The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1890.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 February 1890, Page 4

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1890.

Sor the causa that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can ao..

The fact stated in the address delivered by the Chairman of the Harbour Board yesterday, that the export wharfage at this port has increased 33 per cent, during the past twelve months, and has trebled itself in four years, despite considerable decreases in the scale ol charges, is a matter upon which the mercantile community may be congratulated. We say " despite " reductions in the tariff, but might we not rather say " because of " these reductions ? ihese results,atanyrate,should lead the Board to act upon Mr Niccol's advice by looking through its tariff with the übject of discovering other items in which remissions favourable to exporters, and increased shipping facilities, may be given.

The Chairman's suggestion that the official scale of dock fees should be made to correspond with those that are actually obtained in practice is another very pioper recommendation. And, above ail, we strongly commend his exhortation to the Board not to go deeper into debt Improved harbour accommodation is very good in its way, out if we make our port so dear that trade is driven away from it the improvement, will be very dearly purchased.

There are some matters, however, in which the public convenience may be •-erved without additional expenditure, or at a small additional cost. The remission of irritating non-revenue producing taxes, and the assimilation of our charges to those of other colonial ports, are instances in point. One other matter occurs to us, which, though not coming under the control of the Auckland Harbour Board, might probably be attained for the shipping and mercantile community by the Board's influence. On the Aus tralian coast there are several signalling stations connected by telegraph with the principal seaports. From these points, vessels are notified many hours before they arrive, and the port authorities, mercantile men, and the friends of passengers can make the necessary preparations. Such a station ought to exist at the No-th Cape, but that is impracticable until the telegraph has been extended there. There does exist, however, a station at Russell, from which passing vessels could be observed and reported if proper arrangements were made. We are informed that a sum not exceeding a year is all that is neces sary for this purpose. The only change required is to make provision for the present boat's crew at Russell to keep a constant watch from the signal station, the harbour-master being empowered toemploy extra assistance when needed. We do not hesitate to say that this simple change would s.*ve the public hundreds of pounds in the course of a year, besides the annoyance of keeping people and vehicles waiting about day and night for steamers that cannot possibly arrive at the times expected. When masters of vessels knew that they would be signalled they would make a point of getting within signalling distance, as skippers invariably do on the Australian coast. We commend this little reform to the attention of the Chairman oi the Harbour Board as well worthy of being included among other changes which he proposes to inaugurate on behalf of the mercantile community.