The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1882.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3854, 21 December 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1882.

Tot Ihe causa that lacks assistanca, For the wrong that needs nulsMnct For tho luture in tho distonca. And the good that we can do.

Tbe brief discussion at tho last meeting of the Harbour Board on "wholesale and retail " views of things has led to a sharper criticism of the question at issue; and public opinion appears all but unanimous in condemning the expenditure of another sixpence upon any new work that is not part of a scheme of permanent harbour Improvements. The plan submitted by the Engineer of the Board, and which seems,on the whole, to meet with approval iv its general outline, proposes to fill up as useless the graving dock on the western side of the wharf, which cost tho Board close upon £60,000! Cue would have supposed tbat this was blunder enough to make membsrs pause before entering upon any further expenditure for work which may subsequently have to be destroyed. Yet the western T, which the Board have authorised is of that character, if the plan drawn up by Mr McDonald is tp> form the basis of the future operations of the Board, tho £3000 spent on the western T will just be bo much money thrown into the sea, Every pile in the structure will have to be drawn, and the very waste that is involved in the destruction of a new structuro will stand as an obstacle to the prosecution of permanent works. We are quite willing to admit that another T ou the western side of the wharf would be very useful for the time being, and would avort the damage which vessels now suffer during the westerly weather; but, if the same objects can be served—and there seems to be no doubt whatever that they can—by lhe execution of a permanent stone-work that i will endure for all time, tbeu the expenditure of £3,000 on the western T is nothing less than a scandalous waste of public money, which neither wholesale nor retail considerations will commend to the judgment of the general public. the construction of the Hobson - street wharf, which is already provided for out of the £150,000 loan, will afford considerable shelter Irom the westerly gales, aud provide berthage to the vory vessels for which tho western T is no w required, and if dredging operations were pushed on vigor- j oiuly, the deepening of the central basin '' as far as Quay-street might be accomplished

iv a very short period, It is simply nn- j accountable then why tho Board, with these i works in view, should go on adding to a i woodon structuro that is already prosnectivel} condemned. Tho career of tho Harbour Board, Irom tho first, has beon one of wholesale blundering, if notplundoring.and it matters vory littlo to tbo public whether these results arc tho outcome of wholesale or retail views ol things. Certain it is, however, that the latest action of the Board leaves little room for felicitating ourselves with lhe beliof that gross mismanagement and wasteful expenditure arc memories only of " the wrctchod past."