, that it

is unnecessary for ns to add a single word, more especially as it is utterly impossible to convince that journal that it is wrong in trying (o make two blacks a white ; the habit of abuse and the daily practice indulged in of attempting to throw blame upon ihe innocent lias become so chronic with it that; it is beyond the possibility of cure. It is need'ess to say that as tbe vessels were uninsured that were wrecked no motive could be shown for the officers casting their vessels away, far less the lives of those near and dear to them, r yet the 1 Herald ’ finds the fault does not lie with Timaru, or its boisterous roadstead. Some people are born blind, ; some people become blind by disease, and some people are foolish enough to believe they only see, and all else are blind ; fiat was the position assigned to ns by the ‘Herald’ uponfche last occasion. In adveisity it is always a little comfort to have a companion to whom one can open his mind. In our case wo have this blessing in the present instance to an unusual degree. Many more it seems are afflicted with the same blindness, and do not see that all is gospel that the ‘Herald’ preaches any more than we can do. If we say the prospect of these fearful disasters coming to an end is very remote, we m»v prepare ourselves for a new outburst of this noisy trumpet, with its uncertain sound. Nevertheless, we will aay the prospect is re-mote. iThe progress made by the Timarn oreakwater is not re-assuring ; the work stands, as no one doubted that it would, but the object in view—that of providing a safe harbour for Timaru shipping—is as remote as ever. If we were to give expression to our opinion, or that of others who are greater experts in these matt era, we would bo told that we are not only blind, but fools : therefore our policy will bo to suffer and wait. What has already taken place, however, distnrbes the equilibrium 1 of some of the most studious and calculating;, who do not take so extravagant a view of things as the more sanguine. The shifting of the shingle, its tendency to go north, and the likelihood of it coming round and damming up the harbour is causing uneasiness to not a few. The case is different from that at Milford, where there is an enclosed bason of water. Timaru during this or the next century will not become an enclosed bason, and what would be a spreading out of the shingle in the Ninety-mile beach would be a literally filling up of the Timaru harbor. Again/ the sea is making great changes in the formation of the coast already. Who can predict what it will do in the future a?, the breakwater extends further into the sea, damming back the water, causing|it to spend itself in its frollicks on some new field. The question whether or not the work will stand the force of the waves we must leava to others with more kaowlsdge oi these matters to answer, and the question of how much money it will take, and where the money is to come from. When Milford was projected there were not wanting those who urged that as the money voted for a harbor for “South Canterbury was for no particular place ; it should be left for the Government to decide whore that harbor should be. We did not support this view, not because we considered it an unfair proposal, but an unpractical one. Some hundred thousand pounds had been voted for a harbor in South Canterbury. That money had been paid into the hands of the Timaru Harbor Board. That body, we wore quite aware, claimed it as its own, and it would, in our opinion, have been the height of madness to attempt to get the money out of their hands to spend anywhere else. A town with some five to six thousand inhabitants, and with powerful influence at its back, would fight hard to prevent, the money being wrested from them. We also were of opinion that no Government would be found with nerve enough to hack such a movement ; we therefore agreed with the majority that it was better to let Timaru spend this, money, and for us to paddle our own canoe. We are of this opinion still, but we are also of opinion that trouble will only ba beginning when the money is spent. Where the next money is to come from is already a moot question with some. The reclaimed land seems to th em rather a slippery cel to hold by the tail ; there is more than a possibility that it may escape from their grasp altogether. The Government seem to see this, as well as the folly of the Timaru people in refusing the valuable advice of Sir John Goode when it was offered to them. The Government are not to blame for making the arrangements they are doing with the view of making Temuka a rendezvous for the railway system to meet. They can easily foresee the difficulty that will arise when the hundred thousand pounds are spent. It is very possible, when the Harbor Board goes into the London market to borrow money, that capitalists will ask who was tbe engineer that planned the work. This would be an ugly question to ask, and it is possible they might demur to answering it. In the Milford case it is quite different. If that question should be asked there would be no need to give a history of the experience of the author ; the very name of Sir J. Coode would be as good a guarantee as that of the Rothschilds themselves. The plan for the works would commend itself to everyone ; a land-locked basin of water of some three miles long and ten chains wide, with an average depth of ten to fifteen ■ feet of water, and only requiring an entrance to be made, would be a striking contrast with a straight-up wall, to be built right into the deep waters of the South Pacific from a wild and unprotected coast. Speaking of Milford, the other day a vessel or two driven from the Timaru roadstead appeared as if they were looking for the opening. If, they had come a few miles farther it is possible they might have been tempted to run for this entrance even as it is at present, unprotected. Events, it is said, cast their shadows before them; before another such storm as visited Timaru the other day Milford harbor may be able to afford the tempest-tossed mariner who may have to casUanchor in that wild, unsheltered part of the coast a calm and safe retreat.

A Band foe Temuka.—Efforts are being made to start a brass band in Temuka. As this is a want much felt, wo wish the project every success. Geraldine. —'After this week our Geraldine and Pleasant Yaliey subscribers will obtain the Leader at Mrs Grimmer’s store only, instead of at two places as formerly. Football. —A football match will take place to-day on the Temuka ground, between a team from Timaru and the Temuka Club. As it is some considerable time since wo have seen any rival team here, we hope—should the weather prove favorable—to see a large assemblage of spectators on the ground. The following are the names from which the Temuka team will be picked :—P. Tavender (captain), M'Farlane, Wood, Gapes, Forward, Smith, Dunnetfc, Murray, Franks, Johnston, Baguley, Craig, Matthews, P. Thomson, Eayner, A. Cox, J. Roberts, T. R. Roberts. Frost Fish. —Numbers of these fish have bean found lately on the beach between Milford and the Orari. A fine specimen, measuring about four feet, was shown us the other day by a Temuka gentleman. As this is the season for these fish, a visit to the beach at daybreak after a frosty night is almost sure to be rewarded by two'or three. ■ J Milford Harbour. A distinguished /engineer came the other day to accompany Mr Hay hurst to inspect the Milford Lagoon, preparatory to commencing the harbor works. The public may therefore hope speedily to see operations in progress, and congratulate themselves on the greatest benefit that could come to this district.

Sals op G-bbyhouxds. — ¥e observe by advertisement ia another column that Messrs Maclean and Stewart have been instructed by Mr E. Thomson, of Temuka, to sell by public auction, at Timai’u, to-day, a number of valuable greyhounds. These dogs are all come of good blood and in good condition, and we would advise sportsmen to availgthemselves of this opportunity of securing some of these valuable animals, as a chance of this kind may not occur again for years. Mr E. Thomson’s name, and the success he has achieved at the late Waterloo meeting, is a sufficient guarantee that these dogs are what they are represented to be.

Snow Storm. —Yesterday was one of the mostjywintry days we have had this season, snow failing the greater part of the day, and the ground being completely white. The result was that Temuka- was in a state of siege, most of the citizens joining heartily in the fun.

Chowi* Christ? Mixstrexs. — A meeting was held in Mr Tombs’ Grown Hotel, Temuka, on Wednesday evening last, for the purpose of forming a Christy Minstrel Society, about GO persons being present. Among those present were gentlemen recently members of the Titnaru, Lyttelton, and Christchurch Minstrels. It was resolved tliat those present form themselves into a society, to be called the Grown Christy Minstiels, and that the first entertainment take p'ace in the Volunteer Hail, Temuka, on Tuesday, 19th August, the proceedings of same to be in aid of the Land. Mr Baguley was appointed musical conductor.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TEML18790712.2.6

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 161, 12 July 1879, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,761

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1879. Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 161, 12 July 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1879. Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 161, 12 July 1879, Page 2

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