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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1899, 7 September 1874, Page 2

Our telegrams from Wellington with re gard to the success of the Greymouth deputation to the Government, in order to induce it to carry out Mr Moriarty's propositions fqriraproving the harbor, state, both from tlie Agent of the Press Association arid our own private correspondents, that the result has been highly satisfactory, and that the members of the deputation are pleased with the result of their visit. It is evident that the deputation interviewed the Premier rather abruptly at first, having no statement of their case, or of the wants of the port which they represented, prepared in writing, to submit for the consideration of the Government, and of course the Premier could not be expected to give a definite promise as to the expenditure of perhaps LIOO,OOO without first consulting his colleagues in the Ministry. Afterwards the requirements of the deputation were submitted in writing, and after a meeting of the Cabinet had been held, the following answer in writing was also received from the Minister of Public Works. After the usual preliminary paragraph, the lettar is as follows : — "I have the honor now to state that the Government have always intended to carry out such works as may be necessary for the improvement of the port, and to facilitate the shipment of coals from Greymouth. The plan at first decided upon has been strictly adhered to, and the En-gineer-in-Chief informs me that he sees no reason to alter his views ia regard to what is necessary to be done to effect the above object. It is intended to expend during the next twelve months an additional vote of £10,000, taken during .the last session, in 3till further carrying out the plans already decided upon. Acting upon the advice of the Engineer-in-Chief, the Government will be prepared to recommend to the General Assembly, at its next session, such further appropriations as may be considered necessary to carry out the plans for the further improvement of the harbor. Such recommendation to the General Assembly will be accompanied by some proposition as to the fair appropriation of the shipping and harbor dues of the port. To enable them to do so, the Government will continue to give close attention to subject, so that they may be in a position before next session to ascertain to what extent it will be advisable for them to ask for further grants. (Signed) Edward Richardson." It is quite plain that the only inference to be obtained from the above answer is, that the Government intend to carry out the original plans of their own officers for the improvement of the navigation of the port. At the same time, Mr Yogel adheres to his intentions, frequently expressed, of making Greymouth an important, if not the most important coal shipping port in the Colony ; and he has shown this not only by letting the contract, with extras, to Butler and Co., for ,£II,OOO for erecting new wharves, and proposing in his Financial Statement a special vote of another £30,000 for the extension of protective works at this port. What the deputation have been successful in obtaining is an assurance from the Government that these £10,000 will be expended on harbor works during the year, and a written assurance from the Government, that " they will be prepared to recommend at the next session of the Assembly, such further appropriations as may be considered necessary to carry out the plans for the improvement of the Harbor ;" but it will be noticed that this will only be consented to upon a fair apportionment of the wharfage and tonnage dues being made for that purpose, and also upon the recommendation of the Engineer-in-Chief. The answer of the Government is entirely satisfactory, and we now think that whether Mr Moriarty's plans are carried out or not, so long as Mr Vogel's Government remains in power, the interests of this port for the future may safely be confided to their keeping.