The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1891.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6265, 29 September 1891, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1891.

The Harbor Board rate demands come as a reminder that we cannot eat our cake and have it too. When the loan was raised the general impression was that the revenue of the Board would bo sufficient to cover cost of administration, and interest on the borrowed money ; it was also believed that the breakwater would be finished two years ago. These calculations have not been verified by facts. It has been fouud that to build a breakwater is not rfuch plain sailing as putting up a brick wall. Delays from all sorts of causes, accidents, mistakes, have all tended to increase the cost of the work, and put off the dato when the new harbor can be utilised and be inude to earn money. The

collection of a rate has, at all events, become a disagreeable necessity. On this subject Mr T. W. Hill writes to us as follows :—

•'Amongst other blessings to-day, I have received a rate demand from the Harbor Board. I should like to ask you why the Borough Council could not have collected the rate instead of putting the ratopayere to extra expense for rate form?, postage, &c, to say nothing of the trouble of going to the Spit to pay the said rate. I should be glad to hear your opinion on the subject." We hava already expressed our opinion. "When the question of imposing a rate was before the Board, it was proposed, we believe by Mr Ormond, that the rates should be collected by the several local bodies within the harbor rating district. The proposal was submitted to the Municipal and County Councils, and was opposed by them, on the ground that it would not lessen expense, a"nd would tend to confuse accounts. Our opinion was that what could be carried out satisfactorily at Timaru and Oamaru, where the harbor rates are levied by the local bodies, should be equally satiNt'uctory here. We have been shown a good few rate demands in which the amount of the first instalment is one penny ; the postage on the demand being a penny, the Harbor Board will get nothing. It is noticeable that the first instalment was payable on the Gth day of June last, whereas the demands have only been just issued; the second instalment is payable on December Gch.