FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 9

FIFTY YEARS AGO

■ITEMS FEOM " THE POST », THE DOCK QUESTION

"Wellington cannot afford to ignore the dock question if this port is to hold rank amongst those of the first-class •in New Zealand," observes "The Post" of this date fifty years ago. "It is idlo to blink at the fact that through the spirit and' enterprise of Lyttelton that place has advanced at a bound' to the premier position, by constructing the only dock in the colony which can accomodate visiting steamers of the largest size. Anyone can see at a glance what an enormous advantage this confers on a harbour over all others which do not possess such a necessary appliance. Over and over again it has been impressed on the colonists that a . JNew Zealand port would never become ,the headquarters of a naval station or of a line of large ocean steamers unless provided with this essentialmeans of repair and overhaul. A very inferior harbour, if only safe and reasonably convenient of access, will take precedence of the noblest haven in the world if the former has a dock and the latter none. There can be no question as to "Wellington's superiority over Lyttelton as a natural harbour; but the Southern port has been so greatly improved by artificial means that there is now, comparatively speaking, little to choose between them for ordinary purposes. The completion of the new dock turns the scale decisively in favour of Lyttelton. We cordially appreciate and admire the enterprise of Lyttelton, and we should be-quite willing to see it take first place if that did not involve relegating "Wellington to an inferior, position, and that we do not relish, at all. Unluckily, too, we have not even .the satisfaction of coining in. a good second. That place has been, secured by Auckland, which, like Wellington and Lyttelton, can boast a first-class natural harbour, and which has already built a dock, although of much smaller size than the one at Lyttelton.. Auckland and Port Chalmers at present have only relatively small graving docks, but in 'Auckland a new one of considerable size , is nowl in course of construction, and preliminary steps are being taken in the same direction at Port Chalmers. "Where will Wellington be when these ■works are finished? Well, we suppose ; we must be content to rank with Eus.sell, Gisborne, and Bluff. This is indee.d a humiliating prospect for the • metropolis of the colony, which at the same time has the incalculable advantage at starting of owning the finest harbour in these seas. Yet so it must be unless our public men bestir themselves. Ifc is high time they realised the urgency of the situation and initi,ated some definite and vigorous steps , in the direction of procuring for Wellington what is absolutely necessary to secure our proper position among the ports of New Zealand." ■ A SUCCESSFUL LOAN. "It cannot but be most gratifying to everyone interested in the welfare and .progress of this colony to compare the .. circumstances under which our new loan has just been so successfully launched with those that preceded and surrounded the floating of our last previous loan, just, over three years ago. Then, indeed, the situation was of an exceedingly uncomfortable, if not absolutely menacing, character. No due provision | had been made by Sir George Grey's ..Government for meeting the ..London .liabilities, including the all-important one for interest, the slightest delay in • regard to -which would have mined the ; credit, of the colony for years. Makeshift arrangements had hurriedly to' be made by cable, and as Sir Julius Vogel truly remarked when protesting against this reckless mode of procedure, the credit of the colony hung on the telegraph wire, which was never put to a more remarkable use. A very slight interruption of the cable —and interruptions of many days' duration were then a common occurrence • —would have caused New Zealand to become a defaulter. But .now we have received the most conclusive proof possible to. be given that our reputation at Home has been triumphantly, vindicated and our credit thoroughly reestablished. For it must not be for- ' gotten -that the loan has achieved its brilliant success in spite of the loudspoken, antagonism of the London Press, which did its test to destroy the , prospects of the loan feeing floated. Thi3-is a victory to be proud of, and out present success should teach us,' as a community, the wisdom of economy and prudent financial administration, for unquestionably it is mainly due to the careful and judicious management of our finances during the past three years. The raising of the loan will doubtless have a beneficial effect. on trade generally in the colony by tending to mitigate in some degree the stringency which has prevailed of late in the New Zealand money market. Viewed from all points, this happy financial stroke constitutes a very felicitous incident for the commencement of a new year. We hope the favourable .augury will be fully borne out."

THE THEATRE ROYAL.

'•Frequenters to the Theatre Eoyal will be pleased to learn that several alterations and improvements are about to be made to the building with a view to enhancing their comfort. Workmen have started to erect a balcony in front of the establishment, which structure will communicate with the dress circle by means of two doors, so that patrons of that part of. tha house will be enabled to enjoy a promenade during the intervals in the performance. The new dress circle chairs are expected to arrive from England in abont a fortnight, and are said to be unrivalled. The directors also contemplate several improvements in the lower part of the louse.in order to_ make it more comfortable than it 13 at present, and it is not improbable that the exterior of the premises will be coated with fireproof paint."

A EOAD IN NAME ONLY.

"Tie 'road round the. rocks' now exists only in name, being quite impassable. Yesterday a Wellington Eiti^ zen who essayed to drive a conveyance to Evans Bay actually had to return to town, borrow a pick and shovel, and do a little amateur road-making on his own account before he could get to his destination. The condition of the road reflects the greatest discredit on the authorities concerned. In England they would be indicted at tho quarter sessions, and if something is. not speedily done in the matter, someone should look up the colonial law on the subject •with, a view to seeing what remedy the long-suffering public possess.".

IMMIOEATION IN 1882.

"During 1882 the number of persons arriving in New Zealand from other places was 10,945. Of these arrivals, 3205 were from Great Britain, 6975 from Australia, and 765 from other places. The 'celestial invasion,' so much dreaded a year or two back, seems now to have been totally averted. During the year only 23 Chinese arrived in the colony, while 168 left New Zealand, 92 for China and 76 for the Australian colonies. The arrivals included two women and two children, while the departures were all adult males. From these figures it would seem that all danger of the 'yellow agony' becoming formidable in New Zealand has now been effectually removed." •