IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HARBOUR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 27, 12 July 1851, Page 6

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HARBOUR.

Our last number contained a cursory report of the meeting held on Friday, July 4, at the Mitre Hotel, to consider the best means of preventing such accidents to vessels lying in our harbour as have occurred within the last few weeks. The lateness in the week of the meeting must be our apology for not then giving this topic the notice it deserved. We hasten to supply the omission.

The disasters caused by the heavy gales gave rise to no small degree of alarm, especially when the present scarcity of the various articles of consumption for which we are dependent upon other places was called to mind. The effect of the reports upon Sydney, Port Philip, and Van Diemen's Land merchants, as well as upon the owners of vessels, and upon Insurance rates, presented itself in vivid colours before every one.

M uch of this alarm might be referred to other causes than that of shipping mishaps. Casualty after casualty had made the week a sad and memorable one. That period has, however, gone by, and although some of its events are still freshly regretted, a calmer view can be taken of the subject before us.

The proceedings at the meeting proved this. Although those were present, and took an active part in the deliberation, who had sustained heavy losses, the question was steadily and quietly canvassed, and it appeared quite possible to avert the recurrence of such calamities.

A brisk discussion of the questions of pounds, shillings, and pence, weight of anchors, and thickness of cables, was entered into by the meeting, until they were reminded by the chairman that these were properly questions for the decision of the person who should be appointed by government to superintend the laying down of moorings, and who would be responsible for their efficiency, and, at the same time, their economy. With that person, when appointed, it would also rest to survey the bottom of the harbour, with a view to ascertain the extent of the rotten ground in front of the town, and how high up large vessels might calculate upon good holding ground. In this suggestion all will agree. In the appointment of an officer for the purpose, sufficient care will doubtless be used, and we think t*»at no one competent to the task, and bearing so great a responsibility, ought to be hampered with pre-conceived plans and restrictions, to which his own judgment might te totally opposed. The surplus revenues of this settlement can scarcely be put to a more useful or necessary purpose, instead of remaining under lock and key, unavailable for the interests of those who have contributed them. Nothing, in ''our present stage of colonizing, is more needful than to open the way for imports to the greatest possible extent, and to remove everything that is at all likely to fetter and embarrass trade.

Due promptness was used by the committee in the matter. Copies of the resolutions were forwarded by the " Supply" the same evening to the Governor-in-Chief; and a memorial has since been prepared, winch lies for signature at Messrs. Longden and Le Cren's, and at the Land Office, Christchurch. The public will no doubt avail themselves fully of this means for expressing their sense of the importance of the subject. We now, therefore, only await the reply of the Government; we trust that a remedy may be granted equivalent to the amount of danger. The boon solicited is by no means an extravagant one; if we are to have moorings at all, it will be manifestly impossible to do with less than the number, or with any of less capabilities than were mentioned in the meeting's second resolution.