“The Press” In 1866

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 20

“The Press” In 1866

December 7 Whilst the members of the Provincial Council are relieved from their attendance in their forum, we hope that they will make carful enquiry into one or two questions upon which they will probably be asked to vote money; and upon no question is it of more importance to come to a right conclusion than upon that of the Lyttelton Harbor Works. The mistake which it seems to us is about to be made, is this—that the works are not designed upon one plan to be carried out bit by bit, so that every farthing of the money expended shall add something to the general scheme, but that ‘separate and incongruous proposals are made, and money Is spent, the one greet

object in view being postponed to the design of the favourite adviser of the day.

We suppose all are agreed on this point, that the one object, compared to which all other objects are of perfectly trivial importance, is to get a jetty alongside of which ships of all tonnage can lie and discharge in all weather. If it is recollected that we have paid £300,000 for the railway, it must be obvious that in order to reap the full benefit from so costly a luxury we ought at all events to get rid as soon as possible of the expense, labor, delay, damage, and risk arising from having to unload ships in the middle of the harbor and discharge the cargo by lighter*.