The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1885. THE PROPOSED HARBOR BOARD ENDOWMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2057, 1 August 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1885. THE PROPOSED HARBOR BOARD ENDOWMENT.

We have no desire to do anything that may anticipate anything Mr McCaudle wishes to say at the mppting which he has convened for Tuesday next, so far as his land Bchemo is concerned, We may have, something to hhv about it when he has thoroughly unfolded it. He, however, mentions another subject, which we think ought to be discussed,, namely, the proposal to grant a portion of the Mangatainoke ( Blosk to the Wellington 'Hirbor Board. This body undoubtedly has 'good grounds for applying for an endowment, because every other similar body in the colony has been largely endowed, The Board has been very badly treated by the Government, Shortly after its establishment, several sections on the reclaimed land in Wellington wer# granted to it, but beroreany use could be made .of them, the only one that

was ri'jilly vaiuulile. was seized again by the Government on the pretence that it was wanted to erect a Government printing-office on it, which, by .the/way, has not been thought of since, oxoopb when the Harbor Board caused a stir to be made in, Parliament, ;l As no compensation of any kind was given, the Board undoubtedly has good grounds for making % complaint, and a right to expect that another block will be granted to it, But however much this district tuny be in terestetl in the welfare of the Wellington harbor, we do not think that the -Wairarapa can afford- to have another slice of. its best land granted as an endowment to it. The Forty Mile Bush district is already bristling with endowments, nil of which have been allowed to lie in a state of nature. The Wellington and Masterton corporations, the Education Board, and the College Governors, all, own blocks of considerable size, whichisihiply retard settlement, If the Harbcfr Board, were to get a portion of the Miingatainoke block, the probabilities are that the land would be allowed to lie idle, the same as the other endowments, and intending settlers would decline to take-.up adjoining sections. As this would be a serious injury to the district, it is. only right a.id proper that the voice'of the public should be raised against it. We have no doubt that an expression of opinion will he given that will convince the Harbor Board, as well as the Government, that the mind of the public is made up ou the subject.