THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1892. THE SHINGLE SHIFTING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2311, 28 January 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1892. THE SHINGLE SHIFTING.

From the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Timaru Harbor Board we infer that it is the intention of that body to proceed at once with the purchase of the expensive machinery suggested by the engineers, and consequently we think it opportune to let the people know what this means. Mr O’Connor, in his report, said the shingle would overlap the kant in years, but Mr Goodall said it would take a much longer time. Mr O’Connor also said that by removing the shingle at the x’ate of 400 tons per day it could be kept from extending beyond its present position, and Mr Goodall said that less than that would be sufficient to cope with the accumulation of shingle. Mr Merchant, in his report to the last meeting of the board, said that with the primitive appliances at his disposal, he had removed 14,025 tons between the 19th of October and the 15th of January last, out of which time he had lost three weeks. From this it can be seen that he had worked about nine weeks, and had removed shingle at the rate of about 260 tons per day. Now, if the shingle, accumulating at the rate of 400 tons per day, reach the kant in four years, how long will it take it to reach it if 260 tons per day are removed ? It will take about six years. Mr Goodall says that Mr O’Connor made matters look worse than they really are, and from our own observation we agree with him ; but taking it at the worst there is no danger of the shingle overlapping the kant for the next four years. But Mr Marchant’s figures are based on working eight hours a day, and as there is nothing to prevent the work being carried on night or day if necessary it is plain, beyond a question of doubt, that without incurring further expense the present appliances are more than capable of coping with the difficulty. In the face of these facts—and facts they are, according to the showing of the engineers themselves — where is the necessity for rushing headlong into this scheme without any regard as to the wishes of the ratepayers. A very important public body has already entered its protest against the action of the board, and it appears to us that the least the board may do is to take the ratepayers into their confidence, and consult their wishes, liven Parliament when it proposes measures of far-reaching importance invariably appeals to the country, and it .appears to us that the board would be only acting in accordance . with the wishes of the people if it followed so good an ex.a in pie. But the majority decline to do so; they even refused t|}e small concession of three months delay until the harvest was over, and determined to proceed with the work at once, This appears tp us as unreasonable and headstrong a course as a public | body ever adopted.

ikit perhaps fciie thjng wc can do is to give" an idea of what'this Mne. of action involves. We have nut tifc exact estimates given by the engineers, but so far as we recollect they set down the c.osf of plant at £14,700, and Hie workfijg .expenses at £3400. -y" f * v the OJ'dJuary life of luaehinejfy [« 1 (/years 'l-'kFasfHHg milU, and so on, i •" i i' *- aquartPF Hje year, which do not worw H u ' • xi wear out in that tune, an.. .^ r question is : How long will employed in shifting the shingle last V Let those who can, tell: but so that weshall not give any room for being accused of exaggeration we shall allow it. to live for 20 years. We know it will not live half the time, but to be within the mark we shall place its life at 20 years, after which it will be only good for old iron. Let us remember that for all these 20 years we shall be paying £3400 a year, so that at the end of the time we shall have paid £GB,OOO, to which must be added £14,700 for the cost of machinery, making in all £82,700. This is the known quantity; What is the unknown ? On the West Coast, where such machinery as the engineers recommended has been worked for some years, they are, we are told, being thrown away, as the expense of keeping them in repair is too great. Jt would, it has been asserted, take a foundry in full blast to keep them in repair. It is impossible for us to estimate what additional cost this would entail: we believe the engineers were not very sure of how much it would be. Then we have not added compound interest to the sum stated' above; no allowance has been made for accidents and unforeseen circumstances, nor for fV; extras which estimates of this sort invariably involve. Taking everything into con-

sideration therefore, and looking at the matter from a very modest point of view, it appears to us that putting it at the lowest estimate the cost of the present proposal of the board will be £IOO,OOO in 20 years. In 20 years we shall have spent £IOO.OOO, and we shall have nothing to show for it except a heap of old iron. Xow is it right for the board to involve the district in responsibilities like that without ascertaining what the wishes of the ratepayers may be on the subject V We have frequently suggested that public meetings should be called to protest against this, but that has not been done, and the board has now taken advantage of the busy season, so that all their arrangements may be made before the ratepayers shall have time to think about the matter.

Mr George Stumbles, who was the contractor for a large portion of the breakwater, has offered the board to extend the mole for £55 per foot; that means that he would take it out 1000 feet for £55,000, or about half what the shingle shifting will cost. In an extension of 1000 feet we should have something to see for our money : our harbor would be greatly enlarged and improved, and an immense quantity of land would be reclaimed. In 20 years if we adopt the shingleshifting process we shall be just as we are to-day: and such of us as are alive then will find it necessary to buy a new plant again. And so it will go on for time and eternity.