The Daily Telegraph. Saturday, February 5, 1887.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4833, 5 February 1887, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. Saturday, February 5, 1887.

A seat on the Napier Harbor Board appears to be an object of ambition, judging from tho fact, that there are six candidates nominated for three vacancies. It is a good sign when citizens show a readiness to give up their own time to public office. There is neither pay not patronage attached to this position, and, as regards the construction of the breakwater, there will be next to nothing for the Board to do for the next two or three years, as the contracts now let will occupy that period. The ordinary attraction offered by a seat in a local public body is therefore absent on this occasion. Nevertheless, it may almost be said that the position is rushed, and if the candidates are as energetic on the day of election, as they have been patriotic in coming forward, some stir in bringing ratepayers to the poll may be anticipated. Tbisisquiteasitshould be. As it may be fairly assumed that all the candidates are animated by the same motive, which let us hope can be nothing less than, if elected, to work in harmony with the other members of the Board to give Napier a harbor,' it may here be stated that one man is as good as another. The only predilection that can find a place would be in favor of those of the candidates who have previously held seats on the Board. Messrs Neal, McVay, and Robjohns have occupied that position, and, as they have offered themselves for election, it is a matter of courtesy to elect them. It is just possible that on-> or more of the other three will retire beforo the poll is taken. We are led to this idea by the knowledge that two of the candidates when on another Board were not remarkable for harmony of action. We therefore cannot suppose that they would voluntarily sit side byside whenever an opening occurred. We do not know whether Mr Cornell is opposing Mr Cohen, or whether Mr Cohen is opposing Mr Carnell, but it would be a funny reversal of previous experience if they are running in company to keep other two out. [Wo had just written this last sentence when we received word that Mr H. P. Cohen had retired. The field is therefore reduced to five.] Although, as we have said, the Board will have little or nothing to do with regard to the breakwater works for the next two or three years, it has a large field of public usefulness before it in the development of its endowments. . The reclamation of the lagoon through which the harbor railway passes, between Battery-road and Waghome-street, is a most important work. When reclaimed the Board will have a valuable estate in that partof the town. In the course of a fewyears the Borough of Napier will have very few business sites unoccupied, and flat land, midway between the old port and the breakwater, must have special value. We see now going on around us the shifts that are made to secure sites for residences Vy excavating on tho sides of steep hills, and with the growth of the town, -which will bo greatly accelerated by the breakwater, tliero must necessarily arise an increased demand for land. Two objects cuu bo served by the reclamation of the lagoon, the creation of an estate, and the sanatory improvement of fliat part of the town. Then again in thoWhare-o-maraenui rcservo tho Board holds an endowment that can bo made of the greatest value. During the years that we have known it nature has dono much to reclaim it, but for all beneficial purposes the operations of nature are slow. Naturo can oxert itself very actively for evil, but when it is left to it to convert a swamp into grass fields ike process employed takos a generation, to' snow any great result. : The ratepayers of the wholo harbor district are all dooply interested in the development of the Board's endowments, for if the worst prodictione of the loudest croakers come fcrue, those endowmbnfci can be made equal to avert any disaster,' and: very possibly to obviate the slightest necessity for the imposition of a harbor rate. In tho comparatively long interval that, must elapso beforo any • constant attention will bo further required on the breakwater itself, tho Board could not bo botteu employed than in the improvement of its, estates. . The roclamation of rhe "WTharo-o-maraonui swamp is of vital importance to the health of the town, and we trust the newly eloctcd Board will dovote a large share of its beet energies in that dirootiou.