AUCKLAND'S DOCK.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 20, 25 January 1911, Page 7

AUCKLAND'S DOCK.

IS IT OBSOLETE? MS. WILFORD "REPLIES TO ME. ENTEICAN. The chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board (Mr. A. J. Entrican) took exception to the recent criticism of the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. M. Wili'ord) on the Calliope Dock, and made a reply (published in yesterday's Post) by way of rebultaL Mr. Wilford, in an interview with a Post reporter to-day, pointed out a few inconsistencies in the arguments of the chairman of the Auck- j land Harbour Board. "Mr. Entrican," said he, '"is surely bewildered. He says, "We do not consider Mr. Wilford's criticism is of any value, because he was never in the dock.' Then he later says 'Tenders have been called for new pumps,' thus proving my contention. Later he contradicts himself, when he states that 'the pumps are in quite good order and repair,' and in the same statement he remarks 'that the necessary •\~ork will cost between £8000 and £10,000.' He furtheu remarks that the subject of my communication is 'stale news,' and again that 'we cannot blame Mr. Wilford for following this line of ciiticism, as he has an example to follow in the attitude of some of our own members.' What can an unbiassed reader think of this attempt at refutation. At the end of Mr. "Entrican's so-called answer to me, he says : 'There is no justification for the statement that there is anything obsolete about the dock; it is "in thorough good order and repair,' having previously stated (a) That my criticism is stale nows, (b) that their own members bear me out, (c) that £8000 to £10,000 is to be spent in putting it in order. In regard to his first remark that my criticism is of no value bacause I have not been it? the dock, I say that his engineer's report states that what I have said exists, and it is not necessary to be in the dock to know the rumber of vessels that have traded to Auckland, and the number, so trading, which have preferred docking at Port Chalmers. Will Mr. Entrican tell me why these vessels prefer to dock at Port Chalmers if the dock is in thorough good order and repair? and why the board is spending £8000 to £10,000 at once if the dock 13 in thorough good order and repair, seeing that there is already a heavy annual loss in its operations? in conclusion, I notice that Mr. Entrician makes no reference to my statement about the 25ft of. water necessary to float the gate. I "wonder ,-why?"

A deputation of the Hatatai Municipal Electors' Association will wait on the City Council to-morrow evening in regard to the dunlkatioa of the Kil- j