THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Vèritè sans peur.” WANGANUI, SEPTEMBER 24, 1863.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 362, 24 September 1863, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “ Vèritè sans peur. ” WANGANUI, SEPTEMBER 24, 1863.

Among several pi easing matters that require attention, the revision of the pilot service is not the least. Until the passing of the Marine Boards Act, the appointment of Pilots rested with the Provincial Executive, although the license was issued pro form a by the Governor. The Executive delegated the appointment of our pilot to a local Committee ; and their recommendation has been invariably attended to. Since the last session of the Assembly the appointment has vested in, aud been exercised by, the Central Marine Board. While, however, the power of appointment has thus changed, the power of the purse still continues to depend on the Provincial Executive. Hitherto the salary has not been adequate—we will not say to the securing efficient pilots, for we have had, amongst those who have been appointed, some whose general qualifications and knowledge of the river and bar have been all that was desirable. But the salary has not been adequate to retain siich men, and the moment the command of a coasting craft became vacant, or other local employment presented itself, the pilots berth has been thrown up for it.

We -are very glad to learn that this is | about to be altered, and that the Super- j intendent has authorised Captain Sharp (as President of the Marine Board) to promise £2OO a year to a duly qualified person. Captiin McLaren of the '///«.. is to have the first refusal—an arrangement which tv e think .will give general satisfaction. ■ The rate of Pilotage will we believe be somewhat raised, but we hope that it will be still kept as low as it possibly can be. While, however, this is most desirable, it is comparatively of little importance when placed beside security to the numerous vessels looking in here for stock aud other produce. One wreck, like that of the Prince Alfred , does the place a hundred times more injury than even the most exorbitant scale of pilotage possibly could do. Another pressing matter is the Bridge. Nothing now prevents the Act being bi’ouglit into operation. The first step is to appoint a Committee. .This is a matter on which the success of the undertaking almost wholly depends. The Committee is to consist of not less than five, who are to be appointed by the Superintendent. They have power to fix the site, decide on plans, raise the money—they have power in fact to do everything, subject to the approval of the Executive. The Superintendent has very wisely, and no doubt very much to his future peace, agreed to place +he selection of the gentlemen composing the Committee entirely in the hands of the settlers. Our four members have been requested to ascertain the wishes of the settlers, and whether five or ten, the Committee so recommended will be appointed. In what way our members intend to ascertain the wishes, of the settlers, we have not heard ; but as the whole district is concerned in the success of the enterprise, the whole district ought to be represented in the Committee about to be recommended. The less delay that now takes place in this appointment the better, as under any circumstances the time that must elapse before a design for the Bridge can be decided on, will be considerable. We mentioned a few weeks since that plans for an iron bridge had been received from a Glasgow hoii.se, and since then our attc ntion has been called to an article in the Nelson Examiner , on some designs adapted by Mr. Fitzgibbon from others that have been found to answer well in North America. While we are certainly averse to engineers experimenting at our expense, every reasonable attention should be given by the Committee to obtaining a substantial bridge at a moderate cost, and they cannot do this without occupying much time. It will not be sufficient to take the opinion of some local wiseacre, who knows little or nothing of the laws of mechanics ; nor will it be merely requisite to obtain a pretty picture from an engineer who is unacquaiuted with the peculiarities of the spot. On this subject we shall have more to say by and bye, and only mention it now as a reason why no further delay should take place in the appointment of the Committee. As His Honor is expected here in a few days, advantage ought to be taken of his visit to have the < ommittee selected, and their appointment, made, before he leaves us. And there is still another most pressing matter which we trust his Houoi s visit will satisfactorily determine —the location of a portion of the Defence Force in this district. We are aware that he has no control over this force ; we are also aware that it is only partly horsed, partly saddled, and partly armed. We are also aware that Captain Edwards has, as yet, no power to move the force from Wellington, nor has the Governor called it out for actual service, as the act requires. \\ r e are told that arms aie not to be got, and that it a was because of the disfavour which this mismanagement brought Mr. Man tell into that he lately resigned. How long it may be before all this can be remedied we do not know, aud are tired of asking ; but we feel that t reflects the greatest discredit on all concerned, and the reported movement of the Force, first to one place and then to half a dozen others, keeps the natives in a constant state of irritation. If the Force were quietly moved to the stations really intended for them, we believe very much would be done towards the peace of the province, both from their use as a means to repress outbreak, and as putting an end to the suspense and false rumours to be found in every pa. While his Honor has no control over this force, yet we cannot doubt that a strong protest from him would have some weight. In all probability he lias’ already drawn the Governor’s attention tliei’eto, but we are particularly anxious to see some portion of the Force located in the district as soon as possiole. "We are not so unreasonable as to ask that the 50 or 60 who have horses should be sent up hither until fully armed. It would indeed be criminal to expose them to the real oi imaginary dangers of a coast ride from Wellington until they are completely armed. But we may fairly ask that a body of those who are not yet horsed may be sent by an early steamer. Horses can be obtained for them in this district better than in any other, and they can learn their exercise here as well as in Wellington. We trust that this mode of procedure will he adopted by the authorities controlling the Force ; and that it may be we suggest, when his Honor arrives, he should be urged to strongly recommend it to his Excellency.