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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 93, 2 July 1859, Page 6

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To tlie.Editor,<of-tkß'llawJce's -Bay Herald, Sib,— Knowing the number of well informed .men in. and.abput..the-neighbQurhopi.bf Hapier, I am, fully; sensible^p^mj n po^itipft,in tKe •press for '.publicaiiion," knowing I* render myself f liable to the cerisufi& of the mighty mind' Sow controlling public opinion. But one thing, Mr. Editor, is certain, that facts are stubborn things, and will notloße any of their real intrinsic worth, betjause the.'writer; cannot cloth, them in the garb of philosophic disquisition. Truth will ever remain thesame, whether told with the high authority of wisdom or with the simplicity of the child, and ought at all times to be told regardless of consequence, when the public good demands the same. Napier has now seen the meeting of the first councillors, and witnessed their acts, and has heard his Honor declare the same prorogued, but has not heard or seen any thing respecting harbour improvements, notwithstanding we find the dangers and difficulties daily increasing, and rendering the approach more doubtful; The work of destruction must now go on with rapid strides if the present system be continued, and the .probabilities are, that the loss of valuable life and expensive property, will remind us of oiir suicidal policy. It is a fact, self evident to every observer, that the harbour is filling up fast, both inside and outside, and as long as the harbour master and pilot allow people to ballast from the Spits, the place must fill up, and the shingle so disturbed must form a bar, which will in a short time pre- » vent even the vessels which now frequent the port, to come in. If the harbour once is destroyed, where is the boasted wealth and importance of .Napier — the .mother of industry ? A poor speck, without even the means of self support. She may now boast of the importance of her interests, being represented by three members in council, but this is as .empty as puerile. Take away the sheep farmer and.his sheep, make Clive a shipping port, and where is the boast of Napier ? Gone, and like the' baseless fabric of a vision, leaves ixot a wreck behind. Napier's boast must be her harbour. What avails all the items oa the estimates for roads, without a harbour ? True, roads open up a country, but comparatively^ nothing can be done with good roads, without a good 'outlet. Wool being the 'only staple of export at present, we should consider the harbour .as absolutely necessary as the roads, in order'! to secure the safe shipment of the same. No ship of any considerable tonnage can enter our harbour, not because there is not water sufficient, but simply because we either cannot afford to spend a thousand pounds, or that it does not suit to place a thousand on the estimates just ■ now. If we cannot make a harbour, why waste public money, misdirect the energies of the people ? Far better proclaim Clive a shipping port, and Waipukurau a place for storage ; for ships -will lay better under the Kidnappers than under the Bluff, and time will be saved, and the draymen will save eight miles of very neavy road, which of course will be a matter for consideration, and a strong reason for shipping at Ciive. Considering the relative worth of Clive and Napier, how monstrous it must appear to every thinking man, to see such fearful amounts for road making, and nothing for harbour improvements. Can any one consider the importance of the Te Aute line and the worth of a harbour, without being astonished at his Honor's conduct, and more particularly at his remarks, as published in your paper of the 4th June ? I should like, Mr. Editor, to know if we are to consider his Honor's remarks to mean what they seem to imply, or will the language bear another interpretation. When circumstances require the same, his Honor is reported to have said 'his opinion was that a dredge wa3 the only remedy for the harbour.' If he really was sincere, how are we to understand his conduct in not asking the council to place a sum of money at his disposal for harbour improvements, as well as the £100 for Milton Eoad, and the £150 for Carlyle Street ? The whole procedure is a mystery. Fancy a member for the 'country bringing up. harbour reports;,? and three members for the town, Messrs. FitzGeruld, Colenao, and Hitching?, having been but. supporters of Mr. Tucker's movements. Good and beneficial results should havo been the fruits of their labor, and surely, if the town members were ignorant of their position, the Chief Engineer should have had some weight with him and them. We understand his Honor to say, in your isßiie of the 16th May, that Mr. Gill had given proof of his engineering abilities, but his Honor thought on the question of harbour improvements the mat ter had better be considered as a whole, and the opinion of practical men should be taken. Sm*ely Mr. Gill's opinion would justify .the expenditure of a thousand pounds on a work so absolutely necessary. What is a thousand pounds compared to the other sums on the estimates, and few if any of such vital importance as a harbour? With such places as Clive or Blackhead, the country can dispense with Napier altogether, "but Najiier cannot do without, the country. She has no money nor means in herself, nor can she raise any, without country settlers. I am afraid, Mr. Editor, I have already far exceeded the space accorded; if you will permit, I shall continue the subject' in another issue. . /I am, Sir &c, &c., An Obsjekvee. Napier, June 27, 18P9. . To the Editor of the Hawkis Bay Herald. Sib,— ln the debate in the Provincial Council on Thursday- the 9th inst. respecting a piece of land at Petane which had been purchased by Mr. Villers, Dr. Hitchings is reported to have" said, 'that he knew the locality in, question'; arid that Mr. Villers': garden seemed to him to be a mile distant from - ,qectio^4B^ (( i '" ! No.wit;s^ i "M]p3J€fei¥ i that;-' the garden: iff q&eXtipn' f forn^s r a 'portion' of ~ section > No.' 48, which- corifcain3 up6n''tiiepran v 6^*aei*e^. •' ' I mention t/His' in. order, to set - the Doctor fight with respect to his professed knowledge of the locality'referred to.' ' . ' !'' . ■ . '.•''■ '• , -"^ ' " :' '■•.'/'■, Yours 'sincerely, : ■ : John MACAETn.r •: Petane, , ; .: -'.'.'■-"• ■" •• ■, l V ', ,• : ' June 14,-1 §59... .'.. ". ' '' : :\ v '•"' '■ •" :.'