THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1892. TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2325, 3 March 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1892. TIMARU HARBOR BOARD.

The Timaru Harbor Board has come down from its stilts a little, and has given up its extravagant notions for the more moderate estimates of Mr Marchant. Stronger proof of the utter uselessness of the opinions of the engineers could not be given than the fact that Mr Marchant has proved by practical experience that the shingle can be shifted for a quarter of the amount estimated by the engineers. This fact proves that the engineers knew nothing of what they were talking about, and, that being so, why should reliance be placed on their opinions? Mr Talbot thinks those who differ from the majority of the board are talking nonsense, but nothing could be more nonsensical than to rely on the opinions of Messrs O’Connor, Goodall, and Bell, when it has been proved that they were entirely fallacious. We nolice that the board intends to increase the rates on the district, and that is not nonsense. It is something that will bring matters home to Mr Talbot’s constituents, who may possibly want to know why he is a party to the awful extravagance which is going on, and why he has always been on the side which looks indifferently on absolute wastefulness. The chairman and several members at the last meeting said the expenses were too high, and must be cut down. It is absolutely certain that if the board looked properly after its business great savings might have been effected long ago, but when the members look complacently on while nearly £IOOO is being spent on alterations to a slip which was estimated to cost £SOO, what can we expect. This Mr Talbot may regard as nonsense, but the ratepayers will have to pay the piper. The board has discovered a new argument in favor of shifting the shingle. First they were afraid it would get round the end of the mole and fill the harbor ; next they were seized with terror lest it would denude the beach of shingle and destroy the land; and now they have discovered that the harbor is filling in with silt. Their own report says the depth of the harbor is well maintained; in fact, it says that owing to dredging the harbor is deeper now than ever it was. Yet they cannot see the incongruity of talking about the harbor filling in with silt. Argument is wasted on such people. What is wanted is to let the shingle alone. It will provide a magnificent shelter ; it will form land on which merchants can build sheds, and it will obviate the necessity for increasing taxation until the trade grows to such an extent that it will provide sufficient revenue. There is not the slightest necessity for doing anything for the next few years, further than to keep dredging the harbor. To remove the shingle is mischievous, and ought not to be done.